| Author |
Message |
Dan McColl
Goo Roo
Victoria
Active V8 and a Factory Manual XF.
Posts: 1963
Reg: 07-2005
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My little sister is convinced she wants a TF or TJ Magna for her first car ('96ish onwards I think).
I don't know anything about them so I was wondering if anyone knows anything about them, what problems they have and when, and what to look out for. |
Leon Wright
TryHard
WA
V8 UZZ31
Posts: 491
Reg: 08-2006
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If close to the 100,000k service be careful either make sure it's been done or get it done. Timing belts have a habit of snapping. Also the plugs on one side of the motor a royal c%&t to change, have to pull the whole intake manifold off!! Best part of a grand to pay a mechanic to do it. |
Dan McColl
Goo Roo
Victoria
Active V8 and a Factory Manual XF.
Posts: 1964
Reg: 07-2005
|
Good info, Cheers.  |
Graham Dollisson
Goo Roo
QLD
GTTL , Morris Marina, P76 V8 Super
Posts: 1144
Reg: 07-2005
|
My father had a 2000, 2001 and 2003 model. All great cars. He had nothing but glowing reports about them. The 6's are very economical for highway work. Another guy at work had a 97 model and was always saying how he never spent anything more than normal servicing costs and it had reasonably high mileage on it.
I'd own one!! 
But, like Soarers.....you have to buy them on condition. Get it checked. |
Maurice Diggler
DieHard
Victoria
Twin Turbo
Posts: 988
Reg: 06-2006
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Leon Wright wrote on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 04:44 pm:lso the plugs on one side of the motor a royal c%&t to change, have to pull the whole intake manifold off!! Best part of a grand to pay a mechanic to do it.
This is true, although seeing as you are such a nice brother, you would do all the servicing for her?  |
Hayden Miller
TryHard
QLD
Soarer TT
Posts: 208
Reg: 02-2006
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My old man had a 94 wagon and put nearly 300,000k's on it, never skipped a beat. Had a few minor issues along the way like any old car but it was great... real smooth to drive. |
Thads Cooke
TryHard
Auckland
Twin Turbo Aristo jzs147
Posts: 146
Reg: 07-2005
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The rear plugs are a pain to change but $1000 to get them done? The manifold does have to come off (actually the top half), but having done several of them, theres only an extra 1.5 or maybe 2 hours labour, plus $200 worth of platinum plugs involved.....
If she has to have a FWD V6 family car then Id prefer a maxima (a33 or J31) or a camry, although Ive got nothing specific against the Magna. |
Leon Wright
TryHard
WA
V8 UZZ31
Posts: 492
Reg: 08-2006
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Nah the 100,000k service in it's entirety, and I said the best part of a grand. |
Greg Nikitiuk
DieHard
Vic
Celsior
Posts: 875
Reg: 07-2005
|
I have 96 TE exec 3ltr.
Done 210000 with hardly any fuss.
I think they are most under rated cars on the market.
I'm happy with mine and considering what they are selling for....they are a bargain.
check the australian magna club for some good info
http://www.aussiemagna.com/ |
Greg Nikitiuk
DieHard
Vic
Celsior
Posts: 876
Reg: 07-2005
|
Also Dan, at Fowles auctions 3 year old TJs with service history and less then 60000km go for approx $8K |
Dan McColl
Goo Roo
Victoria
Active V8 and a Factory Manual XF.
Posts: 1965
Reg: 07-2005
|
All good info, Thanks guys.
My sister has about 6.5-7K all up to spend, so we'll see what we can find. Doesn't need it for a couple of months, but we'll keep an eye out if the right one comes up in the mean time. |
Damian Ware
TryHard
Victoria
UZZ32
Posts: 435
Reg: 10-2005
|
Dan can I strongly suggest you stay away from this car mate.
If this is what she wants buy here a camry they are a 1000 times better car. Granted they have an additional purchase cost but you will more than make up for in the first 6 months of owning it.
I cant recommend camrys enough they are one of the best cars ever built except for the one with the huge arse (too heavy and the feel really underpowered). Just make sure you get the V6 you can pick up a good 1998 for about 7 to 8k.
If you really want the magna look out for everything, motor being the main thing.
