I've found a 2008 TL in great shape, the only issue I can think of is that it's just got too many miles - at 190k - and, after talking to the seller, I found out the car was drove by a younger man so I assume it was beat on. I've had a 2001 TL for two years. It was beat on by the previous owner and I drove it kinda hard too. I've put 56,000 miles on it. It's at 225k miles and runs fine, the only issue is the transmission "needs a rebuild" according to Milex (Only $2300!). It shifts like crap, basically. I've Ford and GMC vehicles prior and my old Acura blows them all out of the water. Anyway, here's the link to the ads if anyone would care to check it out. I'll be looking at this car on Monday along with a 2004 TL with 159k miles. The owner of the 2004 TL sent me additional photos of issues with the body. Aside from the front bumper the car looks great, I'm hoping it will be less than $1,000 to repair the bumper. There's also a few tiny rust spots. I hate buying new cars because of how easily you can lose your shirt on a lemon. This time I thought I'd see if anyone online could help me out! Thanks guys!

2008 TL:
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/c...270785662.html

2004 TL:
https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/c...245600921.html

I've looked at like 5 of these cars throughout Metro Detroit over the past month or two, any input would be appreciated - I'd like to get the best deal I can.

 

2004-2006 are known for bad automatic transmissions, skip if you can.

From those two I would pick 2008, and redo front seats.

Get some shop to inspect it, or do it yourself.
I would be mostly concerned about suspension parts, assuming oil and trans fluid was changed on time.

Otherwise do normal used car check.

 

Thanks for the input, I'll cross my fingers on the suspension but for the price if the motor and trans are good I wouldn't mind a few hundred in work. What do you think the seats would run? $500ish??
Thanks for the input man!!

 

I did some quotes for my black interior in '08; two front seats, perforated, in "OEM style". Price is around $600-700 for quality work. You can always try some local shop.

For leather check out :
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...repair-961329/
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...repair-959657/


Both of them are non-nav. And that is good, considering that navigation shows it's age, you gonna use your phone anyway
2007-08 interior is much nicer (gauges, info display is in the middle, buttons on the steering wheel, fog lights and DRLs, nicer radio/climate displays, bumpers).

Don't forget to run VIN, ask for timing belt (it's due at (every?) 105k miles, $600-1000, relatively easy for DIY). 190k is close to getting third timing belt.

And as I previously said, do all normal used car checkup stuff

 

The 08 would be my choice, even though the miles are higher, and the possibility it has not had the second timing belt done yet. The 08 is a lot more car for the money even considering approx $1500 for trim and timing belt costs. Examine the "RUST" issues carefully. Is it surface rust, or rust with surrounding bubbled paint, Any rust, other than surface rust from say, stone chips,or door dings can be a deal killer as it will only get worse, and is difficult to repair effectively. In addition, the 08 has a more reliable transmission, assuming the car has been properly maintained.

 

I'm going to look at the car today at 5 o'clock, so, I'll be taking more pictures of any issues I can find assuming there's no deal killing rust. As for the timing chain - is that something I can/should wait to break or is that something I'd pretty much want to do as soon as I get the car in my hands assuming it hasn't been done. Also, I was thinking I could take it to an Acura dealer, or shop of similar caliber, and have them pull info from the cars computer regarding driving habits in order to determine how 'hard' it was driven... Am I splitting hairs at this point or what lol?

 

Does computer saves driving data? First time I hear about that.

TL has timing belt, and interference engine, meaning if belt breaks (or skips tooth) pistons meets with valves, and your engine goes to permanent sleep mode.

So you want to do it before it breaks.

This service should include timing belt, drive pulley, tensioner, and water pump. It's also recommended to do spark plugs and thermostat at the same time.

Inspect underneath of the car!

 

At 190K, it should be pretty obvious how hard a car was or was not driven...but more importantly maintained. Driving the card hard shouldn't really "hurt" it assuming it was not being abused and was properly being maintained. If the seats are all ripped and dirty, filthy carpets, worn tires, and all of that are obvious...the car was less likely to have been well cared for. It is one thing for the driver's seat to be worn out on a car this age with that kind of mileage...but when all seats aren't looking too hot, that isn't a great sign.

And I also agree...I don't think the computer is going to shed any light into how the car has been driven.

 

The 04-06 has a simliar auto trans to your old 2001 TL. So if you don't want to end up with the same problem get an 07-08 model or go for a manual trans car.

 

So I took '08 for a test drive today and was able to give a good look. Fortunately it was for sale by people who happened to have a Pennzoil in the back of their audio (?) shop so I jumped down in the pit for a peak underneath. Rust wise it's unbelievable, there's hardly any on the car. There's a small point on the driver side door that looks like it's just getting started - I've included a picture. Sounded like a hub was bad, other than that and a pull to the left the suspension seemed good. The heated seat on the driver side was weak and the lid to the center console was broke. The transmission was another story. It felt almost identical to my 01 with a hard transition into reverse or drive, and this sort of jerky hard shifty thing I don't really know how to describe lol. The tires also looked worn down about 60% of the way as well. My mechanic said, without looking at the car, he'd ballpark a rebuild between $3k and $4k. There also appeared to be some serious oil leakage going on.

