G'Day all. I've been lurking for a while, and have just signed up. :lurk:

I've recently been looking around for a new car here in SA, and have continually been drawn to the TJ/TJII Sports. I have been looking at one in particular, a 2002 TJII Sports (Tippy). I've taken it for a test drive and I thought it drove really well (as best as you can tell from a 15min test drive). They are asking around 7k ish. This is at the low end of the Redbook value. It physically looks in good condition, aside from a few minor issues. I'm not so strong on the mechanical side, so a professional inspection will be a must.

My concern mostly is in regards to the fact that it has done slightly over 200,000k's, which does not seem unusual for SA, but these seem to be more around the 100 - 140k range on the east coast (admittidly for more $$$). Also, there are no log books available.

From reading threads around here, I know that the 200k service is extensive, and I probably have to assume that this has not been done. I am aware that this servicing includes the Timing Belt (plus tensioners, etc.), probably the Water Pump, new leads and sparks, and the regular service/tune/oilchange.

So, what else should I look out for, and what do you think of a car with this high a level of k's?

Thanks,
Luminous:)

G'Day all. I've been lurking for a while, and have just signed up. :lurk:

I've recently been looking around for a new car here in SA, and have continually been drawn to the TJ/TJII Sports. I have been looking at one in particular, a 2002 TJII Sports (Tippy). I've taken it for a test drive and I thought it drove really well (as best as you can tell from a 15min test drive). They are asking around 7k ish. It physically looks in good condition, aside from a few minor issues. I'm not so strong on the mechanical side, so a professional inspection will be a must.

My concern mostly is in regards to the fact that it has done slightly over 200,000k's, which does not seem unusual for SA, but these seem to be more around the 100 - 140k range on the east coast (admittidly for more $$$). Also, there are no log books available.

From reading threads around here, I know that the 200k service is extensive, and I probably have to assume that this has not been done. I am aware that this servicing includes the Timing Belt (plus tensioners, etc.), probably the Water Pump, new leads and sparks, and the regular service/tune/oilchange.

So, what else should I look out for, and what do you think of a car with this high a level of k's?

Thanks,
Luminous:)

Just a personal opinoin mate, but i wouldnt buy a car that doesnt have a log book with 50k on it, let alone 200k.

You don;'t know what has been done and what hasnt, i would steer away from it and find something will less kays and a log book. You shoul be looking in the 6.5k-9 range. Also TH sports is another winner.

mate, i wouldn't touch it. just did a quick search on carsales for magnas in S.A. between 7.5k-10k & there are quite a few with way lower k's for same money. fair enough they're not "sports" but for my money i would be getting a car with the lowest k's (with history to support k's) in the best condition. then if you really have to have some of the sports features chuck on some mags, suspension etc. i even saw a 05 es with 96k on the dial for $8ish. shop around my friend & you will be rewarded. good luck.

mate, i wouldn't touch it. just did a quick search on carsales for magnas in S.A. between 7.5k-10k & there are quite a few with way lower k's for same money. fair enough they're not "sports" but for my money i would be getting a car with the lowest k's (with history to support k's) in the best condition. then if you really have to have some of the sports features chuck on some mags, suspension etc. i even saw a 05 es with 96k on the dial for $8ish. shop around my friend & you will be rewarded. good luck.

But a 3yr old car with 96k is just as bad as a 6yr old car with 200k.

But a 3yr old car with 96k is just as bad as a 6yr old car with 200k.

Hmmm.....interesting theory.


Hi Luminous, relax and take your time, I know its not easy with money burning a hole in your pocket and all.
I'm sure you can find one with less k's than that for your money.

Yea 200k I wouldnt bother, at that distance its already lived most of its life.

gets sumthing with around to less than 150,000km. And be a pedantic bastard about and dont settle for anything that gives you doubts like "it has that problem but I can get that fixed: be more like "It has that problem... so whens the next train home"

The lack of a log book is pretty bad imho. It is possible for a car to have gone that far and still be in good nick if it has been meticulously serviced - but it's not likely.

You have to keep looking. I did and found a 1996 car with a full log book (actually serviced over and above manufacturers recommendations) and very low Ks. The right car is out there and you'll feel a great sense of satisfaction when you get it.

If your current car is working ok you're in a good posi to take the time and get something good.

Buying a car without a logbook is like throwing all that money in at the casino. Could turn out devastating! Like the others have said look around on the net and go into the local dealers and look for a second hand one there. Obviously as far as k's go look for the one with as little as possible that will fit into your price range. A little patience will go a long way.

Tell them you will come back after they have done the 200K service.

OR

Offer them like $2K less, on the basis of the number of Ks, lack of service record, cost to you of the 200K service.

Car yards are full of Magnas at $2,999 with 200,000Km or slightly more on the clock and no service records. Why that price? NO WARRANTY GIVEN.

Just paid $7K for a manual Lancer with 93,000 Km on the clock, full service records, belt done, with warranty, perfect body and paint. No worries about auto box acting up, or belt snapping. Worth the search, worth the $. (Still got caught though - no second key cost me $120, brake light not working cost me $25, CD stacker in boot tray missing, had to track down the original owner $0 but a pain.)

