Mike H.

But she's on a strick budget. Is it possible to be able to get a new 2002 TL (no nav, no Type-S) at invoice? I'm in Socal (Los Angeles, what are good dealerships out there). I'm thinking around $27K. Also, for that same price, do you think we can get a used 2000/2001 with nav? Is Nav even worth it? I'm a toy person but it's not my car. Thanks for you help.

Regards,
Mike H.

TommyBoiSxty9

I drove a 99 with navi (hard drive based) but didn't like it anyhow........ not for lack of mapping, etc. -- it was just to gimmicky for me in the dash (especially HVAC controls integrated within) And Usually I like gimmicky stuff. Anyhow, if she travels a lot and lives/travels to areas that have good coverage on the navi. Then yes, if not -- don't bother. I paid $19500 for a 2000 with 43k miels if that give su a pricing idea for used (non navi)

Shoofin

Tommy, you paid such a low price because of the color... It's nice, but not as popular as other's..
Ed

Davediego

I paid $22k for my black 99TL with navi when it only had 25,000 miles on it. The dealer also gave me free new floor mats, mud guards, and gold kit. Personally I love the navi, I think it looks cool in the dash.

TommyBoiSxty9

Shutup -- no one asked you and your dime-a-dozen silver color :p

rominl

you should be able to get the TL-P at around 500 over invoice.

Cruzin

I dont think it's impossible to to pick up a 2002 tl close to invoice. I picked up mine about a month ago for about 17,500.

rominl

hee, you mean 27500 right?

Mike H.

Cruzin, you mean 27500 right? We're going to drop by an Acura dealership tomorrow and see how it goes. Any tips on getting $500 over invoice? Do I just flat out tell the dealer this is how much I want to spend on the car? Would they bite on that?

Mike H.

rominl, don't mean to be a rookie but what's a TL-P? Standard TL right?

Cruzin, what TL did you get, no nav, no TL-S?

TUFF GONG

Mike H, is your girlfriend good with directions? Does she get lost often, etc.

I originaly bought the Nav just because it's a toy/gadget and not really for actual directions, I have a sixth sense for north,east west and south almost anywhere I'm at. Don't ask me how, maybe cause I've loved geography since I was a kid.

Anyway, my sister borrowed my car for a few days and I had a hard time getting it back. She's not bad with directions but it opened up a whole new world to her. She told me how useful and helpful it was. In her case, it saves alot of time and frustration (and added safety too! It's not safe for a girl to get lost, IMO) Now I have to look into installing a aftermarket Nav on her IS300(I wish she waited for the 2002 w/Nav ).

Anyway, until you experience the help the Navi gives you, you won't really have an idea how helpful it can be.

One thing I love and use the Nav for on a daily basis is whenever I get stuck in some heavy traffic, I look at the surrounding roads and figure out a detour on my own. Just using it as a map. I realized this on 9/11/01 when I was trying to drive home from work. All the highways were shut down and everybody was jammed up on the secondary roads, it was the worst traffic jam I've ever seen. But anyway, I used the nav map to show me the residential roads (which had no traffic) and zigzagged all the way home. I now use it to do just that, guiding me through a neighborhood without hitting dead ends or making loops etc. when I come across a bad traffic jam in unfamiliar territory.

Most people I spoke with who got the navi don't regret buying it, but some of the ones who didn't regret it.

IMO, well worth it

TUFF GONG

Yes, the non Type-S are called "Premium". Hence the "P".

Good luck car shopping tomorrow

SL1200MK4

One tip on getting a good deal...

pretend that you have your mind set on the Accord or something... and not really interested in the TL. Don't show excitement...

Mike H.

tuff gong - my gf is only going to be using to work and stuff. Otherwise I'd be driving the car. And besides, we don't want to go pass $30K (all out) so I think the Nav is out of the question.

sl1200mk4 - thanks, i'll keep that in mind. I think I'm just going to tell them the car is for me so that they won't try to do a run-around through my gf. This is going to be my 5th car deal, should be fun.

others - thanks for all your input and advice. I'll let you know how things go.

Oh yeah, so shooting for $500 over invoice is realistic then? Thanks again.