So I figure:

$3500 for car
$3500 for trans
$600 for seats
$800 in suspension work
$600f for tires
$800 for timing chain and other misc work

Totals $9800, maybe not a bad deal considering it's not all $9800 at once and there's little rust...?

As I was writing this post I just found this 2007 TL posted 13 hours ago, I'll try and check it out tommorow looks good from the pictures.

https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/c...283297195.html

 

It all depends on how well the owner maintained the car. My 07 has 170k miles rounded and it glides like butter on a marble floor. I've replaced the pressure switches at 105k miles and I do a transmission drain and refill every third oil change. I've driven it pretty hard over the years and the only major issues that came up was the starter going bad and breaking a motor mount.

 

That 2007 has one nice headlight. Check VIN number and inspect under hood, as car was probably in the accident. Might been something really minor, but better ask and check.

Also ask them to get some $$ for new hood struts

And for $10k you can get car under 100k miles that doesn't need anything.

 

I noticed that head light, I was hoping it might be because they didn't wanna restore the other one too lol. It looks like the fog lights are the same, hopefully it was minor incident. I was going to ask them if the hood pole came with the car lmao, in the picture it almost looks like there's a hole on the engine cover that pole is resting in. Walmart has hood struts (glad to finally know what those are called btw) for $22. Back seat on passenger sides looks like it's got a hole - did Acura skimp on leather or that generation TL or have I just ran into people with bad seat management skills lol.

 

some passenger butt had spikes..... I sold my old Accord @ 150k miles with 0 rust on the body and yes I live in CT at the time and the car originate from NY. I just wash the car down every week even its 15 degree out side all the crevices, wheel well and gap between body panel being spray down.

 

I'm glad I live in the south!!! Yeah, ripped seats instantly tell me something like "this car spent a few years in the ghetto"... That's how it is in both NOLA and Jackson...

My 2008 with 104k, just bough it 6/8 with 102,929, it's nearly immaculate, however, it occasionally will not want to go into reverse, I can put it in drive, then back to reverse, then it's OK, but if it doesn't want to go into gear and you give it a little gas it will bang! Feels like you ran into a curb or something... I hope it's not going to be a problem one day...

But it that TL has likely seen its fair share of abuse though...

Best of luck!!!

 

I wanted to add, I only paid $8,900 for my TL, but I traded my immaculate 2008 Canry SE, so I only had to fork over $1825...


I do hope you find a good deal on a TL!!!

 

To add to what others have said, there are plenty of 3G TLs out on the market, some of which are equipped with a manual transmission. I simply don't see the benefit of buying a high mileage car for low dollars only to have to sink a bunch into it when there are low(er) mileage cars in far better condition which would require far less remedial maintenance.

 

I would pass. You'll be in it at $9800. You can find one with less miles than that.

You can probably find a TL-S 6 speed with less miles for that price.

 

FIY I paid $8600 for my Base TL with 75k miles and the interior still have that new car smell.

 

Agreed with flipster, I paid 9200 and my tl which was garage kept and still is. With that said, my car is a south fl. Car and is immaculate. A few stains on the back carpet, nothing really bad. The previous owner had kids though. My nephews are young and somtimes a little messy. It is what it is. A car is a car and gets used for daily life. besides the tl is not a collectors car. Don't get me wrong, i love the timeless style of the 04 to 08 tl. I think you can do better and probably find a better kept car. In the end it's your blood,sweat and tears your spending.

 

Based on your posts, I would say no, not worth it. Keep looking, you'll find better.

 

I've been able to find one '07 TL with a manual shift, however, I don't think I would like driving a stick - too much to do lol. The only one up with stick in Detroit Metro also had a really eccentric, verbose ad for it. Check it out, it's totally goofy lol. It was suggested that I steer cleer of '04 to '06 since they have flaky transmissions like my current '01 TL. That being said, I've noticed if I drive mine real easy the transmission is fine. I'm trying to wait it out as long as I can. Going to check out that black '07 with 204k miles. Looks like it's in good shape and for sale in a good looking neighborhood. Maybe it'll be the one!

The passenger side headlight on the black 2007 TL w/ 204k miles got taken out when the guys Dad backed into the car leaving their driveway. Also has a ripped back seat... -_-

Here's the ad for the one with the stick, I figured there was too much done to it to want to bother figuring out how to fix it all.
https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/c...249037007.html

 

Be patient.

Look on here too in the cars for sale. You might be able to snag on from a member.


That ad seems strange as well.

IMO Type S isn't super rare. You can find them pretty easily.

 

 

Only true if you are looking for an automatic, if you are looking for a manual then pretty much any year is good transmission wise.

 

'07 & up! Save yourself the headaches.

 

Hey guys, I know it's been a while but I figured I'd revisit this post to let everyone know that at 244,000 miles the car is still running strong. The transmission issues I mentioned have gotten about 20% worse, if that. Been calling around to try and find a shop that understands that I don't want a rebuild, just an AV6 installed and that's kind of tough. They're all like "Idk what you mean blah blah blah". Running it in D4 around town with the right gas pedal action and it's fine. Gotta love that little slap stick too lol.

 

so which TL you picked.

 

I stayed with the same one I was driving when I posted this last year LOL after spending some time on here my goal is to take the car to at least 300k miles. Only thing that'll really stop it eventually is the damn rust

 

not too many