Keep looking! Be a smart shopper, not a noob and end up buying other peoples problems.

But a 3yr old car with 96k is just as bad as a 6yr old car with 200k.

My thinking with a car that's done those sort of kms in that space of time was probably driven largely on a motorway, cruising long distances all the time. My stepmums a rep, and her 6mth old Falcon FG has almost 30000km on it, vast majority of which is highway. Has always been fully serviced too, since it doesn't cost her any money so there is no reason for her to skimp on it. Highway cruise is better than day-to-day city.

"I've recently been looking around for a new car here in SA, and have continually been drawn to the TJ/TJII Sports. I have been looking at one in particular, a 2002 TJII Sports (Tippy)."


Not the one at the dealer opposite the GMH factory at Elizabeth?

If so, don't touch it! "Sporty" = dress up body kit, it is way overpriced, a very tired car.
I looked at it, the sticker price, and walked away shaking my head, thinking "$3K max"

Check eBay - - nice ones crop up every now and then.

"Trading Post" is good too.

You could always think about broadening your options a bit, I was looking for a TJ sports or VRX but ended up finding a sweet 2002 TJ Advance instead. It has a body kit and a spoiler and a nice set of mags on it, and it's a tippy as well. It had only done 70,000 and had a full logbook.

Just take your time and let other people know exactly what your looking for, so they can keep an eye out too. And try to think what makes a sport model so desirable to you... is it the ride or the noise, because you can always have those things done to it later.

happy hunting

logbook schmogbook


i service my car every 7,500 k's, and do alot more than the book requires, does that mean that my car is worse than one taken to mitsubishi? Nope i dont think so. But if the seller knows nothing then stay clear!

logbook schmogbook


i service my car every 7,500 k's, and do alot more than the book requires, does that mean that my car is worse than one taken to mitsubishi? Nope i dont think so. But if the seller knows nothing then stay clear!

No it doesn't, but a logbook offers a lot more assurance than "oh yeah, I serviced it all the time mate". Sure logbooks can be fudged or whatever, but if I was looking at two identical cars, and one had a logbook and the other didn't, I'd take the former.

My thinking with a car that's done those sort of kms in that space of time was probably driven largely on a motorway, cruising long distances all the time. My stepmums a rep, and her 6mth old Falcon FG has almost 30000km on it, vast majority of which is highway. Has always been fully serviced too, since it doesn't cost her any money so there is no reason for her to skimp on it. Highway cruise is better than day-to-day city.

Yeah i guess if its all highway k's its different, but if my car had that many k's it would make me sad every time i glance at the odo' :cry:

Hey all, thanks for all the replies. :D

I'm definitely no restricting myself just to the TJ sports, I'm looking at a wide variety of cars (even non Magnas :redface: ). It's just that these are the ones that i'm most interested in.

My preference is for a good service history, but its not something i've encountered before. The cars i've had in the past have ranged between 12 and 20 years old - service histories on cars this old seem pretty rare, I was just happy with Motorcheck/RAA inspections. It seems that this is something that is reasonable to look for with these cars.

Also, 8k would be really pushing the total limits of my budget. I could afford more, but I'll be going back to part time work later this year when I return to Uni (I'm finally finishing my degree !!!). I could afford more, but it will cut into the money that i've got aside to get me through this time.

liverpool_rule_88 - I might it if someone could tell me that they had performed their own regular servicing (depending on the person), but when a Dealer tells you that they just have no idea at all, then thats a different matter.

MadMax - Nah, not that one, this is one Main North Rd, near the Old Spot Hotel.

Zero - Technically, my car (1991 Pintara TRX) died last year (Broken Timing Chain = Dead Engine = Way Too expensive). I have borrowed my mum's old KE Laser in the mean time to get to and from work. It's just that i'd much prefer my own vehicle, so no rush, but still wanting to make a move sooner than later.

Again, thanks all. I guess I'll just keep trawling the net and the car yards until something worthwile comes up.

That dealer has heaps of high k country cars (good) and some rough ones too(not so good). The car u looked at is a one owner, prob from the country,Id be wary of paying 7k when he doesnt have to provide any warranty......
Keep an eye out

Yeah i guess if its all highway k's its different, but if my car had that many k's it would make me sad every time i glance at the odo' :cry:

I'm sad when I see my odo approaching 70000kms, 6mths after it was at 55000kms :(

man i got my car 6 months ago. got it with 169000 on the clock.

car is great. but saying that, saving for one month more for an extra 3 grand and i could have got a much newer model with less than 80000 ks.


If in doubt...just hang on for a bit longer. as said back in the thread, dont buy something with problems that u will just "fix up later"

No point thinking that way, will always be like that. After I bought mine 2mths later when looking at cars for my sister I found one just like mine in the same colour with sunroof, leather and similar kms for a tad less than I paid, it's a shame but no sense in thinking about it, or you'd never buy a car lol

I spotted a black Ralliart in a dealer on North East road on the way home tonight with $10900 in the windshield..