this car is very nice looking. low miles. assuming it's not been wrecked, etc etc and passes a full inspection by a certified Acura mechanic..

what would you expect to pay for this car? what would be the LOWEST you would expect them to go - i believe this car has been at this lot for at least 3-4 months.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ice=&cardist=3

 

36k

 

I'd pay no more than 34K if it has the full A-Spec kit. Don't forget it has 2 yrs max left on the warranty and the 09 is coming out real soon.

 

$35-36k with that low number of miles.

 

so IF it has the full a spec kit - including suspension - we've got one person here saying no more than 36k.

assume it has the a spec body kit and wheels, but regular suspension.

think i could get it closer to 32-33?

 

i was gonna go look at it and offer him 30k flat. see what he says.

39k is a joke. he'd probably happily take 35k... i bet he'd go lower.

i KNOW it's been for sale for 4-5 months

 

It's sad that these great cars are being bargain basemented cause nobody wants them. It's good for us used car buyers I guess. I hope to get an 06 or 07 this year and I'd love to get CMBS but it seems very rare.

 

Let us know what happens..

 

$39k is a joke. For that much you can buy a base model, the navi DVD player, and a navi disc on eBay.

 

Actually they're not THAT hard to find. There are two ways to get to them. When you run searches on the internet, look for the steering wheel pics for the CMBS button on the bottom right of the wheel. If you don't find one online, you can also go to large dealers in your area and check in on their inventory once in a while. They go fast, so it's important to check in on the inventory they have just traded. That's how I found mine - they traded it the night before. They didn't even realize it had Musiclink in it until he was showing me the controls in the car - right before I drove off.

 

what is music link and what is CMBS? is that collision mitigation braking system...or whatever you calll it where it senses a crash and brakes for you..
is that really that important.

i mean, geez..just keep your eyes on the road and you won't hit someone..

If I am going to get an RL, I'm gonna get one with the aspec wheels and body kit. i think it looks really nice. i'd add the aspec suspension. I'd ONLY buy an RL with nav. no point in buying a car like an RL and then NOT have nav... but the other stuf...not sure i'd need/want it.

my MDX has the handsfree link which is awesome, but I assume ALL the RL's with nav have that too, right?

if i look for a used 06 - to get lower price than a new one - what things were options that I may wnat to look for.

anyone here think I could get that 06 listed above - for close to 30k... 31k or 32k?

I really don't want to spend 40k on a car, if I can spend closer to 30k on a slightly used one. then I could buy it, instead of leasing.

i'd consider leasing...but to lease one and add teh aspec stuff might not make sense, unless they will residualize the aspec kit into the car so that it increases the residual value.... but to lease it and put aspec on it, but NOT get it residualized, would be nuts as it would just jack up my monthly payment and then id' give the car bakc to Acura and they'd get the mods on my dime..

only downside to an 06 is that there would be less warranty left...but it's an Acura..so how much stuff can really go wrong?

would you guys lease a new one or buy a slightly used one? payments would probably be similar....

 

A-Spec with only 10K? Something wrong here. I would ask seller to provide the Carfax report and then offer $33K tops.

 

The dealer I bought my 06 from (Honda dealer selling a low mileage (2,800) RL that was a Honda corporate car) didn't realize the difference between the RL packages, onyl the model years. I was testing the ACC out on the test drive and the guy had no idea that not every RL had it. Nor did I volunteer that info.

 

ACC/CMBS/PAX - Adaptive Cruise Controls (measures distance between you and the car in front of you and automatically accelerates and brakes for you - never need to re-adjust cruise when you're on the interstate) / Collision Mitigation Breaking System (continuously monitors the distance between you and the car in front of you - without cruise on - and if the difference in speeds is higher than 10mph and you are approaching the car too quickly, it will either 1) tell you to brake 2) warn you again and tug your seatbelt 3) apply brakes for you and bring the car to below 10mph) / PAX (Michelin's Run Flat Technology)

Musiclink - Allows you to connect your iPod in the car and has 2 modes - shuffle all songs or shuffle albums - sound quality is excellent but the interface is touch and go. It's a good gig to get as part of a certified Acura - not having to pay top dollar for it brand new.

