Buying My First TL: Need opinions
09-03-2012, 09:25 PM
#1
Buying My First TL: Need opinions
Hello all:
I just wanted to hear some opinions on the deal I am getting on a what I believe very nice TL. I have agreed to a price of $15k out the door. This is @ an Acura dealer btw, w/no warranty. Here are some details & Pics:
-2004 White on Grey TL 6spd. w/Navi
-47k miles
Mods that I know have been done:
-Comptech Supercharger Kit
-Comptech Exhaust
-Short Shifter- Don't know what brand
-Boost Gauge, A/F Gauge pod inside
Mods I need clarifying on:
-A-Spec kit?
-Lip Spoiler
-Tl Type-S tails/side markers- I think ?
-Tein Coilovers- Don't know whether basic or SS. How to tell?
Anything I should take special consideration of in terms of the S/C kit?Anything I'm wrong about w/ the mods? Am I getting a good deal? Is it normal for the car to have a faint coolant smell after I test drove it pretty hard?
I just wanted to hear some opinions on the deal I am getting on a what I believe very nice TL. I have agreed to a price of $15k out the door. This is @ an Acura dealer btw, w/no warranty. Here are some details & Pics:
-2004 White on Grey TL 6spd. w/Navi
-47k miles
Mods that I know have been done:
-Comptech Supercharger Kit
-Comptech Exhaust
-Short Shifter- Don't know what brand
-Boost Gauge, A/F Gauge pod inside
Mods I need clarifying on:
-A-Spec kit?
-Lip Spoiler
-Tl Type-S tails/side markers- I think ?
-Tein Coilovers- Don't know whether basic or SS. How to tell?
Anything I should take special consideration of in terms of the S/C kit?Anything I'm wrong about w/ the mods? Am I getting a good deal? Is it normal for the car to have a faint coolant smell after I test drove it pretty hard?
09-03-2012, 10:45 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Might want to look more into the S/C. I know my husband was set on putting it in his but then heard lots on here ab it making the car crap out much faster 
With that being said it looks good from the pics (but u can't really tell all that much from pics so idk lol)
With that being said it looks good from the pics (but u can't really tell all that much from pics so idk lol)
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09-03-2012, 11:33 PM
#8
Ya the only thing that i would be cautious about is the supercharger. I dont know much about them so I don't know how it affects the overall reliability of the car but for $15 that's a pretty awesome deal regardless. Good miles, and yes you have every mod that you needed clarifying on. Can't really tell on the coils though, I would imagine you'd have to take them out to check? I honestly have no clue though, someone else will have to clarify.
09-04-2012, 06:45 AM
#10
Suzuka Master
welcome to the site, you can register your color here https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/tl-owners-please-chime-855960/ thnx.
First there shouldn't be any smell of coolant inside the cabin, my DD has 142k miles and there is no such thing as coolant smell in the engine. You might want to get a mechanic to see if you get a leak in heater core which can be expensive to fix. Yes those tail light and side marker are 07-08 TL-S, 04-06 TL with MT come with front Brembo brake and 07-08 TL-S has brembo brake as standard regardless of transmission.
Second about that S/C and the CT exhaust I would say the previous driver probably beat the thing to hell, sure you got a good deal. I wouldn't buy a car with mods on it unless I seen it or know the owner in person. Our TL didn't have any tuning hardware except for J&R ECU even that still have difficulty in software to tune the car to perfect. Stock S/C pulley put about 3.5 pounds of boost (correct me if I am wrong), not a big deal but if the previous owner keep hitting that boost for a long period of time then internal wear and tear will happened much faster than normal N/A motor. Dealer hate to sell modified car because it could be a pain in the a$$ since no one want a race car and looks like they are happy with your purchase, car buyer just want a car for commute or family purpose and everyone has difference in taste of modding car (not every one is the same).
First there shouldn't be any smell of coolant inside the cabin, my DD has 142k miles and there is no such thing as coolant smell in the engine. You might want to get a mechanic to see if you get a leak in heater core which can be expensive to fix. Yes those tail light and side marker are 07-08 TL-S, 04-06 TL with MT come with front Brembo brake and 07-08 TL-S has brembo brake as standard regardless of transmission.
