Parents are buying a car - 2003 Acura TL.....Am I giving them good advice?

[Ryan]

They called me from across the country to ask me if I thought it was a good deal. They're looking at a Certified Used 2003 Acura TL with 16k miles. It's not a Type S, but they really like it. KBB retail is like $25k, Edmunds TMV is around $23.5 for the car.

The dealership wants $23,900 for it, so the price isn't really that bad. I told them to either talk them down $1500, or have them throw in the Acura 7 year 100k miles bumper to bumper warranty at no charge if they pay the asking. Does that sound like a fair deal? Anything else I should let them know?

 

[Ranger X]

They should try to get it for $1500+ less with the extended warranty.

 

[radioouman]

Not sure I'd buy a first year Acura...

 

[Passions]

Price seems okay, ask for floormats and if so, jump on it.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Not sure I'd buy a first year Acura...

'03 isn't first year. Its actually the last year for that model.

 

[Aimster]

It's an average deal, not great. Do you have to buy from the stealerships? Why not private party?

 

[SuperTool]

Had Tranny issues if I remember correctly.

 

[PCMarine]

IIRC, that's only with the Type-S automatic...

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: radioouman
Not sure I'd buy a first year Acura...

'03 isn't first year. Its actually the last year for that model.

Oh... you're right. THen jump on it!
Althought the price seems a bit high to me....

 

[Ryan]

She's on her way to the dealership with her Civic to trade it in - I told her to try and get them to throw in the Type-S wheels for free

She took some pictars for me, but my host is doing server maintenance - once they're done, I'll upload them

 

[sniperruff]

i think a type S can be had for not much more.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
i think a type S can be had for not much more.

My mom doesn't really care for the Type-S. It's main advantage is more power, and a sport tuned suspension. My mom is coming from a civic to this, so the Base model is already more than plenty

 

[Deleted member 139972]

IMO, you should probably go for a 1 or 2 year old car. You'll loose much less money, but I come from a family where we own cars for less than 2 years most of the time.

 

[desiplaya4life]

DUDE I WILL TYPE IN CAPS


THE TL'S HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AS WELL AS ACCORDS FROM 98-02 AND TLS FROM 99-03

THEY WILL BREAK DOWN ON YOU SOONER OF LATER.. AVG LIFE SPAN OF THOSE TRANSMISSIONS ARE 35K-50K MILES

THE 2ND GEAR OR 3RD GEAR BREAKS DOWN CUZ THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FLUID NOT REACHING THRU EM WHEN IT GETS HOT... ACURA DOES GIVE OUT 100K EXTENDED WARRANTY THOUGH ON ALL CARS SINCE THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM

 

[Ranger X]

Originally posted by: desiplaya4life
DUDE I WILL TYPE IN CAPS


THE TL'S HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AS WELL AS ACCORDS FROM 98-02 AND TLS FROM 99-03

THEY WILL BREAK DOWN ON YOU SOONER OF LATER.. AVG LIFE SPAN OF THOSE TRANSMISSIONS ARE 35K-50K MILES

THE 2ND GEAR OR 3RD GEAR BREAKS DOWN CUZ THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FLUID NOT REACHING THRU EM WHEN IT GETS HOT... ACURA DOES GIVE OUT 100K EXTENDED WARRANTY THOUGH ON ALL CARS SINCE THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM

That's what the recall and the extended warranty is for. If the average lifespan is 35k-50k then the warranty will cover it. So what's the issue here?

 

[OS]

incidentally, 03 is supposedly the year least likely to fail since by then Honda was aware of the problem and had implemented a fix. You should double check acura-tl.com but last I looked, people were fighting for 03 trannies.

 

[OS]

btw, I'm pretty sure 24K will buy a new V6 EX accord. Which basically has a previous gen TL drivetrain in it.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
Had Tranny issues if I remember correctly.

I just brought in my MDX today for 2 tranny recalls.

Apparently, second gear on Acura 5 speed trannies are quite weak and they need extra lubrication to prevent them from breaking and seizing the tranny. They installed some oil jet into my transmission to help fix the problem.

 

[Baked]

You know your mom wants to buy a Yukon.

 

[LtPage1]

its a honda- you really cant go wrong.

 

[desiplaya4life]

whats wrong? what you mean

the trouble, the same crap tranny, and after 100k you are OUT OF LUCK!

thats what.. you know how much tranny costs buddy?

yea i own a accord v6 so i know what im going thru...

there have also been cases when it downshifter from 4th to 2nd on a freeway goin 80! i have heard some accident cases on that acura-tl site


just be careful as much as i love the j32 motors its that how much i hate the honda trannies

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: desiplaya4life
whats wrong? what you mean

the trouble, the same crap tranny, and after 100k you are OUT OF LUCK!

thats what.. you know how much tranny costs buddy?

yea i own a accord v6 so i know what im going thru...

there have also been cases when it downshifter from 4th to 2nd on a freeway goin 80! i have heard some accident cases on that acura-tl site


just be careful as much as i love the j32 motors its that how much i hate the honda trannies

The won't be keeping it for 100k anyway. The car has 16k miles on it. I'd say there's less than a 1% chance of the transmission failing, so the odds are in there favor.

 

[jst0ney]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Not sure I'd buy a first year Acura...

agreed but it has bluetooth

 

[Panakk]

I have a 2003 TL (late model, October 2004) and it is great. It has 30k miles, no problem, dealership is great. Get it.

The blacks are hard to keep clean (that's what i have) but when they're clean, they're sweet.

The tranny will be fine. I have no problem with mine, just make sure the dealer does all the recalls.

 

[MrBond]

Also - I'd do a private party sale on the civic, especially if it's in good shape. They'll make out much better than a dealer trade-in, which is apt to be pretty low.