OT: Need car buying advice please

[Tanks Alot]

Hello everyone, want to buy a used car pretty soon (next 3 weeks) and have narrowed it to either an 06-08 Acura TL, 06-08 Lexus Is 350 or for the same price a 09-10 Honda Accord. Of course I want the best deal and it has to be a four door because parents are older and I drive them places.

Anyway, what do you guys think is the best way to go about getting something low miles, in great shape/reliable but not too tough on the wallet? Auctions? Taking over payments or paying off someone's loan who's about to have the car reposessed? Or just the old fashioned way of going through a reputable dealer? And what websites if any do you recommend to check out? Open to any and all suggestions. Any and all advice is appreciated. Tanks Alot : )

[aleonn]

Try Auto Trader or Craigslist IMO. Auto Trader has lots of good used car buyer tips too.

[dodgerblew]

I would go for the 09/10 accord and look for a certified preowned so you have an extended warranty to 100k. Your other two options are to old to be cpo so you will pay out the nose for an extended warranty. I recommend going through a dealer but I would buy at one of the larger dealers in a highly populated area where there is high volume and more wiggle room to make a deal. As far as taking over someones loan, you still would need bank approval to switch you to lienholder or you can't insure it. Do banks still do that? Just my $.02

[lowbudget]

bank still do it i will not buy a used luxury car but these are japanese and go toward 08 all three car different to me the tl is a accord with differnt shell lol

[rqc]

+1 here. I would take the accord at least I know it's low mileage and will last longer than the other two mentioned.

I would go for the 09/10 accord and look for a certified preowned so you have an extended warranty to 100k. Your other two options are to old to be cpo so you will pay out the nose for an extended warranty. I recommend going through a dealer but I would buy at one of the larger dealers in a highly populated area where there is high volume and more wiggle room to make a deal. As far as taking over someones loan, you still would need bank approval to switch you to lienholder or you can't insure it. Do banks still do that? Just my $.02

[corpse_grinder0]

just get an is 250, and statistically speaking nothing major will happen to these cars within 100k miles, so getting a cpo is great peace of mind with them pacing the inspection but if you do your research and make sure the car is clean when buying from a private party, they are just as reliable. btw ive worked a while as a finance manager for toyota....

[jmbanh]

I currently have an is 250. It is a great and reliable car, but kind of weak. The other two cars lag way behind the stylish is 350. I would definitely go for the is 350 if those were my choices, easy. They are not even in the same league.

If a girl had to choose which car to ride on, I'm sure they'd think the same.

[Tanks Alot]

thanks everyone for your suggestions and information.
jmbanh, that's why i was thinking about those cars mentioned. even if i did get the accord, it would have to be a v6. Want to be able to get up and go when jumping on the freeway and having to merge with traffic.

[gofor100]

+1 on AutoTrader (go to their website)... I have a 2007 IS 250 that I got off of a deal on there.

It was pretty easy... looked up IS 250, found one with under 15,000 miles that was within my price range. Went to the dealer the same day, cut a deal and I was out the door.

Good luck!

-Chad

[oscar.millan]

Good advice all around, autotrader is great. Also check out edmunds.com for research. I usually research the hell out of car and only then do I move on to autotrader. For research, I haven't found a more useful site than edmunds.

[dodgerblew]

just get an is 250, and statistically speaking nothing major will happen to these cars within 100k miles, so getting a cpo is great peace of mind with them pacing the inspection but if you do your research and make sure the car is clean when buying from a private party, they are just as reliable. btw ive worked a while as a finance manager for toyota....this is good info, especially coming from an auto finance mgr, but peace of mind is so important to me and trumps statistics hands down which is why I won't go with a private party sale. I married into a family where my father in law worked for the largest ford dealer in the U.S. They also sell Jaguar, Honda, Volvo, Aston Martin and more. I have purchased or leased quite a few cars from them bc of the auto family and biological family discounts. One of my purchases I made was a Volvo S80, '02 but wasn't inserviced until '03, with 29K, CPO and was a return which I bought in '05 or '06. Volvos are good cars and quite reliable but thank goodness I had a CPO on this car. It passed cpo inspection with flying colors but by the time I used up my cpo warranty the car had so many problems mechanically from fuel system to gas tank leak to cooling system to trans to front end to electical, my warranty probably paid for my car over again between repairs and rental cars. I still have the car (wish I didn't) but I also have another Volvo my wife drives and hers has been worry free pretty much and still have warranty left. You just never know so I like peace of mind! Thats also the reason why finance guys push the warranties in addition to the nice commission. Cars are the one thing where a warranty is most certainly warranted IMO. To many things to go wrong.

Not being a smart alec but I think its funny how his recommendation was for the Toyota built vehicle. That's loyalty braa...:lol:

[corpse_grinder0]

yeah I should have clarified when I said that, it only applies to honda and toyota that are well maintained, and under 100k... after 100k is when **** starts to go, but we all know that can last a really long time.

[billyzbear]

I work with cars. I would not get a V6 honda or the acura. Both have trans problems under 100K unless you drive like an old lady. 4 cyl. honda are ok. Toyota/Lexus are much better. If you have the money then Lexus.
My wife has a 05 matrix 250K+ haven't had any problems. At 210K I figured the water pump had been in there long enough so I changed it but there was nothing wrong with it.
I would rather drive my toyota wide open throttle than drive anything else. Toyota is number 1 for a reason. The year end savings are most likely gone but ask. When I bought my toyota I bought it on the last day of the year, got a smoken deal.

