Thoughts? I notice the driver's headlight looks newer than the passenger's side.
This would be for DD#2, 21-year-old college student, to replace her cheap but ratty 1997 Celica. DW's 2004 TSX has been a rock, but this is the V6, and older generation.
TL is bigger than the TSX (which was technically the Integra sedan replacement); V6 only, auto only in this generation. There were numerous TSBs and ultimately a recall over the transmissions in those crapping the bed. I would make sure it has had the recall service as I believe it just expired, otherwise assume it will need a trans at some point.
Otherwise, pretty nice cars. Buddy of mine has one that he is ROUGH on and it has been a champ other than going through two transmissions.
OK, thanks. I know there are ATX issues behind the larger engine. Thanks for the info.
Alternatively, what about this?
In reply to Duke:
I would advise against an early auto 9-3SS. While generally they are OK cars the early ones had auto trans leakage issues and there are some parts unique to the first few model years that are somewhat hard to find. It took Saab a few years to resolve the teething issues with that platform. 2003 is 100% avoid, 2004 was better but still not advisable if an auto is involved.
pointofdeparture wrote: TL is bigger than the TSX (which was technically the Integra sedan replacement); V6 only, auto only in this generation. There were numerous TSBs and ultimately a recall over the transmissions in those crapping the bed. I would make sure it has had the recall service as I believe it just expired, otherwise assume it will need a trans at some point. Otherwise, pretty nice cars. Buddy of mine has one that he is ROUGH on and it has been a champ other than going through two transmissions.
This is what I was going to say. Decent enough car. Just a fancy accord.
Thanks again - how early is early? Should I be looking for 2006+ ?
In reply to Duke:
If it has to be a Saab, 05+ for the 9-3SS. Honestly though for a college student DD I would look for something simpler. Aside from general reliability parts are starting to get expensive and they have silly problems with convenience stuff like the fiber optic audio system.
pointofdeparture wrote: Buddy of mine has one that he is ROUGH on and it has been a champ other than going through two transmissions.
It's an Accord V6 with a hotter J32A engine. Champ of an engine, glass transmission.
I will say that my buddy has owned one of these for 10 years and it now has approaching 300k miles on the original transmission, including putting 2 kids through college. I think that's a good price for the mileage and condition.
In reply to pointofdeparture:
Yeah, OK. It doesn't have to be a SAAB at all. I just keep running across really decent-looking ones for well under $4k with reasonable mileage.
Looking for a solid, mid-size, 4-door. I'd really like to avoid something too boring like a Taurus, even though they are the reliability easy button. Can be ATX or MTX - she knows how to drive a stick. Doesn't have much practice, but has said transmission type is not a deal breaker either way. It's just that manual cars are about 10-15% of the available population.
I would think of really robust well-regarded drivetrains (probably not anything with a V6/auto combination) in platforms that don't fall apart and shop from there.
I think that's a perfect DD for a college student. They are quite competent cruisers, comfortable, and reliable, transmission issues aside which are largely overblown on the Internet. Other options I would look at are 5th gen Maximas (though I have an irrational hatred of Nissan, but that's a different discussion), 1st gen Mazda 6, late 1st gen Ford Fusion, 6th gen Accords ('98-'02).
Talk to this guy, heck, I kind of want to. Seems like about the perfect car for her. Basically a lifted, awd, turbo, sedan. Clean Florida car as well, does not look to need much.
You know I am up for a fly and drive!!
In reply to Ross413:
Yeah, that's been floating around in my head. Miles are high but it looks clean and straight.
Those TL's are nice. I wasn't aware of transmission issue though. Sometimes looking online make some problems bigger than what they are.
Duke - I'm just about to list my 80k mile 2003 9-3, auto trans. It looks basically like the first one you linked. I went through it comprehensively when making it my daily. In the last 10k miles its gotten new tires (Conti DSW), shocks & struts, brake pad & disks at all 4 corners, new control arms front and rear, new axles & wheel bearings in front, and exhaust system. (In the NYC area these are all pretty much wear items.) I also did new battery, new headlights, balance chain tensioners, PS pump, and rear calipers. It has new regular & winter mats, as well as the Taliaferro strut and subframe braces.
