Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/2676527532.html


Looking for a TL, or maybe a TSX! But my budget is 10-11K. So, is this a good deal or no? I asked about the seats, owner says they ripped from the seat heaters being overused, and got a quote of $450 to fix the seats. Is this worth it, or should I keep looking? Pretty much anything else I'm finding is salvaged or is 13K and up... And I would rather not get the TSX if I don't have to. (test drove an 09 AWD TL today, don't think I could handle the 200HP TSX after driving that 305HP beast.)

Any help is greatly appreciated! Also, if you're selling a TL in the IE or LA area for around my range and you have a clean title, HMU!

Jcaron9gt4

Without seeing it, it looks like a decent price. If the 105k service was done like it says, then don't worry about the miles. I would take a look if it's close by to you, see how bad the seats really are.

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

The seats are torn through, owner says, but honestly are seat covers that bad until I can get the leather redone? It seems like a minor inconvenience to me but what do I know. Lol

P1zzaman

iTrader: (1)

No interior pics? Ask for high resolution interior pics

Azndjay

270hp:gheylaugh:

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

Not a bad price considering the 100K service was done. I would take a look at it.

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

He says the seats DEFINITELY need to be redone. He never did it cuz he bought the car at 50k and the AC compressor failed, and he didn't want to spend more on the car. Found another near me, similar, still an 04 but seats are fine and he says 9400. Gonna call for that one in a little!

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

He did say that the seat cushions are fine though. Honestly, seat covers are 40 bucks. DGAF. Problem is my grandpa is buying half the car for me for XMAS and he doesn't like that the seats are messed up. Told me to look for a Scion Tc.... I laughed silently.

Jiggy2dmax

iTrader: (1)

I would still take a look at it, the leather in these cars are far from great and wear heavily.

fensterlips

I dunno, I would go slow. Yes, the seats aren't a really big deal, but if he couldn't put attention into the seats he sees and sits in every day - how much else is differed?

I like to look at the overall attention and car as a barometer of the attention to service and the care in driving. I have found cars like this never stop giving me trouble.

As a yardstick I paid $15K last month for a 05 TL Navi with 49K on it and every service record since day one.

Good luck.

SpiderX1016

Did he fix the A/C? If he didn't then I wouldn't bother. It could be expensive.

I don't live too far from you. My friend got an 05 TL w/ 100k miles for $10,500. Clean Title. Just needed a 105k and some other minor stuff and it was good. So keep looking.

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

Yes he fixed the A/C. And the guy is selling it to buy a Prius because he needs better gas mileage, so I think he drives it pretty conservatively! Also, seats were torn when he bought it from a doctor at 54K. He said the doctor gave it to his daughter, who was an idiot and never conditioned the leather; leather was the way it is when he bought it.

DatDereTL

That. ^
And that. ^

Joe5.0

Or spend 3k less and get a 03 CL-S6 with the same engine/trans and a boatload less miles...... just sayin.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

The problem is that a full 105K service can run you over $1000 if the dealer does all the work.

I would still look at the car. $450 to redo the seats still brings the price to just over $10K. Not a bad deal for a TL. There are about 4 sets of seats on the Black Market now.

ParaSurfer1979

That's a very good point. If he couldnt care for his seat lord knows what else he over looked caring for his car?

cappy_0521

sauceja

iTrader: (2)

For a dealer to replace seat covers it will run you about 400 per seat roughly. price of seat cover is couple hundred and labor is a 80/hour now or so.

I would look in black market for a complete seat if thats the case.

And price seems ok. Honda V6 motors hold up as far as seals and leaks go. My 3.5L van has 170k miles with not 1 drop of oil anywhere.

Just check them out real well or have someone go with you. Mileage seems high and there could be future problems but thats with any car.

Either way a TL is a very nice car and I really enjoy mine.

rhafikjaan

I officially gave up on buying a car on Craigslist... Most of the cars i want to check out i ask for the Vin and I'm not even over exaggerating here. About 90% of the cars had rebuilt,salvaged titles, and some even had theft reported on it while the owners claimed no accidents when i ask them over the phone. This incident right here is really funny. I call about a car and obtain the Vin, run it and everything came out fine. I call back to setup a date to check out car. I tell him ill be there within the hour. This is where the fun STARTS!! lol

I arrive at the house and i see the Honda Civic i came to look at. I see the owner get in the car and pull out the car from the driveway to pull up next to me and tells me he needs to go to the store for a sec to buy something. I found that shady and wierd, i mean why the hell would you drive off to a store when you have a potential buyer for your car LOL. So i follow him. I ended up getting lost because i stopped at a red light. So i decided to drive back to his house and wait for him to come back.

As I'm driving towards the house, I see the car and the owner inside it looking at the cluster and moving around. Another thing i found shady LOL. So the 007 guy i am, i parked my car a few cars up from him. Put my seat down and spied on exactly what he was doing in the car. For about a good 10 minutes hes going to the trunk, with tools, and back to inside the car doing something. Not sure what. From the sound of the Honda engine starting my spidey senses kicked in and i lowered my seat some more, that way he doesn't see me , as he drove by LOL.

