| buying used, any advice
- Click HERE for Original Thread
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| adamc |
Hey there folks. My wife and I have decided to get a used MDX. We're just staring our search for the vehicle and we're targeting roughly the 2003-05 range based on prices we're seeing.
I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, experience, etc. from all of you on our purchase.
We live in the SF Bay Area (CA). More specifically in the East Bay near Walnut Creek. If anyone knows of any good dealers or places to shop we'd love the help.
One initial question was "What, exactly, comes with the 'touring' package in these models".
Thanks Everyone!!! |
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| adamc |
| I'm seeing CPO 2004 models with around 45k miles listed at ~$22k. Anyone have any thoughts if this accurate or if they are going for much less given the economy, gas prices, and a lot coming off lease? |
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| Skoobahead |
| In my area the 05's CPO's with 40-50k miles are listed in the low 20k's but can be purchased *under* 20k. Negotiate Hard. |
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| midnightMDX |
| There are subtle differences in the 03,04, and 05 model. You should be able to get a 05 for around 20 or less. Always compare several cars. Try going to some local Acura dealers. |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by adamc
Hey there folks. My wife and I have decided to get a used MDX. We're just staring our search for the vehicle and we're targeting roughly the 2003-05 range based on prices we're seeing.
I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, experience, etc. from all of you on our purchase.
We live in the SF Bay Area (CA). More specifically in the East Bay near Walnut Creek. If anyone knows of any good dealers or places to shop we'd love the help.
One initial question was "What, exactly, comes with the 'touring' package in these models".
Thanks Everyone!!!
my advice is to look at a different suv, theres to many issues with transmissions and torque converters. i just bought a 05 mdx certified pre owned with 48,000 miles a few weeks ago and its at the dealer now getting a new torque converter. there are many of these issues. |
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| Skoobahead |
Hey Acuramdxman,
Sorry to hear about the TC on your '05. I'm curious as to what the dealer told you. How did your TC all of a sudden fail? These failures don't make sense. Consumers change their fluid as required and most report not towing and driving very conservativly yet out of the blue these TC fail even after initial issues that date back to '01.
What did your service dept say? |
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| tygger |
quote:
Originally posted by adamc
Hey there folks. My wife and I have decided to get a used MDX. We're just staring our search for the vehicle and we're targeting roughly the 2003-05 range based on prices we're seeing.
I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, experience, etc. from all of you on our purchase.
We live in the SF Bay Area (CA). More specifically in the East Bay near Walnut Creek. If anyone knows of any good dealers or places to shop we'd love the help.
One initial question was "What, exactly, comes with the 'touring' package in these models".
Thanks Everyone!!!
From what I've gathered... it's best if you can figure out (as close as possible) the trade-in value. Once you figure out a fairly accurate trade-in, add few thousand for dealer profit and misc expenses that couldve been required to fix up the car. The trick is figuring the accurate trade-in because you can't completely trust kelly blue book or nada.
Some guys on here have the inside scoop so they may chime in on the accurate wholesale (trade-in) value. |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by Skoobahead
Hey Acuramdxman,
Sorry to hear about the TC on your '05. I'm curious as to what the dealer told you. How did your TC all of a sudden fail? These failures don't make sense. Consumers change their fluid as required and most report not towing and driving very conservativly yet out of the blue these TC fail even after initial issues that date back to '01.
What did your service dept say?
I was hearing the shuttering sounds at around 1500 rpm's so i brought to the dealer. to make long story short, the tech didnt hear anything on his test drive with it so i then went with him to duplicate it. i dropped it off on a friday and not until tuesday they just said it was the TC and they ordered the part and were waiting for it. thats it. |
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| Fabvsix |
I buy from ACura of pleasanton
Let them locate your ideal MDX. I'd stick with an o5 newer.....
