New3gGuy

Hey guys, I'm new here and it's nice to see such a lively forum to join and refer to for information. Yesterday I purchased an '06 TL A/T w/Nav that appears to be a great car for it's age and miles (81,000). However, I have a dilemma because the dealer listed the car as full A-Spec without the wheels and confirmed this in person when I visited the dealership. The car includes the ground effects, rear trunk lip, and badge for sure; however, I took his word for the brakes and suspension and they seem to be the base options. The shock number revealed it was base when I was able to pop a wheel off today, and the brakes have no indication of "Acura" or "Brembro." I feel like I've been slightly screwed without these things. Should I follow up with the dealer since he told me to my face that it included these things, or is there little I can do at this point?

Also, the steering wheel was the carbon fiber accessory wheel, so I didn't notice that as a red flag since the original owner might have wanted this option instead.

WI_TL

I may be wrong, but I believe only manual transmission cars had Brembo brakes.

DaeHanMeenGuk

04-06 TLs that came in manual had the brembo brakes.
07-08 TL Type-S models (both auto and manual) had the brembo brakes.

Also, a true a-spec steering wheel would look like this:


Notice the blue stitching and the silver part of the steering wheel.

I don't think there is much you can do about it. You can still try to contact them but if you're looking for compensation, I wouldn't get my hopes up. Typically, car salesmen don't know much about the car they're selling. They usually just read the information off the window sticker.

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

Ironically this is usually the case.

You can check the coilovers to confirm. The part number on the shock should end with an A1 or B1, or if it has the newer iterations of the aspec coilovers, E1 or F1.

I'm not sure what the base shocks end with. But if it's not A1/B1 or E1/F1, you're not aspec. The sticker can be found on the shock behind the tire. You can get a glimpse of it by jacking up one corners and looking over the tire.

RU_JELLY

iTrader: (1)

ya only the six speed came with brembo but the other stuff im not sure

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

However; the automatics came with "aspec" brake pads!
this is where the confusion might be coming from.

they were just a more aggressive brake pad. nothing more

and like the gentlemen before me stated; only the manuals came with brembo calipers.
and later all the type-s received the brembos


newguy, you didnt get screwed. Enjoy your car!

dannyz

One approach would be to point out that they misrepresented the model you bought, and that you would prefer to avoid litigation, and you would either take your money back, or accept a $500 rebate (probably the value difference of the A-spec).

Who knows, they may just take it. Whether or not they intended to misrepresent their product, it is still legally misrepresentation. You'd win this in small claims court.

Depends on how much time and energy you want to spend on it.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I wouldnt even stress it.
the OP, however, never told us how much he bought the car for.

if some outrageous price for this supposed aspec, then yes. but if he bought it for true market value or less, then Keep calm and drive the TL!!!

MarcoNorthPolo

I have to agree with dannyz. If they represented the car to you as an A-Spec and it isn't, then you would have a case. The fact that the salesman was possibly clueless doesn't change anything.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

how much did he buy the car for?

08TList

iTrader: (-1)

if it helps, the aspec brake pads are red and the oem ones are black so you could see them if you had them

New3gGuy

Thanks for the replies guys. I bought the car for $14,300, it was listed at $15,000. Not the best deal, but not terrible in my eyes considering it appears to be in great condition so far. Small claims could be an option, but I might just spring for some h-techs. The dealer was an older man with only 10-15 cars on his lot, prob just went off what he was told when he bought it. Still considering trying to get something for his false misrepresentation though because his reason for not budging much revolved around the complete A-Spec package being "hard to find", but hell the rims are what make the package and it doesn't even have them.

New3gGuy

Fwiw, I took a screenshot of the autotader ad, I'll post it up tomorrow.

erdoc48

Personally, for the mileage and that fact that you have the A-Spec body kit (but not the wheels and likely not the A-Spec suspension), I don't think you did badly at all. If you're happy with the car and with how it drives, I wouldn't sweat it. It's likely true that the sales person didn't know the car doesn't have the A-Spec suspension, but that's probably not correctable (I assume the parts are no longer available). You can try to get something for the 'lack of representation' but it's not going to be worth much, maybe some service from the dealership in the future. Enjoy the ride.

nttstt444

iTrader: (1)

In all honesty after you have spent some time here on azine you'll prob end up wanting to swap out the suspension and get new wheels anyway. The aspec stuff is cooI and the badge and steering wheel are rare, but the lip kit, wheels and suspension arnt special or hard to find. Enjoy your TL and welcome.

DaeHanMeenGuk

^ this.

it's not like the guy told you it was an M3 but it happened to be a 328i.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

this must have been one of those rare "telling the truth" salesmen.

you bought an awesome used car for a decent price!
I wouldnt sweat it.

New3gGuy

Now that it's been a few days with the car I'm not bothered by it as much. Initially it just kind of took away that giddy feeling of having a new ride, but I'm sure I would have wanted to be lower than the A/T A-Spec suspension eventually anyway. I'm trying to buy a used set of H-Techs in the For Sale section, I'm a fairly conservative driver so I'm going to put them on the stock shocks and hope they hold up. Overall, the quality of the car is much greater than the is300 I traded in. NBP ftw!

IamaTL

As long as you didnt pay extra for the "apec" you should be fine.

erdoc48

If you're a conservative driver (as I am), at least for now, I'd just stick with the stock suspension and see of you like it. A lot of people here lower their cars, and I'm sure it's fine for them. I never did and always thought the 06 rode a little firm for me. I use a larger (taller) tire than factory (245/45/17) to get a little more of a soft ride which suits me well. Don't be in a hurry to mod just yet- enjoy what you have for a while- you may decide not to mod the suspension at all.