My next car

"Sn210" (sn210) 01/06/2014 at 10:10 • Filed to: None

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will be an Acura TL Type S... but help me decide which one!

There are only two TL-S's within a 200 mile radius with less than 70k miles and the six speed manual. Both are Nighthawk Black Pearl and have clean Carfaxes. Both NADA values are within $300 of each other. Both cars have fresh tires installed by the dealerships they are at.

The first one is a trade in at a local Infiniti dealership. It's a 2008 with 65k miles. It's a one owner, and it's wicked clean. Paint is excellent and the body is straight. The only issues it has is the center armrest is worn to shit and one of the wheels has a serious case of curb rash. The dealer already told me they'd fix anything cosmetic for me. The asking price was initially $20,900, but they've dropped it a grand to $19,900. They've had it listed for only about a week.

To summarize: 08, $20k, 65k, 15 miles away.

The other TL is a 2007, but it only has 46,000 miles! I haven't gone to look at it yet, on account of it being 150 miles away... I know it has a ding in its bumper from an email to the dealer. It's at an Acura dealership and they said they'd be able to set me up with temp tags to get home.

To summarize: 07, $22k, 46k, 150 miles away.

At first I was just going to buy the 07, but now I'm strongly considering the local car. My father-in-law believes I'd have stronger bargaining power at the nearby dealer. I'd also have to pay the sales tax when I go to register the out-of-state car, rather than lumping it into what I finance at the local dealership. If I run into issues with the 46k car, I'd have to haul it back. By the time I go to sell it for something else, they will both be 10 years old and worth shit anyway!

So what do you think, Oppo? Is it worth the $2k for the 20k less miles and the trip? Which one would you get?

Tom McParland > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 10:14

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I love those cars...possibly the best Acura sedan they ever made. I say drive the local one and get it independently inspected if it checks out and they budge a little more on price go for it.

offroadkarter > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 10:21

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Are they optioned differently?

Both have good service histories?

Are you going to put a shit ton of miles on it?

I mean I'd probably go with the lower mile car but they both have their upsides

Sn210 > offroadkarter 01/06/2014 at 10:24

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Both cars are identical, same color, options, and carfax. I'm not going to be putting a lot of miles on it. If I were, I'd have the 07 in my driveway already. The low mileage is definitely attractive, but I'm thinking convenience outweighs the 20k less miles on an older car.

nafsucof > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 10:28

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Get whichever one has those sexy ass quad pipes coming out the back...

nafsucof > nafsucof 01/06/2014 at 10:29

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Oh sorry that isnt very helpful I didn't realize they were both type s's.

nafsucof > nafsucof 01/06/2014 at 10:31

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46k miles. You'll have it a year or two before you get to the other ones mileage

Sn210 > nafsucof 01/06/2014 at 10:32

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It's ok, you just got too excited about quad pipes. It happens!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 10:45

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A buddy of mine bought a used Outback an hour away. When he found out his sunroof leaked he never had the time/energy/motivation to drive and hour to get it fixed. Option B is a better pick in my opinion but what will have to go wrong before you drive up there to get it fixed. Will they give you a loaner during repairs? You will also (theoretically) need to replace the car 20k miles sooner with option A. Whats $2k? another 6 months of loan payments? 20k miles is probably more than a year on a car.

Sn210 > OPPOsaurus WRX 01/06/2014 at 11:07

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All your points are good ones! My biggest concern with the 46k car is my lack of bargaining power. The Nada value for that car is $2k less than what they are asking. I can't really threaten to walk away unless I plan on making multiple 300 mile round trips. It would take a serious issue for me to bring it back, and that might mean having it towed all the way back.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 11:59

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I love this car. Awesome lines, great ass, great face. but FWD. it kills me.

Sn210 > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper 01/06/2014 at 12:12

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I started looking at RWD cars, but this will be my DD through New England winters. I couldn't sell the idea of a RWD with snow tires to my wife. I'm happy she's ok with me getting a different car to begin with!

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 12:24

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Ah I see, Im not a RWD fan boy lol If thats what I lead you to believe. AWD is what I like for practicality (b5 S4 Avant here). I just wish they had made these in AWD, again, great looking car hands down tho. I just rather stick to AWD for that one time you wished you had it. Also where I'm from these things are riced out to the max. Honda symbols (type R too), tow hooks, the works. That's the only reason I no longer like them. But for practicality sake, your making a solid choice then; luxury with a little spice under the hood.

Sn210 > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper 01/06/2014 at 12:33

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Haha no I didn't think so. I know FWD is the last choice for enthusiasts, but I just couldn't. Plus I've never owned a RWD car. My TL will remain stock! No riced TL's around here. What's your opinion on my buying situation, the older car with lower miles or cheaper car/convenience?

