HI, I'm new to the forum and considering getting back into a Magna as a family car after a short run with Ford. I have an opportunity to buy an 03 TL-VR wagon in a private sale but as there are so few listed in the classifieds and car sales websites I don't know what they are going for.

This car has done 107,000km, has a few chips and bumper scrapes but the owner is only asking $12,500 as he wants a quick sale and cannot be bothered going through the whole private sale process (he works for a car yard and offered me his when they didn't have any commodores in my price range)

I'm pretty sure this is a good price even though it is in "average condition". Do others agree?

I have read a few reviews on this model and I am feeling that "new car" excitement as they say very positive things. Just hope he doesn't change his mind!

sounds like a very good price. the vr wagon has the 163kw VR-X engine with 5spd tiptronic in it too.

make sure it has had its 100k service (timing belt and all that other ****) done as that could set you back a good $1000+. i'd say its that price as 107k's seems a little high for a 3yearold car, but it will last atleast another 200k before any major work will need to be done, i'd say go for it.

This si what redbook.com.au has to say about it

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2003 MITSUBISHI MAGNA

TL VR Wagon 4dr SA 5sp 3.5i
Prices based on km 45,000 - 75,000
Trade in price guide* $12,400 - $14,000
National average price - private sale* $15,200 - $18,000
Price when new (RRP) $42,290
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car dealers have some good stories mate. get it checked by the relevant people in your state. ie. racq racv or nrma or whatever it is. cost you about $70 i think if you can take it to them and it could save you thousands.

there was a poor guy on here the other week that got stung and is very very unhappy with his purchase. get it checked mechanically and all the rest then shoot him a stupid number and haggle a bit. could land yourself a bargain.

good luck mate

but the owner is only asking $12,500 as he wants a quick sale and cannot be bothered going through the whole private sale process (he works for a car yard and offered me his when they didn't have any commodores in my price range)


Hi and welcome.

Can't be bothered going through the private sale process? And what would he be doing with you?

Selling it privately!!!!

This sounds VERY dodgy. What would his boss say if he knew the staff we offering their private cars to customers?

107000 is a lot of k's for an '03. i have a 98 verada Xi with only 95000 on it. only paid $10000 for it too. something to think about

Its an absolute bargain if the car is truly ok...

I agree with all of the above....:D

107000 is a lot of k's for an '03. i have a 98 verada Xi with only 95000 on it. only paid $10000 for it too. something to think about
Really?? Who does less than 35000 kms a year? I thought that was freakish?

I don't know. My cars usually do around 80000 per year, but they'd be good to buy, because they're always serviced well and run 98% on the highway / freeway.

My old Grand dad was was a very well known mechanic an owner of Wynn Motors in Nambour. He always said; "you can always pick a sucker. He's the one that comes in and looks a the speedo, before anything else".

mmm.... someone in Nambour said something.... must be gospil lol :P

we do about 12,000k's per year... of that probably 2-3000 is just from cruises.

i think you'll find that there are more people who do <35000k's than people who do more!

Thanks for the comments, most appreciated.

I will be getting a REVS check and a full pre-purchase check by my local mechanic (whom I have a good relationship with and trust) before any money hits the counter.

Has a complete service history and he has only had it for a short while and needs the cash. It was likely a reps car based in Sydney. Good point about the 100,000km service, I will have to check.

I think the price reflects the milage. If it had lower km's he would definitely be asking for more. I have put a lower offer on the table but as he pointed out, he should be able to get at least $12,500 if he advertised it so would not go lower. I figure based on the Redbook price it is probably worth ~$14,000 given its Km and condition.

Average kms is usually based off 20k kms per year.
It does have high kms for it's age, but if it's been looked after, could be a winner. Does sound abit dodgy that a car salesman is selling you his privately owned vehicle.

Put it this way. I saw 2 VR wagons in mits dealerships about 3 months ago with very low kms (less than 20,000km) one was 26990, and the other was $25990. These cars were dearer than the VRX sedan when new, and very hard to find 2nd hand.