Second about that S/C and the CT exhaust I would say the previous driver probably beat the thing to hell, sure you got a good deal. I wouldn't buy a car with mods on it unless I seen it or know the owner in person. Our TL didn't have any tuning hardware except for J&R ECU even that still have difficulty in software to tune the car to perfect. Stock S/C pulley put about 3.5 pounds of boost (correct me if I am wrong), not a big deal but if the previous owner keep hitting that boost for a long period of time then internal wear and tear will happened much faster than normal N/A motor. Dealer hate to sell modified car because it could be a pain in the a$$ since no one want a race car and looks like they are happy with your purchase, car buyer just want a car for commute or family purpose and everyone has difference in taste of modding car (not every one is the same).
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justnspace (09-21-2012)
09-04-2012, 09:25 AM
#11
1.The coolant smell was not in cabin but right above the engine bay,
When I was examining the engine after the test drive.
2. After doing more research, didn't brembo brakes become standard on MT 05?
3.So as far as tuning, there's the JnR ecu or the FIC, correct?
When I was examining the engine after the test drive.
2. After doing more research, didn't brembo brakes become standard on MT 05?
3.So as far as tuning, there's the JnR ecu or the FIC, correct?
09-04-2012, 11:05 AM
#15
3G TL/2G MDX Owner
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yes the 04 6MT comes with brembos stock up front.
as far as the list of other questionable mods you had:
-it has an Aspec lip kit
-trunk lip spoiler
-type-s tails and side markers
-the coilovers? dunno. you'd have to put it up on a lift and pull the wheels/tires off to see what is on the car for suspension if you can't see it from the wheel well with them on.
looks clean. though my worry is with the SC and how the car has been driven. the low miles is great, the 6MT is great, but...the SC....the comptech exhaust is a nice add on.
is it just me or does the paint on the rear bumper a shade off from the rest of the car? be sure to check for VINs on the body parts of the car. the car fax maybe clean but that means nothing until you actually look to confirm all the panels are original.
as far as the list of other questionable mods you had:
-it has an Aspec lip kit
-trunk lip spoiler
-type-s tails and side markers
-the coilovers? dunno. you'd have to put it up on a lift and pull the wheels/tires off to see what is on the car for suspension if you can't see it from the wheel well with them on.
looks clean. though my worry is with the SC and how the car has been driven. the low miles is great, the 6MT is great, but...the SC....the comptech exhaust is a nice add on.
is it just me or does the paint on the rear bumper a shade off from the rest of the car? be sure to check for VINs on the body parts of the car. the car fax maybe clean but that means nothing until you actually look to confirm all the panels are original.
09-04-2012, 11:16 AM
#16
yes the 04 6MT comes with brembos stock up front.
as far as the list of other questionable mods you had:
-it has an Aspec lip kit
-trunk lip spoiler
-type-s tails and side markers
-the coilovers? dunno. you'd have to put it up on a lift and pull the wheels/tires off to see what is on the car for suspension if you can't see it from the wheel well with them on.
looks clean. though my worry is with the SC and how the car has been driven. the low miles is great, the 6MT is great, but...the SC....the comptech exhaust is a nice add on.
is it just me or does the paint on the rear bumper a shade off from the rest of the car? be sure to check for VINs on the body parts of the car. the car fax maybe clean but that means nothing until you actually look to confirm all the panels are original.
as far as the list of other questionable mods you had:
-it has an Aspec lip kit
-trunk lip spoiler
-type-s tails and side markers
-the coilovers? dunno. you'd have to put it up on a lift and pull the wheels/tires off to see what is on the car for suspension if you can't see it from the wheel well with them on.
looks clean. though my worry is with the SC and how the car has been driven. the low miles is great, the 6MT is great, but...the SC....the comptech exhaust is a nice add on.
is it just me or does the paint on the rear bumper a shade off from the rest of the car? be sure to check for VINs on the body parts of the car. the car fax maybe clean but that means nothing until you actually look to confirm all the panels are original.