Cruzin

talk about being a rookie!! 27,500 not 17,500. I need to learn what numbers are.

bigman

I have a 99 i bought used for 24000 that included tax, free break service for one year, free oil changes for one year, and free washes once a week for one year. It also came with 100,000 mile warrenty. The car was a 99 as mentioned above, it is white with parchment interior, has body kit, and navi.

FKNA

You can always try....we got a 2002 with the navigation system (yes, I think it's worth it) and paid $30,500 for it.

rominl

yup, i would stand by that price for sure. they can definitely do it i know. i used the internet purchase and that's the price they gave me directly.

Mike H.

Good news guys! Looks like my gf is set on the TL. I'll be trying the so-called "fax attack" tomorrow. Can anyone give me tips/examples on how to write it? I'm not very good at written demands. We should be able to get it at close to invoice. There were only two in the spec that we wanted. Also, test drove a blue one today...SWEEEET!!!


rominl - what do you mean by internet purchase? Priceline? Autobytel? Carsdirect? I'm gonna try these tomorrow.

NBP TL

Im trying to get my g/f to get a TL. She wants the new Altima 3.5 SE.

Mike H.

Just tell her to sit in one. That'll change her mind quickly. The new Altima looks nice from the outside, but once you step foot inside of it, it's just another piece of grand an plastic. Good thing my gf found out that one of fer co-workers used to work at Honda so he's trying to get the TL at dealer's cost. Doubt it, but we'll see.

NBP TL

If she doesnt like it then she said she is going with her second choice Maxima SE. Still no TL.

city001

TL are selling very well..so it'll be hard...but I'm sure u can get 2002 TL P ...get the navi it's worth it..
if u can't find a restaurant or friend's address...or when need directions...it gets u to places and u'll know where u r at all times... u r never lost..

with Navi ..u should be able to get it around 28Kish-29Kish

My superviser bought a 2000 TL P with navi for 29k 2 years ago
and he got the popular color one which is Silver..

city

Sleeper_RENAMED

You could try the COSTCO car purchasing program. Thats if you are a member.

Edub-TL

Mike,
Welcome to the forum.
You guys probably could get a TL-P non-Nav for even less than 27,500; maybe even 27,200.. With Tax, Title, etc.. total would be almost exactly 30K.

I would definately recommend the Navi, if you consider how much it really is over the life of the loan(assuming she is going to finace the car), it only amounts to about $30-$40 extra a month..
She will really be happy when she finds the usefulness of it.. Since you live in the LA area, I know having lived there myself, that it is viturally impossible to know how to get everywhere..

I'm mainly in the Bay Area, but I have found that I could have used the Navi so many times when I went to downtown SF or downtown LA..

I regret not getting that option everytime my wife uses my car or we go somewhere we have not been before and have to rely on the printed maps, etc.. it's a convinence to have the Navi.

I'm almost inclined to sell my 01 TL and replace it with a 03 or 04 TL.. but any car I buy from now on will have the Nav option.


Sleeper,
I didn't know COSTCO had a buying relationship with Acura.. I thought it was only with a few car mfgrs.. you happen to know how much of a discount you can get going through them?

rominl

Mike H., well i emailed the internet managers of all the dealers that are close to me and asked them to offer me a good price. go to acura.com, find dealers that are within 30 or 50 miles, and email every single one of them. i got replies from pretty much all of them.

most of them said 1k over invoice, except the dealer where i got my car offered 500 over invoice. boom i went the week after and got my car. pretty neat, you don't even have to step away from the computer

Edub-TL, i think costco has relationship with acura? i know for sure they have one with honda, and i got an impression of reading acura stuff as well.

Sleeper_RENAMED

It was just a thought. I am not at all certain if COSTCO has a deal setup with Acura. I thought the deals were setup through fleet managers not necessarily with the manufacturer. As I understand it, COSTCO sets up a bid and the dealerships/fleet managers with the lowest bid gets the contract. As part of the contract, the dealer/fleet manager can not sell the cars cheaper than the COSTCO contract price. Please correct me if I am wrong.

SC TL

Navi is great for Southern California. All major counties are mapped very well. I recommend it if you can afford it.