All respect to pointofdeparture, but parts are pretty easily obtainable at mostly cheap/reasonable prices. eeuroparts.com and fcpeuro.com. I'm not sure why the 03s get a bad rap, in 2.5 years it never let me down.
I'm selling because I found an e46 I couldn't pass up. I haven't settled on a price yet, but would like to be GRM friendly. PM me if interested.
We bought our TL-S new in early 2003 and have about 125000 miles on it. It's a great car, with good power and a nice, tight ride on the highway. We had to have the transmission rebuilt about 5-6 years ago, to the tune of $1500, but other than that, the car has been as reliable as a hammer. I think a TL would be a great car for a college student, if you can find one that has had the recall fix done on the transmission. My wife will probably be buried in hers. She likes it so much, she'll never let it go.
yupididit wrote: Those TL's are nice. I wasn't aware of transmission issue though. Sometimes looking online make some problems bigger than what they are.
Internet worries aside, an Acura factory recall emerged for them because there were so many trans issues. On the plus side the recall happened in 2004 so they were all still relatively new, and I would guess 95% were serviced. Still, there are a few running around without it, but luckily you can check the VIN to confirm.
In reply to ManhattanM (fka NY535iManual):
The main thing with the '03s is that damn secondary air injection system that was done away with for '04. They aren't bad cars by any means but tons of people seem to have issues with it on the '03, enough that I would seek out a later car just to avoid it. Yours, being enthusiast maintained is a huge +++ in that regard.
The miles are high on this one but damn this looks clean: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/5881436537.html
RedGT is selling a nice manual Pontiac Vibe that is up in PA. I'd look for his post on it.
http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/5897934939.html
http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/5894340134.html
http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/5871540452.html
In reply to 92dxman:
Thanks for the suggestions. There's no way you could know this, but I'm going to avoid the vast majority of Philadelphia for a Craigslist car. Every one I've gone up to look at is a horror show. Philly is even harder on cars than most cities.
Some of those look decent, but why would I buy a 2004 Civic with the the same miles as that 2003 TL-s, for more money? Assuming both run well and aren't showing scary symptoms. I'm also looking for a slightly larger car than a Civic.
None taken. Philadelphia isn't the best used car market on CL. Before I bought my CX-5, I had trouble finding a decent used car in this area. I even tried going out to Lancaster to see if that was any better and it wasn't 
In reply to ManhattanM (fka NY535iManual):
I'm interested. Sent you a PM, but with certain email addresses they can be hard to get through the GRM boards. No hurry to reply - I just wanted to let you know I'd sent one.
Okay, I'm late to this, and haven't read all the responses, but did own exactly this car for over 7 years.
Overall it's a great car, except for no manual trans. The manual mode is useless from a sporting standpoint. The engine is pure car porn, especially when the VTEC changes cams. The trans gets a bad wrap, but the failure rate before 100k miles was only 5% (double the 2.5% Honda considers acceptable), which means the vast majority of them lasted longer. I sold mine with 102k on it, and never had a trans problem. The bose audio system is terrible, and can't be upgraded easily except to replace it all. Reliability of mine was outstanding. I never did anything other than maintenance, although 102k isn't considered that many miles anymore. I had trouble getting in and out of mine both because of the roof line and that the seats seemed excessively high, even in the lowest position. I'm 5'-7" - Not tall, so I don't know how taller people would deal with it. The leather is fragile. I took obsessive care of mine and it was cracking in several places by the time I sold the car.
All in all I wish I had it back. We sold it because we had 2 dogs and needed something with better utility, but it was a great car. At this age though I think condition is everything.
In reply to bravenrace:
I completely forgot about the tall seats. I hated feeling my hair brush the headliner in that car in an upright position.
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