Hello forum members,

I am no stranger to honda or its wonderful products but up to this point its been with civics and integras.

I recently got a new job that requires me to use my own vehicle and my "tuner cars" won't meet the standards that works sets. So a friend of mine who is in the "re builder " auto business called me and said he has this 03 TL for sale. About 80,xxx miles. Salvage title.

I must say I'm tempted but after just a little research i found out about the transmission problems. I plan on calling the local dealer for info regarding the recall, but what else should I be looking for? Is the price of about $8,000 reasonable?

Also, can I reasonably expect to get an average of 25mpg mostly city driving? Its mostly low speed, 20-45 mph, but not with much stop and go. Certainly not heavy traffic.

Thanks for any light you can shed on the subject...

Tim

 

the only thing that you have to worry about is the tranny. the tranny isnt covered under a salvage title though. but so many people have salvage TLs and the absolutly love the car. but i say 8,000 for 80K Miles on a TL is a good price because if you went out there to look for non salvaged titles, the car would be around 13K

 

Draw of the luck I guess. Try to find one without the title and see if you can get a good price for it. I would probably tag on 2 to 3 thousand to that salvage titled car as a just in case if the tranny goes and then you can see whether the car is worth your money.

 

What do you mean "rebuilder" of the auto business?

 

Find out what made it a "salvage" title.

 

A rebuilder is someone who buys cars at salvage auction and repairs them for resale. I have purchased a number of cars from him over the year and trust his work. It was a light front end hit and is currently being repaired so I will get to see the car before and after.

I guess I could get luck and have it be a late model 03 and not have the problem, or maybe it was taken car of already being that it has 80,xxx on it already.

 

you can call acura at 1-800-382-2238 x5 and ask for the warranty repair history- you need the VIN to check it
Salvage title voids ALL warranty including the extended SRS sensor- airbag system 10/150 coverage! Wonder what happened to it in the crash- was there airbag deployment?

5 grand would be good deal for a salvage car- maybe-but 8 grand!!!! no frikken way- you have to plan on a $4000 transmission failure plus who knows what from a front end crash bad enough to toal the car in the insurance company eyes- thats well over 6-8 grand in damage before they would do that....
Your friend may provide excellent rebuilt toyotas and such- the TL is a very different type of car! Perhaps you should think 4 cylinder for your current in town needs
TL = Touring Luxery--- not meant for in town run around- big heavy 6 cyl
Gas mileage just in town, averages 19- if you keep off the throttle!!
freeway only- 29 is normal- combined driving-22 is normal

 

And- the 03 had the same trans prob- not REALLY fixed until late 04-05 so be wary

 

OK so you know about the salvage tranny issue.

99% of my driving is all city. I've never got better than 18mpg all in town. And that is not gunning it, but with lots of stop and go.

Kind of makes me want to have a beater Civic or something for a commuter. But get the TL on the open highway and she shines.

 

You probably won't see anything close to 25 MPG with mostly city driving. I get 25-26 MPG in my TL with about 80% highway driving. You'll probably end up closer to 20 MPG and maybe less.

And, as mentioned above, be aware that an out-of warranty transmission replacement can run between $3,000 and $4,000. Your $8,000 outlay could quickly become $11,000 to $12,000.

Bob

 

It may be that the changes that Acura made in February of 2005 may have resolved the major failure issues.

Bob

 

yeah find out why it's got a salvage title. I'd be very warry unless it was meticously inspected by myself and a mechanic I trusted a lot(hard to find). If it checked out okay then I'd offer $5k as they probably bought it for dirt cheap and put a few hundred into it to turn a quick fat profit.

 

I bought a 2002 TLS with a salvage title, I now have over $16,000 into a car that is sitting in my driveway with another dead transmission.
Acura wont negotiate with the $5,700 cost of a new ECU, front and rear motor mount, and transmission. I went to acura owners experience and registered the car by the VIN, it says "fixed" under recall, and "open" under warranty extension.
ANYWAY, If the transmission in the car you are considering buying does NOT have the updated tranny (early 05 I think) you will need to start saving your money because eventually your gonna need one.
Once you get behind the wheel and take it for a test run, you'll probably buy it anyway though...

 

My advice is to stop looking and buy

 

says the guy giving up on ol' habanero