[Tanks Alot]

great point billyzbear. its funny you say that about the v6 because i'm currently borrowing a 2000 accord v6 and guess what, it has transmission problems. so maybe i'll go with a cpo is 350 or a new 4 banger accord as i just test drove one today and to my surprise, it has some pretty good pep to its step.

[redmarble]

I'd take the Lexus over the Honda and Acura any time! Just like jmbanh said, they're not on the same level. Their V6s are very efficient and are quite reliable cars. They ride very smooth, which is very nice for the older folks.

I tried Carmax.com once (2009) and my experience was superb. (Better than my experience with McKenna in Norwalk, in 2004, with my bimmer!) Carmax has no haggling... no bad after-taste! They offered good warranties, too.

[evolution8888]

You might want to consider the maintenance costs for each make as well, the honda would be the cheapest out of the three, and then if you service it as the dealership i think the lexus is the only one that consistently gives you a loaner...

[gveng]

personally, i would buy the is350, the only thing i hate about it, and i mean hate is the center console, who ever thought that putting only one cup holder in the middle needs to be fired.

just an fyi, the new v6 accords have that eco mode where they turn off 3 cylinders if your crusing.

[dwolson2]

Have you ever thought about a Subaru legacy, the older ones(05-09) look like the Tl's but have a good track record. Kind of biased though(06 GT)

[KillerReef]

You might want to consider the maintenance costs for each make as well, the honda would be the cheapest out of the three, and then if you service it as the dealership i think the lexus is the only one that consistently gives you a loaner...
Acura will give you a loaner every time also.

[MrSandman]

Are the Carmax warranties through the manufacturer? 3rd party?

[redmarble]

Are the Carmax warranties through the manufacturer? 3rd party?

The warranties are through third party, not manufacturer.

[eliss]

I chose a car that is 45 years old only because it will last another 45 and it's sexy. The trunk can hold 6 dead bodies and withstand a good radiation blast. I hope that helps in your next car purchase ;-)

BTW. there is plenty of space for transportation of any new coral and equipment.

[lowbudget]

Lol my accord is never in Eco mode. Hahahahaahahahahpersonally, i would buy the is350, the only thing i hate about it, and i mean hate is the center console, who ever thought that putting only one cup holder in the middle needs to be fired.

just an fyi, the new v6 accords have that eco mode where they turn off 3 cylinders if your crusing.

[sharky's machin]

I'm looking at a 09-10 Acura TL as well. Saying the TL with the Tech package is like an accord is like saying a Lexus is a Corolla.

Nothing alike.

[KillerReef]

I'm looking at a 09-10 Acura TL as well. Saying the TL with the Tech package is like an accord is like saying a Lexus is a Corolla.

Nothing alike.

Finally somebody with some sense. I drive an Acura and would not trade it for any of the other cars listed here.

[MikeYQM]

I second the Acura vote. Loved my TSX, but my hobbies & business made me switch to a Pathfinder. Also love it. Acura drives amazing & is super bomber in quality.

[KillerReef]

I'm currently in the market for a 11/12 TSX for my wife. We don't really like the new body style of the TLs, but if we can find a good 07/08 TL, we may get that...

[Reeferwill561]

Buy one of the acuras used from a dealership. I got an 04rsx type s last year and bought an extended warranty along with it. That warranty cost 2000 with the car but has saved me 4000 total with the stuff thqt has gone wrong with the car. If you are looking for the best deal than get a KIA but I would go with the acura. Great cars!

-Will P.

[billyzbear]

All the v6 auto's from Honda and Acura do not last. You could get the manual. If I was looking for a sedan I'd get an older GS300. If you want a newer one GS330.

[FOSELONE]

make sure they show you the carfox

[russ13]

i really like the TL,i also drive a tsx

[haitwun]

I got a CPO 2006 Lexus IS250. It is an attractive, reliable car and drives just as fast as all the IS-F I see in LA traffic.

[BeanMachine]

I got a CPO 2006 Lexus IS250. It is an attractive, reliable car and drives just as fast as all the IS-F I see in LA traffic.

Yes in traffic they all go the same speed. My vote between those cars would be the Honda as well but I would go with the 4 cylinder. Acura and lexus will eventually cost more in maintenance and repairs although they are more luxurious.

[gcarroll]

Buy one of the acuras used from a dealership. I got an 04rsx type s last year and bought an extended warranty along with it. That warranty cost 2000 with the car but has saved me 4000 total with the stuff thqt has gone wrong with the car. If you are looking for the best deal than get a KIA but I would go with the acura. Great cars!

-Will P.Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you bought a used Acura, spent $2000 on a warranty, and have had $4000 worth of repairs and you are calling them great? I thought Acuras were low maintenance.

[KillerReef]

Acura makes it simple, "fully loaded" or "fully loaded" with NAV. No other options.

[KillerReef]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like you bought a used Acura, spent $2000 on a warranty, and have had $4000 worth of repairs and you are calling them great? I thought Acuras were low maintenance.

Sorry, Greg, but I think you took what he said wrong. He paid $2000 for the warranty, which saved him from paying the $4000 in repairs. Anything used is a gamble, don't care what type of make it is. You never know how the previous owner treated or maintained the car.

[Tanks Alot]

so after much thought and TONS of research, I have decided on either a fully loaded 4 cylinder accord or an is 250. Didnt just take the advice here but reading lots of reviews and asking 2 people I work with that own acura tl cars, they both have had transmission problems. same goes for family and friends and myself that own 6 cylinder accords, tranny problems as well.

test drove the is 250 and surprisingly it wasn't too bad on power but they wanted 27.5 out the door for a cpo 2008 is 250 with 40k miles. seems a bit high. haitwun, what kind of deal did you get on your Is 250, if you dont mind me asking?