Greetings people.

After 5 (mostly) happy and wonderful years in my KS Ei, the time has come, with over 300,000kms, to put her out to pasture.:cry:

I've been looking at a few options, but I've came across a couple of nice looking KH 'Rada's. One is a 1999 Xi model with 148,000kms, in burra (?) duco with the beige leather interior. Private seller, asking price $11k, looks sweet as!:D (yet to see it in the metal though - don't have pics yet)

I'd like to hear from some of you with experience on these cars or similar, whether there's anything specific I should look for, your experiences with it etc. I believe it's an identical mechanical package to the KE/KF series(?).

Your advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

Matthew

I own two such cars, KF models, I am very happy with them, since I have not had any major problems with them at all. One has done only 33,000, as it sits in my Garage most of the time, and only driven on special occasions, my other has done 145,000K. I can honestly say, that the well used one has only had the occasional minor problem, easily fixed by dealer. For something thats done over 150,000, you may wish to check most of the electrical items are in working order, i.e. central door locking, automatic windows (may slow down with age), power aerial, etc.. Also check the LCD screen on the radio is working, as some of them are known to not display properly.

For a private sale, I think 11,000 is a little ambitious, but perhaps it is in very good condition.

Thanks GTVi. My main concern about this one was indeed the kms : price ratio. 148k isn't too bad for a '99 model, but given I average around 30,000kms/year I'll be over the 200 within 2 years.

I'm going to have a look at it tomorrow hopefully, have a thorough check through it, see what it's like.

My mother drives a TH Advance, and at just 150,000kms she recently had to replace her CV joints, got quite bad. Given the conservative nature she drives it, I would have thought that to be a bit premature? :confused: My KS took til about 250-odd for CV joints to go nuts.

Hey mate.

My KH wagon is now getting to 130,000k's and it still runs like new literally.
The gear changes are still silky smooth.
Havent had to spend any money on it other than the timing belt service and a water pump of my own choice at the same time as belt as it is in the same area anyway. Thats not dear anyway.
Yeah, as GTVi said, i have heard radio display backlight sometimes goes but havent had it in mine and also, the climate control back lights are known for flickering or going out sometimes so try them both with your head lights on and off to make sure the night time back lights work.

I perfer my KH wagon over my wifes KJ AWD and that says something.
I'm not sure if they changed the type of leather in the models between KH and KJ but i can remember looking at a KF or KH i think it was(not to sure) and the leather was the cheepest nastiest leather i have seen. Looked like vynal out of a cab. The wifes KJ has deninately got a nicer leather in it.
And as for the beige interior, thats what we have in our KJ AWD and i actually perfer it over the grey because almost every manga/verada and all other cars are grey inside these days so it is nice to have something different. Just lightens the interior up a lot. Black dask top instead of grey also looks nice.

JUst have a look at it, and take it for a drive. You will soon know if it is nice. If it feels sloppy and rough then walk away but if it is nice and tight and smooth through the gears and idle is good then it should be fine. Always get a RACV or eq check done on it though.
AS for pirce, seems a little hight but i guess you dont mind paying for a good example of a car. Oh yeah, make sure you find out if it has had timning belt done.

I bought my Nov.1998 KF Verada XI with 96,000 kms from a dealer for under $13,000 and I'm very, very happy with it. It has a full dealer service record and the timing belt was changed at 90,000kms. It drives heaps better than my previous 1996 Falcon Futura and much more luxuriously appointed. It comes with 3 years extended warranty (no extra cost) and 12 months free RACV membership.

i bought a 2000 KH (first registered in 2000) for 8k (through a family friend so it was cheaper). has a lot of extras too.

i've owned 2 and i am happy as with my current rada. i had it up for sale on here not long ago but i've decided to keep it because it's just a good car. only thing i would change would be the suspension but that's something all magna's need. highway cruising is great and there is plent of room up front. surprisingly rear leg room is a bit shady for taller people but it has massive boot space for subs and all that sort of business. just great cars.

Having lived with your desired beast for the past few years, you can't really go wrong. The only thing that sucks is now I can't go back....I won't settle for another car that doesn't have cruise, climate, leather, sunroof, and other buttons that i have no fricken clue what they do :)

Seriously they're good cars. Don't get any ideas about performance tho. They way about 100kg more than a normal magna and the auto just kills it.

Mines done about 135k km and never really had any problems. It's service regularly and well looked after. Just watch out when you by them, the leather on the drivers seat, particularly on the the side of the seat that u scrape getting in and out of the car tends to rough up. If yours doesn't have that, then ur doing well. Also a lot of examples I looked at, the rear arm rests were worn with the arm rest going a blackish colour.

PS I'm selling mine soon if ur interested ;)

i have a mate who is getting rid of his kh xi that has been updated to kj with all options only thing its up near 200000klm mark but has never had any problems and runs like a dream but from my own experience these motors run way beyond 350000klms if they are serviced regularly and he is only looking for $7000 has 12mnth rego too.
its been shown here plenty he is sirhkxi.

I currently have a KH Verada Xi. I also have had a previous TE Magna. The Verada in comparison to the magnas felt tighter, solider and had no contest to luxury. The main option to go for is the Xi as it had all the extras that people will want. Also in my opinion i like the front and rear treatments of the KH better than the newer ones. The Ei missed out on lots more than the leather and sunroof.