Hi Forum. I have been considering the CL-S for a couple of weeks as a new car. I saw one in the paper today. 2003 CLS with 14K miles. They say it is like new. I called and an older lady answered the phone. She basically says show up with the cash and it is yours.

I also saw a 2002 CLS with 12K miles for $15600

Naturally, I am very cautious. This sounds too good to be true. With that low mileage, isn't just about everything under warranty?

I will certainly take it to a dealer and make sure the tranny is good because I see a whole lot of posts where people complain about them going out.

Can you guys suggest anything else to look for? I just don't want to get ripped off...usually when something sounds too good to be true, it is!

I am gonna have a test drive and try to swing it by the dealer tomorrow. If it works out...cash on friday!

-Thanks in advance,
Buenomota

 

A carfax report maybe.

(even though some say the reports are trash )

 

for sure take it to a good mechanic and have em thoroughly inspect the car, they can tell you a lot better than carfax if it's been in a collision you need to worry about, etc.

good luck. i woulda jumped all over those prices.

 

how old is the lady?

the car might be banged up a bit...

or...

the car might be in mint condition..

did u check it out yet?

 

I just read the ad this afternoon and called her immediatley. She sounded about 55-65 years old. I am only guessing, but here is my guess: Husband bought it during a mid life crisis...then ended up shacking up with some other broad. She got everything...including the car. Too fast for her, so she wants to get rid of it.

I am going to run a car fax and see the car tomorrow morning. My problem is that I think it might be hard to schedule an apointment at the acura delar with such short notice. I want to buy this car pretty bad, but I am no sucker so I am surely having acura check it out before she gets my cash. I just hope someone doesn't snag it before I do.

-Already you guys are way nicer than on the supraforums. Thanks for the suggestions so far.

 

hehe..

oh yeah.. forgot to welcome u to the board.. WELCOME!

hopefully everything works out for u.. you'll like the CLS alot! is it your first car?

 

No, this isn't my 1st. I have had the following cars in this order:
1994 Accord EX, 91 Saab 900, 95 Eagle Talon TSI, 2000 Mustang GT, 91 Supra Turbo....and next? Either a CL-s or an older 96-ish SC300.

So, I have been all over the place...the CL seems like a kick ass car except the transmission issues and the Acura service department.

 

sounds fishy...

 

who cares if the trans is bad..it is covered up to 100k miles. But I am with Vinarnold on this....sounds too good to be true.

 

Could be that you fell into a great deal or it could be that the seller is a scam artist.

Flood car ???
Totaled out, but rebuilt wreck with zero value ???
Theft recovery ???
….or many other possibilities.

 

run the carfax asap

seriously that will answer all of your big questions.

 

Maybe the lady took it to a dealer and they said they wouldnt give her more than 15k for it, I think I was offered 16k for my car, but it had 36k miles in a year.

 

Cant you just call the acura dealer and tell them you want to buy a CLS and see if they can print out the maintance history to that car?

Also im sure any place can check the car out to make sure it didnt have any body work done to it. Doesnt have to be a acura dealer.

Good find btw. Hope it works out.

 

That's quite a cornacopia of rides.

Sounds like you like turbos...if so, you may be dissapointed with the CLS's performance. Go with the SC300 & have fun with it.

 

YUP !!!!!!!!!

 

I took my car to the dealer and paid the $109 fee for bumper to bumper check. Its like theie "certified check." I would definately do that,

 

MAN! Salvage title. She failed to mention this in our first conversation. She said the front left fender was damaged and replaced. If that was the only issue, why would they give it a salvage title? Sounds like a rip off to me at 15.9K.

Dang!

 

Maybe the front fender was “damaged” by a car doing 40MPH heading through a stop sign on a cross street.
Good thing you found that out.

 

that's too bad....would've been a great price...dirty rotten broad!!!!

 

Salvage title means that car was fucked up bad.

 

There is no way I would buy a salvaged car.

I would like to thank all of you for your advice. You have all been very helpful.

On with my search!

 

I won't buy a salvage car either.

Resale on a salvage titled car sucks, so it's not suprising that the car is still forsale for $15K.

Now if it was a 6spd car, it would make a interesting roadrace car (strip the interior, full roll cage, etc).

 

Christ, you can't even trust an old broad anymore

Good luck and welcome, maybe !!

 

Before you Leave us, look in our blackmarket forum, there are some for sale in there few 6 speeds also.

 

have her give it to you for 10K!

 

carfax it and drive it

 

I still stand by my gut insticnt on this particular lady. I don't trust her so I will not buy a car from her.

I still have my eye out for a CL-s.

Basically, when I buy my cars, I spend weeks (if not months!) hunting for the best deal. Almost every car I have purchased has been sold for at least what I orig. paid for it.

I have decided to hunt for 3 different cars: An acura CL-s still under full warranty for <$16.5k, An acura RSX-s under full warranty for < $15.5k, and finally a 95+ Lexus SC300 (maybe a 400, but would have to be cherry) under 90Km with full service from a lexus dealer - <$8.5K.
Also, I will never again buy a car that has ever so much as seen a salty road for more than 1 winter!

The recent build quality of the newer acuras tend to scare me a bit. I know that if I get a lexus that has been properly serviced, I have nothing to worry about. Plus, if the engine blows I can make myself a really cheap supra TT.

I will not be financing, so when the right deal comes along, I will snag it. It doesn't matter where the car is located...plane tickets are cheap and cross country driving is fun.

 

Bet it was stolen, someone fixed it, thus the title.