BluffCity04TL

Hey everyone. I currently own a 2004 TL with 150k miles on it. I owe 5k on the car and the car is worth about 5k. I plan on swapping for this 2008 Acura TL with 60k miles either today or tomorrow:

http://www.cordovacars.com/2008-Acur...-38016/4887867

What specific questions should I ask the dealer about this specific model and year to make sure everything is on the up and up? Any specific problems this year and model have had? Also would just like your general thoughts/ideas about the purchase. My monthly payment is only going up about $50 bucks. Not bad.

Thank you.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

its the same car as your 2004.
so, if you know the in's and out's of your 2004, you will know everything about the 2008.
literally, its the same freaking car.

it has the same exact engine as your 2004. the tranny is a little better.
but i would make sure the tranny in the 2008 is shifting as great or even better than the 2004.

LITERALLY, its the same car. Literally.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Carfax looks good...no reported accidents and only two owners, low miles. Pictures look fine but that doesn't say much, you have to be the judge of that in person. No nav, but maybe that doesn't matter to you. Color combo is actually pretty cool IMO...classy setup. The 07/08 years are solid vehicles with no major issues and it should be a nice upgrade for you if you dont mind getting back into another 3G TL.
Cant tell a whole lot from the pics, only thing I see is the passenger side plastic under spoiler (under front bumper) is peeled back so if your picky you might need to buy a new one. Looks like its just the end piece...probably from a curb or something.
Pop open all the doors and trunks and hood and look for the original VIN labels, check paint and clear coat texture and consistency to see if its had any body work. Lastly, drive the car and put it through its paces.

Goodluck.

BluffCity04TL

Thank you both for responses. Can either of you remind me at what mileage the timing belt service is due? I had to do it on the '04 TL that I currently own and would like to know when to expect that needed service.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

105k miles.

erdoc48

The only significant downside is that you're going from being $5K in debt on what you have to $16K in debt on the 08 (since I guess you'll trade or sell the 04 for what you owe on it, so no equity in that car). It's OK if you don't mind the debt (unless you're paying in full). Is your 04 pretty shot at 150K miles or is it worth keeping and paying off to be out of debt?

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

It could be wax, but make sure the light colored stuff on the lower bumper insert isn't paint overspray:

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^the exhaust cutouts look weird??? type-s rear?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

but but, he's only going to pay 50 bucks more. lol

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I posted that right after you did and had to edit

Indeed, it does look like the Type-S rear bumper. The exhaust outlets are huge.

MarcoNorthPolo

It sure is. OP before you make the plunge, find out a good reason why that '08 base has a Type-S rear bumper.

BluffCity04TL

My '04 is pretty shot at 150miles. Had a few problems with it and really don't completely "trust" the car anymore. Need to make a move. Not concerned with the little extra debt. Car talk in this thread gentleman not my finances. Thanks for help.

BluffCity04TL

Maybe original owner upgraded to Type-S rear bumper. Hell i have no idea thats why i am in here haha.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Wow, damn good eye you guys!! I didn't even notice that bumper. That is really weird that it has a Type S bumper on it.

BluffCity04TL

Local credit union offering 1.89% apr.. hard to beat right there.

BluffCity04TL

Oh man I just found this and got in touch with the seller. If I can get them to knock down the price i might go with the '09. Thoughts?:

http://www.roadshowmini.com/VehicleD...-TN/2271619113

Acura-OC

G4 fu fu fu...

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

The 09-11's are really awkward looking cars (12+ improved a lot), but can be decent with a couple nice mods. If it's a base model I say no, if it's an SH-AWD I would probably do it over a 3G base.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

It's not AWD. Pass.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

SHAWD or GTFO.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

if that is okay with you, and you are willing to find other "surprises"

sure, purchase the car.
Since, I know what to look for, I would have no problem buying this kind of car.



see the lower valance on the passenger side hanging off?

its either been wrecked or the previous owner drove over things.


and we cannot tell you what to look for as each car will have its own history and its own "surprises"

i'm telling you, its exactly like your 04.
if you've been driving your 04 a lot, you'll pick out things that are wrong on the 08. you just have to pay attention and look at details.

Sbarbee54

The back bumper is definitely a types and it sure looks like over spray. I would be t it was wrecked especially seeing the valance looking like that

BluffCity04TL

I'm ok with the little kinks on the 08. My current 04 has the same kinks. Going to drive it tomorrow. Will let you guys know. Will prob go with 08. I appreciate all the help.

