I'm a junior in college, currently sharing an 03 Durango with my mother, but need my own car for graduate school. I'm looking for something not too outdated (I still have a cassette player in my truck), decent in the snow/rain (Long Island NY), unique/fun to drive, and reliable enough to last 4 years without any major repairs.

I did a bit of research and the 2nd generation RL and Lexus GS430 really stuck out to me. The RL has SH-AWD, which can maximize traction by moving torque to the wheel bearing the most load, which definitely will help on the few snowy/rainy days (given I have some decent tires). The GS430 is rear wheel drive (with a massive V8) and a bit lighter than the RL, so its performance in the snow/rain will probably suffer, even with a "snow/power mode."

I really like the interior/exterior styling and sound systems (Mark Levinson and Bose) on both cars. Furthermore, both cars seem to have good reviews in terms of reliability and decent maintenance costs. The Lexus GS430 is rare in my area, but I've also only seen 1 other RL at my school.

I'm looking at a few Acura RLs 05-07 for sale by owner with around 90-115k miles. Do you think this is a good idea for a first car? I've seen them in the 8-10k price range, and I don't think that value for what you get can be beat.

 

Yes!! The RL would make a perfect first car. It'll be reliable, safe, good in the snow and fairly sporty. They have very few reliability issues that I'm aware of. Just look for one with service records. Just about any Acura product could last 200,000 miles plus (many have gone much, much further), as long as they're maintained properly.

 

Thanks for the advice, and nice Silver Panamera. I can also call an Acura dealer and ask for service records, if the owner doesn't have them saved. I inspect the transmission fluid, oil, and coolant under the hood. Then I use my OBD2 scanner to check for error codes, look for matching VIN stickers, smells (flood/leaks), and pay attention to the engine/tranny and suspension when test driving. Might bring the car to a mechanic after my initial test too. Have experienced my parents make a few bad car purchases, so I'm going to try to be extra careful on my first purchase.

 

Sounds like you know what you're doing! That's a great idea to bring it to a mechanic, I'd definitely do that with any non-CPO car.

 

Yeah, it'd cost about $3,000-4,000 more from a dealer in my area, not counting dealership fees. Interestingly enough, the ones I see by owner with 90-115k miles usually look better maintained and are usually stock compared to the ones at the dealer.

 

Three years ago I sold my 2007 RL with 170,000 enjoyable and care free miles. The only thing I ever had to do was maintenance items like battery, brake pads and fluid changes. An RL as a first car however will spoil you forever. Three years ago, I could have bought any car I wanted and decided on a 2010 RL. Nothing IMO can beat it considering all aspects like looks, reliability, maintenance cost, best nav system, great sound system on and on. Be careful looking at ones with 90,000 120,000 miles however because the timing belt has to be changed at 105,000 along with the water pump and spark plugs. This can set you back approximately $1,200. If it has been done a great plus and if has not a handy negotiating plus. Your great taste, thoroughness and planning skills tells me you are left brain and an engineering, architect or accounting student????

 

Wow, so getting these service records like the previous poster mentioned is very important. I'm also on the look out for deleted/reset codes (could be unintentional after an oil change), hence the scanner, especially if the the MID doesn't have them flashing around the service marks. I'd also have the valves checked to see if they need to be adjusted (especially if engine seems to lack power/compression) and the engine coolant replaced (probably a DIY) at that point. I think the Gates Timing Belt and Water Pump should set me back about $120, and maybe $30-40 for the Spark Plugs. Luckily, I have a retired Honda Mechanic who lives across the street from me, so maybe I can have him do it in his garage workshop for significantly less. Thanks for the reminder about the 105k service and congratulations on owning a 07 and now 010 RL. Driving care free at 170k miles in a flagship luxury sedan is a quite an accomplishment. I won't be putting much over 15k-20k miles on the 05-07 RL by the time I'm done with graduate school because my round trip commute to college and soon medical school (was accepted to the med school at my university) is only 10 miles.

 

Will definitely use your advice about the 105k service as a potential negotiation point. So far, the general opinion is that RL seems to make sense as a first car purchase.

 

Just keep in mind the TWO general negatives of the RL. Cost of gas and cost of repairs.

Other than those things, an excellent all around car whether as a first car or any other car.

