Hi

I've driven Magnas quite a lot as hire cars when travelling interstate for work. Very happy with then as a car, so when the time came to replace my 13 year old commodore - the Magna is my choice.

I tend to keep cars for a long time - maintain them well, look after them, so would appreciate a some advice on some of the thoughts I'm having re this next purchase.

1. There are loads of ES Magnas on the market - 2003/2004 TL series 1 at advertised dealer prices of $15,999 + on roads. Many of these are MMAL, or Mitsubishi owned cars. Couple of questions, all are in good condition with 6 - 9 months factory warranty remaining. Are these likely to be ex rental cars? What would be a good price to pay - i.e. could I expect to get say $1000 of this price? Would these cars be suitable for an LPG conversion (I doubt that I'll find any with N01 on the compliance plate).

2. In one dealer I've seen a couple of dedicated gas cars (TW ES Series II), one is Feb 2005 build 5000kms on the clock. They're asking $24,999 + on roads, think I could get it for $2000 less - does this look like a good price, the reason I'm asking is that they've also got a 2003 ES dedicated gas car on the lot asking $22,999 - which is a whopping $7,000 premium on the price of the petrol equivalent.

3. I would guess that there will be a lot of Magnas coming onto the market over the next 6 - 9 months, if I get one with the 5 / 10 warranty, does that mean that you have to have the car maintained all that time by a Mitsubishi dealer?.

Thanks

Most of the $15,990 ones you'll find are lease/rental cars with 40 to 50k on the clock.

Oh and another note, you wont' get the 5/10 warranty on the 2nd hand car, you'll get the 5 year bumper to bumper, but not the 10 year drivetrain warranty as that only applies to the first/original owner and is not transferrable

<<Oh and another note, you wont' get the 5/10 warranty on the 2nd hand car, you'll get the 5 year bumper to bumper, but not the 10 year drivetrain warranty as that only applies to the first/original owner and is not transferrable>>

Been told that if the original owner was MMAL, then the drivetrain warranty will still apply?

My car was a MMAL Car, onyl got it with 5000k's but the dealer told me i dont get the 10yr warranty. Only the 5 Year warranty. But the warranty book thingy says the 10 year warranty only applies to the vehicles first Retail Owner, in reality that is me isnt it. Because MMAL didnt purchase the vehicle, they made the vehicle and gave it to some fat cat manager to drive.

I think a ring to the head office is needed to clear this up

does that mean that you have to have the car maintained all that time by a Mitsubishi dealer?.

Thanks

You can have your car serviced at any licenced and approved (ie: MTA approved) mechanic to fulfill your warranty requirements. Nowadays, it is illegal for dealers to force you to get it serviced by them, as the ACCC considered it anti-competitive to do so. However, if you get it done by someone other than the dealer, you will have to make sure it is serviced exactl on time every time (or even a little bit before) as sometimes manufacturers get a little picky about warranty claims when it's not done by them.

As for work done in relation to claims, I think that you still have to have that done by mitsi's, but seeing as it's warranty, that shouldn't cost you anyways.

In final stages of negotiation with a dealer for a Feb 04 LS, 48,000kms on the clock for $18,000 drive away including 12 months regio, stamp duty and towbar - what do you think?

Also noticed that the LS has LPG stamped on the engine mounting - does this mean that it already has the hardened valves etc so that there would be no problems in convering to gas in the future.

The compliance plate does not N01 stamped on it (which I though meant it was gas compatible).

Regards

Heya MF, are you in Sydney? I assume $18k is before your trade in is taken into account? If so, $18k for a 2004 LS with 12 months rego is a fairly good deal (from what I've seen).

No that's the cash price, I'm not trading in.

Especially since your paying cash ... what about the auctions? I brought my Magna at auction last week. They had (in Vic) 5-8 Magna's in the age/km's you specify, most looked to be ex rental/lease/govt. Was easy to spot the one's that were rental compared to lease/govt. Going price was ~$13k for a 2 yr old TL S2 exec auto with approx 40K km. Another $1.5K on top of that for fee's, rego, and RWC etc.

I can pick up a TW ES with 12,000 on the clock for $18 grand, but thats with my MMAL Staff discount

I can pick up a TW ES with 12,000 on the clock for $18 grand, but thats with my MMAL Staff discount

Do you think there will be many TW's coming onto the market in the next few months? What I'd really like is a AWD (not necessarily the VR).

Regards

There still are a few going around, Last year was the prime time to buy a TL/TW. I can only speak for MMAL Lease Cars, not the other 40,000k rental/lease cars, coz MMAL Lease cars only do around 10,000 k's.

