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Acura RL

7385 messages,  Last post on Apr 18, 2013 at 12:02 PM

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What is this discussion about? Acura RL, Sedan

Messages Page 134 of 740

#1322 of 7385 I need some help.... by jcinsc

Jul 31, 2003 (10:28 am)

I think I need some help...
 
First of all, I have a 99' RL Pearl White and it's been with me since day one over 4 years now. I purchased the extended warranty when I got the car new and now I found out the passager side headlight is not as bright/blue bright as the other. I am not sure if this means I need to get a pair of new bulbs like Philips D2R 6000K or I can go in and let dealer take care of that.
 
The second question is that I got a 2003 CLK430 Convertible, black/black with AMG wood trims and AMG chrome wheels. It was so hard to get one I had no choice but took one without the K4 package, which means there is no heated front seats and no HID. I can live without the heated seats, but I really want to have the HID headlights on it. So my question is what type of the bulbs I should get and how can I learn to install them myself...Are they just as easy as changing a bulb at home? simply take the old ones off and swap with new ones?
 
I am a dummy when talking about working on cars... So I really need help.. Please advise...
 
PS. I got a ticket on my way back from San Diego for my front window tinted. I went to the local glass tinting store and had it removed this morning. (front only) It actually did not look too bad with the rear windows and back windshield of 15% tinted. I thought pre-paid to put the front back with 20% after I get the ticket corrected. but now I wonder if I should put it back on...
 
John
Acura 3.5 RL - 1999
Pearl White
Sherman Oaks - Los Angeles, CA

#1323 of 7385 Windshield tinting by kevinc5

Aug 04, 2003 (12:05 pm)

I wouldn't tint the windshield...it affects the visibility more than you realize. More than that, it can really irritate the PD if they pull you over at night and because of your tinting they can't see who or what is inside the car.
 
Getting the CLK HID lights at this stage of the game may be impossible. It may require much more than just a bulb change. There are different electronics required for the high intensity lamps, and you still wouldn't have the auto level mechanism.

#1324 of 7385 Rate this deal, please! by kps0311

Aug 15, 2003 (5:51 pm)

An Acura dealer some distance from home has an '00 RL (w/o Navi) with less than 5K mi., for which he is asking $30K. (The car is NOT Acura certified pre-owned.) I'm sure that, with a little haggling, I can get the price down a little. However, even at, say, $28K, is this a good deal for a car that's 4 model years old already?
 
Kelley BB and NADA estimate the retail value of this vehicle to be about $27.5K, and '00 RLs with normal miles are selling for less than $25K. My concern is that the vehicle is still depreciating at a fairly steep rate and that I might be left holding the bag (upside down in my loan) if I am forced to sell within a year or two. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

#1325 of 7385 Transmission problems? by dave241

Aug 15, 2003 (8:54 pm)

I am looking to buy a used RL. I've been talking to a local Honda dealer regarding a 2000 RL w/ 50,000 miles. As I went to test drive the car today, the salesman mentioned that in addition to replacing certain of the tires the transmission was also to be "overhauled" by an Acura mechanic on Monday. Turns out, they are putting in a new transmission. Another salesman mentioned that he had an RL and his transmission had also been replaced via a recall. No other specifics were given.
 
I have looked at several RLs (mainly at Acura dealerships) and have not heard anything regarding potential problems w/ the transmission. Any information would be appreciated as although I plan to buy a warranty/service contract, I would like to go into buying an RL w/ as much info as possible.
 
By the way, the sales manager looked at me as though I were crazy for walking away from the deal upon learning the transmission was being replaced. Perhaps I am, but I don't know how smart it would be to pay approx. $22,000 for a car that has already needed a new transmission.

#1326 of 7385 dave by jwilson1

Aug 16, 2003 (6:37 am)

My take: Although the car has only average miles, the transmission thing is a new wrinkle ... I'd want it evaluated (AFTER the new trans is installed) by an independent mechanic as well as a significant reduction in price as $22k is a good price for a '00 in just right condition.
 
But I don't think I'd let the new transmission squelch the deal if you like the car AND if the independent inspection of the car goes well .... after all, the problem has been fixed in a way that you can pretty much think it won't be an issue in the future, in fact may be the strongest link in the drive train.
 
But if there's anything to be suspicious of, with that history I'd surely walk. Let us know. JW

#1327 of 7385 kps by jwilson1

Aug 16, 2003 (7:02 am)

This guy is dreaming.
 
Your numbers are far too generous. NADA and KBB are both good sources, but they give you "listing" prices, or asking, not selling prices. Edmunds is a little better for that, actually.
 