 

Why do you think there is something odd about an aspec car having only 10k? you think it was a wrecked car that got fixed bck up or something? carfax still might not show that stuff.

*if* I actually was going to pursue purchasing this car, or any Acura that wasn't bought as a certified Acura - I think I'd take it to a body shop and PAY them to inspect it for evidence of collision damage before buying.

like you can take it to Acura to have them inspect the mechanicals - why not take it to a body shop for them to check if it's been fixed. pay them $50-100 for a quick inspection.

I just think that particular car looks nice. I love that color and i like the aspec kit/wheels. to me, it's a very nice looking RL. they all look nice, but this one looks especially nice. i like that color and the pearl white ones.

My gut tells me that given how bad the ecnomy is and how poorly the RL has been selling AND with the new RL coming out - maybe prices will keep on going down to where I could get a car like this for 30k or so.

 

I just bought one (2006) that color with 1800 miles on it. It was first sold by the dealer in Feb., 2007 so it has over 3 years left on mfgrs. warr. (2 mos. on the XM, and 12 mos. on Onstar). Has ACC/CMBS/PAX and Nav, but no A-Spec and no back-up camera. The guy bought it and (mostly) garaged it. I took it to an indpendent mechanic who checked for wreck damage, etc. I talked to servicing dealer and did a carfax. I paid less than what your dealer is asking, but not much less. KBB says $43,320 retail and $38,640 private party value w/ 10000 miles including ACC (38 w/out). I'd try for $35 given that it's been sitting there, and would pay up to $36.5. (anybody want to buy my '04 TL?)

 

I've been quoted an 08 tech for 43K, base for 40K, brand new.

Don't forget, the 06's were going for 38K to 40K, if I'm not mistaken per posts on this forum, new in early 07. So, sorry to say but I think you over paid, if you paid only a little less than 39K, IMHO.

Plus, KBB, Edmunds, NADA vary in numbers, significantly. So I've learned to take those numbers with a grain of salt...

 

I test drove the car tonight. It's nice.

It has black leather, he aspec body kit and wheel. it looks almost new inside. 10000 miles. former owner kept it really clean. it drove great. i noticed an ipod adaptor in the glove box - nice.

it also had a 6 disc changer in the trunk.

...i don't know if the car has a spec suspension.

It's not at an Acura dealer, it's a smaller used car dealer. Seller said he sold the car when it was new to the original owner and took it back on trade and sold him a loaded lexus. maybe the guy buys/sells cars for people? not sure how a private car lot is selling new Acura's and somehow cuts out the dealer???

anyway, he had the original window sticker. i noticed the aspec body kit AND a spec wheels were NOT on the sticker. so the owner must have had it added on later???

do they all have park distance control? this one had the little sensors in the back. pull up sunshades in the back. lots of buttons all over..steering wheel, overhead...on star stuff.... way more buttons and gizmos than my 07 MDX. the nav systme interface is just like the MDX which I like. I"m used to it already.


my impression on the driving/handling was that it felt heavier & larger than the TL but more "planted". a bit more body roll but only a little. i could tell i was driving a larger more heavy car, and it was not quite as fast off the line, but it negotiated turns pretty well. when i was thking the car might lose it's footing and start to skid or break lose it just held it's line and stuck. nice. it honestly did NOT feel as sporty as the TL Type S... but it felt MUCH MUCH nicer.

the section of road i tested it on had a couple of nice high speed sweepers where you can really see what the car is capable of. I have taken an s2k up this road and an rx8 (two really nice handling cars) on other test drives. as well as my MDX, and a TL S. The RL did nto have much body roll...it had maybe a little more than the TL, but it just held it's line. i didn't really push it hard enough to actually "feel" the SHAWD kick in, but for sure, it stuck to th raod nicely. very confidence inspiring.