Nissans are also pritty good, bit more sporty than a camry but they do brake the odd thing here and there. Just don't feel as solid as the camrys from my experience, just like a pulsar to corolla comparison. |
Justin Hughes
Goo Roo
VIC
2.5 GT-T JZZ-30 212rwkw @ 15 psi
Posts: 1201
Reg: 07-2005
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They're Front Wheel Drive too aren't they ??? - YUKKK !!!!!!!! |
Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8
Posts: 6984
Reg: 11-2004
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Yes, but she may not be buying it to smoke out burger joints |
Justin Hughes
Goo Roo
VIC
2.5 GT-T JZZ-30 212rwkw @ 15 psi
Posts: 1203
Reg: 07-2005
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Peter Nitschke
JunkFilterer
South Australia
GT4.0 V8
Posts: 6985
Reg: 11-2004
|
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Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31
Posts: 2073
Reg: 10-2005
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I can only go on reports from friends - I have one engine reconditioner mate who won't touch any Mistsi with a ten foot pole because he hates their engines and thinks of all Japanese cars they have the poorest engineering, and several mates who have owned V3000's and Magnas who have had long strings of problems with them - mostly because they didn't know what to look for when buying a used car, in my opinion - but they clearly don't stand abuse as well as a Toyota or Nissan. |
Perry Morgan
Goo Roo
Qld
UZZ32 ( V8 )
Posts: 1559
Reg: 07-2005
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We had a mid 90's magna given to us. Owned by my grandparents. EVERYTHING went wrong with it. They all seem to smoke too. Cv joints, valve stem seals, welsh plugs, water pump and on and on and on. I think it barely cracked the 100 000 before we just had to get rid of it. But it had heaps of go and was soo smooth. I too would look at the camrys. Great cars. |
Jose-Antonio Castillo
Goo Roo
NSW
Soarer VVTi
Posts: 1115
Reg: 07-2005
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If she's going to insist on looking for a Magna might as well tell her to keep an eye out for a Verada, they should be similar in price (given that they are a couple of years old now) and feel a lot nicer than the normal whitefridge version. |
Daniel Clarke
Goo Roo
NSW
TT 2.5L 6 cylinder
Posts: 1296
Reg: 03-2006
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My Dad owns a 2001 Magna. Been going Great too. Funny though, he always gave Magnas CRAP since they came out, and now he owns one. 180,000km's and still going like new (surprisingly)
Oh and the whole $1,000 to change plugs? My best mate owns a workshop and changed my dads plugs in his Magna( Plenum removed and refitted) in less than 1 hour.
It is recommended to run Platinum PLugs in the Rear Bank so you wont have to change them so often. And run Normal coppers in the front 3, as they are so easy to change. |
Adam Peterson
DieHard
Western Australia
V8
Posts: 530
Reg: 04-2006
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Dont Magnas have Astron engines - the same used in LG and Kelvinator fridges ? |
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31
Posts: 2077
Reg: 10-2005
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Daniel Clarke wrote on Monday, February 12, 2007 - 11:07 am:It is recommended to run Platinum PLugs in the Rear Bank so you wont have to change them so often. And run Normal coppers in the front 3, as they are so easy to change.
Wouldn't that lead to unbalanced ignition? Even if the copper and platinum plugs are both in the same heat range they will still have different ignition properties. |
Leon Wright
TryHard
WA
V8 UZZ31
Posts: 494
Reg: 08-2006
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Depends on the cash flow situation, they run relatively well even with the different plugs. Not Ideal obviously though.
Daniel Clarke wrote on Monday, February 12, 2007 - 11:07 am:Oh and the whole $1,000 to change plugs?
Read my post! 
Leon Wright wrote on Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 08:48 pm:Nah the 100,000k service in it's entirety, and I said the best part of a grand.
I said best part of $1000 ($700 or more) to do a full 100,000k service. Includes timing belts, plugs and all those other goodies that you should replace on that kind of service. Dependent on who you get to do the work. It is an ass of a job, one of my mechanic mates left the Mitsubishi dealership because he was sick of doing them 
The cost may be lower then what I stated, but it's best to overshoot a little as who knows whats been done on the vehicle prior to purchase, so best have more cash available then really needed. |
Leon Wright
TryHard
WA
V8 UZZ31
Posts: 495
Reg: 08-2006
|
Oh yeah, my parents have had quite a few magna's over the years, brilliant cars! Go like the shower's never had any problems. I know a lot of people that have them and wouldn't hesitate recommending them. I'm a toyota man myself and you can't beat toyota reliability, but a well looked after Mitsubishi is nothing to be shy about. |
Craig Webber
DieHard
Vic
TT
Posts: 531
Reg: 07-2005
|
Ok we have a 93 verda wagon 3,0ltr.
Coming up to 300,000 Ks ,it's been from one end of Australia to the other, and not one problem.
It just keep going, smooth to ride in handles well for a wagon, better then some might think given some commder,ford wanker's a run for there money through some tight coners.So as long as it been looked after by past owers it should be ok.Just like most cars. |
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