Ok so we are back at the house now lol. I go straight for the trunk. I found a cluster and some tools. Checked out the car some more and told him ill get back to him..yea sure.. lol


Not sure if you can change the mileage or w.e by changing out the cluster but thats what he did. My point is to be extra careful when dealing with anyone on Craigslist and always take a second person with you. Also try to have a mechanic look at the car. And thats some BS with the seats getting ripped from too much heat. Honestly i almost always have my heat on for the seats. I prolly even burned my back lol, atleast it feels like it at times, and i never had the seats tear.


Also sent you a PM and goodluck with finding your car. Also never rush it.

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

Okay, so in searching for a (maybe) better car, I found this! http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/2750806056.html

It has (almost) brand new Falkens on it, no NAV, but it's in excellent condition! I checked it out today, it's in amazing condition. Owner is like 50+, took amazing care of it. Having it checked by a mechanic tomorrow, if everything is fine I'm going to offer him 9500, and accept 10k when he offers that. I like the WDP muuuuucccchhh better.

Jcaron9gt4

Fully loaded with no nav? It has 115, was the timing belt, etc replaced?

ParaSurfer1979

I agree. MAC/tech package offers so much for the $500 premium on a used TL. At least the digital display for audio on 07-08 models were updated to vacuum display from home audio systems. But I'd keep looking for a car with Navigation/technology pkg. Keep us posted as were all here to help current members as well as potential new ones .

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

It has had the 100K service. TBH, if I have the NAV, I'm going to get in a wreck. Plus, I have an iPhone, I can use the Maps on there. Always have! It's just a little convenience that I don't really need. I love the car!

Jcaron9gt4

So a huge ass screen will make you get in an accident, but a tiny iphone screen won't?

SpiderX1016

Looks like your in a rush to get a car. I made that mistake once... or twice.

ParaSurfer1979

Your iPhone doesn't come close to what the navigation in Honda/Acura can like i've mentioned before. Stock system allows the driver to do many functions while keeping the drivers eyes on the road. Your iPhone cant adjust fan speed or a/c temp of ventilation system, change the cd track number or change the cd youre listening to, or change the AM/FM/SiriusXM channel all by voice. And god i'd hate to stare at a 3.5" phone vs looking at the navi screen which is more than 2x's the size (8in).

YeuEmMaiMai

If it is a 5AT stay FAR away from that unless you like replacing transmissions for upwards of $5K a pop

6spd is hard to find and hopefully the person was good to the clutch as that is NOT cheap to replace.

What he said

OP

Seat replacement leathers will run about $300 each online directly from acura (not including labor but you can install them yourself). Seat coushins are $700+ each. See if you can get used leathers as the 3rd gen TL leather is quite literally paper thin.....

The NICE thing about the 04/05TL is they have a firmer ride (like the previous Type S cars)

If you are hard on brakes, you will replace them frequently

Spoduh

It sounds reasonable plus 100k maintenance was done with receipts? Seats can be had relatively cheap...take a look at it!

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

Okay, so yeah, I rushed and got the no-NAV one. But, I don't care, because I'm happy. I'm coming from a 99 CL 3.0 that had the tranny start going the day after I bought it, it just completely quit and I bought it in February. The guy showed me his service records, and he's changed AT fluid every 25K religiously so I don't think there will be a problem there. Plus, there's the whole thing about how it's only the 3rd/4th pressure switches, which I plan on replacing soon. And whoever mentioned the brakes, I've found that out already. Front brakes are at like 15%, taking em in tomorrow to have em changed, as I don't have a lift of any kind. Thanks all for help though!

Joe5.0

Dont need a lift for brakes, just a regular jack and basic hand tools. Brakes are so easy and prob the best $$ for time spent that dealerships make.

True, but usually worth the wait. 170k on my clutch and I dont baby it by any means.

Scottwax

Should be easy enough to find someone parting out a 3rd gen TL and grab the seats out of that. Usually ends up being cheaper than having them redone.

Mrtastygoody

iTrader: (1)

Joe, what about changing the rotors? I had pads changed and rotors resurfaced all around for about $220 yesterday, but they said the rotors were warped, and next time the pads go out, I will need new rotors. How hard is it to change those?

SpiderX1016

If you know how to do pads then you know how to do rotors. It's just a matter of getting two caliper bracket bolts off and the two phillips screws.

Go on Youtube and look up some how-tos. Ericthecarguy does some good ones.

Joe5.0

Pretty easy to do rotors unless they are rusted on tight. Acura has a retarded feature (the two philips head screws) that I had to drill out, as they were rusted tight. Otherwise its a couple hours of wrenching and $200 saved.

If you;ve never done em I'd find a buddy that has to walk you through it the first time. You'll be surprised how easy they are. Its not like the guys at Midas are PhD's......

T2005L

He's young... He'll learn. I like the self-reassurance on the non-navi decision lol

SpiderX1016

Yeah but it's better to learn from other people's mistakes. Cheaper too lol.