Best of luck and welcome neighbor! :1: |
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| ROTORRAY |
| Several negative posts on that place. My experience with the service department is that it sucks BIG TIME!!! I expect lies and half truths from Sales Dept but not from Service, which is what I experienced, along with faulty/lousy maintenance and not doing it according to Honda's recommended procedures. Just my experience but that's good enuf for me. My warranty is up so I don't have to deal with them anymore. JMHO |
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| ug2b |
quote:
Originally posted by adamc
Hey there folks. My wife and I have decided to get a used MDX. We're just staring our search for the vehicle and we're targeting roughly the 2003-05 range based on prices we're seeing.
I'd appreciate any thoughts, advice, experience, etc. from all of you on our purchase.
We live in the SF Bay Area (CA). More specifically in the East Bay near Walnut Creek. If anyone knows of any good dealers or places to shop we'd love the help.
One initial question was "What, exactly, comes with the 'touring' package in these models".
Thanks Everyone!!!
Hi there - just bought a few weeks ago in Hayward at Bay City Autosales. Got a 2005 touring with 27k miles. Car was/is in absolutely pristine condition. And price was $19k.
As for buying process - completely painless.
Saw ad on craigslist. Drove down, test drove, investigated why the car was priced so low, talked with the salesman /owner (Shah) and found out they got a great deal when they purchased from Acura/pleasanton on the lease return so they are passing the savings on along with the fact they aren't moving many cars right now as the customers are drying up. So we wrote them a check, filled out paper work and drove away.
So I would recommend them as a place to buy, but they don't have any MDX's in inventory now
Link to their inventory:
Baycityautosalesinventory
Hope that helps |
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| tygger |
quote:
Originally posted by ug2b
Hi there - just bought a few weeks ago in Hayward at Bay City Autosales. Got a 2005 touring with 27k miles. Car was/is in absolutely pristine condition. And price was $19k.
As for buying process - completely painless.
Saw ad on craigslist. Drove down, test drove, investigated why the car was priced so low, talked with the salesman /owner (Shah) and found out they got a great deal when they purchased from Acura/pleasanton on the lease return so they are passing the savings on along with the fact they aren't moving many cars right now as the customers are drying up. So we wrote them a check, filled out paper work and drove away.
So I would recommend them as a place to buy, but they don't have any MDX's in inventory now
Link to their inventory:
Baycityautosalesinventory
Hope that helps
What was their original asking price? |
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| ug2b |
| Original asking price was $19,600. Reduced to $19,100 - but had a portable GPS thrown which is worth about $100 or so (Garmin C330) |
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| tygger |
| That seems like a pretty fair asking price to begin with.. congrats! |
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| hortkid |
check those carfax reports with the VIN, it will detail the ownership of the vehicle and see how long the dealer has had it offered for sale. Leverage. You say "the vehicle has been here for x weeks/months" I want to take it home and you obviously want to get rid of it so let's agree to both get what we want"
I picked up my '05' x for $20,700 base model with 24k miles, roof rack and running boards in a Chicago suburb. |
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| laborlitigator |
| I won't buy a new car ever again. I get the car I want at thousands less buy just waiting a few years. |
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| midnightMDX |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
I won't buy a new car ever again. I get the car I want at thousands less buy just waiting a few years.
+1. And I usually get ones with really low miles. |
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| patch96 |
Take your time. You are at the advantage
I bought an 05 premium under $15K with 28K plus miles still under warranty with acuracare etc.
On ebay a 05 premium (base) just sold (10-6) FROM A DEALER for $13.5K with 42K miles!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...em=280273960548
The guy i bought mine from had 40-50 he had bought at a honda lease auction. The residuals are too high, premium gas, and they are being returned post-lease in droves. Further as we move to 09, its harder to get good financing on an 05 - I paid cash.
Just make sure its a lease return, do the carfax, check the warranty work via the vin at the dealer and get a steal.
Email me if you want more tips.
Don't be suckered into believing these are worth $18K to $22K. THEY ARE SPECTACULAR AUTOMOBILES, but the demand is not there.
Not with the economy falling off a cliff.
Oh yea, used 2005 roof racks and running boards are selling on ebay for $50 and $80 respectively. If you can't install these yourself you should return you rechargeable drill to Home Depot.