what I really noticeda bout the car is the refinement and luxury. wow. this thing feels NICE. while the TL is "nice"...the RL is a whole order of magnitude nicer. The sales guy said an RL had "conservative elegance" or something like that..it sounds kind of like some cheesy sales pitch..but he's right. it's understated and simple, yet very classy and elegant. it looks and feels likea high end M/B or BMW to me. figuring he'd let this car go for who knows.. 35ish..or maybe less..it looks like ti cost twice that.

on a scale of 1-10 for SPORTINESS...Assume a car like an S2k is a perfect 10.. I'd give the TL-S a 7. The RL might be like a 6.

On a scale of LUXURY/REFINEMENT, 1-10, I'd give the TL-S a 6-7 and the RL is a PERFECT 10.

Overall I liked it a lot. the price it's listed for is high. the dealer said if I'm serious about wanting to make an offer he is negotiable. we never talked numbers. i told him i may come back to let my wife drive it.

not realy sure how cheap he would go. he was very candid about the car market. i asked him how business was and he said he's been selling cars for 20 years and he has NEVER seen the car business so bad. bad for him, good for buyers like me.

if this RL did NOT hav the a spec suspension and it could be tightened up a bit in terms of the body roll, it would be a GREAT handling car.

in terms of speed - it's fast enough. a cat back might be too loud or "ricey" sounding..i'd have to hear one to know if I would want one. the look of the car just doesn't go with a loud fart can exhaust..it would have to be something very subtle.

so how cheap could I get it?

 

His car is an ACC/CMBS car so $39k with that low mileage sounds about right. That's exactly what I paid for a pristine 06 ACC/CMBS/PAX RL with 2,800 miles on it in September 07. There were no ACC/CMBS/PAX cars going for $38-$40k brand new in early 2007. The sticker on those cars was $54k. Even at invoice minus marketing support, you were still in the $45k range.

Which was exactly the discussion I had with the Honda dealer who had the car listed at $43k. I told him I could buy a new 07 ACC/CMBS/PAX for $2k-3k more and he needed to come down. He called his "buddy" at Acura of Boston and verified the numbers and we made a deal. This was a "one-price" dealership as well.

 

how do you know it has ACC or CMBS?

is the ipod adaptor or 6 disk changer in the trunk part of thatpackage?

how do I know if a car has ACC?

this car also has the aspec kit and aspec wheels. funny thing is the window sticker he showed me had anMSRP of $49k.... no mention of those options on the sticker.

I got a copy of the window sticker.

Here is the VIN

JH4KB16526C005752

Anyone here who can carfax it and tell me if it's got any "issues", whe it went into service etc?

i'm getting mixed signals here. some of you say $34k and others are saying $39k is fair??

the guy wants 39k and said he's negotiable. HOW much he'll negotiate, I don't know. I don't want to pay close to 40k. i'd rather be paying more like 30k. i doubt he'll let it go that cheap...

i'm honestly trying to stay closer to 30k. 33-34k is about as much as I can justify spending...partly because I *could* be happy and satisfy my needs with a TL type S and I can get a brand new one for 33-34k.

would THAT RL that I linked to in my first post be possibly bought for 33k? or am I dreaming????

 

The RL has a 6 disc changer in the center stack. Are you sure what you saw in the trunk was not, infact the NAVI DVD drive?

ASPEC components are not installed at the factory and therefore would not be on the sticker, unless it was installed by the dealer before the sale and listed on the sticker as a dealer add on. Likewise for the backup / parking sensors (dealer installed accessories). The backup camera was a dealer accessory for 06 models, so if it has backup / parking sensors it may not have the backup camera.

ONSTAR was on 05 & 06 models and dropped from 07+ models.

