I decide to buy preowned 04Tl with Navi. I found several used one and narrow down them two. One is $31K with 12k miles, black and acura ceritified car and the other is $29.5K with 12.5K miles, white but No certified. Both looks clean, didn't feel vibration(but not sure).

Is the certified car really worth for over $1.5K?

And what else should I check before I decide to buy?

Are the rattle and vibration problem easily noticible?

 

I think you may be making a mistake on either of those cars. I bought my '04 w/ Navi for $32.9k in September.

If you wait towards the end of this year, you'll probably be able to get back down in the $32's on a new one.

If that last $2k makes the car too much, then maybe I'd look at a TSX.

 

I would spend the extra money and get a new one - especially if it is an early build 04 TL.

I paid $32873 for my 05tl WITH navi

 

Thanks for the comments.. but in SoCal where I live now, the best price I can get is $33,500 which is $2.5~4K differences b/w the new and used. $3K is not ignorable for me.. and acura certifired which inclue extended warranty(7yr/100Kmile) is another good thing to buy one of the used one. So.......

Anyways thanks again and I'll think about that seriously..

 

How about getting one out of state and taking it back to cali?

 

A certified car ar 45,000 miles is worth 1500 more but not at that mileage. What is worn? or replaced?

And get the orginal sticker and offer at least 5,000 off of it...

If you really got to have that car ask about the oil jet, seat issues, etc. And be prepared to deal with those issues as well.

Buy brand new if you can afford it.

04 was the redesign year ....

And do not confuse certified with being trouble free longer. It may not make any difference.

 

I agree with mickey - keep in mind the tranny problems, the rattles, other problems... some poor guy got stuck with my TSX after the radiator cap was left off (by the dealer)... last i heard whoever bought it from the dealer has had to have it in for the replacement of the head gasket - and a few other problems (melted sensor wires).... so be prepared for anything....

If you can't pay the extra money, I would still highly reccomend the TSX - it was a great car while I had mine.

 

I would suggest checking around. Im in SoCal too and one of the dealers had the 04TL's going for $500 over invoice. Brand new.

 

Based upon my experience with the 04TL, I'd run away from both deals regardless of price.

 

take the certified one... its worth the extra 1.5 k.... it will take to 100k miles.... any problems within that time and its the dealers issue.... my 04 has 12,500 and i have loved every minute of ownership.... very few issues....

if the car is being sold by an acura dealer (which im sure it is, since its a certified vehicle) then the tranny recall was more then likely performed but it never hurts to ask.... 12k isnt many miles on these cars, if you dont want to wait, or if new cost 2 much then get certified....

and try to talk them down you might get a little more out of them... or ask for upgrades, like a spoiler or something. get what you can out of them

 

whats the experience??

 

I would imagine the person has had a bad experience... too many issues for the price.... That sort of thing.

The performance of a car is not worth the issues you might have. To many it is still transportation...

 

Is the 7/100 with a zero, fifty or a one hundred dollar deductible? Good deals are available around the country. Please, consider buying new. You cannot be sure of how the car was broken in, what underlying issues that may/may not have caused the original purchaser to trade the car off, frequency of oil changes, etc.... I believe it is worth the extra $$$ to know what has happened to a car (especially one this expensive).

 

Acura makes more money on extended warranties. They are not in the business to offer you a 100K warranty and lose money. If you need to feel good about a car that has a 100K warranty that costs you cash and has a deductible, it might be time to move on to another car.

 

Search the forum for my posts, you will see that my TL came with vibrations and tranny whine for FREE!! Just won my lemon law case . . . .

 

i got the extended warranty on my last car. 98 accord. it was a 100k warranty.

at about 98k my tranny blew. i think the cost of the tranny alone was about 1700, plus other misc parts and labor on top of that. it woulda came out to over 2400.

glad i spent the extra 6 bills for that warranty back in the day

good thing i drove it hard too, otherwise i woulda blown the tranny after 100k

 

I think the obvious question here is ....Are you paying cash or financing this purchase.

If you are financing then buying a new TL is the obvious decision. At least with a new car you can get a rate of about 4%. On a used car your rate will probably be closer to 6.5%. 2.5% over 60 months on a 30k loan will bring the total cost of the car to about the same.

I am not going to do the math for you but I am sure someone on here can.

 

Maybe it is me.. but I have had plenty of cars in my life and I have never lost a tranny until acura. If I have to buy an extended warranty to make sure I get a new tranny than acura is not doing something right...


And I must be insane since the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

 

Right.. I have thought about that too.. Apr of a new TL will be 4.9% and used will be 5.75%.. that make about $1k difference (15k down). So there is still $2K and used one includes extend warranty.
Most of you recommand to buy a new one, even my wife do.. But the thing is about $$ ^^. That was my maximun budget for a car at this time.

I have two other options new TSX and nice used G35w/premium pkg, No navi but I don't want to go down there . I got a good offer for 04 g35 and it is safe to buy because I have known that car since the first owner purchased..... I like the G's handling and performance but want quieter, smoother with enough power and NAVI... I don't want to live in regretting for next 5 years. Thats why I'm struggling now~~ Anyways thanks guys for the comments..

 

Drive both cars on an extended test drive. After you drive the cars, you should be able to determine which car is "tighter" and make your decision based on the actual cars involved and not the warranty. Both cars will have the factory warranty anyway, and by the time it's expired, any issues with the new car should be resolved.

 

Buy NEW