So my SSEi is gone.
I have been looking for something to either be a weekend toy or something to replace the Bonneville as a DD.
Saturday, I went shopping.
I had my eye on a GTO with some extensive mods that my brother's buddy owned. I also was looking at an 04 6spd GTO with fairly low miles.
But the more I thought about it, the more I decided that I wanted a car that I would drive and own for the next 5+ years.
The Bonneville was looking less and less like that car. Let's face it...2 engines, 1 transmission rebuild and countless other "little things" began to take their toll on me.
I LOVED my SSEi. Honestly, I had dreamed of owning one since having a chance to flog my aunt and uncle's 93 SSEi back in 1993. And when everything was working right, well...she was an absolute kitten.
But lately, my emotional attachment had begun to fade.
I found myself more and more not looking forward to driving her. I mean not that I loathed her or anything but I felt like I needed to be careful lest more "little things" cropped up.
Saturday afternoon, I stopped by one of the local Chevy dealer's used lots. There literally was nothing on the lot that moved me in the least. I found myself picking apart everything they had and comparing them to my Bonneville and mentioning the things about the Bonneville that were better...
Their website said they had a couple of 2008 GP GXPs that they had just got in. I asked to see those and the sales manager took us back to the detail shop to take a look.
On the way there, we walked past a grey Acura TL that was sitting off in the corner of the detail shop.
I hardly gave it a second thought.
We got back to where the GP GXPs were and I looked them over...but the more I looked at them, the less they appealed to me. There was just something about the look, the fit and the finish that rubbed me the wrong way.
As we are walking back up to the front to take our leave, I kind of half heartedly began walking around the Acura TL that I had seen earlier.
Acuras of any sort weren't even on my radar.
I had no intention of looking at Acuras or Mazdas or Toyotas. I wanted American steel with some muscle and refinement or nothing at all.
But as I walked around this beautifully engineered piece of grey steel, I began to shift my thinking...I went from "My Bonneville has better X than that car..." to "I really like the way they did that compared to the Bonneville". Instead of seeing the other cars' faults when compared to the Bonneville, I began to see the Bonneville's faults compared to this TL.
I asked the sales manager for some details...1 owner, new car trade at their Cadillac lot, older couple looking for something more sedate, 31700 miles, 2007, LOADED (A TL-S without the TL-S badging is what the build sheet (yes the build sheet was in the glovebox) said) and priced at $2800 below book. LEMME SEE THE CARFAX! I said. Carfax rated this car a 98/100 while the average for this car was 81-88 for history.
So I decided, wth...let's take her for a spin.
Smooth. Everything about the car...power delivery, braking, steering, control interfaces...everything about this car SCREAMS smooth.
Not quite the feeling of kick in the pants acceleration as the SSEi BUT...you put your foot to the floor and the tach and speedo climb in nearly perfect unison and before you know it, 120 comes and goes in a flash.
The cabin envelopes you and makes you feel like an actual part of the car...and even more, I was comparing the things that this car did better than the Bonneville.
Acura wasn't even a blip in my thought processes.
But when I returend from the test drive, I began to ask the questions...how much? Who do you guys use for financing? How much down? And finally...how much would you give me for my Bonneville?
I expected them to lowball me. I expected $2200.
I handed the keys to the sales manager and warned him that the car was modified to some extent. That it's power delivery was going to be different than the Park Avenues and the Impalas he had out on his lot.
So he gingerly drove it around the lot to the exit. He eased her out into the road and he smoothly but steadily pushed his foot to the floor...the tires began chirping as the traction control began to assert itself.
He disappeared out of sight around a corner and I sat waiting sort of nervously..."what ifs" running through my head.
A short time later, he pulls back into the lot and has this ear to ear grin on his face. He asks me why I want to get rid of the Bonneville to which I reply, "I don't.. But if you say the right number you will give me for it as a trade in, then we will talk."
