My TS V6 wagon (230,000km) has been costing me a bit of late. New tie rod, new exhaust system and now the left drive shaft has shat itself. The motor still runs well...a bit of valve clatter on start up but otherwise smooth and responsive. She's been a faithful beast...going to the shops and ferrying doggy. Doing things I wouldn't do in my TJ.

Now that she's starting to cost me money I'm wondering if this is the start of constant mechanical repairs as she reaches the end of her working life. I've had an offer of a 2003 Verada with only 75,000km on the clock. The thing is like new.

What do you reckon...keep fixing the wagon (which has no airbag and no ABS) or go with the more modern 04 Verada? Cost would be ~ 8 grand.

fix the wagon park it in storage for 25 or more years ..... by then it will be a classic

buy the rada get a doggy blanket for the back seat (and restraining harness... new law)

whats an 04 rada worth today

So how many cars do you have now? TS and TJ, and you want to add a TL to the fleet?

Actually, that's what I did. Had a TS V6 wagon, TJ sedan and a TL wagon at one stage. Tarted up the TS a bit and sold it for a princely sum of $500. Sad to see it go, but can't drive 3 cars at once, can I? lol Haven't needed to do any mechanical work on the TJ or TL for a while, whereas the TS was needing constant attention. It was at about 225,000 km strangely enough, similar to yours.

So how many cars do you have now? TS and TJ, and you want to add a TL to the fleet?

Actually, that's what I did. Had a TS V6 wagon, TJ sedan and a TL wagon at one stage. Tarted up the TS a bit and sold it for a princely sum of $500. Sad to see it go, but can't drive 3 cars at once, can I? lol Haven't needed to do any mechanical work on the TJ or TL for a while, whereas the TS was needing constant attention. It was at about 225,000 km strangely enough, similar to yours.


No...I want to trade the TS in (they'll probably give me $500 for her, even though she has a new exhaust and new tyres) and buy the TL (?) Verada. It's in very good nick. I'd probably only have to do the timing belt on the thing.

A mate phoned me tonight and told me off. He reckons the old wagon still has plenty of life left in it and that a new driveshaft (fitted for $125) will see her soldier on for some time more. I dunno. What will be next to go? The other shaft? The transmission? I'm having a bit of a war with myself as to what to do. 7 grand buys a lot of repairs...on the other hand the TL has airbags everywhere and ABS, which the wagon doesn't.

The saddest thing is that the wagon still drives so smoothly and although it's not as powerful as my TJ it still gives a good accounting of itself.

Oh man...what to do...what to do! :happy:

My feeling is you want to go for the newer. At 8 g might be expensive.
I bought a TW 2005 magna, new windscreen, 12 months rego, tyres OK but just ok, at 5g.
Car done 185000 and on gas. Pretty much in mint condition. Owner swapped out for a 380.
A dream to drive.
Will need tensioner, timing belt and maybe some lifters at 200,000K. say 1g.
Bought two new tyres @$200 and need two new rears but not just yet.
In all, VERY good value.
From one old fart to another!

Maybe we should start an ol' farts sub division on AMC? lol

Just trade the TS, and knock the price down based on no-service-records/ needs timing belt done / missing second key/ dead remote/ bad or out of date tyres / aircon needs regassing. (delete whichever doesn't apply.)

$2K discount on that price should do nicely.

I got a $1K discount on my TL from the car yard because I told them I didn't want their warranty. Had to sign a stat. dec. with a JP.
Haven't regretted doing that - worth a thought.

Thanks to all who replied. An "old farts" section would be good!

I am still anguishing about this. My mechanic (an honest bloke) reckons the old wagon still has plenty of life in her and he thinks I should keep it. Me, on the other hand after seeing details of that terrible accident in Oakleigh yesterday, am very concerned about not having any airbags. As I wrote above, the Verada has 'em everywhere...plus ABS and traction control. As usual...I'm frozen with indecision!

Jeeze the Verada looks nice though...that deep metallic dark green and all with the big 16" factory alloys. Sigh!!!

Mate any car that was designed nearly 20 years ago will not come off as well as a car built today, the new car will take a lot more impact to protect its occupants. Ppl here harp on about this ANCAP crap etc etc forgetting that both the second gen and then the 380 were given awards at the time of being Safest large australian built car. Compared to today of course not but then again compare the 1990's to today we all have come a long way.

Not sure about what accident you are talking about but the best driver safety is you behind the wheel being aware of what is going on around you. No one can guarantee what the idiot in the other car will do but if your time is up it is up. Air bags in bad accidents can save but believe me in not so bad accidents can cause more injury than the accident itself, burns and in some who drive too close to the wheel can even kill them

Let me ask you this, IF you get rid of the TS and then get something else, what will you get AND how much more than the TS will that car cost you fixing up all the bits that annoy you as well as general maintenance. I bet if I looked at your TS I could easily find many things which have been missed on that car but do these things make it unsafe, probably not. Get your new car and same story happens thus you are back where you started.

The only thing "wrong' with the TS is the left driveshaft which my mechanic friend is going to replace for $120 all up, including changing the trans fluid. It hasn't failed yet but it's a bit noisy and the boot is weeping oil. Everything else is AOK. Top end rattles on start a bit...put Molly lifter cleaner in the oil and it went away. There's an occasional sharp snitch sound when I start the aircon but it's momentary and goes away. The motor is fine. The mechanic pulled out a couple of plugs to inspect the gap colour and he reckons the motor is running clean. Brakes recently machined..new pads. New tyres and new exhaust. I've retro fitted remote central locking and put in a good stereo. The carrying tray has a cargo barrier (great for the pooch who always wants to try and sit next to me in any car we get into!). Body is straight with no rust. Odo= 212,000km.

