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If the time finally came to sell your 2nd gen Acura TL, what would you upgrade to?
I am 23 and just graduated last month and feel fortunate enough to decide to upgrade. I have had this one since I was 16 and love to death but my family is willing to help me go in on a preowned car. So, as the title says, if you were giving the help to upgrade, what would you trade it in for? My current TL has 120K miles and is in good shape (minus the paint starting to go). I figure I will get about $5,000 for it (not bad being that I payed only 6500 for it 6 years ago). Also, I really only drive the car rarely (about 3,000/year) and drive a 1999 4runner with 260,000 original miles (looks and drives like new) as my daily driver. I just drive the Acura for fun sometimes and have had trouble parting with it due only to the sentimental value of it to me as my first car. I plan on keeping the 4runner as my hauling / camping rig and using my new acura as my daily driver.
What I am considering upgrading to. In my "fantasy order" but obviously not sure about the first one since my approximate budget is $25,000-$35,000 depending on once I figure out how much my family will help with and what I am going to pitch in. Also, I plan on keeping this car for a very long time (ideally 10+ years) so buying used certified pre-owned with warranty would be ideal
1) Do I need to say it? the 2015 TLX has me drooling. I did drive a V6 sh-awd advance package and I love the drive behind it. Honestly not the most styling car nowawadays and not the highest quality interior compared to say lexus but I really enjoy it. The main thing I love is the adaptive cruise control. I do a decent amount of highway driving and with stop and go traffic in LA that would be awesome to use. Also the lane keep assist is a nice touch but not necessary. Also, disappointed blue on black is not a possible color combination so I would have to sacrifice one.
2) 4th Acura TL. I know its a controversial styling but my dad has an 09 with tech and I really enjoy it, but think I may opt for the 2012 sh-awd advance model (about $25,000-$30,000). I would not get adaptive cruise since it wasnt offered which is a huge bummer in my opinion. But I do enjoy the drive and love the interior (even above the tlx) just its missing some nice features offered in the tlx (duh) like ACC and brake hold and others. Not going to buy red just looked like a nice TL.
3) 2016 Acura ILX. I really like this new refresh, and I know its a bit small but I have my 4runner if I ever need to haul stuff. I test drove one and it was nice for what it was, but a tad bit slower than our current 3.2 TL with its 4cyl 8 speed DCT. But hey I would get my adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist since I would want the tech-plus with aspec. I kinda have a go big or go home philosophy if you catch on. And hey 26/36 mpg sure would be nice coming from 16 mpg in my 4runner and about 24 in the TL. Negatives are I dont really like the seats with the "fake suede" but I would have to still get the aspec since I love the Catalina blue pearl and the only way to get a black interior is with the aspec. Also lack of sh-awd is another disappointment but honestly not truly needed. Other than that and its the slowest of these 4 models I love the exterior looks and and everything else about it! Price tag is $35,000 new.
4) 2nd gen Acura RL. I used to have a 2005 RL for a few months and thought it was the greatest handling Acura I have even driven. I love the flagship model premium seats and quality of the car. At the time, I couldnt part with my TL so sold the RL for a handsome profit. I figure I would get a newer than that with lower mileage one. Only negative is that it doesn't get the best mpg and its getting kind of dated. (about $15,000-$25,000)
One other possibility is to wait a year or 2 and get a used TLX for a better price.
yeah that CTS is a sweet ride man, if I had to give up the TL, I always say, Daddy wants a Caddy!
Or spend some money on the TL, interior upgrade- repad and recover the seats
Accord trans swap, 100k mile service yadayada
The TL still beats most newer cars in looks, performance and plain ol nice car that isn't the same as everyone else!! Now they all look like our old TL!
Which car do you want to look out the window and say- that cost me 10-15-20 dollars A DAY to have sitting in the driveway!! Whatever your monthly payment- insurance will cost almost as much! That's where they get you- the insurance!!
Will you drive the new car far more than the TL? Will you blow out the mileage on the new car..what about new car service cost?
congratulations on graduating! Without knowing your financial situation, as someone just entering the job market, buying a $30,000 car is not the best decision. Especially since you have 2 cars that both work fine. Get a solid job first, make sure you're stable, get a house, then buy a car.
That said, I wouldn't pick any 2009+ Acura. You have a solid car in the 4 runner. Get a fun car like S2000. Heck, at 30,000 you're not far from an NSX.
You can buy 10 year-old Porsches for 30K. That much cash will get you a lot of bang for your buck with a used car.
Remember that new cars lose roughly 55% of their value within their first 3-4 years. A car is NOT an investment!