BluffCity04TL

This just popped up on their inventory. I don't know which one to buy!!!

http://www.cordovacars.com/2006-Acur...-38016/4835506

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^the better of the two, duh.
go inspect both.

which ever one is the better one, purchase.

BluffCity04TL

Options:
2008 TL - 59,941 miles- $16,250- all the bells and whistles
2006 TL - 43,202 miles- $14,500- base model. Still nice though.

Before going to look at the cars, it looks like it would make sense to go with the '06 if we look at $$$$. I could really care less about the bells and whistles. '06 has fewer miles and is cheaper.

BluffCity04TL

I'm beginning to think i got majorly ripped off 2 years ago when i bought my 04 TL with 113k miles for 15k....

acurarsx04

The 08 doesn't have all the bells and whistles. no navi or rear camera and no dvd-a audio

BluffCity04TL

Then how can they justify the pricing of these two cars?.... this is good stuff. Keep it coming guys.

erdoc48

What I would do is go to KBB.com or Edmunds.com, get the appropriate pricing for both cars (retail pricing) and work down from there. The prices listed likely have a decent profit built in...your job is to test drive and then price the cars accordingly. The dealerships job is to get what they're asking for it- the actual sales price will be somewhere in the middle. If you think the price is too high for either car (they won't come down), be ready to walk out and do it if they seem completely unreasonable. You'll get a call from them in the next few days to try to make the deal. It's been done this way for a very long time...it's a big game and you have to be ready to play (unless it's a Carmax or CarSense- in NJ/PA- type place where there's a non negotiable price).

If the 08 appears to have damage and you still want it, negotiate the price down a bit based on that.
If the 06 appears to be a decent car with the lower mileage and less money (no apparent damage), get that one.

BluffCity04TL

Will be interesting to see how badly they try to screw me on my trade-in value...

stm25rs

Thanks for posting that, I had no idea DVD-Audio was only with Navigation.

I'm also in the market, but only shopping for an 07-08 (I kinda have a thing for 3-spoke steering wheels) and have recently been leaning towards a base non-nav, since I was thinking I'd primarily continue to use my phone/google maps for navigation. This fact makes me lean more towards getting Nav.

acurarsx04

The navi works great except in my 07 it stop working and i had to send it in to apline in Canada to get it fixed. They a recall for it but my was out of warranty at the time to get it fixed for free.

projectsfz

The trade in value offer is going to be total garbage. Even if the car is the cleanest of its kind. I traded my 04 with ~125k for the 07 type S with 70k and they tried to screw me both ways at the honda dealer I was getting it from. They lowballed me hardcore on my trade with an initial 4300 offer and putting the 07 at maybe $23k? I don't remember exact numbers because it was a long negotiation. I ended up able to boost the trade to 7k and some change, while dropping the price to just under 20k. Funny thing was I got an even worse offer when I was looking at a different 07 in Oregon. They offered 3200 for my trade and wouldn't budge. I told them after driving over an hour for that to be the top offer that I was insulted and I left. Sometimes you just gotta walk away from the table if its not in the cards.

However it shakes out, you really have to put your foot down otherwise they'll walk all over you. Push for those numbers that are what you want because they're going to make money off the car regardless, even if they cry about their overhead costs. If that doesn't happen then you have to either walk away, or decide to settle if its what you really want.

Personally I would probably go for the black 06. If you can already see just from the pictures that the 08 is shady, or just simply not taken care of, that's probably enough to put me off.

Ctla4ig

Love my 06

Redsand353

For that kind of money I would look for a Type-S. Atleast make the extra money your going to spend worth it, and it will feel a little less like the exact same car.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

+1

Financing basically the same car you have for another 5 years just to lose some miles doesn't make sense.

BluffCity04TL

Thanks for the post this is the idea I am struggling with. I feel that the difference in miles is so substantial that it would be worth it to finance same car for five more years. I just want to feel like the car I'm driving isn't about to die on me, if that makes sense. I just want to be able to depend on it and get from point A to B.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Have you been having issues with your current TL?

BluffCity04TL

Not really. It has 153k miles and I just feel like it's getting old? If there was a time for me to get into a newer car it would be now because my trade in value and what i owe on the car are almost the same. I'm paying $270 a month for a car with 153k miles on it when i could be driving the same car with 60k miles on it for $300. Am i making any sense?