The dealer will changeover with my wagon and I'd have to pay $7500. It's done 75,000km. Body and general interior presentation immaculate.

My brother keeps saying seven grand buys a lot of repairs and that having a wagon for use as a shopping trolley is better than having a sedan that you know nothing about...that may have problems that can't be seen...etc... The mechanic reckons that I might be going from one problematic situation to another.

My heart tells me to buy the Verada. My head is telling that I should keep what I've got. You are right about primary safety being most important...I've driven since '78 without so much as a parking ticket and no major accidents...thank God.

Do what your heart says and read madmaxs post #6.

you wont regret the new one and dwelling on it wont help..
did the same 9 years ago selling my old TS and into mine..but I didn't have these guys on this forum to make decisions easier(some are grey haired anyway) so grey haired section not necessary.

I tell ya...I'm sorely tempted but $7500 changeover is a bit stiff for an eleven year old car, despite the low kays. My brain keeps saying "better the devil you know"...but that Verada is one handsome car!

Vrada/art...yep..."dwelling on it" is right!

Eight grand can buy a decent, good mileage 380 if you shop around.

If you're set on it, I suppose the good thing about that vintage Verada over the Magnas, spec level aside, is that you won't have the annoying window switch issue as the switches are door mounted.

All in favor of the "old farts" section. A few rules: All caps to be worn with the brims facing FORWARDS, no stereos that can be heard outside the car, no FM radio, and no fog lights UNLESS THERE IS FOG!!
Personally (as the owner -for 16 years- of a KS Verada wagon), I'd spend what I had to on the TS to keep it alive and look out for a low km "granny" series 2 wagon with airbag, ABS, cruise etc. (they come up now and then).
Simple, reliable, (did someone with a series 3 say "wave spring"?) and you can transfer all the new bits from your TS. You can't beat a wagon for carting a dog, either. KSD

All in favor of the "old farts" section. A few rules: All caps to be worn with the brims facing FORWARDS, no stereos that can be heard outside the car, no FM radio, and no fog lights UNLESS THERE IS FOG!!
Personally (as the owner -for 16 years- of a KS Verada wagon), I'd spend what I had to on the TS to keep it alive and look out for a low km "granny" series 2 wagon with airbag, ABS, cruise etc. (they come up now and then).
Simple, reliable, (did someone with a series 3 say "wave spring"?) and you can transfer all the new bits from your TS. You can't beat a wagon for carting a dog, either. KSD

I tell ya...I'm sorely tempted but $7500 changeover is a bit stiff for an eleven year old car, despite the low kays. My brain keeps saying "better the devil you know"...but that Verada is one handsome car!

Vrada/art...yep..."dwelling on it" is right!

Did you make any decisions?
From my own experience, I regretted selling my first TR, they drive nice and have a good shape about them. I then had a TF and regret selling it also.
I now have a TR and a TJ both of which I like equally in different ways, and now I can't part from either of them. I have 3 cars now including a V8 Commodore, the rego is a bit expensive and the Magnas don't get driven much these days but I can't take them off the road, I enjoy driving them both. They're not worth much now so if I did sell either then chances are they wouldn't go to a loving home so I'll keep them. If you can afford to keep the TS and get the 03 Verada, both exceptional cars and worth keeping IMHO.

Did you make any decisions?
From my own experience, I regretted selling my first TR, they drive nice and have a good shape about them. I then had a TF and regret selling it also.
I now have a TR and a TJ both of which I like equally in different ways, and now I can't part from either of them. I have 3 cars now including a V8 Commodore, the rego is a bit expensive and the Magnas don't get driven much these days but I can't take them off the road, I enjoy driving them both. They're not worth much now so if I did sell either then chances are they wouldn't go to a loving home so I'll keep them. If you can afford to keep the TS and get the 03 Verada, both exceptional cars and worth keeping IMHO.


Nah...still have the TS wagon. The dealer tried to pull a swifty and add extra charges to the changeover price he said was "firm" on the phone. I even went as far as getting the entire purchase amount out of the bank in cash (almost made myself broke!) but the bugger still played his little trick so he lost me completely. In many ways I'm glad...the dough went back into the bank (thank God!) and doggy kept her favorite ride. The wagon is still chugging okay...motor idles beautifully once warmed up and pulls like a Fordson tractor when it has to. The only trouble I have with her is an uneven + shaky idle at startup that usually disappears after a minute of warming up. Tranny is still okay, brakes all good (all redone recently), body is fine with no rust and she rides very smoothly. It's just a pity she has no ABS or airbags but then I suppose we drove for years without that stuff. We drove defensively and carefully...that's how I was taught to drive and it has served me well over the years.

My TJ is also a great ride...still hardly any kays on her and she delights every time I turn her over for a spin. Magnas...the most underrated cars ever made in Australia. They piddled all over the equivalent Fords and Holdens and were hobbled by bad press. Very sad.

Yep, underrated cars.
Dealer thought you were a mug who had already decided you wanted the car no matter what, and tried to up his profit margin. His loss, the car was overpriced to start with.

Yep, underrated cars.
Dealer thought you were a mug who had already decided you wanted the car no matter what, and tried to up his profit margin. His loss, the car was overpriced to start with.

Yep...he was a sneaky bloke who thought he had me by the the short and curlies. You should have seen his eyes almost pop out when I took the envelope full of hundred dollar notes out of my jacket and said,
"See this mate? There's seven and a half grand in hundreds in this envelope and you won't be getting even one of them!" Poor bugger almost had a fit! And did he try to backpedal...oh man! Too late...his antics made me suspicious of the whole deal and the low kays on the car.