You may ask why after just buying one, why am I looking for more on ebay. My wife likes the MDX so much she won't drive "her" camry. So we may actually own 2 very soon.
Gotta love it. |
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| ug2b |
quote:
Originally posted by patch96
Take your time. You are at the advantage
I bought an 05 premium under $15K with 28K plus miles still under warranty with acuracare etc.
On ebay a 05 premium (base) just sold (10-6) FROM A DEALER for $13.5K with 42K miles!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...em=280273960548
The guy i bought mine from had 40-50 he had bought at a honda lease auction. The residuals are too high, premium gas, and they are being returned post-lease in droves. Further as we move to 09, its harder to get good financing on an 05 - I paid cash.
Just make sure its a lease return, do the carfax, check the warranty work via the vin at the dealer and get a steal.
Email me if you want more tips.
Don't be suckered into believing these are worth $18K to $22K. THEY ARE SPECTACULAR AUTOMOBILES, but the demand is not there.
Not with the economy falling off a cliff.
Oh yea, used 2005 roof racks and running boards are selling on ebay for $50 and $80 respectively. If you can't install these yourself you should return you rechargeable drill to Home Depot.
You may ask why after just buying one, why am I looking for more on ebay. My wife likes the MDX so much she won't drive "her" camry. So we may actually own 2 very soon.
Gotta love it.
-- from a dealer's first sale with no auction history.
also check out the other MDX's selling history..
EBay_Completed_History |
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| tygger |
quote:
Originally posted by patch96
Take your time. You are at the advantage
I bought an 05 premium under $15K with 28K plus miles still under warranty with acuracare etc.
On ebay a 05 premium (base) just sold (10-6) FROM A DEALER for $13.5K with 42K miles!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...em=280273960548
The guy i bought mine from had 40-50 he had bought at a honda lease auction. The residuals are too high, premium gas, and they are being returned post-lease in droves. Further as we move to 09, its harder to get good financing on an 05 - I paid cash.
Just make sure its a lease return, do the carfax, check the warranty work via the vin at the dealer and get a steal.
Email me if you want more tips.
Don't be suckered into believing these are worth $18K to $22K. THEY ARE SPECTACULAR AUTOMOBILES, but the demand is not there.
Not with the economy falling off a cliff.
Oh yea, used 2005 roof racks and running boards are selling on ebay for $50 and $80 respectively. If you can't install these yourself you should return you rechargeable drill to Home Depot.
You may ask why after just buying one, why am I looking for more on ebay. My wife likes the MDX so much she won't drive "her" camry. So we may actually own 2 very soon.
Gotta love it.
I sent you a pm. |
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| patch96 |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ug2b
[B]
-- from a dealer's first sale with no auction history.
Yea! and that was a Buy It Now price. That was not an auction that was sniped or went unseen.
I start on on ebay and craigslist to determine private party values and them move up from there.
I know my information is rock solid accurate.
AGAIN . . . the MDX is a spectacular car, but for those of you who obviously do not know it the automobile market is on life support and the TRUCK market is six feet under ground.
SUVs requiring premium gas are not in demand. |
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| Skoobahead |
| It's true the market is weak but I wouldn't look at this Ebay sale as an example. $13,500 is way below any market value. Something is fishy. Look at the carfax. This vehicle spends it's entire life in Illinois ,yet sells as a certified Acura from a Honda dealer in Washington. I wasn't aware Honda dealers did pre-certifications on Acura's. |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by Skoobahead
It's true the market is weak but I wouldn't look at this Ebay sale as an example. $13,500 is way below any market value. Something is fishy. Look at the carfax. This vehicle spends it's entire life in Illinois ,yet sells as a certified Acura from a Honda dealer in Washington. I wasn't aware Honda dealers did pre-certifications on Acura's.
certified doesnt mean jack squat. i bought a cpo 05 mdx and my torque converter was bad. got it replaced but how can you certify a car with a bad tc. ill bring my lawn mower there and they can certify that too. |
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| patch96 |
"Spent its entire life in illnois and is being sold by a WA honda dealer."
