ghankerson

I've been researching CLs for a couple weeks and it looks like they are pretty nice cars that hold their value and are extremely reliable. I am looking to buy a 97 CL 2.2 tomorrow and I was wondering if anybody had any tips for me. It has 52k miles and the Carfax report checks out fine. Any problems with these cars? What are the best things about the CLs?

Oh yah, he is asking $10400 and said he will go down lower. And he has all the maintenance records and is the original owner.

Thanks in advance!

damond

Yeah....definitely need to go lower on the price.

But...from some of the tranny treads I've seen so far, you may want to get a manual tranny. I haven't had any problems with mine, knock on wood.

ghankerson

It's for the girlfriend and she wants an AT so manual is out. I was thinking of offering him $9500. For some reason, CLs are more expensive in Arizona. Back East they are a bit cheaper, maybe because they get beat up in the snow? In Phoenix you just have to watch for sun cracked interiors and make sure the AC works good. I look into the tranny threads though, thanks.

lowboy

i have a 98 2.3 with 65k miles i bought it with 38k miles and i have had no problems with anything but an o2 sensor that is I love my car

ghankerson

I read all the tranny problem threads and it looks like the 3.0 has the problems, not the 2.2 or 2.3. Anybody with a non 3.0 have tranny problems?

klepto

Check the windows, my widow motor is pretty much about to die and many others have had to replace theirs

nandowong

============Welcome to the Board============


the cl is a great choice for the money. You get a great reliable car that almost no one else has. I would take a check for $8,800 and tell him to take it or leave it. I bet he will grab the money and run Like everyone else said, just check window regulators and tranny.

Skoon21

i bought a 98 CL 5spd. w/ 48k mikes from a dealer a few weeks ago... they were asking 12,900... i got it down to an amazing 9,500... after tax and a 4 year warrenty it came to 12,200 i love the car... feels expensive.. great ride and there aren't too many on the road... unique

RippinRide

Yeah, i just bought a 2.2 cl manual trans. about a month ago. I spent 130 dollars getting everything on the vehicle checked out. probably the most important thing to get checked is the compression on the engine. Good luck w/ everything! you might want to see how it drives as far as the pick up and go. I've heard that the auto trans are really gutless.

Big Ring King

I drive a '97 CL 2.2 manual and there's not much I do not love about this car. Extremely reliable (oil and tires baby) and overall a super nice car. Acceleration is not so great however, and the shifter has a pretty long throw (shifting from 1st to 2nd is painfully slow). I'm guessing your girlfriend probably doesn't care too much about that stuff though. Very comfortable car, everything is in the right place and I love the leather interior.

The door locks freeze ocasionally (I live in MA), and I did have to replace the centerpipe once. Other than that, no problems with the car.

I would talk him down from that price, that seems high. I think you could get that car for $8000-$8500. Happy buying!