09-04-2012, 11:52 AM
#17
Damn, really. Want to explain in more detail? Is that the proper setup for the intake?
Also, just found out that this car was bought @that dealership by a tech's
brother in law, and all work was done by the tech himself.
That's kinda reassuring. Where is the vin tag on the bumper, most likely on the bottom, but anywhere specific.
Also, just found out that this car was bought @that dealership by a tech's
brother in law, and all work was done by the tech himself.
That's kinda reassuring. Where is the vin tag on the bumper, most likely on the bottom, but anywhere specific.
09-04-2012, 05:15 PM
#18
Burning Brakes
iTrader: (1)
That a-spec lip kit does not appear to be misaligned at all. On the edges they always look misaligned from the angle in those photos because they lip around the inside of the fender-well so the lip can be screwed into place. I would agree, however, that the paint does not look the same on the rear bumper as the rest of the car....that isn't just the light, lol, the paint readily changes at the seams where the bumper meets the rear quarter panels and trunk lid.
15k OTD, assuming you really mean OTD including TTL and everything checks out with original body parts, is a good deal given it is manual and has navi IF you want a modded car.
again as others have mentioned, usually modded cars sell for less. Personally I'd buy it because if it broke, I would just fix it because I love the TL manual and I would have thrown an SC on it anyway.
You have to ask yourself - if I bought a clean, unmodified TL 6 speed, would I mod it? Would I go so far as to boost it?
If the answer is yes, then it is more realistic to consider this offer because you should then be more inclined to understand the potential for premature engine or transmission failure due to the nature of what you're working with. Then you'd be looking at it from the standpoint of - well, all these mods would cost me 6k in raw parts, plus installation if I am not a DIY kind of person so even if it breaks and I fix it, I'm still probably ahead of the game in total cost.
If you bought a clean 47k '04 manual with nav for the same price, or even a couple thousand less, you'd still be into it for 20k total by the time you installed all those mods.
so I would say jump on it if you were going to mod it anyway, and if it breaks big deal - you'll be into it for repairs for the same total cost that you would have put into getting the mods in the first place. Maybe less if you just burn out a clutch or something as opposed to blowing the motor up.
15k OTD, assuming you really mean OTD including TTL and everything checks out with original body parts, is a good deal given it is manual and has navi IF you want a modded car.
again as others have mentioned, usually modded cars sell for less. Personally I'd buy it because if it broke, I would just fix it because I love the TL manual and I would have thrown an SC on it anyway.
You have to ask yourself - if I bought a clean, unmodified TL 6 speed, would I mod it? Would I go so far as to boost it?
If the answer is yes, then it is more realistic to consider this offer because you should then be more inclined to understand the potential for premature engine or transmission failure due to the nature of what you're working with. Then you'd be looking at it from the standpoint of - well, all these mods would cost me 6k in raw parts, plus installation if I am not a DIY kind of person so even if it breaks and I fix it, I'm still probably ahead of the game in total cost.
If you bought a clean 47k '04 manual with nav for the same price, or even a couple thousand less, you'd still be into it for 20k total by the time you installed all those mods.
so I would say jump on it if you were going to mod it anyway, and if it breaks big deal - you'll be into it for repairs for the same total cost that you would have put into getting the mods in the first place. Maybe less if you just burn out a clutch or something as opposed to blowing the motor up.
Last edited by i_love_cars; 09-04-2012 at 05:18 PM.
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pohljm (09-29-2012)
09-04-2012, 06:03 PM
#19
Damn, now I'm having second thoughts. This s/c dilemma has got me going crazy. the fact that it was installed by a Acura tech kinda gives me peace of mind, but this whole tuning issue is not what I expected.
