c.d

Hi, Im new here.

Im in the market for a 3rd Generation TL. Im still in High School and looking for something to replace my first car ('98 mercury sable) that my grandfather gave me - SO happy thats gone.

I've been looking on AutoTrader and craigslist and came across this at a local Honda dealer:
2004 TL Base, silver/grey, automatic, no nav,
155k miles
$6,549

It has a lot of miles IMO, but the carfax shows that it was one-owner, and has a ton of service records from the same Acura dealer where it was purchased.
Im just wondering, what do you all think?? With that many miles, what kind of problems should I expect?? Should I trust the fact that it has such a great service history??
Any feedback would be appreciated!!!

-CD

truonghthe

Transmission is the thing you should looks for, any sign of slip or hard shifting must be pay attention to.

Greenman604

Coming from a 2000 Taurus, I can understand your pain and excitement with the hopeful upgrade. In this case (as with any other), location and condition play a big role. I'm sure others will back me up when I say, you need to go see the car for yourself, and drive it. Make sure the 105K has been, the HFL works, all the lights, A/C and other things. I drove several cars before I bought my 2005 AT last July. It was also my first car purchase on my own, so I brought the car to the family mechanic during the test drive (with the dealers permission) to have it looked at on a lift. Maybe a link to the Autotrader ad would be of more help?
Best of luck in your search.

Vlad_Type_S

iTrader: (3)

Very useful advice in here already. The advice I want to give you is not to neglect the cost of ownership of a vehicle. I've had friends who just calculate the monthly payments and insurance costs. Then their cars break down and they can't afford/complain about the repair costs.

When buying a car that's at least 10 years old, always keep some spare cash handy in case you need to make a repair. That being said, I'd recommend spending the extra money on an 07-08 TL since they have a lot less problems, and a lot more features (particularly the aux input).

Do not be impatient and do not buy the first car you look at. Take your time and negotiate every price. If something seems wrong or off putting, it probably is. Walk away - there are MANY of these cars for sale. Good luck!

WDPanda

The Automatics on the 04-06 will put a hurt on you in your situation. Try to find a 6 speed, you'll be happier in many ways.

michaelap95

First question is, how is your financial situation? Are you just scraping by? Did it take you some time to save up some money? To be brutally honest, although I'm going to be a hypocrite when I write this; drive your beater, and save up more money.


If you still have your old car, and not spending much on maintenance, keep it and save more money. You're entering yourself into a big commitment, especially if your financing the car yourself. You don't know what to expect down the road with a car with such mileage. As with every used car purchase, it can be a hit or miss. Your diligence will come into play, and don't rush.


However: if it was serviced regularly at the dealer, you should ask to see what was done, and check your financial situation before moving forward

Chad05TL

There are a wide range of prices for a TL. Some 04's are higher than 6500 and some are lower. dallas cars & trucks "tl" - craigslist


If you finance at all, then I would go ahead and step it up to an 07.

These are pretty cheap below..
04 , no navi , gray $5,800
FOR SALE 2004 ACURA TL

TypeS for $11k with navi
2008 Acura tl type s

08 Base TL, no navi $9800
2008 Acura TL ALLOY WHEELS--SUNROOF--LEATHER-- Our 2008 Acu...

ct_ua6

Definitely have a manual double checked by a mechanic if possible, especially if this is your first manual transmission car you might not be able to tell when the clutch is going... Being a younger person you don't want a dealership or even some scumbag dumping a shot car on you