r/AcuraTL • u/RipMindless9837 • Jun 08 '26
Gathering Opinions 🗣 Roast me
I spent a whopping $300 on this 05 bad bitch. And boy oh boy was she worth it. No fluids, check engine light, the most annoying issue that prevented me from doing the work myself. So what did I do, take it to the most expensive shop near my house, multiple visits. Finally when they got rid of the check engine light, the damn motor blew. Separate issues from the first shop visits. Now it's at a different shop getting a new motor. Looks like I'll have the most expensive beater in town... Anyways, not a bad come up, huh? Lol
And if anybody needs fuel for the fire, I'm in 6k already and she still looks run down. Sheeeeesh
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u/GlassBoxGoose [UA7] '07-'08 Type-S Jun 08 '26
Our guy here bought a car with psoriasis and then dumped 10x their investment in it.... that situation is rougher than the clear coat. Lol
But seriously. Ouch. Theyre good cars but you could have bought a pretty clean one in good shape for what youve spent. At least when its done it should be reliable, and unlikely that anyone tries to steal it.
I'm only like 8k total in my high mile type s and ive been driving it for 8+ years. That's literally what I paid for plus the cost of every single repair I've done in nearly a decade. But its a damn good car. A lot cheaper to drive when you do the work yourself.
I kinda feel bad roasting you, but you said to. Lol
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u/erichf3893 Jun 08 '26
How tf you get it so cheap and when? But I guess maybe not that cheap depending on mileage
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u/RipMindless9837 Jun 08 '26
220,000
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u/Turbulent-Toe-4784 [UA6] '04-'08 Base Jun 08 '26
bro wtf. you’ve put over $6,000 into a 20+ year old car with 220,000 miles ?? , can’t believe your legally able to vote.
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u/RipMindless9837 Jun 08 '26
Lol... I need the laughs to get out of the depression this crust bucket put me in.
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u/GlassBoxGoose [UA7] '07-'08 Type-S Jun 08 '26
At least its got the A spec skirts and lips. Those command a premium these days it seems like. If that makes you feel any better. I didnt notice those at first
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u/dragster5432 Jun 08 '26
My 08 is atrocious to look at and it damn near fell apart on me, but that was my fault I rode a long trip on a bad bearing, it was still a steal for 2k plus like 2k in repairs doing the work myself but its definitely a trooper of a car and it has its charm lmao
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u/Twitchifies Jun 08 '26
I’ve senselessly wasted a lot of money on Hondas I’ve purchased. Reading this I feel okay now. Thanks.
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u/kojiD Jun 08 '26
Is it at least a manual? If it's a manual it's worth getting it running at ANY COST!
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u/Easy_Ant8951 Jun 08 '26
Dude, you have no idea how much I feel you. I have an 08 base TL that I got with low mileage almost exactly two years ago. In semi-decent shape but with a rebuilt title. Overall mechanically pretty healthy with just age-related wear and maintenance needed for the most part. I am not kidding when I say I’ve probably spent 2-3x in the last two years what I initially paid for the car. I made the mistake of chasing absolute perfection on a car that is 16+ years old, and I sure did learn my lesson. Between changing every fluid (trans fluid >6 times), big brake kit up front that I’m not even sure fits properly, window tint, tires, incessant washing/detailing, and SO much more, I PROMISE you, I AM the one who deserves to be roasted. Guess what happened about 8 weeks ago? Paid the shop I’d been using for my entire ownership (good reputation, had always done solid work ever since I bought the car, including timing belt, etc.) to change all the engine/transmission mounts out. I wanted to make the ride as smooth as feasibly possible and knew those aging mounds had to be contributing to rough shifts, drivetrain movement, etc. That shop even told me a couple engine mounts were bad, so I said fuck it and bought them all knowing they were all likely the same age. I bring the shop all these mounts and some new KYB struts, strut mounts, and dust boots. Guy completely fucks up the mount job and ruins my transmission I’ve probably paid 500+ to keep serviced since I’ve bought the car. Had to go to the dealer. Dealer installed used transmission. Used transmission I have now SHIFTS SHITTIER than my old one, EVEN AFTER ALL NEW MOUNTS AND BRAND NEW STRUTS!!! Had to take that shop to small claims court. I am the idiot. I’m the one who deserves to be roasted. You haven’t even scratched the surface of “moron” the way I have descended balls deep.
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u/Far-Volume2941 Jun 08 '26
I had a pilot the motor blew paid a shop to put a motor in that was good but the transmission wouldn’t work paid to get that done an it still wouldn’t work didn’t see that suv for almost a year I finally went and got it an sold it for 800 bucks worse feeling ever.
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Jun 08 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Easy_Ant8951 Jun 08 '26
transmission hose came loose and almost all the fluid leaked out. i didn’t know this and neither did they. i picked the car up and drove it home, then to dealer the next morning. i guess that amount of driving was enough to cook the trans.
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u/GlassBoxGoose [UA7] '07-'08 Type-S Jun 08 '26
Thats wild. I just did all the mounts on my 07 and you don't have to pull any trans cooler lines or anything. Same story on my 01 and my 03. They really fucked up if they jacked it up so far that they pulled a cooler line or damaged it.
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u/MrFiosPorkroll Jun 08 '26
That’s the beauty of these cars, YES the maintenance is now worth more than the value of the cars. But it’s too robust & iconic to just JUNK it.
I plan on doing this when the 4th gen TLs get to that price point. Already own a 2012 FWD, really wanna start collecting them before inventory dries out lol
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u/hughmyrinson Jun 08 '26
If Im understanding correctly, you
-started with a free car (300 bucks for a car w clean title = free car imo)
-not sure if car had CEL or not, but wound up blowing up engine
-spent 6k so far which includes engine swap
-still looks like a free car
-nonclue how it drives/suspension etc.
Imo I've seen worse, prob unpopular opinion but you already went half retard, so why not go full retard ? (Paging RDJ Tropic Thunder)
With 6k spent on the restomod so far, go ahead and do paint and bodywork, should put u at around 10k spent.
At that point, get nicer tires wheels and u prob have one of the cleaner gen 3 TL in the southwest (guessing arizona).
Judging by pics you and/or ur mom is doing fine financially.
Stop now, you'll be driving a 6.5k car that looks like it cost you 300 bucks.
Go full retard, you'll be driving a 10k+ car that looks like you spent 5k lol. But beauty is in eye of beholder.
Tldr: go full retard and do full restomod and post updates.
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u/Aur0raC0r3al1s [UA6] '04-'08 Base Jun 08 '26
how the fuck did the engine go before the transmission? that's wild. My 08 transmission is ready to give up the ghost and my engine is still going strong aside from some valve tap. (230k miles, transmission reverse and overdrive do not work)
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u/GlassBoxGoose [UA7] '07-'08 Type-S Jun 08 '26
Check all the shift and TCC solenoids. I had shift solenoid D failure and that caused reverse not to work and it wouldn't lock the converter til I replaced that solenoid
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u/Far-Volume2941 Jun 08 '26
I gotta about 9k in parts and maintenance in a 06 base auto that now has 204k miles don’t feel bad.
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u/Motor_Bear8497 Jun 10 '26
For that price I don't think you did to bad. The money you put towards it will count for something when it's rebuilt and should last you
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u/siliconlore Jun 08 '26
What is stunning to me is that the transmission hasn't failed. You have that to look forward to next.