BruinsLife

I am about to purchase a 2006 RL for $13000 that's only had one previous owner. It has a clean title, runs smooth, and has never been in an accident. The only drawback is that it has 110,000 miles. Is it smart to finance a six year old vehicle with 110,000 miles, even if it is an Acura RL? How long will this car last before it begins breaking down?

FireNation23

depends how long and how much you financing it. I wouldn't do over 3 years myself. I'm looking for an RL myself, but looking towards 50-70k max. Good luck on your purchase

BruinsLife

Thanks.

It would most likely be a 4-5 year loan. Man, the car is perfect. I just don't know if I can bring myself to purchase a vehicle that has over 100000 miles. I don't see a timing belt replacement notation on the carfax report either. I might as well tack on another $700 to the price tag. That means I would be financing a $14000 car with over 100000 miles for 4-5 years. That just sounds ridiculously stupid to me. However, I want want the car really bad and I can't find any other post-'05 RLs that have fewer than 80000 miles for less than $17000. Any feedback on how important mileage is with these vehicles would be greatly appreciated.

GoHawks

If it was well maintained it should be fine.

I actually just traded in my 2006 that had 97K miles on it. The timing belt was approaching as well as brakes (believe it or not I still had the originals), and I also had a blown left front speaker.

I think the timing belt will end up costing you more, especially if you change the water pump. I was really torn on trading the car in. The only major issue I had with it over the years were that the door handles were replaced 4-5 times on each side (I was the original owner). There was an issue with early RLs where they would short out. It looked like it was finally resolved, as the problem hadn't happened again in the past couple of years.

The following were the issues swirling in my head as I contemplating the trade:

- Extended warranty was about to expire (100K miles) and was a bit nervous with all the tech on the car
- If I spent the money for the timing belt, brakes, blown speaker, I was just going to drive the car into the ground, or....
- Get out of it while the car still had some value (mine was paid off)
- The only car I was considering was a Cadillac CTS Coupe. I was in love with that car. I wasn't considering anything else. If I couldn't work a deal on the CTS, I would've kept the RL
- Starting off with car payments again
- I was getting the drive shaft whine on occasion and I couldn't get it to happen consistently and was worried I would get saddled with that repair post-warranty

As you can see by my signature, I pulled the trigger and bought the CTS. I got around $12K for the RL on trade, so based on what you would be paying for an RL with higher miles, the numbers are about right.

While I love the CTS so far, I will say I felt major guilt as I left my RL behind. It was a great car that served me well. The engine is solid. The concern is if any of the tech goes bad. Common issues on high mileage RLs are the adaptive headlights.

You'll be getting a great car, especially if it's clean. I would bet the previous owner was like me and didn't want to make the timing belt investment.

As for financing it that long, only you can answer whether it works for you. You'll get some people who can pay cash for their cars and say you should never finance, but how many people can really do that?

Just make sure you don't get yourself at a point where you get upside down on the car and if something happens, like an accident, you'll have to continue paying for a car that is totalled. Once the value dips below $10K, it won't take much to total the car if you're in a significant crash.

Good Luck with your decision.

jose3031

Have the owner do a 105k timing belt on it (since it's over now) and then buy it for that price.

Seems like a good deal.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

I paid $700 for my timing belt service, and that included all of the pulleys, belt, water pump, spark plugs, and coolant. So thats a realistic number on that. I bought my 05(90K) for $14K but I got a killer deal. I dont see a problem with the price and mileage. Just be sure to get thta 105K service done asap

BruinsLife

Thanks for the responses. I feel a little better about making the purchase now. I'll try to get the dealer to change the timing belt. If they won't, I have a pretty good Honda mechanic to do the service for me.

jose3031

By the way, I lucked out.

I bought a 2006 Acura RL Technology Package w/ 113k miles.

All of the services including the 105k service had been done so I knew I didn't have to spend the extra $$$ on that.

But I guess it just depends on your luck.

Car is ROCK SOLID!

TonyCD

On the plus side, the high number of miles in a short period means they probably were mostly highway miles, which are a lot easier on a car.

06RL/NBP

GoHawks, My neighbor just bought a CTS coupe and the other day he was doing something inside the car. When I asked he told me the darn car has no interior storage and he was having trouble finding a place for everything. But it really is a sharp ride. He got black with chrome wheels and a sand color interior. By the way he is 85 years old. LOL

shahram72

I just bought one from a northern state and it's a mess underneath. Get under and look. And with that mileage and price, the timing belt and spark plugs should already be done. Check for recall work to be done before you take delivery.

GoHawks, you are in a different spending category than some of us. You're probably typical for an Acura owner, and that's a good thing, I wish I was there. There's no way a timing belt job on a car that was perfectly good is expensive compared to a new car. I am about to spend $1100 on my Honda Pilot for this and it's killing me but it's cheaper than a new Pilot or even a good used one. The new one is butt ugly anyway. The car is good otherwise. There's no way I could afford a new RL, and I can afford the maintenance on it, and some repairs, but not a new RL. My sister did the same as you with her Honda Oddysey and she regrets it. That was a $38K minivan. I think it's funny that $1100 seems expensive on a $50K car. I'm not knocking you or my sister, just trying to bring some perspective to the discussion. I guess the question is do you want to keep the car or not. I guess I was in the same place with my 2002 Mazda 626. It was due for a timing belt job and that would have cost the same as the RL almost! But I hated the car, so boring, and could not bring myself to spend that on it. It was a fine car otherwise. So I sold it and bought the Acura. I guess it's the same at all levels of income. But don't let an $1100 timing belt make you sell a car if you like it, a new one is much more! I paid $16K for my 05 RL with 66K miles. But I have no illusions of driving a $50K car for $16K It will need some stuff, but it's an Acura, and should not need a lot, and hopefully I can fix some of the tech myself with info here. I have an extended warranty on mine so I'm covered on mechanicals for a while.

