I recently came across a pretty clean 96 RL for a good price.($1,300) Car has high miles (169k) but body and interior are excellent. The car seemed to run and drive real nice and there were no known problems with it. It does have a rebuilt title, but that is how I was able to talk him down from $2,200.

So my question is, how reliable are these older RL's? Do they have any known problems I should look out for? I really don't know anything about them other than they look nice. Just wondering if I should be cautious about buying one with those miles?

Thanks for your help H-T

Here are some pics:

 

On the whole they are extremely reliable cars. Unlike most Honda products with V6 engines, these cars do not have a history of transmission problems. Very low cost of ownership for a "luxury" vehicle if they are kept up with. I would try to obtain a service history and have a used car buyers inspection performed by a dealership or trustworthy mechanic.

 

well I'm the mechanic, but the service history is a good idea. I know that some of the TL, CL around the 2000-2002 or something like that had tranny problems but didn't know the older ones did to

 

For $1300 you can't go wrong man......
Just have a little money tucked away for repairs. They are great cars, but a little pricey to work on.
Find yourself a Trusted and Reliable Mechanic that knows the RLs. Don't give the stealership the business at $125/hr for labor.

 

Yeah I just got back from buying the RL. It has some problems but all in all its a good car. Interior is cleaner then the pics, but exterior has clear coat coming up. I wasn't going to get the car and he ask me to make an offer. So I got it for $800.

Anyways here are some thing s that are wrong with it that I need to deal with:

1. Brakes need to be done.
2. Engine vibrates. Can feel it get worse when accelerate, but when cruising it drives get. (feels as if its running on 5 cylinders)
3. Steering feels loose, and power steering fluid leaks. Inner tie rods cover is torn.
4. *FIXED* Radio needs the code. where do I get the numbers to give the dealership?
5. Needs another coat of clear coat, or to be repainted.
6. Steering wheel adjustments only goes in, out, not up, or down. Heard it making some noise at first but nothing now.
7. The spot lights on the dome lights wont turn on.

Some other odd and ends but nothing I can't do myself.

Give me some help H-T. What do you guys think?

 

fixed, thanks to previous owner writing it in the back of the owners manual.

 

New small problems:

6. Steering wheel adjustments only goes in, out, not up, or down. Heard it making some noise at first but nothing now.

7. The spot lights on the dome lights wont turn on.