how much can I bargain on a used car?

[holden j caufield]

The 6spd MTs are kind of rare, it has navi but they listed it at 17k, 80k miles. IMO way to high. How far can I bargain them down? Is 14k too low a number, will tell me to fckoff. KBB has excellent at 16.5k and I consider KBB too high already, especially in these economic times.

 

[Malarkey]

Is that private party? I usually try to get the fair condition, trade-in value if I can.

 

[thomsbrain]

I think the KBB price is probably fair.

 

[zoiks]

I wouldn't pay 15k for that car and at 80k, I'd offer 12k or so in this economy. Those cars are overrated anyway.

 

[theeedude]

Lowball that sh!t. It's standard procedure. I asked for fair price for my used car, and got lowballed to 2/3rds of that, so then I upped asking price by 50%, sold it for what I wanted

 

[vshah]

so much nicer looking than the newer ones

 

[StageLeft]

Yeah 17k sounds steep. I am guessing the seller will have a hard time accepting a lot less. Certainly 12k they will simply interpret as an insult and 14k likely would not be accepted, but 17k for a TL with 80k miles is nuts, IMO.

 

[ViviTheMage]

lowball , 14k.

 

[Arkaign]

The new gen of TL's should drive that price down considerably.

 

[theeedude]

Actually, just read 80K part. I'd pass.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
The new gen of TL's should drive that price down considerably.

Or high for that matter

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: Arkaign
The new gen of TL's should drive that price down considerably.

Or high for that matter

Heh, if people had taste.

The E46 3-series prices dropped drastically when the '06+ models came out, even though the E46 looked much better.

 

[thecritic]

Too many problems with the transmission on those TLs. The 6-speed manual had a 3rd gear issue that requires an overhaul to correct. I'd pass.

Plus, the upcoming timing belt, water pump, spark plugs and valve adjustment service at around 105k would cost you about $1200 at a Honda dealer. Keep that in mind as well.

 

[Muadib]

I got 14k for my 04 auto with nav & 75k. If I were you, I'd offer 12k, and go from there. Tell them they would be lucky to get 11k from a dealer if they traded it in.

You gotta learn to play the game.

If you do go for it, find out if the trans has been replaced. That's the biggest issue with the 3rd gen TL.

 

[holden j caufield]

auto trannies on the 3rd gen seem to be somewhat problematic but the 6MT seems to be fine if you put in a certain transmission fluid. What would you say a 04 with nav and 44k miles is worth?

 

[thecritic]

Originally posted by: holden j caufield
auto trannies on the 3rd gen seem to be somewhat problematic but the 6MT seems to be fine if you put in a certain transmission fluid. What would you say a 04 with nav and 44k miles is worth?

People "fixed" the problem by blindly experimenting with transmission fluids. People have found that the GM synchromesh FM transmission fluid has cured the problem. People discovered this through blind experimentation, as GM never recommended or tested their fluid in a Honda manual transmission.

It's unknown what the GM fluid will do to the transmission in the long haul. It's also unknown whether or not the fluid actually fixes the problem; I suspect that it just covers it up.

Amsoil and Redline make Honda compatible (but not Honda approved) manual transmission fluids, but I'm not sure if they fix the problem.

 

[holden j caufield]

there have been people running the GM tranny fluid for over 100k miles with no problems. There are also people who like the new honda MTF fluid. But across the board on low end hondas to higher end acuras everyone says GM syncro is a good and I've yet to run across someone who can say the GM stuff has ruined their tranny. Good enough for me. It's a big enough sample from a rather picky crowd.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: holden j caufield
auto trannies on the 3rd gen seem to be somewhat problematic but the 6MT seems to be fine if you put in a certain transmission fluid. What would you say a 04 with nav and 44k miles is worth?

I use the kelly blue trade in value, and edmunds.com, and then use the average. I try to stay as close to that price as possible. I use the average condition, because that's what most use cars are in this area. This is my starting point when buying a use car. In this area, I found it to be pretty dead on when I looked into trading in my car.

 

[thecritic]

Originally posted by: holden j caufield
there have been people running the GM tranny fluid for over 100k miles with no problems. There are also people who like the new honda MTF fluid. But across the board on low end hondas to higher end acuras everyone says GM syncro is a good and I've yet to run across someone who can say the GM stuff has ruined their tranny. Good enough for me. It's a big enough sample from a rather picky crowd.

I personally know GM's director for drivetrain lubrication. He did not recommend using the GM fluid in Hondas for obvious reasons.

