Fantality

Hello guys.

I am a college student and I drive a 2000 Toyota Camry right now. I came across this Acura TL 2002 model at this Auto Repair Shop. While I had my car sitting there to be repaired, the owner gave me a free rental on that 2002 Acura TL. I felt that the car drove well and all the luxuries in the car made me start lusting after it. I also liked the exterior look much better than my Camry.

I talked to the owner and he said he would sell it to me for $5,500. It is not a Type S. It has black leather interior. It has a sun roof. It is an automatic. It has 145,000 miles on it. It has heated seats. Car looks to be in a pretty good shape both inside and out.

After driving this car during my rental period, I started getting interested in Acuras. So I started doing some research and came across a few worrisome things.

Through the comments and articles on the web, I was informed that Acuras have transmission problems and that you would need to get it replaced at around 100k to 150k miles. I asked the owner and he said the transmission has not be replaced yet so if I run into transmission problems shortly after buying the car, I would have to dish out another $2,000 or so.

Also, the owner of this Acura has been using regular fuel instead of premium. I heard some double sided comments to this with some saying it does not matter which fuel grade you use while others said using lesser fuel grade than the recommended one could cause problems.

Also, the owner said I could take the car and drive it for a day or two to see if I really wanted it. He also said that he would give me a 90 day warranty and that if I run into any issues with the car during the 90 day period, he would fix it for me free of charge.

What do you guys think? Is this a good deal or a no go?

tommy97132

I read about the transmissions problems in the 04 to 06 automatic TL. The motor is too strong for the 5 speed automatic. The clutches were weak and burnt up fairly quick if you didn't drive like normal civilized driver. I think the price is high. You can find other acuras on Craig's list about the same price but less miles. Take your time in finding a new vehicle. Took me 3 months to find mine and I had it shipped from Cincinnati to where I lived in Oklahoma. It was worth it

3.2TLc

Welcome Fantality !!!
While the Acura TL's are definitely an upgrade over Camrys.....they do have their issues.
Did the TL owner purchase the car new and have all the service records documented ? At 145K, the biggest concerns would be if the T-belt servicing and tranny recall was done. The price seems to be rather high, IMO.

In all sincerity, the Camry may provide more economical sense for a college student. They are a reliable car and if paid for.....that's a plus. I'd suggest waiting until ya can afford the 3rd Gen TL. The '07>'08 models are awesome and have improved trannys.

tootm

Isnt that kinda two different suggestions Tommy said
(And I agree from what ive read) the 04-06 5 speed auto has the issues (wouldnt them be the 3rd gen??) 99-03 (2nd gen.) Has a 4 speed auto tranny and have more of the mount and dirty screen problem (way cheaper fix) I don't know much bout them tho.. only what ive read on these cars...

tootm

I see 3rd are 04-08 so nm that part

MarcDavidoff

$5500 for the miles and being a non type S seems kinda high

LITypeS

I know this is off topic but do the non Type S TL's have less of a failure rate with their transmissions?

3.2TLc

Hey LITypeS, the 2nd Gen TL's ..... '00>up with the 5 speed are all problematic with their inherent poor quality tranny design. Even the early 3rd Gens had similar issues. While I'm unsure about the "S" models having a higher rate of failure, I think that they're both basically the same with chances of problems.

ErickUa5

Nope all 5 speeds had failures, some were lucky and some were not regardless of models.
even the 3rd gen 04 TL had the same issues until the updated design was introduced in 2005.

Ti: If it doesn't have the oil jet on the fill bolt chances are you've got a good one.

Skirmich

^ Type-S had a bigger rate of failure because it was the "Sport" version of the car, its a given that they were driven more hard than a Base model and the bigger motor made more heat and problems to the clutches..


I'm fairly confident to say that a Type-S will have more problems due the added power and Spirited Driver.

tootm

What size engine does the Type S have? I know my 99 has A 3.2 with a 4 speed and other then a "hard shift" ( I mean throw u back against the seat hard) when its cold. It shifts nice.

Skirmich

^^ Same 3.2L of displacement but the engine itself has more compression and ""A more aggressive camshaft, more free flowing intake/exhaust, and a 2-stage intake manifold"" To add 35HP and 1000RPM extra over Stock J32A1 (BASE)


When I said bigger motor I was implying just the extra HP, not displacement.




""= Wikipedia.

