Hi Everyone

Looking to buy a Pewter 2001 Magna TJ Executive - 66,000km on the clock, one previous owner with full service history (Ex-Government.)

The dealer says he'll take $13,000 (Advertised for $14,990) excluding on-road costs. The car has the odd scratch. On the inside on the rear door at the bottom is a scratch (not deep) just at surface which is starting to rust. How much would it cost to remove the paint rust? Also their is a stain on the floor of the rear seat - the dealer reckons the car had just been detailed. It smelled like it had - although my girlfriend thinks it smelled like it was damp. Anyway I'm getting a VACC report done on it - so I guess that will bear all....

So what to you guys think - good deal considering I might have to wear the cost of removing that scratch rust? (Dealer says they couldn't pay for it, if they're dropping the car price to $13,000...)

i'd offer him 12 and see what he says. The price is probably reasonable but screw him down as much as possible on price, cos he sure will be screwing you as much as you let him get away with.

They have now told me they'll remove the surface rust at no additional cost. (They will strip of a layer and touch up..) And the stain is there because they haven't properly cleaned the car yet. I though detailing involved cleaning the car? Maybe not...

I tried to get him to 12,000. He wouldn't have it. He "ran those numbers passed the boss" and the boss said no - then I said don't worry about it and he was ready to let me walk away at that point so we agreed on 13,000.

They have now told me they'll remove the surface rust at no additional cost. (They will strip of a layer and touch up..) And the stain is there because they haven't properly cleaned the car yet. I though detailing involved cleaning the car? Maybe not...

I tried to get him to 12,000. He wouldn't have it. He "ran those numbers passed the boss" and the boss said no - then I said don't worry about it and he was ready to let me walk away at that point so we agreed on 13,000.

they always appear to be ready to let you walk away, untill you actually do. And then if they actually do let you walk away, just come back in a few days and ask for the bloke you where dealing with and say "so you ready to accept 12 yet"

they dont like their cars sitting in the yards too long. You have to know their tactics. And anyway, if you walk away and he does manage to sell the car, their are plenty more of em out their!!

If your after a TJ, you could easily find one at a government auction, it will have around the same, if not less k's on it, it shouldnt be too hard to find one in good nick, it will have full service history, and you will probably get one for less then 13 too

they probaly got that car from the auction for $8,000 to $9,000

Problem is I know sweet FA about cars really and I hear if you buy one at an auction you can't get any pre inspection done and I'd be really worried to take one home not knowing if it might have any serious issues.....

See if you can find a TJ that is a 20th anniversary Edition like mine is (Don't know if Execs are ioncluded though) as they have a 5 year Factory bumper to bumper Warranty. So if something major is wrong with it you are fairly well covered. The stain on the rear seat is suss, also when they said theyed fix the scratch all they'll do is put a paint pen over it. it'll cost you a spray job on the whole dooor to get it fixed and matched properly.

In fact, why not just wait a while? The new shape Mitsubishi Magna replacement will soon be here and TJ prices should plummet enough for you to afford a similar priced car but with electrics, Cruise etc (you haven't said what that car is specced as).

There's a Magna matching your description for sale here at 13000.00. About the same kms with manual windows and no cruise. Prob a 3.0 too (didn;t notice a 3.5 badge ). They're price fixing. :)

It's a 3.5, got cruise control, manual windows, 4 speed auto, ABS etc

Build date is Nov '01 so actually it's only a little over 3 yrs old.

The rust scratch isnt actually on the door - it's on the part that the door connects to when it is closed below the door latch.

How much would it cost to get that sanded down and re-sprayed. I don't really mind if it dosen't 100% match at this stage - I'm more concerned that it get properly fixed so it dosen't become structual rust.

I would like to wait awhile - however I need to obtain a vehicle for my new job. So I need one ready to go in less than a month now.

Hey how much you want to spend, Have a really clean TJ Sports, 17 inch Ralli//art enki's, full service history, $1,000 Eclipse Deck in it. Full Suspension set up, Springs, Strut's Heavy Duty Sway Bars front and rear, camber pins and Strut brace, Climate control, Twin airbags...68,000ks Looking for about $20,000.

I've budgeted for around 15,000

Problem is I know sweet FA about cars really and I hear if you buy one at an auction you can't get any pre inspection done and I'd be really worried to take one home not knowing if it might have any serious issues.....

government fleet cars are always serviced religiously, so the chances of major problems with them are slim. Also you can normally find ones that are under 3 years old, and therefore still have factory warranty, so if anything major is wrong with it, you can get it fixed under warranty. I dont know about other states, but qfleet (thats the queensland governments auctions) go to pretty big lengths to make sure they dont sell anyone a lemon, cos if they do it reflects badly on the government. I had a mate who worked for qfleet for a while, and he said they are pretty good.

Problem is I know sweet FA about cars really and I hear if you buy one at an auction you can't get any pre inspection done and I'd be really worried to take one home not knowing if it might have any serious issues.....
Almost every car sold at Pickles Auctions in Sydney has an NRMA inspection report for you to see.

Having said that i think the car you are looking at is priced pretty well considering the low K's.

Problem is I know sweet FA about cars really and I hear if you buy one at an auction you can't get any pre inspection done and I'd be really worried to take one home not knowing if it might have any serious issues.....

Actually, if you go to Pickles Auctions, they all have NRMA/RACV inspections attached to the cars. If you get there early enough you can go over the car with a fine tooth comb. The only thing you can;t do is test drive them. The reports are very good alerting you to serious mechanical probs, dents, scratches, tyres etc.

Where can I get a fine tooth comb from? (just Kidding.)

Well VACC inspection will be done on it tommorrow so we'll find out all then.

I'll probably use chips away on site service to remove any scratches found. Anyone used them?

getting a car from the govt auctions is pretty safe, and they are selling a car still under factory warranty. Got mine a little under a year ago now 13642 km for $15,800. (SA). The bidding on all magnas on the day started at $14,200 which is initiated by the car dealers or by the govt dept selling them. But you can pick up some good bargains there cos most people there are after bombadores or fords and 4wd's.

Got VACC inspection back - They said the car is in good condition for its age and its distance.

So looks like I'll have my magna by the weekend....

congratulations! Its worth it to pay a average price on a top condition car, then save a few k's for a lemon.

They said the engine and transmission is in top conditions along with breaks and everything else. The only issues are very small the odd scratch - (Which the dealer is going to repair.) and a small stain in the backseat which I deal with later. Now hopefully the finance will approved!