Hi guys, im new to the forums. I am looking into purchasing a TL. I am looking to spend right around $8,000. I am looking at ones that have around 85-95k on them. This is going to be a college car for me. I currently have a 2002 Mustang GT. Is there anything that i should look out for when searching for these cars? When do you need to have the timing belt and those things replaced? Are there any changes between the years that i should be aware of? Are there any problems that normally occur on these cars? And also, how long should expect to be about to drive this car? I am looking to be able to drive this for the next 4 years. Thanks for all of your help guys.

 

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You can find 96's for around $8K. Just get one that has low miles and good body. Go find one and drive it around have it checked out. You'll love it!

 

to help you determine if the car needs a timing belt or any services, you can look for it in the manual of that car. Or once u fine a car u like get the VIN number of that car and check the history of that car on carfax.com its good to know the history. Once you do that, under detailed vehicle history scroll down a little until you see a blue link on the right side that says manufacturer-recommended. That would tell you a lot about what kind of services needed to be done for that car and when.

 

You can get a 3.2 TL for $7-$12K or a 2.5TL for under $8k. At 85-90K miles, you will need the timing belt and water pump done. Either way...the car would need a 90K service (about $500+).

 

$15 to 16k tops for a fulled loaded 3.2 Premium with an Acura warranty (thats what I got) and those will be in pristine condition. More than likely you can get a 3.2 or 2.5 with under 100,000 miles for under 10K depending on condition etc.

 

thanks for your help guys. im not really cared to much about performance, so would it be worth it to try and find a 3.2 or should i just go with the 2.5? which engine would you expect to have more life out of? thanks again!

 

Both the 2.5 (G25) and the 3.2 (C32) are reliable. I hear better things though about the 3.2 simply because it was in the Legend and the NSX (heavily modded of course). The "C" block was an amazing series of V6's made by Honda and has now been replaced by the "J" series.

The G blocks were used on the Acura Vigor before the 1st generation TL's and were pretty good for an inline five cylinder. I believe only Audi and Volvo have used inline fives, the Volvo I-5's didn't impress me and seemed to be a big compromise. The Audi I-5's were ok and felt more like a weak V6.

IMO, I'd say get a 3.2, its only 1 mpg less vs. the 2.5 and you get a bit more "oomph" for lack of a better word.

The 3.2 has a different suspension than the 2.5 The 3.2 is more of a "cruiser" type, feels more relaxed around the corners but feels GREAT on those long highway trips. The 2.5 is more "sporty", so if you're doing most of your driving around town, the 2.5 might be worth looking into.

Also, it depends on what you're looking for and what your driving preferences are. Either engine is reliable and will be a good choice.