markdesign

Thanks to everyone on this post for sharing their experiences. I was able to get a great deal because of it.

and to contribute back, here is my purchase details for anyone interested to purchase one in the L.A. area

picked up on April 31, 2005
Acura TL white/navi/auto. straight off the truck with only 3 miles after the dealer drove it to go fill it with gas.

Thomas acura, in Covina
base price $32,500.00 (including destination) no protection package.
45.00 doc fees
2,522.24 tax (7.75)
262.00 licence
8.75 tire
12.00 smog

total otd 35349.99

11,000 cash down and finance at 5.67% for 72 months came out to $400.00/month to the penny

my fica was at 729 which allowed me the best rate

One thing that was new was that the rate was only good up to 60 months.

when i asked the dealer for 72 months, he said that the rate would go up 2 points becase that is not a normal financing for automobile.

I negotiated down to one point. I hope I didnt get suckered into this?

hope this info helps anyone else out.

oh..almost forgot, the VSA light is on and it wont turn off... didnt read the manual yet, but it looks like something is wrong already. anyone have this problem or solution before i call the service department tomorrow?

mark.

JackSprat01

Welcome to the club!

Batman-JGII

Congrats.

VelfarreClubber

Who helped you out w/ the car? I thought Yvonne was a excellent sales person, good pricing, but they were so low on inventory at the time i bought my car.

KJSmitty

$32,500 for a TL w/nav, including destination.....??

That would be a good deal.

caball88

32500 is a good deal for the car but financing at 5.67 for 72 months makes up for the difference. that is a really long time for a car finance.

ndx2

congrats on the new ride!

you can push the VSA button located next to your sideview mirror controls to turn that light off. VSA light on usually means you have the VSA off.

crazymjb

Yah, We dont have the car yet but Ive seen that in a malibu. Great deal. Is car tax that same as state tax?

Da_Moor

I just purchased my new TL yesterday (4/30/05) with only 5 miles on it after a fuel fill up. I wanted to say thanks to all the folks that put good information and advice out on the board. I appreciate the fact that there is an open forum like this were people can share facts and opinions on the Acura TL.

It’s my turn to give back a little information also. So for all of you members in the Midwest (Chicago land area) here are the details on my purchase:

-- Black on Black/no-navi/AT (sorry just couldn’t bring myself to get navi @$2k…hope I don’t regret)
-- A-spec (under-body spoiler kit)_Extra
-- Deck spoiler_ Extra
-- Extra rubber floor mats_ Extra
-- Wheel & Tire Warranty (5 years) _ Extra

I purchased it at McGrath Acura in Westmont
MSRP: $33,670 w/o extras above
Base price: 34,000 w/extras (after a couple days of negotiation)
Plus: Doc_Tax_License&Title
Total OTD: $36,500

I will say this about McGrath of Westmont; they’ve got a nice showroom and customer waiting areas. I mean it’s very nice, from the flat screen TV in the café to the indoor putting greens near the pre-owned vehicles....Nice!!! The women that work there aint bad on the eyes either . My sales guy was nice, professional and down to earth. Even during the multiple negotiation sessions which natural is nerve racking he maintained a good sense of humor.

One question to you veteran TL owners, could you give me some pointers/advice on Dos and Don’ts during my first 3K miles (and beyond)?

JackSprat01

Congrats, check the garage for "break in information."

KJSmitty

Yes - His $2,522.24 tax (7.75) is his "state sales tax". (7.75% of vehicle cost w/accessories minus trade-in if applicable)

PPLAPW

Congrats on the new ride, enjoy.......

markdesign

I tried the VSA button, but currently the "VSA system indicator" (the word VSA in the center) light is on as well as the "VSA activation indicator" (yellow trangle with the exclamation mark in the left.)

looks like somethign is wrong with it.

oh wells, back to the dealer tomorrow.

~mark

markdesign

yeah... the total finance charge was $4450.01

so actual total sale price is $39,800.00

72 months is long time, but it was either that or the camry, so i personally dont mind.