Looking your car up on Edmunds, the TMV is $22484. I don't know where you live, or the color of the car to make (minor) allowances, but Edmunds says you can add on $1823 for mileage. This gives a total value of $24307. At that rate, the car is overpriced by about 20-25%. Ridiculous, imo.
 
However, I also think Edmund's mileage calculation is none too generous, so personally I'd be inclined to go out to say $25k.
 
Consider: 1)it's not certified. You've gotta wonder -- why not? If ANY car is worth pre-certification, it oughta be one with low mileage. If he is willing to certify it, that would be worth another $1000, and in fact essential imo.
 
2)such low mileage isn't really a blessing. This car has only had about a thousand miles/year put on it, most likely extremely short trips .... how dried out are all the seals and .... so on. The general rule of thumb I go by is that a car should have about 3000 miles/yr to keep it in good health. A couch potato car could be in as bad health as if it had been pushed hard by a teenager, so I'd probably have it checked by an independent mechanic and get an extended warranty and an additional discount if he isn't willing to certify it.
 
Low mileage would be more attractive if this were a Chevy or Ford. A good Acura should be able to handle 150,000 without trouble.
 
3) This is actually a 5 yr. old car. The '04s are out and you have to include its initial year of service (00), which began in 99.
 
4) I wouldn't be too worried about depreciation at this point. It shouldn't decline more than a couple thousand next year.
 
If I wanted the car, my bid to him would be something like $24500, $25500 if he 's willing to certify or add an extended warranty (with an indepth inspection at my choice of mechanics). Go in with your loan approved (AAA, perhaps) so you can write a check. He'll probably say he can't go lower than 28. Do you like the car enough to go to $26000? If so, let him have that. If not, give him your phone# again, tell him he must have eager buyers waiting but if they fall through within the next day to give you a call. If it takes longer than that, you have "something else in mind" -- he may give you a call and you may get a car. If not, used Acuras are everywhere. Even if he gives you your price, be ready to walk if the mechanic's appraisal raises expensive questions about seals an so on.
 
Hope this helps. JW

#1328 of 7385 kps by robertsmx

Aug 16, 2003 (8:35 am)

I won't be surprised if you can get a 2003 RL for $35K, and that dealer is asking you $30K for a 2000!
 
Mileage is not always the point, age is too. I would rather have a newer car that has more miles on it than an older car with less.

#1329 of 7385 Rating the '00 RL Deal by kps0311

Aug 16, 2003 (6:37 pm)

Thanks to JW and Robertsmx for your insight. I agree that $26K is about the max. reasonable selling price for the vehicle, as it sits.
 
When I asked the salesman about certifying the vehicle, his response was that when Acura certifies a vehicle, they also set the selling price, and the dlr. has no room for negotiating. He might be blowing smoke here, I dunno. Regardless, I won't buy the vehicle with no factory warranty remaining, unless it can be replaced by other warranty coverage.
 
By the way, the dlr. is about 450 mi. from home (the Internet does have its downside - you can shop online all over the country, but you can't kick a single tire!) So this makes appraisals by independent mechanics problematic, not to mention repeated return trips to the dealer.
 
The salesman promised to call me Monday morning with the vehicle's inservice date and his "best price." We shall see. Thanks again for the advice.

#1330 of 7385 450 miles by jwilson1

Aug 19, 2003 (6:28 am)

Without a warranty on a low-miles car (the part about Acura setting the car price is pure BS, I'm sure, though they do set the warranty price probably) and an independent inspection, I'd pass for sure.
 
There are lots of good RLs out there with people who actually want to sell them. You can find another.
 
Finally, I've bought cars at a distance before and arranged for the inspection by phone. It requires finding a decent garage (use the web??) and calling them to ask them to pick up the car and go through it. Not as good as being there of course, but better than nothing.
 
Good luck. JW

#1331 of 7385 Engine compartment odor in cabin by jmw4

Sep 07, 2003 (10:46 am)

I had a 2000 RL which when driving over 30 minutes at a time, I would detect a faint odor in the cabin which I would best describe as similar to burning candle wax. I now have a 2002 which has the same scent. The mechanic in the dealership said that it is typical for engine compartment smell to enter the cabin. He said to run the air or heat on recirculate to eliminate this. I tried it yesterday and he was absolutely correct as the smell ceased immediately. Obviously, it is a trait of these cars and rather odd in my view as I have never had any smell like this in the many other cars I have owned. I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this.

Messages Page 134 of 740

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