Most of the RL functions are also in the MDX. The interface dial on the RL is much better positioned to manipulate while driving. Just rest your wrist on the shift nob and flick away.

The rear side windows have manual shades. The rear window shade is electric (overhead console switch) and retracts when reversing. The rear headrests also have a power fold button on the overhead console.

Most former TL owners here will concur with your observations of the TL vs RL (myself included). One point, aside from heft and amount of body roll is the seating position. The TL sits low, almost on the floor. The RL seats are higher, more upright. I believe it changes the center of gravity and gives he TL a bit more of a go cart feel and ride. Seats feel is pretty subjective, but I find the RL seats mold and hold, along with being the most comfortable I have experienced. The TL seats, though sportier look, were very firm and I tended to slide about in them.

Again, 2 characteristically very different vehicles which just happen to share similar proportions and share some similar content.

 

does THAT car I linked to have ACC and CMBS?

given the mileage - can I get it in the low 30s?

 

To the left of the gauge cluster are 3 buttons. The top one is for disengaging the CMBS, the middle one is for VSA, and bottom for AFS (Active Front Lights System).

If the top button is a blank, it is not CMBS / ACC. They come as a package.

Another check is the Acura emblem on the front grille. If it is a flat, smooth plaque, that is the radar transmitter and it is CMBS equipped. If it has the standard Acura 'A' and 3 dimensional, then it is not CMBS equipped.

Again if it has CMBS, you get ACC. If not, you have neither.

 

Judging by the picture of the grille, it is not a CMBS / ACC equipped RL. I could be wrong, but I do not see the radar type emblem on the grille.

 

For a low-mileage 2006 CMBS/PAX tech package RL, $35K is a very reasonable price IMHO. The A-spec suspension is not compatible with the CMBS/PAX tech package so I would doubt that part of the story.

I have the same car and LOVE it. Compared with my former 2004 TL it is a giant step up. Don't buy a TL-S unless you really like the boy-racer aspect of it. I agree with your driving impressions. The RL is a technological marvel and extremely capable ride that manages to be highly luxurious at the same time. It gradually gets under your skin, as many members here will attest. Once you've been to the circus and seen the elephants, there's no way you'll ever be happy back on the farm...

 

Tampa is correct as usual. I do like those A-spec wheels, although they are not compatible with my 2006Tech Package. I love my CMBS/PAX 2006 RL. Huge step up from the 2004 TL.

Around $35K is a very reasonable price for that lovely ride. It's a bargain at that price, and waaaay more car than the TL-S. No sane individual would sell it for $30K.

 

ok... ASSUME that the car I found does NOT have CMBS.

is the PAX package just mean run flats?

thge car has Michelin Pilot sports on it. It hink that's what they said. i glanced at the sidwalls briefly. they look like new tires - lots of tread.

if the car has CMBS does that mean you CANNOT add the aspec suspension?

i'm hoping to talk him down to like 31-32k. i KNOW the car has been for sale on his lot since about August.... so it's been for sale for at LEAST 5 months at this dealer.

 

VOdoc,

You DELETED your other post before I could respond! So only YOU will know what I mean when I say.... Please keep your farm animal hobby off the board!

*ducking*

 

I was referring to Geronimomoe telling Carys that he overpaid for a low mileage CMBS/PAX at $39k. The CMBS/PAX package is about $4k more than the Tech package on the sticker. The CMBS/PAX cars weren't selling new for $38k-$40k like he claimed. The sticker was like $54k and they were selling closer to $45k after the marketing support $ that was available. IMO, $39k was reasonable for that model with that mileage.

The car you've linked to is not a CMBS/PAX model.

 

Very funny...

I deleted that post because the @$*#%&!! extremely annoying 5-minute editing limit expired.

For anyone who's interested, what I said was (referring to having driven the RL vs. the less-capable TL): "Once you've been to the circus and seen the elephants, you'll never be happy back on the farm!"