~mark

Legend2TL

Congratuations, enjoy your new TL!

Da_Moor

This may be a silly question but what do you mean by check the garage for Break in information. Is that information (i.e. garage) somewhere on this site?

ndx2

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84834

^^the "garage"

mark 3M bra man

Since when does April have 31 days ????

Welcome, Mark.

dgracer

Did you get the Quartz or Parchment interior? WDP is one of the colors I like. Saw a really nice one with chrome (stock) wheels.

markdesign

oh crap.. i meant april 30

i got the parchment interior.. but crap!.. i didnt know it came with wood trim,.

uggh.. sick

also

everytime my 2 year old daughter gets in.. she gives me a heart attack everytime she puts her shoes all over the upholstery..

i'm thinking i made a mistake, and should have got the grey.

~mark

EpiK

Heya Mark.

One question, one comment.

Comment: The upholstery cleans up very easily. Parchment was the way to go. Grey is so... cold.

Question: Was the difference between 60 @ 4.67% and 72 @ 5.67% really worth going the extra 12 months? The payments couldn't have been that far apart... (Or were they?)

markdesign

my budget was set at 400/month, coudn't afford to go a penny higher.

at 60/month for 4.69, it would have been $456.06/month

at 70/month for 5.69, it was $400.00/month

so basically i'm paying additional 1,440 to extend it another year at the lower payment.

It sucked, but the 400/months was coverred under my stable income, and i make the extra cash from freelance work which was not stable.

what do you use to clean the parchment?

did i mention that i got the car saturday, brand new with 3 miles, .. dropped it off at the dealer for service mon... they will call me wednesday to see what the status is...

~mark

EpiK

Understood on the budget thing. We all do what we gotta do.

Actually I have the Camel, not the parchment, but I would definitely take the parchment over the Quartz. Regarding the kids "footprints", I just use a wet paper towel. Cleans up just fine. It's the sticky stuff you need to worry about, but sticky stuff will show up on anything except for ebony. (And personally, I'd like to see it so I know it needs to be cleaned...)

markdesign

just got a call from the dealer,

the anti lock brake module is out and needs to be replaced. they dont have it in stock and will have to order it from another warehouse.

They dont know what the grinding noise is yet and are still checking on it.

they allowed me to get a rental car, if i paid for the first day, and they offered to pay all other days the car is in the shop.

They also offered another TL loaner car, but that requires a 2 week reservation.

bought the car April 30, 2005 and going 5 days without it.....

did i just buy a 35K car to have this much agony?




~mark

Ol Blue Eyes

here is one, try not to curb all 4 wheels within the first month.........or ever......don't even touch a curb with that car

EpiK

There is no way you should have to pay a cent for a rental car - even for the first day. Put your foot down, the car is less than a week old.

Best way I have found to get what you want is to take the conversation into the showroom and bitch real loud. They will generally agree with you to get you to shut up and not scare off any potential customers.

markdesign

update:

the abs module came in but it was the wrong part, so it was reordered.

they called me yesterday on wednesday and told me that, and FINALLY offered me a loaner car.

so

the part came in today thursday, and it wont be ready till friday. And they still havent checked out the grinding noise.

lets see.. i bought the car saturday, and its been in the shop 5 days alredy..

do I have some sort of legle right to ask for a new car?

~mark

EpiK

Have you asked your dealer? Most places, especially Saturn dealerships, have something. I do know Performace Acura had a 3 day, no questions asked return policy.

markdesign

i asked two dealership

they both said the same thing

"thats what warranty is for, it could be 1 day or 3 years, there is no difference"



well.. at least i'm having fun with their loaner TL. I'm doing things to it that I would never do to my own car....

just filled it up whith arco 87 octane, and i'm going to try poping the SS into second gear on the freeway to see what happens...



~mark

stealth

That's what I'm talkin' about. . . Put that loaner to good use.

