1075

A couple more suggestions, if you do go with the TL-S make CERTAIN you get what warrant(ies) are in effect in WRITING. Is there still a factory warranty? Most dealerships provide a free Carfax report, but make sure you see it. Also take the car to a mechanic you trust before you commit to anything.

Blazing GT

how much are your payments increasing by?

blakura

All things considered, I'd say go for it. I have an '08 TL-S 6MT on lease, but now I think I'll want to keep a Type S, so I'm thinking about trading my lease in to buy an '07 or '08 Type S. Sure I could buy my current car at the end of the lease, but then I'd overpay by about $8000-$10000. I thought I might want a 4G at the MMC, but I don't know if they can do anything to it that would make me want one for the price they go for.

TzarChasm

How do taxes figure into this? In my area a 5% sales tax that would be applied, plus title and regstration fees would probably keep me from making this kind of deal.

JERU

Why would anyone unload that type of Acura at a Toyota dealership? Makes you wonder what they got at Toyota that is better than the Type S

Cecilt

The car could have been bought at auction. A lot of non-Acura dealers will gladly snatch up a car they know they can sell at an auction. You can ask if it was traded but you really never get a straight answer. Once again we are talking a low mileage '07 that is still under factory warranty. No matter what, you have protection and unless the thing drives like crap or leaks fluid all over the place why not assume it is good. Buying pre-owned has some risk but in this case that risk is so small its not worth getting worked up over by taking it to mechanics, asking for additional warranty protection.

cotmfk

more than likey, they bought it at auction coming off lease or something like that.

1075

Without checking, can you be sure that the factory warranty is still in effect? How do you know that it's not a salvage title? I would certainly take it to a mechanic, no warranty covers pre-existing damage and if normal maintenance has not been documented then the warranty for that system may not apply if problems develop.

bsprinker

The car is located at a Toyota dealership, but was traded in at the Cadillac dealership under the same ownership (and right next door). The general manager told me this about the Type S; It was purchased by a local business owner for his older mother. She drove the car for a year and a half, never really liked it that much, and traded it for a new CTS last month, probably CTS-4. The GM said that I could call the previous owner if I wanted to. I said that it wasn't necessary. If I want details about the car, I can contact the Acura dealership that it was purchased and maintained at...and my father has purchased two acuras from that same local dealership.

If I negociate for a sale, I will confirm the in-service date and remaining factory warranty details. Thanks for that advice, gang.

TzarChasm, As I understand, I would only pay sales tax on the difference in trades, which will be $1,000 or less. On top of that, I would pay doc fees and title transfer fees. Am I missing anything??

bsprinker

No payments. I have title in hand for my '08, and will just write a check for the small difference.

cotmfk

Baller!!! (j/k... good for you for living within your means!!!)

bsprinker

Living within my means is it...and that's just the bean-counter in me...if I was a baller, I'd already have a Type S & and an MDX tech/sport for the winter. That'll be the day.

cab13367

bsprinker,

So you are into your 2008 TL for $28,600 and it will cost you another $2,100 ($1500 difference plus $600 clear bra) plus tax on the 1500 to get into the TL-S. So if go for the Type-S, you will be into it for $30,700 (plus tax on the $1500).

Your '08 is certified which means you have an additional year and 12k miles added to the standard bumper to bumper warranty (and I think the powertrain gets bumped up to 7yrs/100k miles). So you have 5 yrs/62k miles from in svc date on your '08.

The '07 Type-S has the standard 4 yrs/50k mile warranty from in svc date and I think a 6yr/70k powertrain warranty (someone correct me if I am wrong here). The base TL had 19k miles and the Type-S has 17k so you have about 4 yrs and 43k miles left on the warranty on the '08 and about 2 years and 33k miles left on the '07.

So the Type-S will cost you another 7% over your current car, plus you give up about two years of warranty coverage. It boils down to how badly you want the Type-S. Do the extra features of the Type-S make you "love" the car whereas you only "like" your current TL? To the point that it justifies the extra money and two years less warranty? Only you can decide.

That probably doesn't help much but at least I've attempted to quantify what you are contemplating.

I went thru a similar process recently but decided that for a couple grand more, I would go ahead and get the Type-S so that I would have no regrets later. And I was fortunate enough to buy and S for base TL money so that made the decision easier. I did have to broaden by search area and finally found the car about 700 miles from home.

Let us know what you decide.

Al

bsprinker

Al (cab13367),

You've REALLY hit the nail on the head....your numbers are right on and your summary is exactly what I've been thinking about and analyzing in my mind since Saturday afternoon.

I've spoken to the GM at the dealership twice this afternoon, and his last question he asked me on Saturday was, "Would you do it for $1,500 difference?"-that question has been retracted. He now says the best he can do is $1,700 difference + TTL. I believe that he's not trying to personally screw me over, but instead spoke too soon on Saturday as I was walking out the door.

Either way $1,700 is too much and that's what I told him. Today I told him that the number that would probably make me bite was $1,000 difference and that's still my magic number. I told the GM that the problem I had was exactly what you said, Al.....That I am paying $1,700 for an older car AND giving up 1.5 years of manufacturers warranty (based on the in-service dates of the two vehicles). I said I didn't feel comfortable doing that at this time.

The told the GM to call me if he can hit my number....I don't know if he will or not.

We'll see guys...I like I would really enjoy the car and I KNOW it's a good price. Either way, all of the advice was spot on and very helpful. I will update you guys if I get a phone call. Do you think I did the right thing??

shooter

Since this is the holiday season, get yourself the type-s and get MDX for your wife ... LOL

Happy Holidays & good luck ...

shooter

You did the right thing from your mind or from your heart? Sometimes they are different on the same decision ya know ? LOL ....

Good luck either way ...

cab13367

If we bought with our heads we'd all be driving Accords or Camrys!

chairguru22

hahaa! I'd be driving a Sentra...

bsprinker

I wish it was that easy, but but livin' within my means is getting more and more difficult, especially when I'm trying to pay off my mortgage earlier than 30 long years, saving for retirement, my son's college education, and paying for all the day to day household costs that have inflated tremendously over the past couple of years. I'm not complaining, just saying. I'd love to be driving an S and MDX, but something else would have to give.

I don't know how some people do it..with all the costs I mentioned above AND one or two big car payments!!! That would keep me up at night.

cotmfk

I used to work in the mortgage business... there are a LOT of people that make TONS of money. My definition of tons of money is when you make more than $20,000 per month. In the D.C. area, I had a lot of loans coming through with income figures that high and higher.

It was so depressing comparing their income to mine! But, that shows you how some people do it. If I was making $20,000 per month... while I wouldn't be spending all of it, I would definitely feel comfortable having two $40-50,000 cars!