Now please keep your mind out of the feeding trough there, Tampa...

And now we return to our regularly scheduled topic.

 

PAX 'package' is a bundle of CMBS, ACC and PAX. This car has none. It looks like there are Michelin Pilot Sports on the Aspec rims...which are favored by many here over the OEM Michelins on standard wheels.

The manual specifies the suspension should not be modified on CMBS RLs. Others have report no dealer would do so. Some speculate it can be done, but not by Acura's favor.

You may want to see if it has a backup camera...but that CAN be added on an 06 model.

I think anything under $35K is a good deal for this car, assuming it is clean from repairs. If CARFAX reports nothing, have and Acura tech check it still. Cash repairs may not appear on CARFAX.

 

wow. Tons of great help/advice on this forum. thanks a lot!

I had a great test drive. will let my wife take a look at it sometime this weekend.

i have to admit..I have ONE other option I am contemplating.

I commute a short distance to work. I currently have a 2007 MDX which my wife drives during the day with our three kids to costco/mall/etc...I have an older volvo S70 T5 that I drive to/from work. it's totally paid for, runs like a champ, but it's old, and not much fun to drive. it's reliable for an old car, has a decent radio, no dings or dents, looks clean, has heated seats, cruise, the usual bells/whistles. it's also pretty fast for an old car. i have TOYED with the idea of keeping that car as a commuter/beater, and getting a new S2000 to *race* to/from work once in a while, and play with on weekends. I candidly cannot afford an RL and an S2000. my wife accuses me of wanting to actually take off on Sat and leave her at home with the kids... some of my coworkes think i'm nuts to want a roadster when i've got three kids... i try to tell them it would be a "toy"...

i'm only 35, so I don't think it's a mid life crisis..not yet.. but I did test drive one and it sure was FUN. not comfy and not quiet. more like loud and bumpy - but for my short commute to work it would be tolerable. On weekends, it would be a blast. i'd still have my MDX for family trips and the old volvo for running errands that require space or back seats and doesnt' require the MDX...use it as a beater.

ok, now the sensible part of me is back from the fantasy. the RL would look much more classy as I drive to the office. I'm a county attorney... so while I don't work for the "firm" and don't need to try and convey some high roller image - it is a very classy car to be seen in. and driving to/from work would be VERY nice in that car. besides, the RL would easily fit all the kids, car seats, and if/when I didn't want to take the MDX, we could all fit into the RL.

when the kids are out of school - oh in about 20 more years, and i'm collecting my pension, i'll snatch up a 911.

I'll have to see what that guy would really take. I looked up kbb.com and the "trade in" value for that car was around 28k - in "fair" condition. from my experience, whatever kbb.coms ays, take the lowest number and then knock of a few grand, and that's about what you get on trade. the guy told me he took it in trade... so my guess is that he is into it for 30k or less. anything over 30k would be a profit, and it's sat there for 6 months. he wants to unload it bad.

 

I need a beer,,,,,

 

Oops. I misread his post. I thought he said it didn't have CMBS/Pax.....

I was thinking the "regular" 06's were going for that price in early 07, if my memory is correct...

 

To me it would be no contest...get the S2000. The only problem with an S2000 is it's too small for anyone over 6 ft 2 or so. The S2000 kicks the a$$ of most other cars in it class for thousands of $ less.

 

From A Volvo to an S2000, sounds like mid-life to me. so what, enjoy it if you can swing it.
having just been in my 3rd accident in this Acura (none my fault) no way would I drive a S2000. Maybe I need a Volvo. crazy drivers.