MR1

You are far to nice and understanding. I bought a new VW a few years ago and had mechanical trouble the next day. They were very nice and gave me a loaner for the day while they figured out what needed fixing. At 4pm when I called about picking it up they told me that new parts had to be ordered. I told them I didn't want a new car that had to have parts ordered for it. They should have test driven the car before delivery imho. I refused to pick up the car when it was ready. I also continued to drive the loaner during the entire ordeal.

Service directed me back to sales who, of course said they couldn't do anything about it. I ended up with the owners' assistant who finally agreed to take it back ater I contacted VWOA. They ordered me a new vehicle which didn't come in as promised. Finally, I got my trade-in and deposit back and went and bought a Honda.

One question, why would you abuse the loaner by putting in the wrong gas while driving the s*^t out of it?

MaFreCoLa

I got my car at Thomas Acura in Covina as well! I got an '05 NBP with Navi on May 1, 2005. So far, no complaints and I love it!!

locotl

the light for "passenger side air bag off" does not light up when the passenger seat is empty. Should I have it checked or am I just being to picky?

markdesign

I would say its purely for experimental purposes .. hehe

update on the my acura:

Dealer called me this morning friday (Day5) and they finally finished all the repairs.

interestingly, the crunching/grinding noise that was comming from the front wheel, they say, was caused by the malfuntioning ABS module.

I wish i could pick it up now, but my wife filled up the tank on the loaner yesterday night, so I'll be picking it up only after i burn all the gas in that car.



~mark

markdesign

Update:

After i bought my acura and its been sitting at the service department for 5 days, I finally picked it up this saturday.

My wife brought it home and it was a nightmare!

Brand new parchment leather that I only sat in for one day had dirt marks everywhere. Most likely from the technician that worked on it.

it was all over the left arm rest, center consol, seat, and head rest.

Also there was a permanet crease marks on the driver seat. Is this what people referring to "butt prints"?

After I spent 2 hours with a toothbrush tryign to get all this marks off, I noticed a huge gap in the sterring column that woudnt close back up.

at this stage, i regret trying to have cleaned everything, I should have just taken it back. But as i drive around that day my biggest fear came true. Rattling noises below the steering column where the dealer took it all apart to replace the ABS module.

well.. back to the shop tomorrow.

Just a warning:

Do not take your car to cerritos acura for service. They dont give a shit about your car.



~mark

chill_dog

Awesome!

I took my car in to have a couple of rattles fixed the other week...one in the steering column wasn't one of them. However, they "found" a rattle in my steering column that they fixed for me. Now I have the same huge gap you have.

I hate taking my car in because the dealer is across town and the traffic sucks, so I'm compiling a list, and when it gets long enough, I'll take it in. If nothing serious develops, I might just wait until my next oil change.

Good luck with everything!

Msnowdon

Mark,

You got a 2005 Auto with Navi for $32,500, who was your sales person? I am talking with them and at $33,150.

Michael

markdesign

I originally called a L.A. car broker and Lied to him that i got an offer for 32,500 including destination from keys acura and asked that he beat that if he wants the sale.

They said they couldnt do it but would refer me to his friend who is the fleet manager at thomas acura.

So, i called Daniel Lee at thomas acura and offered him the 32,500. He wasnt too happy with that price and said that he had never sold a car at that price before, but because i had an offer from somewhere else at that price he would match it.

I dont think you can talk to him directly becase he doesnt really do sales, but just offer your current sales guy the 32,500 take it or leave it.

If he leaves it, go to acura101west. I"m surey they will do it for you.



p.s. make sure your VSA warning light isnt on before driving off the lot

~mark

ALEXandFAB

So what rate did you get on the 72mo loan? I asked the dealer if 5.67 was available for the 72mo they said it was not possible only on the 60mo. So did you agree on the 6.67 for 72mo? I was told that was the going rate.

markdesign

actually, i got 5.69% for 72 months..

I actually qualified for the 4.69% on the 60 months

but remember, that was only because my fica score was above 720

i'm sure most dealers will try to get you with something higher to make up for quoting you a low for the price of the car.

If that is the case, just tell them that you can get a lower rate at the bank, and will do and come back with the check for the vehicle.



~mark