ErickUa5

Even if wasn't driven hard it would fail, Odysseys with with the 5 speeds failed as well but of course they weigh more.
3.0L Accords from 98-02 were the same fate also the 2.3L 4cyl Accords had transmission problems. But yes more power the faster the damage thats a fact.

Johnny2003TL-S

People are going to hate me but, No way. You are a college student? This is not a practical car by any means. It is a step up from a Camry, but a Camry is reliable and cheap to fix. My 2003 TLs is a money pit and it only has 115k.

Sorry TL fans, but this is not for someone on a limited budget, love the car, but can't take the bills.

03blackbeast

I have to respectfully disagree with that. I will say this car is priced pretty high for the mileage but a TL is a very reliable vehicle and super easy to fix. I bought my TL with 221K and I'm at 271K now and the only serious fix I've made was the tranny and it was the original one so I guess you could say it was pretty reliable. Besides that though all I've ever done was regular maintenance items. Flushed the power steering fluid. Radiator flush. Transmission drain and fills every 15K or so. Tires. Oil. And brakes as a precaution. With the help of this forum I've saved thousands of dollars. This is such a great car and with the proper upkeep and DIY know how (that you learn along the way) you can expect 300K from it. I've had 4 Camry's now ranging from a 1986 LE all the way up to the 2010 SE my wife drives. I can honestly say that the TL is just as reliable as the Camry. Has it's quirks but it's just as reliable. Make sure if you buy it that you keep up with the maintenance though!

Doubletapp

I just bought a 2003TLs Aspec for $5500 (Canadian). It has 175K on it and is an automatic. Car is in good condition but was in an accident (front end) and has a rebuilt status on it. Tranny is original and runs smooth, oil looked good. Needs a T-belt right away but that's it. I love it but it ain't cheap to run and maintain. Your best bet is to keep your Camry and save for your sweet ride! The newer TL's look really hot! Good luck.

Skirmich

The only real reliable problem with the TL is the trans.. If we get an AV6 trans swap the TL becomes one if not the most reliable car I have ever owned.. Even my wife Bimmer has have more issues in its short life than my TL-S...
A Camry might have its issues too it happens with most cars, but to say the TL is a money pit?? your doing something wrong...

03blackbeast

^^^^ What he said!

Yikes

$5,500 is too high, and I'd say your only concern should be the transmission. If you love the car that much and are willing to spend a bit, you should also buy a low miles AV6 transmission and run the TL until it craps it's tranny.

However, there is a slim chance that the transmission currently in the car won't fail any time soon. It could fail tomorrow. There is simply no way to tell, and once it starts to go, there is no saving it.

As for your questions about using premium fuel:

Yes, you could use 87 and get away with it but it decreases performance and could, with time, damage the engine. I too am a college student who is very financially challenged at the moment and I always use 93 in my TL. The price difference really is so little that you don't even really notice it.

ErickUa5

If you know how to work on your own cars its a keeper.

Tstyle27

$5500 for a 02 with 145k is way to high. $3200-$4000 is a fair price.

3.2TLc

So, did ya take the car for a few days ?

If ya like it, have it professionally evaluated and then make an offer accordingly if still interested.

MarcDavidoff

Yeah, I paid $3300 for my 02 type-s 2 years ago with 148k miles. It needed a tbelt/WP job so in the end I paid closer to $4k

Johnny2003TL-S

Agreed. The transmission is the real tear-jerker for me on these babies. I never want to deal with that again, ever, and I am told I will probably need to. I also think I have not been as lucky with my TL as others although it was pampered by it's first owner and I don't race it or any of that. I think the best post here was about being able to maintain your own car. If that is the case, the car is awesome. It is a nice piece of machinery for sure, purrs like a kitten and leaps like a cheetah...beats the heck out of all the American cars I had in that way. And I must say, I have stopped on a dime several times and avoided disaster. But something in me yearns for the 92 Escort/Mazda rebadge I got for $4200 with 25k on it in '95. I never put a dime into it, not a nickel, for another 150k miles. I was a stupid kid and beat the heck out of it too. I don't remember ever changing the tranny fluid. Yes, tires, timing belt, oil, probably 2 grand in maintenance. NEVER a repair. It started burning oil at 175k and I got another car. Probably would have been fine with a $300 gasket. Never had anything like it. It's a budget thing, a matter of choice, what you can afford, and what you can work on.

3.2TLc

^^^ Ya need to go out and find a old lower mileage Honda Accord or Civic,
if ya wanna good solid and super reliable car for the long run. EZ 200-300K.