I'll wager that $30K could get you a decent '05-'06 TL-S and still leave you with enough left over to drop in a supercharger, full exhaust, wheels, suspension, everything. You'd be the fastest kid on the block. A new car with the same amount of power would cost $50+
congratulations on graduating! Without knowing your financial situation, as someone just entering the job market, buying a $30,000 car is not the best decision. Especially since you have 2 cars that both work fine. Get a solid job first, make sure you're stable, get a house, then buy a car.
That first and foremost.. Don't fall into the trap. You got a solid car that JUST hit puberty (120K miles only?!!) That thing easily has another 240K to go.. save up, be smart and put that money away for later. Your car will get your around for now, no need to 'upgrade' just yet
Also if you only drive 3k/year you really want to drop 30K on a car that will depreciate the moment you drive it off the lot?
Doesn't really make financial sense. You got two great cars, just stick with them for now until you're financially more stable.
Keep your car and she'll take care of you. A used car is your best friend, put a little bit of money to keep her going and when you take her out of the garage she'll always bring you home.
If you've got money to spend then spend it on your current car. ~15K can get you 350+ whp on the 2g TL. Or save it and buy something retarded in 5 years. Like a mazerati. :P
congratulations on graduating! Without knowing your financial situation, as someone just entering the job market, buying a $30,000 car is not the best decision. Especially since you have 2 cars that both work fine. Get a solid job first, make sure you're stable, get a house, then buy a car.
That's the worst tittle for that video..
I don't get how "FREE" translate to "Savings" oh wait, it never does.
Instead of paying the bank you now pay yourself! so you don't get to use that money for anything else.... It isn't FREE at all.....
Its just basic economics.
No monthly payments = GOOD
Monthly payments = BAD
Saving the amount of Monthly Payments = GOOD???? DAFUQ?
In all serious though, these guys speak the truth.
A nice house will make you MUCH happier in the long run than a nice car. Cars generally depreciate. Houses generally don't. Your nice car now will slowly age, slowly wear, slowly depreciate. It's inevitable. And it's even worse if you have to make payments on it.
I wouldn't spend 15k on upgrading your current car either. That's stupid also. You'll never get that money back, so you might as well just set on fire.
My honest opinion- money is easy to spend but very hard to earn. Don't waste your money on a nice car now. What you think is nice now for 30k will be nothing in 8-10 years, if you play your cards right. Then you'll be shopping for 60-70k cars.
I like how it looks on the interior, But I would never own one just for the outside look.
It doesn't compare to the more modest, luxury style of the 1G,2G,4G,TLX. The 3G screams SPORT!!! which is my main reason to skip it and go for a 4G instead.. For a SPORT! look I rather have a true sports car.
Incase anyone is interested I would be getting substantial help from my family. My grandparents WANT me to get a newer car even though I told them I love my Acura as is. They want to give me a chip of my inheritance early and will probably put in roughly 20,000 + my father 5,000 + I will put in 5,000 + the money from selling my current 2g tl for about 5,000 brings me to about 35,000. But realistically should be looking in the 25,000 range. My brother got a 2010 TSX 2 years ago for 25,000 when he graduated. I feel fortunate to come from such an amazing family and just fantasizing which one of those Acuras I want to upgrade up to.
Also considering lexus is250/350 or accord hybrid or something.
My question is: If you hit the "family lottery" for a new car and could just instantly upgrade with no payment for "practically free" what would you change to?
i would still take that money and buy property instead. Would the grand parents care if you put it on a house instead? Knowing what I know now, I would have bought as much property as possible a long time ago.
If you have a DD then why not grab a fun sporty car? Do you need 4 doors? AWD? mileage important?
I was in a similar situation as you 10 years ago. Freshly out of college, no car payments with my Civic, had a serious girlfriend who wrecked her car and needed to buy a new one. Ultimately, it's your decision, but I agree that you should keep your current vehicles and invest whatever money your family is providing into a house, CD, money market, IRA, savings, whatever...
Things happen and you should consider a nest egg. I don't know your financial background, but for me, I didn't have financial backing from my family like that and had to build on my own (with my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife).
Overall, it took me 3 months to secure a stable job (started off with an internship). After that, I wanted to secure a house, which came 12 months later. After that, I was able to buy the car that I want with no regrets.
Now, when one of your cars go AWOL, then you look into a new vehicle. At that time, consider what you want out of the vehicle and decide from there. 4G TL 6MT is definitely something to consider.
