narnia

I test drove a TLX tech today. I really like the way the car handles in sport and sport+. The turn ratio is much better than the 3G. The cabin was really quiet. I thought the ride was very smooth. The salesman told me that was due to the added length (2" longer than the 3G?) and larger (18" vs. 17") tires. The interior is a bit smaller than the TL, and I felt the cabin ceiling was lower - or maybe I was just able to raise my seat higher? The leather they used on the seats seems to be a big upgrade from the 3G. The trunk seems longer. The Advance has a well for the spare. I didn't look in the Tech trunk, but the salesman told me instead of the well, it has a space lined with foam for the spare. The car has so many bells and whistles, I will have to do a lot of reading if I buy one!

I took some pictures at the dealership. The car inside the showroom is the Advance, the white is a base V6 and the black one is the Tech V6 I drove.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141451...7646357409473/

After my ride I was ready to buy one, but didn't. I wasn't offered any discount, which I expected, but I felt they really low-balled me on my trade-in.

My 3G 5AT w/Navi has very high mileage, 225K, but it's always been garaged and is in very good condition inside and out. At first they told me it was worth $1,000, and then they went up to $1,500 but that was a high as they would go. I had a KBB printout which listed my dealer trade-in as $4,977 (excellent condition) and $4,831 (very good condition, with the low side of the range being $4,390). The salesman said that they don't use KBB, they use NADA values. I should have printed that out too before I went there. NADA lists my car at: Rough Trade-in $3,425, Average Trade-in $4,625, Clean Trade-in $5,600 Clean Retail $7,775.

I have a call into the salesman to see if they'll be more flexible on the trade-in now that I've looked the value up on NADA. If they had offered me a better deal I would have bought the car today.

What would you say a fair price is for my car? I don't want to sell it privately, I'm willing to take a cut in trading it in but I sure expected to be offered more than $1,500 for it!

schalliol

If I lived in town, I'd sell it for you and split the difference on the $1,500 offer and what I could get. I've always sold my cars myself (and my parents). You just get so much more for them doing that. I'd try at a Good Private Party and move down from there if you must if it's not really good. It sounds like it is, but no one wants to pay you the exact KBB, and at the mileage it has, it's a bit of a tough sell anyway.

weather

narnia...Thanks for the links for the photos....that white TLX is just GORGEOUS!!

Stew4HD

It sure is!

blacktsxwagon

My advice is always to try selling your trade to carmax. They usually give very good offers and they last for 7 days. You can at least use this number as the lowest you will go on your trade because this is an actual offer someone is giving for your particular car.

narnia

I love the car in white! The TLX really looks a lot better in person, I didn't think I'd like it this much.

narnia

Thanks, I would definitely do this but we don't have a Carmax anywhere near NYC.

MuGen7Modulo

The best sale for your 3G TL is private sale. Garage kept and looking good inside out?!
That's a very easy sale, list it on CL!
What's wrong with you?!

narnia

There's nothing wrong with me. I'm a single woman and live in NYC. Google Craigslist+shot+car and you'll see why I don't want to sell it privately.

narnia

I forgot to mention one thing I didn't like about the TLX. I don't know if it's only in the ebony interior, but it has plood trim, even on the steering wheel. Yuk! It doesn't compare with the carbon fiber trim in my TL.

Colin

Not to pick nits, but wouldn't that be carbon Pliber?

Spectra Phantom

I know it's not, but the white TLX looks as if it has tinted taillights. If I ever buy a TLX it has to be white, I'll just paint the beak as the body color like this 4G.

Stew4HD

That body color painted shield looks great! Damn, I never tried that on my 4G. I happen to have a BWP painted shield, still in the box from when Nexson painted it for me.

narnia

lol!

Spectra Phantom

Yeah I hated the 4G before because of the beak and overall gawdy appearance. But then I discovered the MMC........ Now I love it lol The beak I don't mind anymore because on the TLX I actually think it looks good. It would look better ofcourse if painted as the body color That being said, I still hate the look of the 09-11 front end lol

ostrich

LOL Weather, so is it black or espresso interior for you!?

Can't wait to see the white TLX on your driveway.... :-)

ostrich

narnia, thanks for the great pics!

I noted that the graphite (?) one in the showroom had this chrome door trim across the bottom of the doors. How does that look in real life? Does it make the car more premium looking? It reminds me of Lexus sedans.... what do you think? Does it make it nicer in real life?

weather

It will be black....the I4 tech with the body kit and maybe some different wheels.

Likely teh spring of 2015 UNLESS the dealer gets me hooked when I bring back my TL in September.

Treblig

And the transformation is complete! Welcome back Weather. LOL!

weather

...Thanks. I was a bit slow embracing the TLX but I have come around to seeing the light.

Seeing how I enjoy the ILX, its given me confidence I'll enjoy the size of the TLX and the 4 banger will suffice.

Rocketsfan

I went to a couple of dealerships today and saw a white, black, and graphite one. The black one had the espresso interior ... just when I thought I may get the white, that thing shows up on the floor. I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of the espresso interior, but black is back on the radar despite the issues keeping it clean on my last 2 cars. lol.