Its called a Lease Auction.
Why are you people so adverse to the truth.
This is exactly what they say regarding the housing market. Everyone believes prices are falling, just not in their neighborhood.
Guys, I can find 10 dealers selling under warranty 05 base mdxs selling between 14,000 to 15,500.
This guy just want to get his money in another vehicle and wholesaled it out for a quick sale. |
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| Skoobahead |
I suppose your right about the "process" of certification. It does buy you extended warranty time and mileage. My point being Honda dealers do not certify Acura's.What did the service dept say was the cause of the TC's failure? Your the first 05 I've heard of
"Its called a Lease Auction. Why are you people so adverse to the truth?"
Why? because there's obviously a reason this dealership sold this vehicle for profit at $13,500. They drove this MDX or had it trucked half way across the US and sold it for $13,500 and made money?
The market is weak but beware: More often than not you get what you pay for. |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by Skoobahead
I suppose your right about the "process" of certification. It does buy you extended warranty time and mileage. My point being Honda dealers do not certify Acura's.What did the service dept say was the cause of the TC's failure? Your the first 05 I've heard of
"Its called a Lease Auction. Why are you people so adverse to the truth?"
Why? because there's obviously a reason this dealership sold this vehicle for profit at $13,500. They drove this MDX or had it trucked half way across the US and sold it for $13,500 and made money?
The market is weak but beware: More often than not you get what you pay for.
they didnt know the cause of the failure, but theres another 05 owner on board with like 30 something thousand miles that had his tc go as well. |
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| Skoobahead |
| How long is your new TC warrantied for? |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by Skoobahead
How long is your new TC warrantied for?
12 months/12000 miles. i got a certified mdx so my powertrain is covered for 100,000 miles. |
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| Skoobahead |
Now thats odd. It should be covered until 100,000 miles. The Torque converter is covered under the CPO 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.(I'm looking at my CPO warranty book as we speak and it's listed)
You might want to verify this from Acura. |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by Skoobahead
Now thats odd. It should be covered until 100,000 miles. The Torque converter is covered under the CPO 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.(I'm looking at my CPO warranty book as we speak and it's listed)
You might want to verify this from Acura.
yes it was covered, they fixed it for me. |
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| Skoobahead |
I understand that they replaced it, but now they are telling you the new one is only warrantied for 1 yr/12,000 miles?
I would hope it's warrantied until 100,000 miles as your CPO warranty reads. |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by Skoobahead
I understand that they replaced it, but now they are telling you the new one is only warrantied for 1 yr/12,000 miles?
I would hope it's warrantied until 100,000 miles as your CPO warranty reads.
yes its only warrantied for 1 yr or 12000 miles, but if it fails before 100,000 miles they have to replace it again for free. |
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| 1stTimeSUV |
quote:
Originally posted by acuramdxman
they didnt know the cause of the failure, but theres another 05 owner on board with like 30 something thousand miles that had his tc go as well.
Make that three. My '05 with 47k had the torque converter replaced as part of the certification process (along with new OEM Goodyear Integrity tires, 4-wheel alignment, and the 45k service).
The dealer was very open about this and made no attempt to hide it, so it didn't concern me especially considering I have another 53k on the CPO warranty and I'll probably trade up before then anyway.
What concerns me more is that within days, two instrument panel bulbs failed and the little knob that controls the air vent direction snapped off in my hands.
Acura interior quality isn't what I was used to coming from Volkswagens, which were built like Benzes. On the other hand, it rained INSIDE my 02 GTi and my 04 GTi was flatbedded away twice in the first year of ownership so as long as the MDX splits the difference between VW and Honda reliability, I'll be a happy guy. |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by 1stTimeSUV
Make that three. My '05 with 47k had the torque converter replaced as part of the certification process (along with new OEM Goodyear Integrity tires, 4-wheel alignment, and the 45k service).