It's harder to get them from MMAL now because they're holding on to them, Ie, NOt giving staff the option to lease a 380 or buy a 380 with any discount at all. So current workers have been told to drive them longer as they're not offering staff leases on 380's.

I was at my dealer getting a service last week, saw a White AWD TW VR-X, they wanted low 30's for it, twas Brand New

Hi Dan,

A quick question... does MMAL sell these cars directly or do they sell them through dealers? I have noticed some second hand TL/TW Magnas with 15-20k on them. I assume these are the ones that are ex-MMAL?

Hey guys,

There's a dealer in Victoria (Allan Mance) who is still selling brand new TL/TW Magna's for a heavily discounted price. Here's the ad I found on Autopages.com.au:

http://autopages.autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/usedcars/make_Mitsubishi/model_MAGNA/Transmission_Manual/minYear_2004/results_TRUE/ID_2610125/vehicle.html

So being brand new it retains all it's new car warranty (5/10).

This happens to be a manual VR-X but I'm sure they'd have what your after.

The reason I thought I'd mention this is because I have 1 of these (in Zen) waiting for my missus. When our hosue is sold we'll go & pick it up. Can't wait!

Hi Dan,

A quick question... does MMAL sell these cars directly or do they sell them through dealers? I have noticed some second hand TL/TW Magnas with 15-20k on them. I assume these are the ones that are ex-MMAL?

HI, yeah the above magna's would be ex mmal, as they drive them for around 12 months so it all depends on how many kays you can rack up in about a year.

If you want a ex MMal car, you can either get them through a contact at MMAL, what happens is because if you dont work for mitsi they send that car to your nearest dealer and charge you $1000 on top as some dealery delivery handling fee. If you work for MMAL then u just pick it up at the factory and dont pay the extra grand. All ex mmal lease cars are offered to staff and staff members friends to purchase, if no-one wants to purchase that vehicle, after 2 months it gets sent to a huge internal auction to which all dealers around AUS can bid for it

Hi Dan

As you probably know, Mitsu were selling 2nd hand Magnas but calling them 'remanufactured'. Not sure whether they still do but I know that these cars got a host of goodies like new carpet, keys/remote, tyres, battery, factory warranty amongst other things etc. I'm just curious to know why all the new stuff?

Were these ex lease MMAL cars in need of some TLC (thrashed?) before being sold or was it simply a martketing method for MMAL to get rid of them?

Thanks

My understanding was that the "remanufactured" cars were a way for Mitsubishi to boost the resale value of their second hand cars. By making sure the second hand cars were in top condition, it was hoped that it would push up the values of second hand Mitsubishis overall, as buyers would be willing to pay extra if they knew the cars were in good condition. I think, after a while, they decided it was an expensive and largely ineffective marketing exercise.

Dan, sorry to labour the point, but how do you find out about the MMAL cars? Do you have to rely on an insider to tell you what's available at any given time? I'm looking for a TL/TW ES, LS, or maybe even a VR, if the price is right :)

THe re-manafacutred cars you speak of aer usually your ex-lease and rent a cars, IE ORIX lease, avis rent a cars.

I know there's truckloads of these cars with about 40 to 50'000 k's coming back to SA for a little re-manafacturing and getting sold off for $13,500

As for my contacts i've got very close family friends that work there . i only live 2 mins from the Tonsley Pk factory btw.

Looking at my ex MMAL price lists, ES's go for 18k, VR's go for around 21k, and vr-x's go for around $23k, but theres basically no VR's left in sedan format as they were TL only and were mostly all sold around last year, still a few vrx's hanging around, not too much though

Recently bought an ex rental TL ES for $16k with 32000kms. The dealer told me I had the remainder of the three year warranty, but when I checked with MMAL (gave them the VIN #) they said I had the remainder of the 5 year warranty. The 5 year warranty applies to any Magna sold from 1 December 2004. Had an ex rental Holden years ago and it was fine, and with 46 months warranty left on the Magna, I should be OK.

Hi All

Finally settled on a KL VR Auto, ex MMAL with 20,000 kms on the clock, white. In excellent condition white auto with electric sunroof.

Will pick it up from the dealers next week as we are interstate at the weekend, then I'm in Brisbane for a few days - so it's goodbye to the 13 year old Toyota Lexen.

Thanks for all the info.

How much did you pay can i ask?

How much did you pay can i ask?

$22,000 with nearly 2 years warranty remaining - how does that sound pricewise?