 

i really wasn't looking to get an s2k.

i was looking at the TL Type S... i was looking for a sensible 4 door 5 seater to replace my volvo. but when i got a trade in quote on my volvo of only 3000 I thought.. no way. i know it's old and has high mileage, but the car is super clean, runs great, has been extensively maintained... it's just old. anywya... i started thinking of buying another car but keeping my volvo as a third car. that got me thinking...if i keep the volov, why get another sedan, get something totally different.. so for kicks I test drove an rx8 and an s2000. the mazda/honda dealers were walking distance apart..

both cars were a total blast to drive. each left me with a smile plastered on my face. but then again, they are sports cars meant to do that.

i was originally thinking of even picking up a dirt cheap used one... but then saw the advertised lease on the s2k which is about $2500-3000 down and $350/month for 12k/36mo. not bad for an s2k.

if i buy the RL, I"ll probably put down around 5000 - which means I"ll be financing a fair amount and wind up with a monthlyh payment much higher than the 350 lease...but at the end of my auto loan I own the RL and have something to show for it...whereas on the s2k lease you just get the fun of it for a few years then it goes away.

part of me is drawn to the idea of having a toy car to blast around in, but the reality of being a married father of 3 means that I'm not exactly going to have sat/sun free all the time to take off and "drive". more of the time, i'm going to be using whatever I buy as a new car to drive to/from work.

we have an 07 mdx, and we tend to drive that most of the time as my volvo is nowhere near as nice..so teh mdx gets the bulk of our family driving,trips. if i had an RL, then we could take either car and spread the use/mileage more evenly among the two cars..making each last a bit longer.

after driving that RL, it felt nicer an dmore luxurious than my MDX...and I think the MDX is a very nice vehicle.

anyway.. the s2k idea is fun...but the reality is... i'm a practical conservative guy who tries to make responsible decisions. while it would be great fun to vanish off into the sunset in an s2k - racing around mountain roads... that's fantasy. the reality is at 7am i'll be driving off to the office, at 6pm i'll be driving home and on weekends i'll be driving to costco, the mall, or grandma an dgrandpas house.

i NEED an s2k like i need a hole in my head. my wife keeps me reminding me of that. that post above...was more fantasy..than a real serious consideration. just thinking and fantasizing out loud.

don't want to get too far off the original topic, which was how much I can get that RL for!!!


i've been reading the edmunds.com inside line forums and it looks like in 07, people were buying 06 RLs with tech for about 42k. the window sticker on this particular car makes me think is does NOT have the CMBS or ACC options.

it's essentically an RL w/ tech or nav or whatever you call that. it has nav, but that' sht eonly real option over the base model. it DOES have dealer installed accessories of the backup sensors, a spec body kit, a spec wheels, a sunroof wind deflector and the ipod adaptor. i don't think it has the aspec suspension..but who knows. i'd have to take it to acura an dhave them check the part numbers.. i looked inside the wheel wells an dyou could see the sticker/part numbers on the shocks... but i dind't write them down....

if this car, minus all it's goodies, sold in early 07 for about 42k...and if you assume you can still get a new one for close to that...

then this car with two model years ahead of it, and 11k miles on the clock...should be at LEAST 20% off new... or at least thats my guestimate.

i'm thinking this car would be a decent deal at 32-33k.

one thing I want to check on is WHEN did it first get sold. b/c doesn't the warranty start to run from when it was first sold? so if it sold mid 2007, then i've got from THEN on the bumper/bumper and powertrain warranty?

i'm also toying with the idea of trying to lease anew one vs buying used.

i want the aspec body kit/suspension/wheels...and finding the whole aspec kit on a new one that I can lease and get those options residualized injo the lease may be hard..not sure if you can do that or not.

 

Hey, mine is the same year with the aspec suspension and rims and it only has 8k

 

In-service date is what you want to find out for warranty.
Maybe a TLS would fit you better, sportier than the RL. I'd say the RL and MDX are very close models.

I'll never be convinced that leasing is an economical alternative for mainstream cars.

 

The point I was trying to make is that this specific car was made in February or March of 2006 and 10K miles would be really low for a car that is meant to be driven a lot especially in CA where the yearly miles driven is about 12K, so it should have about 24K now.