With that said, I personally do not think it's acceptable for an owner to have to "cover up" a serious design flaw. The problem can be fixed, but it requires a transmission overhaul with updated parts. But why go through that trouble when you can easily purchase a different car? The TL isn't a super reliable car anyway.

 

[DeviousTrap]

Where is the car, an Acura dealer, or one of the no-name local guys that acquired it at an auction?

Manheim Auction:
Auction $13,350 $11,350 $9,375
Est. Retail $14,950 $12,800 $10,650
Avg miles: 75k

I don't know where you're located, but that's for the NE region. Price's listed are for Above/Avg/Below condition. Auction prices do not reflect whether or not the title is branded, closing fees, or costs to recondition the car for retail sale. It should be used as a baseline for buying or selling.

Recent sales:

With nav:
03/06/09 MANHEIM Regular $11,800 76,961 Avg GREY 6G 6 Yes
03/04/09 BUTLER Regular $12,300 63,415 Avg GREY 6G Yes
02/24/09 BALTWASH Lease $13,500 41,104 Above SILVER 6G 6 Yes

Without:
02/10/09 SKYLINE Regular $7,950 132,503 Below SILVER 6G A Yes
02/10/09 AMERICAN Lease $8,200 102,560 Below GRAY 6G A Yes
02/11/09 NADE Regular $7,900 133,868 Below SILVER 6G A Yes
02/12/09 NORTHWY Regular $8,500 95,177 Below GRAY 6G A Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Regular $14,000 57,162 Above BLACK 6G A Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Lease $13,900 54,919 Above NIGHTBLK 6G P Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Regular $12,900 56,799 Avg BLUE 6G P Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Regular $9,500 95,260 Below Black 6G A Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Lease $8,000 19,995 Below BLUE 6G P No

 

[holden j caufield]

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap
Where is the car, an Acura dealer, or one of the no-name local guys that acquired it at an auction?

Manheim Auction:
Auction $13,350 $11,350 $9,375
Est. Retail $14,950 $12,800 $10,650
Avg miles: 75k

I don't know where you're located, but that's for the NE region. Price's listed are for Above/Avg/Below condition. Auction prices do not reflect whether or not the title is branded, closing fees, or costs to recondition the car for retail sale. It should be used as a baseline for buying or selling.

Recent sales:

With nav:
03/06/09 MANHEIM Regular $11,800 76,961 Avg GREY 6G 6 Yes
03/04/09 BUTLER Regular $12,300 63,415 Avg GREY 6G Yes
02/24/09 BALTWASH Lease $13,500 41,104 Above SILVER 6G 6 Yes

Without:
02/10/09 SKYLINE Regular $7,950 132,503 Below SILVER 6G A Yes
02/10/09 AMERICAN Lease $8,200 102,560 Below GRAY 6G A Yes
02/11/09 NADE Regular $7,900 133,868 Below SILVER 6G A Yes
02/12/09 NORTHWY Regular $8,500 95,177 Below GRAY 6G A Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Regular $14,000 57,162 Above BLACK 6G A Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Lease $13,900 54,919 Above NIGHTBLK 6G P Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Regular $12,900 56,799 Avg BLUE 6G P Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Regular $9,500 95,260 Below Black 6G A Yes
02/13/09 MANHEIM Lease $8,000 19,995 Below BLUE 6G P No

That is very nice of you. Thanks it's very helpful. I do notice that east coast prices do seem to be a bit less than things out in the west. BTW is there a way for me to get this info myself?

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: holden j caufield

That is very nice of you. Thanks it's very helpful. I do notice that east coast prices do seem to be a bit less than things out in the west. BTW is there a way for me to get this info myself?

West coast:
Auction $13,600 $12,000 $10,400
Est. Retail $15,250 $13,500 $11,750

Are there several similar cars in you area so that you could place more than one offer? While 14k is lower than what the average person would dare to offer on the car, it's not a ridiculous number knowing what the manheim prices are. But, you do have to factor in that the dealer is in business for a profit, and the prices posted are their cost for a car (before adding any expense they incur in cleaning it, transporting it, servicing it, and auction fees). Like I said before, just use them as a baseline so you know what the market looks like and then decide on your own how much you think is a fair amount to pay. Also, an observation, looking at the most recent sales only 3 cars had nav, while 32 did not, so a dealer with a nav car may be looking for a bit of a premium.

And no, there's no way you can get this info yourself