---------- Good deal, or rip off? Accura 3.2 TL

[thatsright]

Buying first ever car.

Test drove today: '03 Jetta TDI Diesel for $18,995 Very Unimpressed

02 Maxima SE. Very nice car, and handling, but after driving around for 30 minutes, 6 inches above my driving leg, it was extremely uncomfortable from the 'strain' I guess....

Finally, a 2001 Acura 3.2TL w/ 48,388 miles. It is in pristine condition, and will come with a full 1 year warranty. A lease end car.

If you know this car, man is it loaded. V6/225hp

5speed with OD &auto manual
side airbags
power everything
moon roof
leather
heated seats
Bose premium 5 speaker sound/ 6-disc
panic alarm
and the list could go on, and on

So far, the only detractor is the mpg. 19city/29highway. Is this good, bad?? Also, not crazy about the color, but not so much it would keep me from buying.

Price. When I walked up, it was listed as $17,200. With the weekend 'sale' it was down to $15,876. By the time I sat down in the sales office, it was down to $14,995. Is this fair/good/not good??

I really like this car. But, I'm wondering if it?s 'too much' car. I can afford it, but I don't want to jump just because it?s a great car.
Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[ballmode]

Not bad considering that V6 accords go for about the same price. I think you'll need to feed it premium fuel, milage will get you low to mid 20's in town, and if you are going 70-75 you'll get 30.

Alternatives would have to be the Infiniti I30, Maxima, ES300 Lexus, Toyota Avalon, V6 Camry, V6 Accord, Audi A4, and maybe a BMW 325

 

[QurazyQuisp]

I hope you didn't test drive the Jetta TDI in hopes of speed or anything like that... the only thing you'll get out of that is 45+ mpg. If you want an exciting jetta, a VR6 or 1.8T will do the trick.

 

[Goosemaster]

problem with that eyar TL is the tranny

I wanted to get one but stayed away. I will probably get a 2003 type s when I get the $$$$

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
problem with that eyar TL is the tranny

I wanted to get one but stayed away. I will probably get a 2003 type s when I get the $$$$

How so? Do you have the '01? If so, what tranny problems did you have.

 

[mugs]

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... We were looking at '03 TLs with ~30k miles and they were in the $18-19k region. So $15k seems a bit high for an '01.

Also, if you're worried about the fuel economy, I hope you realize it takes premium as well...

And one of our biggest complaints was that the rear seats don't fold down.

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: ballmode
Not bad considering that V6 accords go for about the same price. I think you'll need to feed it premium fuel, milage will get you low to mid 20's in town, and if you are going 70-75 you'll get 30.

Alternatives would have to be the Infiniti I30, Maxima, ES300 Lexus, Toyota Avalon, V6 Camry, V6 Accord, Audi A4, and maybe a BMW 325

Its a thought. Though for those models, may be pushing it a bit $$ wise. Even though its $15k, I think by the time I can drive it off (with all the fees, and VERY full cov/theft/liability insurance) I'll problably be in the low $17k range if I'm lucky!!

Not keen on BMW, or A4, Lexus, Infiniti. Not my style. Even more so since I live in the city. Theft. No thanks. And I'm sortta worried about parking a TL around here? It does sorta look like an accourd though....

 

[Goosemaster]

that's a lot of money for a 2001 btw..I hadn't notcied that you posted the price. I can get a 2002 type s for less than that

 

[OS]

edmunds.com and kbb.com have value calculators

however, that generation tl is known to have a problematic transmission.

 

[deejayshakur]

Originally posted by: OS
that generation tl is known to have a problematic transmission.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: OS
that generation tl is known to have a problematic transmission.

Seems high for the year. I was expecting something around the 12-13k area.

That, and the transmissions problems were covered under a recal/special warranty weren't they?

 

[PAB]

Book is MUCH lower, plus as others have said, that year has had transmission problems. I'd be happy to show you what book is if you want.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: OS
that generation tl is known to have a problematic transmission.

Seems high for the year. I was expecting something around the 12-13k area.

That, and the transmissions problems were covered under a recal/special warranty weren't they?

yes, honda gives i think a 7yr/100k powertrain warranty to all supposedly afflicted models.