Also, 15k for an 04 just has me thinking is it really too much? At the end of the day,it is boosted but it still is an 04. What would this car cost minus the supercharger, and what would it realistically sell for on the street as is
Also, 15k for an 04 just has me thinking is it really too much? At the end of the day,it is boosted but it still is an 04. What would this car cost minus the supercharger, and what would it realistically sell for on the street as is
09-04-2012, 06:08 PM
#20
3G TL/2G MDX Owner
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it's an 04 with low miles...you're hovering around market value. mods DO NOT add to the price of the vehicle unless the dealer thinks they can get more for it b/c it's SC.
they maybe asking 15k...but noone pays what the dealer asks. shoot for 13k and then go from there. you can also check the "books" to see how much it should be going for.
they maybe asking 15k...but noone pays what the dealer asks. shoot for 13k and then go from there. you can also check the "books" to see how much it should be going for.
09-04-2012, 07:53 PM
#22
Suzuka Master
to answer your question.
1. it could be a small leak from the radiator caps return into the reserve tank, this is a common issue with our TL.
2. I repeat again Brembo is standard on 04-06 with MT gearbox. Also you probably didn't know that MT TL has superior sway bars and suspension setting than AT TL.
3. FIC is limited to tuning it only control your fuel and ignition timing, JnR ECU is better since it offer you more control over FIC (JnR can get rid of that speed limited or rev limiter in neutral or park for AT). Sharks aka Aron still having software issue tuning his N/A bolt on TL-S, it need a reliable software to tune it to perfect. Even JnR ECU got a good software to tune then it still need a reputable shop that can tune the car into full potential. This is the reason why I wouldn't want to S/C my TL, I would just get a turbo charge car and get it tune since the increase is more $$$ efficient and the after market parts is much more available for tuning.
09-04-2012, 09:49 PM
#25
Suzuka Master
S/C is fine with the current set up make sure you don't always get on it, don't boost on high RPM and you should be fine, just drive it normally as you would. Change the oil every 3000 miles with full synthetic reline racing instead of 5000 miles synthetic blend to slow down the wear process, the last guy who had S/C in his Type S end up with a blow motor since there is no tuning hardware available at the time. An average 04 TL with similar options, mileage minus the S/C should cost around $13k-$14k as you can see the dealer want to sell this car quickly, like everyone said when a car trade in with mods actually decrease the value of the car.
09-04-2012, 10:25 PM
#26
the overexplainer
i thought color on the bumpers of WDP will always be a shade off from the factory. No WDP is uniform when comparing the bumper to the rest of the body unless it was repainted.
Sounds like a deal, better if you can get 14k or lower since I bought mine with 52k miles last year at 14k. I like a rule of thumb of 1k of depreciation per year, condition of the car withstanding.
as for coolant smells, there could be small misc coolant leaks. I have a small leak from a hose under the throttle body that leaks onto the engine which could burn off causing a smell.
Question: I know you have to remove the SC to get to the plugs, but the battery too? Is it easy?
Sounds like a deal, better if you can get 14k or lower since I bought mine with 52k miles last year at 14k. I like a rule of thumb of 1k of depreciation per year, condition of the car withstanding.
as for coolant smells, there could be small misc coolant leaks. I have a small leak from a hose under the throttle body that leaks onto the engine which could burn off causing a smell.
Question: I know you have to remove the SC to get to the plugs, but the battery too? Is it easy?
Last edited by ez12a; 09-04-2012 at 10:32 PM.
09-05-2012, 07:15 AM
#27
Suzuka Master
^^^the battery tray had been lowered down about 3 inches or more, the battery is small but I think you still have to take the part that connect between S/C into the Throttle body to get that battery out.
09-05-2012, 06:05 PM
#31
09-21-2012, 06:26 AM
#32
iWhine S/C 6MT TL
iTrader: (1)
yeah it was my friends car. Best of luck with it.
09-21-2012, 11:38 AM
#34
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
In for update 
09-29-2012, 03:56 PM
#36
Nice car. I have an 04 TL WDP and I think that's absolutely the best color.
Mine is stock, even the tail lights. I actually prefer the all red tail lights, especially with a white car.
Mine is stock, even the tail lights. I actually prefer the all red tail lights, especially with a white car.
09-29-2012, 04:00 PM
#37
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
Ron A made a post that wasn't laying down the law! He DOES have a soul! 
Uhhhhh I meant to say
Uhhhhh I meant to say
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