I'm in the market for an acura TL, and in the price range of $10K to $13K and the TL's that i'm finding within this range have mileage in the 90 to 100K miles.

1. So what do you guys suggest, is Acura reliable enough that I should have no problems with mileage over 100K? or should i look for cars in the 50K to 60K?
2. So for people that have current TL's what regular maintenance is required at what mileage. like when do i need to change the timing belt?
3. which other things should i worry about replacing in the car which is at 100K miles?
4. if i bought something with 100K miles how long can i drive it before it really starts crapping out and gives me problems.
5. so basically looking for a TL that would last me for 3 years without giving too much maintenance issues. which mileage car would be ideal without spending too much.

Appreciate everyones input.

 

Currently at 100K and need it for 3 years? So it'd be around 150K or less when you were done? I'd say go for it. 150K isn't much for most cars anymore. I'd say change the timing belt right after you get it or within 10K and basic maintenance. You should be fine.

 

There's a lot of expensive maintenance that comes up at about 100,000 miles. The big expense is the timing belt and water pump, done at around 106,000, costs about $1k. By 100k miles you will need new brake pads and probably rotors, transmission fluid change (if 5AT), coolant flush and refill, spark plugs. New air filter and cabin air filter. Tires? There is a recall on a power steering hose and on the wiper motor, which cost you nothing but you lose use of the car for a day. If these things, which total around $2k if done by a dealer, excluding tires, have all been done on a car you're looking at you really don't have much to worry about regarding reliability. I have about 130k on my 04 and I plan to keep driving it a lot longer. I traded in a '94 Accord with 248k. I would have kept on driving it, but I was impatient to get my TL. If you keep up with scheduled maintenance you shouldn't have many problems, but if all that maintenance is yet to be done you should add about $2k to your planned investment.

 

thats definitely a good point. so maybe i should look into whether all this maintenance work have already been done before deciding on the car. so should this info be available on the carfax report or do i have to ask for service paperwork? whats the best way to go about it?
2. also, with high mileage should you be worried about the transmission breaking down?
3. how to tell which 2004 models have the newer transmission that is trouble-free? anyway to tell them apart.

thanks guys for the wonderful insight