Hey Guys
I'm a noob here, currently looking to buy a 1999 TH Altera privately in VIC. Its done 93,000 and comes with a RWC. I'm going to get a RACV check on it also. Its priced at $7000. I was looking for some feedback as to any problems to look for in this particular model and what everyone thought about that price, wasn't sure if it was a bit low in comparison to others I had seen advertised.

Thanks

Mark

seems a good, 'realistic' price, not too low and not too high for the age/mileage.

auto/manual?

not too much to worry about with these, get it warmed up and sit with it idling, see if it idles smooth or not, usual check for rust/leaks, make sure all services have been completed etc etc



oh, and also make sure it doesnt have sports seats/trim/dials etc :doubt:

I too have seen that car on Carsales haha....dark green aye, its a Altera LS too.

Its probably as good a Magna as your gonna get. I only crossed it off my list because I want a manual. Otherwise, K's are very good and if you could talk em down to say $6500 I reckon its a good price, but then I'm no expert so don't base your opinion on me haha.

Edit: Are you in WA or Vic?

Good Find with those K's. The altera was the highest magna trim and at that money is a good buy for the little extra's you get IMO. However i would make sure the car has had its 90,000 servece as it is major. (timing belt i think), but otherwise if it is unmodified it should be good to you.

Thanks for that info guys - Yes I most definatly wanna stay away from anything that has been modified. Spackbace its an auto (I'm hopeless with driving manual) and yes Lugo I'm in Vic why you ask? ta also for the $6500 I'm obviously gunna try and bump them down. The driver has advised me mcs_xi that it has log books so ill def check for the 90,000 service. what is a new timing belt worthy anyway and what other things are done at the 90,000 mark (and if they haven't been done what do they cost?

Cheers

Mark

edit: Any recommended amount of time as a minimum that I should test drive this car for?

Your profile says WA thats all, better fix that haha :P

Can't drive a manual? You just push the left and right pedals all the way down, then let the left one out lol (well theres a "little" bit more to it than that)

Umm basically just check for the 90k service, make sure you get the roadworthy included in whatever the agreed price is and your good to go. Thats my understanding anyway.

timing belt service seems to be around $650-$800, thereabouts (thats the full 100,000k's).. personally wouldnt know, i'm on 80,000k's :cool:

as for the sports trim reference, that was to a chop-shop altera that was found recently ;)

as for the sports trim reference, that was to a chop-shop altera that was found recently ;)

haha the last thing i need is having stolen car parts!

edit: Any recommended amount of time as a minimum that I should test drive this car for?
I dunno, maybe 20mins, half an hour perhaps....give it time to warm up, make sure it doesn't display any problems there. As for driving styles, I know its a bit un-ethical, but I'd give it a little bit of a hard time (not too much though, not your car yet remember) just to see how it copes. (ie. If you put you foot to the floor and it starts squealing somethings wrong).


as for the sports trim reference, that was to a chop-shop altera that was found recently ;)
That wasn't my find was it? We're 99% sure thats a sports with Altera rego anyway haha.

I dunno, maybe 20mins, half an hour perhaps....give it time to warm up, make sure it doesn't display any problems there. As for driving styles, I know its a bit un-ethical, but I'd give it a little bit of a hard time (not too much though, not your car yet remember) just to see how it copes. (ie. If you put you foot to the floor and it starts squealing somethings wrong).




im more than happy to give a car a hard time Lugo, I tend to do a pretty good job of it at the moment haha, i read on some other guys threat he test drove a car for like 3 hours...that seemed a bit over the top to me

whats fuel consumption like with a TH compared to say a VT commodore?

whats fuel consumption like with a TH compared to say a VT commodore?
From my limited knowledge when I looked around at these a while ago, the VT pulls 2-3L per 100km more I "think". All I know is the 3rd gens use less, and have basically the same power output (higher per to weight ratio) so it should feel just as gutsy if your used to a VT.

The timing belt should be replaced every 100,000kms or 5 years, so this car should definetly have had the timing belt replaced in around 2004, regardless of km's. If it hasn't been done, you're looking at around $300-$400 to just replace the timing belt or $800+ to replace the belt and all the hydrolic tensioners and seals etc (recommended by Mitsubishi).