 

[mikelish]

yeah. there were lots of problems with Transmissions on these, so Honda / Acura bumped up the warranty to 7yrs

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: OS
that generation tl is known to have a problematic transmission.

Seems high for the year. I was expecting something around the 12-13k area.

That, and the transmissions problems were covered under a recal/special warranty weren't they?

Yeah, for one year. Everything if covered for a year.

Damn, didn't know about the Premium fuel and tranny problem...... Argh

Is there car of same price range, luxury quality, same HP, unleaded fuel, and normal tranny?? Let me know, cuz the tranny thing, the color scheme and fuel issue would make me not buy this.

Also, I live in Eastern MA, and for this car, the price is below most advertised with this mileage.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: OS
that generation tl is known to have a problematic transmission.

Seems high for the year. I was expecting something around the 12-13k area.

That, and the transmissions problems were covered under a recal/special warranty weren't they?

Yeah, for one year. Everything if covered for a year.

Damn, didn't know about the Premium fuel and tranny problem...... Argh

Is there car of same price range, luxury quality, same HP, unleaded fuel, and normal tranny?? Let me know, cuz the tranny thing, the color scheme and fuel issue would make me not buy this.

Also, I live in Eastern MA, and for this car, the price is below most advertised with this mileage.

2003 tl is nice....

 

[OS]

you might consider a new i4 accord which goes for 17k-18k. The powertrain on those is solid so far. Side airbags, keyless entry, cd player standard on them. Uses piss 87 octane and 24/34 mpg. Of course no bling in a honda.

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: deejayshakur

Originally posted by: OS
that generation tl is known to have a problematic transmission.

Seems high for the year. I was expecting something around the 12-13k area.

That, and the transmissions problems were covered under a recal/special warranty weren't they?

Yeah, for one year. Everything if covered for a year.

Damn, didn't know about the Premium fuel and tranny problem...... Argh

Is there car of same price range, luxury quality, same HP, unleaded fuel, and normal tranny?? Let me know, cuz the tranny thing, the color scheme and fuel issue would make me not buy this.

Also, I live in Eastern MA, and for this car, the price is below most advertised with this mileage.

Yeah, we call it a Honda Accord with a V6.

So wait a minute. You're going to pass on a car you obviously like because the owners manual requires premium gas (20 cents more * 20 galllons = $4 more per tank)?

Man, that's cheaper than my dad who bought that 01 and said "screw it I'm buying regular"

And worthy of note: Even though similar cars are ADVERTISED higher dosen't mean they sell for that much. I've had days where I've looked at 1-2 thousand (yes, thats THOUSAND) cars and not bought because I didnt like the price.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: thatsright

Also, I live in Eastern MA, and for this car, the price is below most advertised with this mileage.

Check carsdirect.com, a lot of used car dealers put lower prices on there than they advertise elsewhere.

 

[mikelish]

if you do decide to get this one. I'm not car buying expert but I think if you're smart about it, you can talk them down lower than $15k or whatever the price was. they probably payed $13k for it

 

[thatsright]

Okay, well... I guess I'll look at the 2003 TL With this year, is the tranny problem fixed? But really, I can't really go any higher than $15k on price. Maybe I can find something like $16.5 k or less, and deal down...?? Also, yea, the gas thing is pretty cheap of me. But where I live its about $0.25 more expensive per/gal. So I prob won't get the one I test drove today pretty much because of the color scheme.

Anyone know whats the lowest you've heard of a '03 TL with 60k or less miles??

Thanks for all the input guys, keep it coming!!

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Anyone know whats the lowest you've heard of a '03 TL with 60k or less miles??

Thanks for all the input guys, keep it coming!!

13-15

 

[thatsright]

What about the '00 or '02 TL. Still tranny problems?

 

[thatsright]

Originally posted by: mikelish
if you do decide to get this one. I'm not car buying expert but I think if you're smart about it, you can talk them down lower than $15k or whatever the price was. they probably payed $13k for it

Actually they wouldn't move at all on the $14995 price. Even after I said 'cash up front.' He wouldn't move an inch.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: thatsright
What about the '00 or '02 TL. Still tranny problems?

iirc it was '00 through '02