 

What he said. ^^^

Can you afford 20 mpg on premium fuel? Can you afford repair parts for a $50k flagship sedan? If yes, then go for it. If you're on a college budget, then it would be a terrible idea.

 

I'm used to getting around 14 mpg on a V8 engine in my truck, so the 20 mpg on premium would be a bit of an improvement. Repairs in my 2003 Durango with 110k have not been bad, probably because of routine maintenance, and I'd imagine the RL would be much more reliable. I've seen RL engines for sale with around 90-115k miles for around $450-$700 and transmissions for $300-600. Hopefully the engine and transmission won't die on me before the car reaches 130k miles, otherwise I think I can afford to do small repairs and regular maintenance/services.

 

If you can verify the fluids and oil has been changed according to schedule than you should have no problem for 250,000 miles. I get 18 in the city and 27 on the highway.

 

18 in the city?? You have the six speed right?


Honestly, if you're ok handling the premium of premium fuel and the hike of certain parts, then go for it. Just be aware that some repairs WILL be pricey because parts are exclusively OEM, and because of the car's assembly. Off the top of my head, I can name the lower control arm/bearing assembly, which comes as a whole rather than a separate bearing and separate arm.


And to be honest, don't expect that coming across junkyard parts will be a cakewalk. It's hard enough locating a junked one, much harder to locate the parts you want. I stumbled on two 05-08 RL's at local yards, one was flooded and the other hit. Both yards were shipping parts out of state. Hell, one guy was on the phone with someone from out of state trying to ship fender and hood on the one.


Also, be sure to do your adequate research on the problems associated with the earlier years.

 

Thanks for the input so far everyone. From what I'm reading, most reliability problems with the 2nd gen RL seem to be convenience related issues (like A/C, Nav, door handles, headlights, fog lights), and not something that will leave me stranded and require a tow truck. I guess that is the price one has to pay for all the added technology, but most of the long term reviews point out that Acura, and particularly with the RL, has held true over the years, especially if it was treated and maintained like the flagship vehicle it is.

 

Kudos for doing your research. I think you have everything you need to make your decision (except maybe a test drive?).

 

Thanks! Hearing opinions from some current/previous owners is really helpful in the decision making process, after all I think the RL is more than just specs on a sheet of a paper. I'm a bit busy with finals for the next 2 weeks, but after that, I plan to schedule a handful of test drives. I will keep this thread updated until my final purchase by the end of December, with details of each RL I come across. Hopefully this way I can gain more knowledge and advice before committing to a vehicle.

 

I bought an 06 RL with 105k miles about 18 months ago. It was well kept and I am very particular about maintenance. It has been an extremely comfortable car to drive and I expect it to last many years and miles. I have confidence that it will. Since this is a fairly expensive car I would recommend that you be very fussy about making sure the car has been well maintained. It could be expensive to fix if it has been neglected or abused in any way.

 

Appreciate the advice and I completely agree. I think the most difficult part of this purchase will be finding a used RL that has been meticulously maintained. Very few people would probably be willing to sell the properly maintained car that I'm hoping to buy. Nice job finding a well kept one. Any tips on spotting the right RL (I'm also in NY)?

 

Verifiable maintenance records are very important. Regular maintenance at the dealer would be best. Also, look over the car very carefully. Check the condition of the leather. If it is worn the car might not have been kept clean. Look for any evidence of sludge inside the oil filler cap. Look for the quality (brand) of the tires on the car. A person who put top line tires on the car may have cared for the rest of the car too. Cheap tires might mean skimpy maintenance. Look for top line oil filter and synthetic oil use.

 

Thanks for the insight! I'll make sure to look out for everything you mentioned.

 

In response to your comment about buying one at the end of Dec, the biggest mistake you can make buying a used car is getting emotionally attached. Don't put a limit on this. I searched for well over a month for my RL and I had to go to Montgomery, AL to get it. You will most likely have a lot more luck in the NE, but if you rush it or feel like you have to make a deal, it could bite you. There are always more out there.

 

Very true, I'll try not to rush, although purchasing it over winter break before school starts would be ideal. I currently see about 10 RLs with 90-115k miles for sale within 20 miles from me and over 10 more in NJ, PA, and CT. I want to check out at least half of them in person before I narrow down my choices.