I'm not new to the forum but haven't been very active. I owned a 2005 TL base for 3 years and regretted getting rid of it so now I'm looking to get another one, hoping for some input on my two options.


2008 TL Type-S Kinetic Blue Pearl
104K miles (needs the 105K mile service)
One owner car and all maintenance records are available
$14,200


2008 TL Base with Navigation
48K miles
Acura Certified
Two Owners
2 year gap in Carfax history and no maintenance records
$17,500


I'm comfortable with either price, I like the Type-S more but the mileage is concerning and not to mention I'll have to drop about $1200 for the 105K service right after buying it.


Thoughts?

 

Personally, I'd get the 08 with the Nav - 49K miles is nothing, and it'll be quite a while before it needs the 105K service. Get all the fluids changed and drive on.

 

get the 08 base, way less mileage, but that's only if you dont need the extra power.

 

Thanks for the responses I may have to just flip a coin on it, something about that KBP paint that is luring me in LOL.

 

Why limit yourself to only those two? How about find a Type S with lower mileage and have the best if both worlds? Sounds like its a car you'll keep for a while so it would be a good idea I think.
If you don't really care about all the things a Type S comes with then it sounds like that base with 48k would be a good one.
KBP is nice, but there will be others especially in automatic and even more so if your willing to travel.

 

I've searched around and have found some other Type-S, just not sure how far I want to travel to get one, whatever I get I will certainly keep it for a while, I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.

 

I'd get the certified one with the low miles.

 

Yep, go with the '08, DJ.

 

or buy mine, its faster

 

They're both 08's

 

goddamn 104k miles on an 08. if you don't plan on selling it&records look good, I wouldn't have a problem buying the kbp type s.

 

Go with the '08 Base TL.

 

Personally, I would go for the S. It has all the maintenance records and has a color that you really like. However, I agree with an earlier suggestion of expanding your search.

 

I bought my base in October 2012 with 37K... I bought it b/c of the carfax, the mileage, and it was a color combo I loved.
The S is powerful and all, but its not like the base is underpowered
I vote for the low mileage base...obviously
Good luck!

 

I'm leaning towards the Type-S, they brought the price down another $500 and I got a better interest rate for a 36 month loan on it. The certified one is nice and I like the warranty but the dealer hasn't explained why the car has no history for 2 years, my guess is that it was not registered and used as a loaner with a dealer plate.

 

It may have been used as a loaner but then the dealer would have done the service so there should be records. With the certified you would get a pretty good warranty, correct. As for interest rate...check with Pentagon FCU...crazy low rates, like 1.5% for up to 60 months last I looked. Interest rates are so low now that the difference of one percent isn't really that much more money.

 

I'd still get the Type S with records. See if they'll come down some more or pay for half of the 105k service. Having a car with proper records is worth so much... Also if you don't plan on selling the car anytime soon, save the cash in the price difference and use it in the future for any work that might come up (which it probably won't).

Also if a car was used as a loaner it was for sure beat to hell and back. Just because it was serviced doesn't mean anything, it was still flogged for two years at least.

 

If it was "flogged" why would the dealer Certify it? Also, I have had loaners a number of times from Acura and I didn't drive any different than I drive my own cars.


Having records doesn't guarantee everything is OK with a car...it helps for sure, but you never know. Carfax isn't always correct on accident history for instance.

 

Every single rental and loaner car I've looked at was in terrible shape and you could tell it was flogged. I had BMW loaners a handful of times and every single one had at least an oil leak, I even had to get one towed back to the dealership for a CEL. All of those cars had less than 10k on the clock.

Yes, you're right that records aren't always a guarantee and OP should always get a pre-purchase inspection before buying any car but having those records shows that the owner at least cared about the car instead of it being a loaner.

 

I agree...it may have been beaten, but he is also speculating that it was a loaner. Again, if it is beat I don't think Acura would certify it. Don't BMWs come standard with an oil leak? JK The Carfax would show who owned the car, if it was a loaner the dealer would be listed as the loaner.


I also agree, he should get an independent inspection which ever car he decides on.

 

Dealers certify cars that have been in accidents. I don't have much faith in the certification program other than the warranty but what does that entitle the OP to? One more year of coverage? If I recall correctly it's 7yrs 105k miles. Meh.

 

I had a Nissan certified and it went to 100K miles, but I don't recall the years...I thought it was a set number of years from when I bought the truck. Obviously Acura's could be different.

 

First of all, you're not kidding and they do come standard with an oil leak among various other problems...but when you get one in the twisties, it's pure driving joy. And the Xi with snow tires was utter winter domination. If the car didn't have so much required maintenance I would have kept it without even thinking twice, it's truly an experience to drive one of the older ones. (E46 or older)

Anyway, the fact that there are two missing years in the Carfax would be cause for concern to me. Dealers can certify whatever they want, it's a business decision for them, and Acura, in can they make money off of certifying a car. They don't do it out of the kindness of their hearts.

 

That's why I'm not all over that deal for just one years worth of warranty.

 

I really appreciate the input from everyone, I think I'm going to make a deal on the Type-S unless the dealer can come up with some sort of record of the Base's existence in those two years. If it was a loaner it probably was flogged and given the business on more than one occasion.

 

One more thing of note for the Type-S, the servicing dealer was listed on the Carfax so I did call them and they verified all of the service, they wouldn't give me the previous owner's name though. LOL

 

My son has an 06 M5...hell yes it is a blast.


I would think when Acura certifies a car there is some liability on there part and risk. If they certify a beater it might come back to haunt them...just saying.


As we agreed, the independent inspection would answer most of the OP questions...looks like he's decided on the Type S so all this is moot.

 

Good luck with the deal and the car, either way you'll be happy!

 

If I'm reading this right, it's an additional 12 months/12k miles on non-powertrain after the original mfg warranty runs out (which if it's an 08 it has run out) and 7 years/100k miles on the powertrain which is calculated from the day the first owner registered the car.

http://www.acura.com/Warranty.aspx

So, ya, the OP would get one more year of warranty if he bought the 08 Base.

 

That's absolutely correct

 

I wouldn't limit myself to these options. I'd would search for the best of both worlds, like someone already said. But if you absolutely forced me to choose one of the two, it would be the Type S. Because KBP.

High miles, sure, but all maintenance is available and only one owner. It's hardly a shady deal: you know exactly what you're getting.

 

$13,800 is a great price for a TL-S.

 

Thanks a ton for the Pentagon FCU advice, I got 1.9% financing with them!

 

Sure...I've financed a few cars with them over the last few years...financed my wife's 2013 CR-v through them at .49% back in December of 2012. I'll be honest, their customer service sometimes isn't the greatest but I can deal for the lower rates. My son waited a couple weeks for a check from them after financing a car through them but worked out in the long run.

 

I paid $15 to have the check overnighted. I agree about the customer service, I had to call them 3 times to confirm things and only 1 of the 3 folks on the phone seemed like they wanted to be on the phone. LOL Like you said for the rates, I'll deal with that.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses, I picked up the Type-S Satruday, I'll post some pics in a new thread.