And as I said before, a car is not an investment. @OP I'm not sure if you said anything about your school situation but $35K can get you an education that should easily put you into a $75K+/year job.
i was faced with a similar choice. it arose in a different way (my "windfall" was that my first car got totaled last may and i had insurance funds plus others, including some help from family). i started doing research on the cars you mentioned plus probably a dozen others and my dad let me drive the 03 TL-S that he bought so my brother and i could drive his 01 TL-P to and from high school.
what was supposed to be a few-month band aid is still sitting in front of my apartment at my grad school right now. i'll buy it from him when i go back home for the summer, figure out this transmission swap, and look into getting a head unit that can give me android auto (if it seems worth it). this will leave excess funds that will be a helpful buffer while i start my career... and someday that buffer will magically transform into an S2K!
family lotteries are great and i feel like i've hit them at many points during my life, but you can express appreciation and still make an objectively responsible decision. not that OP should -- do what you want! but it's an option, and a damn good one.
Incase anyone is interested I would be getting substantial help from my family. My grandparents WANT me to get a newer car even though I told them I love my Acura as is. They want to give me a chip of my inheritance early and will probably put in roughly 20,000 + my father 5,000 + I will put in 5,000 + the money from selling my current 2g tl for about 5,000 brings me to about 35,000. But realistically should be looking in the 25,000 range. My brother got a 2010 TSX 2 years ago for 25,000 when he graduated. I feel fortunate to come from such an amazing family and just fantasizing which one of those Acuras I want to upgrade up to.
Also considering lexus is250/350 or accord hybrid or something.
My question is: If you hit the "family lottery" for a new car and could just instantly upgrade with no payment for "practically free" what would you change to?
I think the OP is mainly asking for which car to buy with around $30,000 , not what to do with $30,000 . If I were hitting the family lottery and had to buy a new car right now, I would probably go for a TLX just because of all the new tech features, maybe a low mile 4G SH-AWD would be considered too. I don't really know that much about the IS 250/350, but I have always really liked the way they look, inside and out, heard they were kind of lacking on interior space and driving dynamics though. If I REALLY hit the family lottery I would be going in for a Lexus RC F though
doesn't the TLX have transmission issues? my neighbour has one and has had constant problems. The 4G looks like garbage. He has a 4dr SUV, so get something small and fun to drive. S2000, FR-S, Focus ST.
Mustang GT 4cyl Turbo!
... I know sounds like sacrilege but its really really good... And with 30K you can fully pay it (1 payment) with all the equipment!!
(Standard is around 26K, All equipped is almost 29-30K) and beat the living shit out of any current ACURA.
My pal lend me one to pop its cherry on touge.... Its a BEAST!
Based on OP's original lineup, it seems that he's leaning to Acura. I agree, if you're going to buy a dream/daily car, I'd pick something fun to drive...
Bunch of options out there, so would need more from the OP to see what he's really looking for. Also, what features do you want? MT or AT? N/A or boost? FWD, RWD, or AWD? Luxury vs. Sport?
Everyone will give his/her opinion based on what he/she desires, but what I want may not be what you want.
that's why these kind of threads suck. no offense OP.
it's like trying to choose a favorite ice cream flavor but asking what other's like.
there's enough competition in the $30k range that offer anything and everything.
so, if you like Acura's (vanilla - BORING) go ahead and get one!
The only Acura I like right now is the MDX. It's a pretty good SUV...the rest of the line-up...sigh, does nothing for me. And hate to say it, but Lincoln, Buick offer compelling alternatives...
You are just a blind 3G Fanboy crabman, Have you seen the modded 4Gs? They obliterate the 3G/2G/1G Combined.
I disagree, in my OPINION , 1G & 2G look awful. Always have thought that, always will. I don't like the proportions, the front end , just the whole car in general. 3G ( may be a little biased ) has a classic design that was way ahead of its time, and has aged extremely well. The 4G has well, a love it or hate it design , personally, I like it. And last but not least, I think the TLX is the best LOOKING TL generation to date , and is what the 4G should have looked like.
But, to get back on topic, I would shop around and test drive some TL's, TLX's , IS Models, maybe just go to an AutoMall of there's one around you and walk around and see some cars you might not would have thought to look at.
The only clearly differentiated Acura that I would buy is the MDX. I also like the RDX, but find it a bit too CRV'ish and feminine for my tastes.
No interest nor curiosity in any of the current sedans. TLX (boring and compromised), ILX (car for a kid out of college, but please give me a Civic instead), RLX (are you kidding, except for the Sport Hybrid, which does have my interest).
06-01-2015, 02:10 AM
