I found a decent 2014 Acura RDX with the 3.5 V6. The engine is 2000 miles(107K miles) past due for the timing belt service and new spark plugs. Just called and researched around and the timing belt service and spark plug replacement runs about $2000. Subtract this off what I was gonna offer for it? From a new car dealer so I'm pretty sure they gave the previous owner half of what it was worth on trade in.
How Much To Dicker Down on Price
- Thread starter Stumpy
- Start date
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Can't tell you how much to pay- but me Wife has the exact car like mileage and the car has been flawless.
Don't let a few thousand dollars separate you from the deal if you like the car. A 2014 RDX with 100k miles is hard to find.
You're beginning with the presumption that they'll follow logic.
You: "It needs $2000 worth of work that you can't even see when they're done."
Next guy: "I want you to shampoo all the carpets and wax it before I'll sign."
If you're going to make an offer, just make it. I would go for their financing, even if you can pay cash, then pay it off the next day if the contract lets you.
You: "It needs $2000 worth of work that you can't even see when they're done."
Next guy: "I want you to shampoo all the carpets and wax it before I'll sign."
If you're going to make an offer, just make it. I would go for their financing, even if you can pay cash, then pay it off the next day if the contract lets you.
Good luck on the price; you have nuthin' to lose.
My guess is you will love that RDX.
As others have said, don't let a couple grand make you lose the deal, if that's the car you want.
My guess is you will love that RDX.
As others have said, don't let a couple grand make you lose the deal, if that's the car you want.
Absolutely take the belt/pump/plugs price off the deal, and add a valve celarenace check into it as well.
It's got manual valves that need to be checked and or adjusted.
Who know what else was neglected - trans ? Xfer case? oil changes? differential requires special fluid.
It's got manual valves that need to be checked and or adjusted.
Who know what else was neglected - trans ? Xfer case? oil changes? differential requires special fluid.
Neglected or P.O. was smart enough to trade it before the big bills came rolling in.
Seems EVERYTHING Honda requires a special fluid. I like their quality but their penchant for proprietary fluids is mildly obnoxious. But yeah, with each passing year more and more manufacturers are trying to do this.
I hate dickering, but am willing to pay a fair price. often i am not sure what a "fair price' really is.
For example, i wanted to buy a player piano. There was a used one that was only 20 years old at a piano dealer. it looked to be in excellent shape and played well. But i knew the dealer had this piano for about 3 months and it wasn't selling.
i went to the dealer, and told them i was interested, but not interested in later finding out i overpaid.
i asked them to offer to sell me the piano at their best reduced price. And i would either accept that price, or walk out the door , never to be seen again, without a counter offer. The price came down by a third, and I accepted.
Its hard to negotiate when the seller knows more facts than you do,
For example, i wanted to buy a player piano. There was a used one that was only 20 years old at a piano dealer. it looked to be in excellent shape and played well. But i knew the dealer had this piano for about 3 months and it wasn't selling.
i went to the dealer, and told them i was interested, but not interested in later finding out i overpaid.
i asked them to offer to sell me the piano at their best reduced price. And i would either accept that price, or walk out the door , never to be seen again, without a counter offer. The price came down by a third, and I accepted.
Its hard to negotiate when the seller knows more facts than you do,
It's only 2000 miles over the recommendation. I wouldn't call that neglect although, I'd assume none of that stuff was done.
If you really like it and other than the belt and plugs everything else is in good shape you can use the service as a bargaining chip. If they are a Honda dealer they may do the service for the cost of parts if not it does give you some leverage on the price. It is an interference engine so it really needs to be done and you may need to bring that to their attention.
It's at a new car dealer but they want to flip it without doing the overdue timing belt? I'd consider that a good thing, as I wouldn't want them to half-bake it with some cheapo parts, but I have to wonder if they would be open to anything under whatever is market fair price. Without dropping by your estimated $2k. Reason being, there'll be another sucker right after you at the door who doesn't know what a timing belt is.
Figure out what it's worth to you, subtract $2k, then decide if you are ok with paying your "full" price if you can't get them to come down. If they don't, then there is apt to be another deal some day.
Are you sure it's overdue? Check the timing belt cover, usually someone uses a paint pen on there. It might not be recorded on Carfax but it might have been done (but then, by who and do you trust them?).
Figure out what it's worth to you, subtract $2k, then decide if you are ok with paying your "full" price if you can't get them to come down. If they don't, then there is apt to be another deal some day.
Are you sure it's overdue? Check the timing belt cover, usually someone uses a paint pen on there. It might not be recorded on Carfax but it might have been done (but then, by who and do you trust them?).
The only thing I cant really substitute that I know of is the diff fluid, and to be honest I haven't worked real hard at it because I can get the Honda/ Acura stuff easily.
Any rated oil is fine, although I have evidence rated oil still allows buildup in a J35 6.
I can use Idemitsu H type or Valvoline max life in the trans although so far I only used the hated DW1.
But the rear end was fun - VTM4, or Dual Pump II? - that was fun finding out, and ordering one and getting the other because someone else thought they could be substituted. VTM4 and IVTM 4 that my 2017 Ridgeline can be both" super handling all wheel drive" but different rear ends and fluids.
There is TONS of conflicting info on the right diff fluid for each year.
Its at a BMW dealer of all places! Part of the Sonic group of dealers. Gonna go take a good look at it soon and crawl under it. Carfax said it lived its first four years in Illinois. Worried about corrosion it might have. But I'll find out for certain. They are asking $12.5.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Not sure if helpful, but a price comparison. We purchased a one owner 2014 RDX AWD tech package for OOA 15k USD, 90k miles. One owner, was traded into the dealer that sold the RDX originally, and this dealer also did the maintenance. We purchased in 2018, Sacramento California vehicle.
I suspect the vehicle was traded in , rather than the owner paying the timing belt service. I was watching for a RDX online, and purchased this sight unseen via a overnight check. The dealer tried to get out of the deal as they underpriced the RDX, but the check was cashed and I wrote the owner of the dealership a nice note asking they follow through on the deal .
Love the car, zero issues whatsoever after six years of ownership and three cross country moves.
So lets say its 2 over min, It could be over 42K over according to the manual.
It's a 10 year old belt on an interference engine.
If it isn't neglected now, at what point does it become that in your mind.
Nice approach. It can't be easy selling pianos, and I suppose when you have a customer ready to buy, you have to take them seriously.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
We had a antique player piano that had an air leak after a few years. A baby grand upright, beautiful piano and played wonderfully, except the new air leak. Boxes and boxes of roller music. Tried selling the piano for $400 USD. Found out no market for old player pianos unless the air system was rebuilt. Ended up giving the piano and rollers away, and was thrilled to find someone to take it.