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 14:15

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Id go with the closer car, just cause its easier for a lot of things, to complain, less travel time, etc. Even If the 07 has 20k less miles. Are there any differences in cosmetics between the 2? (besides the wear of course)

Rico > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 14:16

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You and me are on the same exact wave length. This ENTIRE weekend I was scouring Craigslist (autotempest), Cars.com, AT.com, and even Carmax for a 2007-2008 Acura TL Type S. I've looked through forums (Acurazine is a great place to start) regarding what to look for and what to look out for.

4 main things that should be checked on this particular model:

1: Transmission maintenance, the transmission fluid should be drained and filled over and over until clear. If you check the fluid and it's dark the transmission needs maintenance.

2. Dashboard cracks near the passenger side.

3. Leather cracking on seat bolsters.

4. For the MT the 3rd and 4th gear pressure switches are known for going bad, make sure they have been replaced or checked. I'm looking for an AT so this is a non factor for that.

Your Dad is right about a closer dealership increasing your negotiating power. A dealer that's far and away from you will feel like they have the upperhand because you drove 2 hours to get there. This is an issue I have because most of the low mileage TL Type S's are in Pennsylvania or deep in NJ and I'm in NY.

I've been debating back and forth between the base TL and the Type S. I want the Type S but $20k+ for a 6 year old car that has many of the features that a 2012-2013 entry lux car has for nearly the same price (you can get a newer entry lux for $25k) is hard to swallow. Decisions Decisions.

With Acura (and Honda as whole) 45k mi and 65k mi are basically no different. This car is known for its reliability go for the closer one. Also new tires are good, this car is known to go through tires rather quickly according to what I've been reading.

And you'll be surprised about what resale value you'll see in 2018, remember this is one of the last "Good Looking" Acuras I'm sure you'll be able to get at least $10k if you keep it immaculate and the mileage under 150k.

I was going to make an Oppo post asking if I'd be stupid to buy one of these, glad you made one!

Rico > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 14:22

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Yeah unless you're in the towing business this could cost you easily $500.

Sn210 > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper 01/06/2014 at 14:38

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Word. I think the only difference between the 07 and 08 are a fancier TPMS which gives you readouts of the individual wheels and the Nav system will work in Hawaii. It would be nice, but I doubt I'd be taking a TL to Hawaii.

Sn210 > Rico 01/06/2014 at 14:53

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Awesome thanks for the info! I had read about the cracked dashes but had forgot about that. I'm going to go back to the local dealer and go over the TL with a fine tooth comb sometime this week.
I got hooked on the Type S because I test drove a MT '06 base model. I loved it, but the car was beat up. The only other manual around was the Type S, plus I wanted something a little newer than an '06 (which is when they dropped the MT from the base model).
If you aren't set on an auto, the low mileage 07 I was considering is in NY. I'll let you have it! There's a silver MT in CT with only 55k, but there was an accident reported to carfax. Other than that, there were a handful of cars with 80k+ and the cheapest was still $17,500!
Like you said, it's got a ton of features and it's got twice the power as my current civic. I was looking at 3 series since forever and I didn't like it after I test drove one. Volvo S60 R's are kinda in the same ball park, but from what I read are high maintenance and low mileage examples are hard to find in my area.
Good luck with your search! I'll write up a severely biased review if I get one.

Rico > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 16:16

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Unfortunately I'm going to have to go the AT route (I know not Jalop, booooo hiss!) because 98.7% of any driving I've done involved being in front of and behind a car that is no more than 10 feet away. Glad you didn't settle for the '06 they had a bunch of transmission issues in both MT and AT form.

At 100k mi these things need timing chain maintenance if I can find one that is near 100k with that done I may jump for it. Surprised you didn't like the 3 Series, that's like everyones favorite car. I've been debating getting a German car but NYC streets are terrible on suspensions which is something that will kill you on a German car.

I look forward to an update after you visit the dealer.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Sn210 01/06/2014 at 19:56

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did you test drive both?

Sn210 > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper 01/06/2014 at 21:44

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No the other one is 150 miles away, if I go check it out it would probably be to buy it. The local dealer has already called me twice about it.

Sn210 > Rico 01/06/2014 at 22:15

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It would be a trip for you but....
http://southcoast.craigslist.org/cto/4273402094…

or...

http://hartford.craigslist.org/ctd/4273195678…

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Sn210 01/07/2014 at 00:07

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Id tell them you're looking at another one that has lower miles, if you havent already. they may drop the price further.

Rico > Sn210 01/07/2014 at 12:57

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It's funny because I was on the Mojo Motors dealership site over the weekend looking at their base TL's they had for sale since a bunch came up on CL. Unfortunately I suspect I'll have to play the waiting game until I find one that's close enough. Also I wonder, if I pay sales tax in CT do I have to come back to NYC and pay sales tax again? Because that would be really choppy.

Sn210 > Rico 01/07/2014 at 13:17

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The way I understand it is you pay the sales tax for where you register the car, so for you it would be NY and not CT. I problem with this though is that you can't lump the sales tax into the financing and you're on the hook for the full amount when you register the car in your state. Don't quote me though, it could vary from state to state.