He stands there with his hand on his chin pondering things...he looks through my folder of reciepts and pops the hood, looking around and nodding wordlessly.
He then turns to me and says, "Well...the owner is going to kill me but I may just buy the Bonneville myself...would you take $4500 as trade towards the Acura?"
I paid $2800 for the car. I put about $3500 into it. I got hit by a HS girl and repaired most of the damage myself but still got a $2500 check from her insurance company. So essentialy, in the end, I had $3800 out of pocket in my Bonneville. Well worth it for the car...but I had also driven the snot out of it for 2 years and enjoyed it emensely. But now, someone is offering me well over book trade in...in fact, offering me $700 MORE than I paid out of pocket for it and the mods...
I said that $4500 was acceptable as long as I got to keep the amp and sub. He accepted and we went to his office.
I asked how negotiable the price was on the car and he said we could talk.
I stated that it did in fact need new tires and it could use brakes. Other than that, I said the car was pretty close to worth what they were asking. I asked if he could sell it for $1500 less than asking if he included new tires of my choice and new brakes front and rear as well as a tune up and regular maintenance service.
He hesitated...I thought maybe I went in too agressively until I saw him slowly begin to nod his head...then with a slight grin he says, "I think we can do business."
And so, without further ado and after an excruciatingly long 2.5 day wait, I finally took posession of my new (to me) 2007 Acura TL.
Old...she will be missed. And I will always fondly remember our time together...I picked a picture of her with the sky crying on her...
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/ZLTFUL/My%202001%20Bonneville%20SSEi/IMG_5337.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/ZLTFUL/2011-03-23_13-31-19_780.jpg)
And the new mistress...Unfortunately, it was later when I got home and so the pics are in mostly dark. More pics will come once I get home from work tomorrow. ALready have an appt to get the windows tinted of course...
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/ZLTFUL/2007%20Acura%20TL/IMG_5792.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/ZLTFUL/2007%20Acura%20TL/IMG_5791.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/ZLTFUL/2007%20Acura%20TL/IMG_5797.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/ZLTFUL/2007%20Acura%20TL/IMG_5796.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/ZLTFUL/2007%20Acura%20TL/IMG_5795.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/ZLTFUL/2007%20Acura%20TL/IMG_5794.jpg)
She is absolutely LOADED. You name the option and it has it. The only thing keeping it from being a full on TL-S is that it lacks the powertrain tuning package. It has the TL-S brakes and suspension along with every other option found in the TL-S.
I feel that this will be a long and beautiful relationship.
Always loved the styling of that vintage TL.
The new ones, not so much. [puke]
Hate to tell you, it doesn't have the S brakes. The upped brakes are larger in front and have black covered calipers that read Acura.
I have an Manual 04. They were the same price as the automatics, but you got the better brakes a a couple other farkles that made there way to the
You can see them (unclearly) here
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/07q4/the_quickest_sedans_of_2008_30_000_to_40_000-feature/gallery (http://www.caranddriver.com/features/07q4/the_quickest_sedans_of_2008_30_000_to_40_000-feature/gallery)
Quote from: Sad Panda on May 11, 2011, 05:42:05 AM
Hate to tell you, it doesn't have the S brakes. The upped brakes are larger in front and have black covered calipers that read Acura.
Odd...the build sheet says that it has 12.2inch rotors and 4 piston calipers which is exactly what the specs say for the TL-S...
Not sure what to tell you. But those are not the exact same brakes as on the S. The S calipers and the ones on the early manuals are a lot beefier
nice. I too had an SSEI and loved the car. Those seats were the most comfortable I've ever sat in and the supercharger was really fun.
I always liked the shape of the TL. The only thing that kicked it for me was the fuel economy - 18 city, 27 highway - and it requires premium fuel :-X
All that aside though - great deal! You were offered a nice amount for your old car which must have made you feel great!!!
Nice car!
[thumbsup] [thumbsup]
Nice ride!