2001 Acura- Keep it or not?

[sky_driver]

My 2001 Acura legend has approx 200,000 miles and it runs great and actually looks great ( both interior and exteror ). But, the speedometer has started to only work sporadically and the auto door locks make an awful sound when they are engaged (yet they still work perfectly ). Here is the big question, I need to buy the wife a minivan( we are expecting our 2nd child), and I would take her 4 runner which would leave us with the Acura as a 3rd car, which we really do not need. I don't mind the speedometer and door lock problems, and was quoted about $600-700 to get them fixed. But because the car has so many miles, I think I could only get about $2-3000 for it, but it really is worth more to me because I have kept it in such good condition. Really, the only problem is the high millege. The engine, a/c, radio and everything else is in excellent condition as it has had all of its major services including 2 timing belt replacements. I was thinking of just keeping it and using it as my everyday drive to work car, and park the 4 runner in the garage, thus the 4 runner would be driven only on weekends. But then I need to consider keeping the insurance on the Acura( I have already eliminated the collision part due to the age of the car ) verse pocketing maybe $2000-$3000 less the cost of the speedometer and door locks ( I would want to get those fixed before I sell it ). Any advise from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

[shakran]

1) what year is it really? 1995 was the last year the Legend was made.

2) speedometer: Easy fix. Speedo cable from Napa. Takes about 4 screws, a clip, and 20 minutes. Do it yourself.

3) What sound do the door locks make?

I would personally keep the thing (especially if it's the coupe!) because Legends were awesome cars. Hard to find a car like a Legend, and you'd regret it if you sold it.

[Pragma]

Yea, the year doesn't sound right - 200,000 miles on a 2001 car? That's some pretty rough driving - even if you bought it in 2000, that's almost a hundred thousand miles a year.

[drawerfixer]

Why not sell the 4Runner?

[irseg]

For the door locks, call up an Acura dealer and get the part number for the lock solenoids, then call a Honda garage and get the part num for a same-year Accord. They're probably the same. If they are, go to your local junkyard and pick 'em up for 5 bucks.

[Booty Man]

If it's a 6spd Type II Legend then definitely keep it.

[Rodney]

You must mean '91. I've got an '91 Integra which we drive fairly hard, and it's still a ways under 200K.

You know how it is with cars. It's not about age as much as mileage. Drive the Acura into the ground as a commute car and around town, save mileage on the newer 4-runner. Make your newer cars last longer.

And you never know. You could get another 100K out of the Legend. I know a guy with regular Honda, an Accord, that got 275K on one engine and was still going strong when I knew him.

[acpower]

If it somehow is a 2001 Acura Legend, with amazingly 200k miles, then it must be the Acura RL.. or is it TL? Acura and their weird name changes.

[sky_driver]

Sorry it is a 1991 Acura Legened. I have been working too hard. Sorry for the confusion. As for the door locks, some one else also mentioned a solenoid. I have a friend who has an acura/honda junk/used parts business. I will give him a call and look into buying the solenoid. Is it a simple fix, and can I do it myself. I will also look into the speedometer cable. Thanks to all.

[Peryn]

My cousins have a mid 90s accord. Sound like the same door lock problem. Makes an aweful noise when they lock/unlock the car, but it works fine. Something like not enough lube in the part or soemthing. Dealer wanted around $400 to fix. Its been doing that for years and still working great. I wouldn't spend much time worryinbg about it, and dont pay that kind of money to make a noise go away that you rarely hear anyway.

What do ya need the 4Runner for? If you really like your acura, and think you could get a lot more miles out of it, then keep it. I dont imagine its costing ya a lot in insurance, and i imagine its paid off by now. So if you honestly think it will last you longer, you could sell the 4Runner and make a nice down payment on a minivan (i highly reccommend the Mazda MPV, but tahts another thread...).

Personally, i would probably keep em both. Its nice to have an extra car around in case of emergencies, and in case one breaks down or anything. Just drop the acura down to very minimal insurance and hang onto it id say.

[Scorps]

Originally posted by drawerfixer
Why not sell the 4Runner?

A 4Runner is always good to have around, even if it snows out where you live.

[sky_driver]

I need to keep the 4 runner for those days when the wife needs the minivan with the new born, and I will have to pick up our 3 year old. Car seats just do not fit very well in a Legend Coupe. Also, I just feel safer having our children in a bigger car considering the way people in Atlanta drive. As it stands, I will probably keep both cars and use the Legend as my everyday car. Again thanks for everyones input.

[agentsmith]

Really? They stopped making Legends? that's a shame

[Scorps]

get a boat of car if you want to feel safe.

[skippy]

Wow ... thats excatly it..get the solenoid from a wrecker to 12 dollars and keep all of the cars

drive the accura till it drops... then get a new car

[Peryn]

Yeah, at this point its paid off and depreciation had taken its toll. Drive it into the group or until your spending almost as much in repairs as new car payements would cost. No sense in trashing a perfectly good car.

[32v4c]

Legend is a nice car. I'd run it into the ground!

[BoCo]

Legend coupes are sweet! I'm glad you're keeping it.

[Scorps]

Originally posted by 32v4c
Legend is a nice car. I'd run it into the ground!

LOL I would drive it off a bridge.

[merkerguitars]

I would fix it and keep it...driving a car into the ground is usually how you get the best money out of it.