TonyCD

Shahram, we can empathize. Like I lot of the people on this board, I couldn't have afforded a new RL either, and I'm just thrilled with my used one.

I think you'll get your first repairs out of the way and enjoy your car, as most of us have -- it's built at Honda's finest plant in Saitama, Japan, with the best materials of any Honda or Acura, and it should last a long time with proper maintenance. Enjoy!

TonyCD

85 is a little bit high to be representative (as Neuronbob can testify). But even though the CTS has a lot of style, features and performance that should be appealing to younger drivers, I've read that the average age of CTS buyers is surprisingly high.

I think there are a couple factors behind this:

1) Young people can't afford any car that costs this much anymore.

2) Those who can, automatically think German.

3) As the most popular Cadillac, the CTS is getting a lot of repeat Cadillac buyers, and they're all old. I see a lot of CTS drivers around my area who are so old, I'd be really surprised if they ever flog the car the way it could be driven. For them, it's just a luxury car that's probably a little too stiff and a little too small -- frankly, for their needs and desires (other than the nameplate) they probably could have made a choice that would have pleased them more, including the Taurus/Lincoln.

Cariboo

Funny how everyone's perception of "high miles" can be so vastly different. If you buy a good, quality import vehicle (Toyota, Honda brands) and do all scheduled maintenance, vehicles should last well over 200 to 300K miles, especially if you use full synthetic oil.

Case in point, my current 06 Acura RL just hit 208K miles and it rides and looks great and has never had any issues since getting it 3 years ago at 87K miles. The RL replaced a 04 TL, which I sold to a co-worker who is still driving that car after 290K miles without any major issues. My 04 TL replaced a 2000 TL (sold to a former co-worker) that is still running well after 250K miles. I obviously drive mostly highway miles so I know that helps but proper maintenance and good oil (mobil 1 every 7K) will extend the life of most cars.

GoHawks

Just seeing this. I never implied that buying a new car is cheaper than spending the money to do the maintenance. Timing belt typically is only a few car payments. When your repairs and maintenance begin to exceed what you would have paid in payments in a typical year, then it's time to consider buying something new.

The ONLY reason why I gave up my RL is that I loved the CTS Coupe and I figured if I was going to get one now, or next year, I might as well do it now before the RL depreciated more.

If I hadn't been able to pull off the deal I wanted, I would've kept my RL. THere is no other car I wanted.

I'm no stranger to high mileage cars. Our 2004 Land Cruiser was purchased new. It has over 155K miles and my wife won't give it up. It's in great shape, no tears in the seats and it runs like the day we drove it off the lot

MrKev

Very well said, as for the op, 110,000 miles is not alot for an RL. I myself would just bought one with 117,000 and vehicle runs like new. No problems except the only thing I'll have to do is change the t-belt. So if you do buy the vehicle and that hasn't been done, just change that and the vehicle will last you well over 200k

jquilty

I have an 05 RL that I purchased as a dealer demo in oct 05with 5k miles. Car now has 169k. It's still running and riding strong. I do all the scheduled maintenance mostly at the dealer, but occasionally at my local garage. I have really not had to due any major repairs. The one time my Xenon headlights shorted out the dealer covered it even though my warranty had expired 3 months prior.
The body paint still looks new, but I do have a variety of dings and scratches you'd expect at this age. The only other visible wear is the leather on the drivers seat. I had planned to keep it until this Oct, but can't rationalize replacing now, so hope to keep for one more year. Its been a fantastic car.
My previous car was a '98 TL which I sold with 220k miles on it.
Not sure I'd finance a car with 100k miles, but I am a raving fan of Acura quality and performance.

oo7spy

There is an RL here with over 315k. There is a '94 Legend with over 500k. Same factory, etc.

unitygrsrts

I agree with the post about getting them to do the timing belt as part of the deal. Personally, I may keep looking around for a better deal. Not sure where you are located but I just purchased my 05 with 68k and paid 16500 pre tax. The age was a concern but the car is immaculate. The first owner had it for 2.5 years I believe and only put 15k on it, sold it to the next owner as a CPO (one of the reasons I was more convinced after I saw the carfax).

It really depends on what your confident with. 100k is not a lot for an Acura, especially this model, but there are tons of variables. How much are you looking to put down?

mrm143

I bought my 07 with 112k
Havent had it long, but same deal, clean service etc...

M T L T L

I bought my 05 last December for 8500 CAD + provincial tax = 10000 CAD with 147K on the counter and the car ran like new, just had to do the brakes. I have put 5K on it so far but have no idea if the timing belt was done.

solerider

Who would sell a car because it needs brakes and a timing belt? You can call all that done and the water pump for well under $1500. No reason to sell a car, unless of course you just like throwing money away and never accumulating any wealth.

oo7spy

Question asked. Question answered. One post. #efficiency

grappler171

I am about to purchase a 2011 RL /w tech pkg with 111000 miles on it, timing belt/water pump and most all other services needed are taken care of before 105,000 miles. At 14,000 it seems like a steal though, which makes me a bit leery. Other than new tires and a couple interior pieces needing replaced, its a cream puff. But, I'm going to jump in and get it because my 2001 civic ex 5mt with 287,000 miles drives like a dream and my wifes old odyssey had nearly 180,000 before we traded it for a newer one. The cars will last if you follow the maintenance and don't trash it.

Jon Peter

I was thinking of buying one with around the same milage. I was going to around 8k down, finance the rest.. so maybe finance 3 grand, give or take. I'll be sure to make sure the belt is replaced and tires are good Thought??