2007 Acura TL Type S still worth it in 2022???
 

Hey guys, First ever post in Acurazine!

I found an Acura TL is decent shape with no visible problems. I still have to get it pre inspected with the mechanic though. Its a 2007 Acura Type S automatic with around 220,000 km in it. Ive checked for all visible things such as dents, rust, sunroof, seats, dash etc.

I will be paying 6k CAD for it. If the mechanic says its all ok, i might as well buy it. But before that, I still wanted to get you guys opinion if it is worth the purchase or not. (Do note that im an international student, this will be my first ever car an I have to manage my expenses. A little money here there would be fine to be but i dont want anything major uk)

Thanks for your responses in advance!

It all depends. It might be worth it but it not be the right car for you.

I am not that all mechanic guy and stuff, I am in the works of becoming a car guy and i love cars in general. Specially these types which are powerful and reliable and don't break the bank. Wanted to start my car guy life through a car like this. Can I have an idea how much life this J series engine might have left in it, according to the records, the owner was regular on fluid checks and oil replacements. The last timing belt replacement was done at round 100,000k.

Yes, it's pretty fast, safe and efficient with not so many issues to worry about. Tons of used cars with lots of large issues that pop up.

The mechanic stated he can check the entire car except the engine and the trans.. I'm just worried about those two things. :(

Find a better mechanic.

alrighty sir! Anyone else willing to put in anything else? This is the link to the listing : https://www.autotrader.ca/a/acura/tl...6_8_8&sprx=100

It was worth it for me, but then again, I bought mine in 2021 so there is a big difference there bud.

A Type S automatic might have some transmission wear, drive it easy until the trans warms up.

If you're not into fixing a few things, this car might be a little expensive to maintain for you. Luxury parts cost more and it drinks only premium fuel. There are more features which can break on luxury cars. Also the techs charge a higher hourly rate.

But of course its a lovely car which can bring you some good experiences!

Base TL seat and cluster is a big red flag, for me its a hard pass.

Welcome to the site!

Doing extensive research on a vehicle you are interested in buying is critical. The 3rd gen TL is nearing 20 years old since it's production in 2004. There is plenty of information available for research. The most basic research is what a type-s is, what are the options, engine size, ect. As @truonghthe mentioned, base seats, base odometer ect. All red flags. You should find a better mechanic, that's just my 2 cents. Any vehicle you're looking to purchase for about 6K will be used and likely will need some maintenance / repairs. I'd go with a more economical vehicle. One with a smaller engine, easier to work one & more reliable. The trade off is, you might not get some of the luxury features as what the type-s comes with, but that's ok. As you mentioned about being an international student and managing all your own expenses, so its best not to get yourself into a hefty expense. There are many knowledgeable car guys here, if you find something else, post it in this same thread.

Bro I saw one TL for sale that was a 2008 but as some of the interior was swapped for an 04-06, including the cluster. Same on this car, that is way too sketch.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...92ac2c4154.png

First things I noticed as well. Sketch! I'd personally question the dude just to see his response.

I would find a different car my dude.

Now that I had a little more time to review the pictures carefully (lack of coffee and sleep and my eyes like to play games in the morning)

What in the world is going on with the A/C line? Did your mechanic say anything about this? I'm also concern about the engine bay covers missing along with the hood insulator. Perhaps it was in a collision? Hard pass for sure.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...c5c23a6c80.jpg

i will not buy this car

I can see why the owner would swap out the seats. I see it from time to time. The original seats were probably ripped and they replaced it with a base interior that was in better shape to be done with it.

The cluster, on the other hand, is definitely suspect.

I would pass on it. It probably also needs a timing belt service and some other maintenance items.

I wouldn't even raise the question as the seller response gonna be like, those are the original seat are original. This is typical Auction car trying to flip for a quick buck.

Maybe....and I still probably wouldn't for $3k

Just get this one...https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...321680079/NONE

;)

Yeah he did state it on his own that the ac line is out and he will get it down before selling the vehicle.

This guy is asking for 10k. Although way outta my budget, what do you guys think of this? : https://www.autotrader.ca/a/acura/tl...4_8_8&sprx=100

I don't know why you looking for car way out your budget. The 10k TL looks nicer hence the price reflect the different in condition, remember unless you can work on your own car the repair cost can get way out of hand fast. We can only judge from the picture and we have no idea how it run or drive, I highly suggest you bring a friend or family member that know mechanic and check out the car.

he is asking reasonable for what people are asking for the TL-S with close to same millage in GTA (Ontario). i am not sure where are you located in Canada, but the car is located in BC and you may need to add the cost of bringing/registered the car.

Why are you looking at a car that's out of your budget?
Get real, kid.

Sir, im not wasting time. And im not a kid. Im really invested and i can get the money so that’s not an issue. I love cars and just wanted a good car to start my adult life with. I started another thread because im new here idk how things work here so thought maybe have to start another

Nah man we can keep it all contained to one thread.

At this point, just get what car you want. If you have the money and don't mind spending it to assure you get a good car than go for it. I would recommend finding the best possible deal if money is an issue though. We just don't want to see you get a really sketch car because you don't seem to exhibit much knowledge on what to look for when buying a used car. It's going to cost you money either way when buying used, but getting a PPI is a good way to gauge what condition the car is in mechanically and know what it needs to be road worthy and safe to drive without worry. It's really all about money and how much you are willing to spend, just please don't buy a really bad car.

As far as weather the 3G Type S is a good car? Of course! If you get a good one and maintain it you should get many years of happy ownership from it!

Alright @Midnight Mystery thanks for the info. Ill see if i can make this guy crank down the price, get it mechanically checked, if all good, maybe ill go for it as well. Ill post an update in this thread itself of whatever comes up next!

Also, thanks to other peeps who helped me out with the previous sketchy TL.

Please dont be that guy who showing up for a $10k car and be like "can you do $3k since this is a 15 years old vehicle".

Of course I wont comeon!

So...?

:fluffy:

Prices on both new AND used cars are skyrocketing right now. On the news last night, GM and Ford said that 80% of all new vehicles are selling well over sticker, and used car prices are up a whopping 60%! I was offered $5,000 cash for mine just last year when I already had well over 300K miles. Just find an extremely competent mechanic (preferably one that specializes in Acuras and Hondas) to give the car a good going over before buying.
.

Like others said, I would avoid simply based on the original type-S seats and cluster being swapped out for those from a base model. It would make me wonder what else is being hidden on this car.

Too many red flags for me. Be patient and find a better car. Type-S models are getting harder to find in Canada but they're out there, just take your time.

Prices are up as there isn't supply and lots of demand. White TL-S with 2 tone interior ripped front seats sold at auction near me for around 9K, less than 105K miles. I picked up my White TLS for way less than that about 1.5 year ago.

TL-S is a great car, and driving it in cooler weather certainly made me fall in love again with it. Once you get the feedback from the steering that's missing from the 4G TL, it's hard to go back until you have to worry about the dash cracking!

Here is a 2003 acura CL-S 6MT with low miles for sale.
https://www.edmunds.com/acura/cl/200...6/?radius=6000


This isn't the same market as it once was maybe 5-10 years ago. Websites like BAT or CnB are influencing the values on certain vehicles. I'm tempted to list my TL next year and see where it may end up.

Market reflects demand - the TL is a solid car that on OEM engine has been known to run 400k km.

In the TL-S trim (especially manual) these are frequently in the mid teens (CAD) or even low 20s for low mileage versions. Treat them well and you may not even lose money when you sell them!