The price you have quoted is unbelieveably cheap, even with the kms!

mmm.... someone in Nambour said something.... must be gospil lol :P

we do about 12,000k's per year... of that probably 2-3000 is just from cruises.

i think you'll find that there are more people who do <35000k's than people who do more!

I think you would prob find it depends on where the car resides, its nothing out here to clock up 50plus a year, 98% of that being Highway driving. Just to go on a simple weekender will add 1000-1500klms.

I do about 15000 a year in mine, but I also have a company car of which is used for 95% of my driving... I just changed into a new car after the old one clocked up 168000 in the year... btw my c/car is a ute, thats why I still have the Magna and apart from the fact I love driving her when I can :D

sounds like a good deal to me:)

If a car does 30-40kms or more a year, what are the probability that most of it is done in the city or hwy? is it possible to do 40kms a yr doing deliveries in metro? (for those couriers :D )

im asking this because i'll probably be in the market for a high kms TJ soon. now i wouldnt mind if 150-200kms are mostly covered on the hwy, what im afraid of is getting something thats being used as metro courier :)

If a car does 30-40kms or more a year, what are the probability that most of it is done in the city or hwy? is it possible to do 40kms a yr doing deliveries in metro? (for those couriers :D )

im asking this because i'll probably be in the market for a high kms TJ soon. now i wouldnt mind if 150-200kms are mostly covered on the hwy, what im afraid of is getting something thats being used as metro courier :)
It is quite possible. I've just started a job that requires a lot of driving and it's mostly surburban/city type stuff. We're averaging around 200kms per day and up to 600 on a busy day. So that's up to say, 1500kms per week on a 50 week year is 75000kms. Having said that tho, if the car is kept in good nic and has a service history then it should be ok. We use a Holden Combo and a little Daihatsu Charade and they get treated like absolute rubbish.

Mate I have a 2001/2002 TJ Sportswagon and it has 60,000k on the clock, I think the TL VR replaced it.
Mine goes unbelievably well, really one of the best cars I ve owned and the body kit looks pretty good.
I was toying with the idea of trading it in, but the local dealers in Sydney I spoke to have no idea what it is so I have had prices from $5000-$13000 as a trade.
I'm like you and looked around, but there are none for sale, so its hard to get a guide.
I reckon they guy in the car yard is in the same boat.
Unless you know what they are they are just a "magna wagon".
I am hanging on to mine as I reckon it is worth more than what they offer and I cannot find anything with the same spec for a comparative price to what I paid 5 years ago.

If a car does 30-40kms or more a year, what are the probability that most of it is done in the city or hwy? is it possible to do 40kms a yr doing deliveries in metro? (for those couriers :D )

im asking this because i'll probably be in the market for a high kms TJ soon. now i wouldnt mind if 150-200kms are mostly covered on the hwy, what im afraid of is getting something thats being used as metro courier :)

I've done 100,000 kms in 17 months as a courier... without the car missing a beat.

I have just been told that the gear box is now playing up :shock:

He is not sure what to do now and was expecting me to drop the purchase. However for $12,500 I expect I could replace the gear box and still be ahead financially. Anybody know how much they are to replace? He intends to have it checked by a Mitsubishi service dept. One option is to ask him to drop the price by 1/2 the cost of the repairs. That way I still get a good deal and he is not tempted to do the repairs and then sell the car for a higher price to cover the cost, which I expect he would get.

Should I be concerned that if there is a problem with the gear box there may be other potential problems which may or may not be identified by a pre-purchase inspection?

Bugger - I really wanted this to go smoothly! :confused:

depends on whats really wrong with the gearbox
news would cost somewhere between $2000 - $3000 fitted
it might just need a gearbox flush
is the car still under warranty?
might be able to get it fixed under warranty, well it really depends on whats wrong with it
hope it all gets sorted out for ya :D