I was going to bid at auction on an ex government TL LS AWD with 48000 on the clock, about 12 months warranty left. I reconed it would have cost me about 2500 - 3000 to put it into showroom condition. Only trouble was that I was interstate when the auction was happening. I'd set everything up for a telephone bid - but because of a stuff up I did not get a call when the car went into auction. The car sold for $15,000.

Cheers

that's a good price, especially with a sunroof, i wish mine had a sunroof.

that's a good price, especially with a sunroof, i wish mine had a sunroof.

That's good to know....I dodn't like to feel ripped off, but also everyone has to make a bit along the chain.

The car was originally on the lot at 24999 - then "marked down" to 22999 - was goingto buy one that day so offered 1000 less and got the deal.

Regards

My car was a MMAL Car, onyl got it with 5000k's but the dealer told me i dont get the 10yr warranty. Only the 5 Year warranty. But the warranty book thingy says the 10 year warranty only applies to the vehicles first Retail Owner, in reality that is me isnt it. Because MMAL didnt purchase the vehicle, they made the vehicle and gave it to some fat cat manager to drive.

I think a ring to the head office is needed to clear this up

This would be the same as if the car was a Demo wouldnt it? - i know with an ex-demo it is treated as though you were the first registered owner, and the 5-10 still applies

my car was originally used by MMAL in Adelaide, and was then sold to a person here in Tas, and that person was considered the first owner........like you said - i'd go to the top - MMAL Adelaide will sort it out pretty quick! - i have had good service from them in the past...

Just bought an ex lease TL ES 2004 Magna with 34,000klms, for $18,000 driveaway, including 12 months reg, towbar, bonnet protector and 4 mudflaps, and fees. No mention from dealer about the 5 year warranty - only mentioned the 3. Saw your thread, called MMAL, confirmed that my vehicle is also covered by 5 year warranty. Would not have known about this had I not read your thread. Thanks heaps.
PS. How much would be I looking at spending if I wanted to get a boot light supplied & fitted. There is no boot light in my car, much to my surprise.

They should all have a boot light. At least i think it does

Change the globe, probably dead

Yeah, I just found it.
Globe had blown.
Thanks!:redface:

the day the vehicle is first registered.. meaning.. the first day that car was legally driven on the road with number plates, regardless of it being a manufacturer's demo, or dealer demo.. thats when the warranty first starts!

Hi All

Finally settled on a KL VR Auto, ex MMAL with 20,000 kms on the clock, white. In excellent condition white auto with electric sunroof.

Will pick it up from the dealers next week as we are interstate at the weekend, then I'm in Brisbane for a few days - so it's goodbye to the 13 year old Toyota Lexen.

Thanks for all the info.

Not bad mate, im getting a 2003 VR in white as well, with 17000k's on, but mines a manual... Im payin $21k.... U get a sunroof though ya lucky bugger...lol... Is yours one of the "limited editions" with the ralliart enkei wheels and suspension? Which dealer did ya get it from??

Cheers

Daz

Greetings all.....

My new buy is a 8/2003 TL ES Sedan in white with 77k's

Owned by nuns..!!

Purchased at auction in Perth for $11,400....

Not bad really...

Greetings all.....

My new buy is a 8/2003 TL ES Sedan in white with 77k's

Owned by nuns..!!

Purchased at auction in Perth for $11,400....

Not bad really...
Congrats. But check the date of the last post next time. lol

Congrats. But check the date of the last post next time. lol


be nice....

but everyone knows my deal by now.. (plus it gives me a chance to say it again, because im so happy with it).
2004 TL AWD, with 45000kms on the clock (ex demo/dealer car) wanted $20000, got for $15000 driva-a-way with extended warrenty untill 2012.

be nice....

but everyone knows my deal by now.. (plus it gives me a chance to say it again, because im so happy with it).
2004 TL AWD, with 45000kms on the clock (ex demo/dealer car) wanted $20000, got for $15000 driva-a-way with extended warrenty untill 2012.
Uh, how was I not being nice? Is having a joke being mean these days?

Uh, how was I not being nice? Is having a joke being mean these days?

Dont worrie.. the be nice was being sarcastic

Dont worrie.. the be nice was being sarcastic
Right.

Well yes sure the last post was a few months ago but my post is relevant to the topic.....don't you think??

Greetings all.....

My new buy is a 8/2003 TL ES Sedan in white with 77k's

Owned by nuns..!!

Purchased at auction in Perth for $11,400....

Not bad really...

Check for St Christopher(apparantely patron saint of travellers) pendants around the car. I found one of them in my old TE under the carpet.

Funny you should mention that.......i did find an old floppy disk under the console panel while fitting a bluetooth car kit....

I am a bit scared to look.......:D