Silkroad Online Forums

Hey guys, me again. Just using my free time from studying to check out new cars.

I drive a '99 Honda Civic EX right now with 145k miles on it. It's a wonderful car and I've never had many problems with it. However, I'm itching for a new car. My dad drives a Prius and my mom drives a Lexus RX, and I feel like it's time to upgrade my own vehicle.

What do I want? Acura TL, particularly the 2004 models.

It's such a sexy looking car, and everytime I see one drive by, I come.

I've been scrounging the classifieds and online in my free time for some good deals, and I happened on this:

It's the perfect match for me. Classy exterior, decent rims, leather interior, wood panels etc. It's all very blasé. However, if you've visited that link, there's one glaring detail that just makes me cringe.

172k miles.

Now I probably know what you're thinking. No-buy. However, even though the mileage counts a lot, it's also about how the previous owner took care of it. So I checked its CARFAX, which they conveniently provided. Here's the link:

I'm just a tad over the car newb, so I know the blatantly obvious tips on car care. If you sift through the carfax report, it doesn't seem like this car is all that bad.

Only one previous owner, bought right off the shelf. numerous and consistent check ups. At around 100k miles, he/she replaces timing belt/water pump, which I believe is when they should be replaced for the TL and Accord models.

So I'm asking you guys, if any of you are car enthusiasts and know a bit about maintenance and the like, please tell me if there are any glaring warning signs, other than the mileage, about this deal.

Thanks.

hey sorry I don't know anything about cars, but for the next time I do know how to make your post a little less annoying with us having to copy paste from spoilers:

"and I happened on this"

Don't trust the carfax 100% there was even a entire episode of some show, showing that it can be faulty, have it checked by a mechanic just in case. They probably take just $50 to check it so its better to spend that and be on the safe side. But I checked out the carfax too and they do seem to do all their maintenance on time, so it should be an ok car, just get it checked by a mechanic and I think you should be fine.

I know this part may sound a bit stupid and risky, but if you can possibly travel I have seen some 2004 Acura TL's with less mileage for an even lower price. But they are some place in New York State. So if your going anywhere any time soon you can check the car they are selling around that area and you might find a better deal.

Did you buy one?.. lulz

I just got a '06 Honda.

I bought my Accord and as soon as I got it home I noticed a faint smoke smell. No biggie, with some Febreze it will eventually go away, but I have the sinking feeling that I could have paid less if I had asked if it was a smoke-free car. Probably would be a good idea to check and ask.

Make sure you check everything on it. If the paint looks different on any part of the car then it probably has been repainted and could possibly have been in an accident that was unreported. Check the tires, the brakes, pop the hood and listen to the engine. 172,000 miles is a lot for nothing major to have happened to the car. The interior looked nice, but double check to see that everything works correctly. Most importantly take it for a test drive. I think most dealers allow you to take it on the highway and at 172k miles you might want to think about doing that just in case.

GL.

Side note: It's funny how similar the Honda's and Acura's are (considering Honda owns Acura, perhaps it shouldn't be). I was just expecting a completely different look. I'll post some pics if you want.

The Accord and the TL are built on the same frame I think, that's why they look so similar.

But yea, I love everything Honda/Acura, very reliable and very comfortable cars.

I can't find any good deals for the Acura TL right now, so I've gone on to my second choice of cars.

Do you guys know anything about the 2001 BMW 330XI or the 2002 BMW 325i? I found a pair for around the same price and will check them out when the dealers get back to me. Both have around 130k miles on them.

My personal choice is the 325i but it varies person to person. But if you really like the Acura you might wanna check for some in major cities near you like Salt Lake City. They will have a lot more for sale there then in your area. Also if you just like the Acura TL for the looks then go for the Honda Accord and get a newer models for the same price, the insurance will be a lot lower.

Honda/Acura - Toyota/Lexus - Nissan/Infiniti They make basically the same cars, one may be the american version of it's japanese counter part or may leave out certain models, but still basically the same.

Are you buying a car from the Colorado area?

Yes sir, specifically Denver.

Ah fucked up my capitals again. I meant Denver then not Salt Lake city

Haha, yea, I was like Salt Lake City? That's like 700 miles away.