TL_Cy

I'm looking to buy a reliable used car and now including older 2.5 and 3.2TLs. The list right now includes an '98 S70, '96 I30, and '96 J30 plus or minus a year.
It hit me last night, I've had very good experience with my 2nd gen TL, why not get first gen TL rather than doing russian roulette with other makes

Before that, what I want to know from current/previous first gen owners are:
1. What is the approximately your yearly cost to maintain the car?
2. What are the problem spot(s) for your car or this car in general?

I remembered when I was considering to purchase my 2nd gen at 2000 the main argument point between the first and second geners was the manual 1->2 shift Wonder if that's still going on


Thanks in advance!

sbuswell

If you have a 2nd gen TL why do you want a 1st gen? Sorry doesn't make sense, 2nd gen TL's are better car's.

TL_Cy

I work around 200 miles from home and I will rack up at least 30K a year for the foreseeable future and I just don't think I want to rack up that many miles on my poor 2000 TL. I should've done this a year ago.

That's the main reason, then there's the cost of depreciation and insurance.

HQuakers

I'm probably going to be selling mine real soon. Thing is rock solid.

Ken1997TL

My Dad would disagree. He likes my '97 more than his '03.

The '03 has a few more features for sure, but you can see where cost-cutting went in to drop the price from $35,000 to $29,000 for the 2nd gen's. Black plastic all over the dash for example


Don't get me wrong, the 2nd gens are nice and their engines I'm especially jealous of

Acurasnake

oh and don't forget that the 1st gens were fully produced in japan and exported to the US...!!

TL_Cy

So, is there anyone that would like to volunteer information regarding their problems and maintenance?

Ken1997TL

Problems:

Bad starters (mine is starting to go as we speak)
Frameless windows (some experience a lot of windnoise)
D4 indicator light in instrument cluster tends to burn out
A/C units having issues (I believe people arent getting their coolant flushed when they should)


Maintainence:

Be sure to get your brakes done on a regular basis, otherwise you'll get warped rotors.



Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Overall, my car (a 3.2) has been quite reliable. Just that stupid starter and the D4 light.

wackjum

1998 3.2

1. The rear bumper is pulling away from the rest of the car (big gap).
2. The D4 light is out.
3. Frameless window wind issue.
4. Driver side power mirror can't hold its position if the door is closed hard.

I have no figures on the yearly cost of maintenance for you since I keep crappy records. Even though I have not personally owned the car, it has been in the family since new. It went through many years with just oil changes and the like. Recently it's been costing some because of timing belt and other preventive maintenance.

*** You can stop reading now (off topic) ***

I noticed you're looking at Infiniti J30's. I have a story about these things.

One night I was moving along on San Felipe (for the H-town readers) with my girlfriend. We had the windows down. This J30 pulls up at the red light and the two guys start howling, dropping ridiculous lines (at her), and tossing out insults (at me). The J30 had a bluey interior and a loud exhaust. The rims looked chromey but I think they were hubcaps.

So my gf starts rolling her window up, but I say no. I'm not about to let some meatheads ruin my evening.

Then she says, beat them. I wasn't so sure. I had an extra point two liters of displacement, but the TL is actually pretty slow (seems slow to me). She started insulting my manliness. She said if we were in her car this would not have been a problem, which is true and all the more reason why I'm going to get a sports car soon. ANYWAY I decided to chance it, hoping I would win because she would never let me live it down if I lost.





...






....(what happened?)...






......




... I won but it was damn close. Got to the next light with them right off my tail.

Yay for street racing. Aren't I the rebel.

TLBaller

last time that happened to me, a friend who was also in the car, got out and pulled the driver out of his car through the window while the car was in "drive" he fucked the kid up. i told him to jump in the car and i hauled ass LOL there are a lot of people like that in houston. I just bought a HK .45 this weekend so im ready to bust a cap on anybody whose trying to creep up on me. =oD

wackjum

Oh my goodness.

Did I ever tell you that you have a nice car? Don't waste me for hating on chromies.

And also for my comment about how the JDM grill makes it look like an Accord.

Man it's over for me.

I'm just kidding. Your car is *quite* the looker.

TL_Cy

Thanks to Ken1997TL and wackjum for the info on your TLs.
Still shopping around for deals, I think this is gonna be a while...

About that J30 story, it's been a while since I had fun with my 2K TL, mostly because it does feel heavy, it's stock, and I just don't wanna race someone and get smoked :P

I did race an older mustang once when I just had my car and barely won that one, that was freakin' fun though!
After that I heard that route are usually filled with cops and both of us were going above 100 mph, that could've turned out real bad.

Anyways, if anyone other than Ken1997TL and wackjum have more info, please post

demons rage

iTrader: (1)

Thats basically it. The 2.5 also has similar problems..
Wind noise from framelss windows
Bad Starter(mines starting to go out on me.. 149k miles)
D4 light(who cares)
Stock headunit is crap(aftermarket is a must)

Honestly i think those are the most common problems. The first gen is solid as a rock .