The dealer was very open about this and made no attempt to hide it, so it didn't concern me especially considering I have another 53k on the CPO warranty and I'll probably trade up before then anyway.
What concerns me more is that within days, two instrument panel bulbs failed and the little knob that controls the air vent direction snapped off in my hands.
Acura interior quality isn't what I was used to coming from Volkswagens, which were built like Benzes. On the other hand, it rained INSIDE my 02 GTi and my 04 GTi was flatbedded away twice in the first year of ownership so as long as the MDX splits the difference between VW and Honda reliability, I'll be a happy guy.
hopefully this is a 1 time issue because i really like the suv. does your instrument panel flash for a few seconds at night sometimes when you first start it up and drive off? |
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| 1stTimeSUV |
quote:
Originally posted by acuramdxman
does your instrument panel flash for a few seconds at night sometimes when you first start it up and drive off?
No, sorry. Sounds like a relatively harmless glitch, though. |
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| adamc |
I wanted to thank everyone for all their advice and insight. I think I'll be heading down to a dealer (probably Concord or Oakland) to check out their 04-05 CPO inventory.
I saw that some other folks have suggested CPO 05s can be had for under $20k. Has anyone experienced this in the SF Bay Area? The list price for the CPO 05s I'm seeing are around $27k (touring, nav, etc). I just can imagine negotiating down $8k. |
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| aidan2474 |
I just bought an '05 pearl white(Wife's choice - Very hard to find color in my area- Philly) touring, with Nav 48k miles still under factory warranty from a honda dealer who is the next lot over from the acura dealer who originally leased it. Paid $19.5K, paid $2k for 5yr/100k mile extended warranty all in $21.5k.
Absolutely love it!
I looked at other CPO's and they were not near in the condition as this one I bought. The CPO's I looked at had chipped paint over the vehicles especially around the edge of the doors, interiors were in shabby condition and they all wanted $23k and up and would not budge on price. Oh yeah the one guy moved on his price, he went from $23.8K to $23.2.
I don't get why a CPO is so sought after when you can get an extended warranty for less than a CPO? |
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| midnightMDX |
| Congrats on the new ride! CPO's arent suppose to be flawless, just up to a certain spec. Even then, some arent that great. |
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| acuramdxman |
quote:
Originally posted by midnightMDX
Congrats on the new ride! CPO's arent suppose to be flawless, just up to a certain spec. Even then, some arent that great.
i know tell me about it, i bought a CPO 05 MDX with a bad torque converter. |
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| tygger |
quote:
Originally posted by aidan2474
I just bought an '05 pearl white(Wife's choice - Very hard to find color in my area- Philly) touring, with Nav 48k miles still under factory warranty from a honda dealer who is the next lot over from the acura dealer who originally leased it. Paid $19.5K, paid $2k for 5yr/100k mile extended warranty all in $21.5k.
Absolutely love it!
I looked at other CPO's and they were not near in the condition as this one I bought. The CPO's I looked at had chipped paint over the vehicles especially around the edge of the doors, interiors were in shabby condition and they all wanted $23k and up and would not budge on price. Oh yeah the one guy moved on his price, he went from $23.8K to $23.2.
I don't get why a CPO is so sought after when you can get an extended warranty for less than a CPO?
That sounds like a good price. What were they originally asking? |
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| aidan2474 |
no haggle pricing, $19.5k, They said that this is the price they offer after exhaustive research, and even though there are some old school buyers that don't feel right without getting at least something off the list price they won't budge and they lose those buyers. But the reverse of that, is that the internet buyers who do their research know that this is the best price/deal and feel comfortable paying what is being asked.
He continued to explain that their internet sales have exploded beyond normal walk in floor sales. I believed him based on the fact that I could not find a better deal anywhere on the internet for the color/miles/options I was looking for, besides the fact that this was the lowest priced out of the 4 MDX's I looked at, it was also the cleanest inside and out.
I bought from Piazza Honda/Acura auto group. Yes, Mike Piazza baseball player. |
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