03uc1

iTrader: (1)

Hey Narnia, if you're not too comfortable dealing with private-selling, then I would suggest you re-consider Carmax. The closet one is on -

121 Frontage Road
East Haven, CT 06512

It might be a drive for you, but at least you're not being low-balled for your 3G TL w/ NAV. The mileage might've turn the sales man away, but their offered price is just ridiculous.

I'm planning to go to Rallye Acura tomorrow and see if I can test drive the TLX V6 and hopefully it all goes well

jzhu625

iTrader: (2)

PM me details of your 3G TL if you don't mind.

thanks

narnia

I meant to comment on that chrome door trim. It is beautiful! Just what you said, it really makes the car more premium looking. But since I want the SSM, I don't think it would enhance that color as much as it did the graphite.

At first I thought I might get the graphite, but it's a lot darker than my anthracite TL and I just wasn't wowed by it. I didn't see it in the sunlight though, it might look better in natural light.

ostrich

Thanks, narnia! That's good to know.

Did you see a Slate Silver in person please? How does that look? Does it look darker than the regular silver? Does it have any blue hue as in some photos?

Rocket_man

FYI... the forward looking radar unit on the Advanced trim is behind the 'beak' and the plastic is meant to be RF transparent. If you paint it, it may not be any longer. So it you are getting the Advanced you might want to do some testing before you paint it.

The size is perfect for my wife and me. Just a bit larger and more substantial than our 1G TSX but not overly large. The back seat is plenty comfy for the occasional passengers. I wish the I4 came in the Advanced trim, it would be a no brainer even though I haven't driven the I4.

Spectra Phantom

[QUOTE=Rocket_man;15114298]FYI... the forward looking radar unit on the Advanced trim is behind the 'beak' and the plastic is meant to be RF transparent. If you paint it, it may not be any longer. So it you are getting the Advanced you might want to do some testing before you paint it.



Did not know that, Thanks man

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

$1000 for your trade in?!?! What do they think your TL is? A Craftsman lawnmower? lol. Your car may have high miles but that is an insult of an offer. I wonder how the salesman could utter such a number with a straight face. The parts on your car are worth more individually. You should have insulted him back with an offer of $25k for the TLX. hehe. There are 15yr old motorcycles with high miles that get more than $1500.

I don't know why anyone ever trades their car except out of convenience, laziness or ignorance. Buyers see it as attractive but the ball is always in the dealer's court with a deal like that. Dealer's best deal is financing + trade. All profit for them. They hate me because I hardball them with a cash deal and no trade. But that is how your get the best deal. Selling it private is more work and patience but you'll get what the car is really worth that way.

If you could wait 6 months I would. As I said in another thread once the line dies down you'll definitely be able to buy this car well under invoice. That difference will be worth triple their so called "trade-in" offer.

TLZINE99

Nice photos.

ESHBG

Cool pics, thanks for sharing!

This is definitely a very real concern and down here in Philly robberies happen often unfortunately. One guy even did everything right including talking to the alleged buyer for a bit before meeting and then meeting in a public place and he was still robbed, shot and killed and his car was taken!

schalliol

Understood it can be dangerous to sell. In Silicon Valley we had a place called Wheels & Deals in which you basically rent a space in a lot and they will have someone go test drive it with the person who wants to drive, and they also offer an independent mechanical checking service. The person makes an offer by calling you directly and basically you can come into their office to complete the deal. It's a great way to do private-party without the risk or bother. I see a big opportunity for this kind of business!

Stew4HD

I think those are pretty much attended consignment lots.

narnia

They didn't have the SSM on the lot yet. There was a silver RLX and the salesman told me it was similar to the TLX SSM. There's no blue in the SSM. I thought there would be because I think some of the first photos I saw of that color looked blue.

I don't know why they have that brown plood in the cabin with the SSM/Ebony combo. I really don't like brown with silver and black, and it's too shiny. I'm still going to get it though.

narnia

It was an insult - to their brand! I just want a fair price on the trade-in. I realize it has high mileage but really, I could drive this car another 100K miles if I wanted to put new brakes on it and do the timing belt. I'd need another set of tires eventually too. I might end up doing that. As much as I love the TLX there's nothing that can compare to my TL, I just love my car.

schalliol

Yep. I haven't seen them anywhere else in the country (not that I have been looking).

narnia

I just wanted to follow up to my original post. My dealer is working with me on the trade-in. I'll have my SSM/Ebony V6 Tech in early September!

I was planning on paying cash for the car. Since Acura has an offer to make the first two $500 payments if you finance, someone suggested I finance the car to take advantage of the offer, then pay the car loan off in a few months. The short-term interest will only be about $100, so I'd save another $900 on the purchase price. Your thoughts?

Colin

^^That's the way to go!

schalliol

Might not be worth the credit impact of having an especially short-term line of credit. You might not care, but just FYI. Ultimately it's a bunch of paperwork too if you can swing cash.

All in all, it's hard to beat the reaction when you walk in with $40K of cash in a dufflebag, so perhaps consider that.

blacktsxwagon

Sounds good to me, plus you get the $500 accessory credit, so win win!

narnia

I'd get a bigger reaction if it was in pennies!