Hey All. I may have an opportunity to buy one of our old pool cars. It's a 98 TF Advance wagon, 144k km's on it, body in great nick (couple of scratches in the bumpers, no dents). But... engine wise, she has not had the timing belt done (and I reckon not much servicing has been done on time either). They tend to only drive her around the plant, I reckon they've put around 7,000 k's on her in the last 11 months.

Price wise is looking like between $500 and $1,000. Would this be a good deal? Can a Magna trans and engine hold itself together well enough that changing all the fluids, plugs, leads, filters and belts will mean the engine is OK. Or could the lack of servicing have done serious damage? Trans seems to shift OK when I've been in it and engine note and idle is OK as well.

Regards, Tony

Tbh with 144,000kms it should be fine if taken care of from here on, even if the engine and tranny ****s itself - for that price you could make everything back just by parting it out.

What would u be buying it for though? Thats a long long time to leave the timing belt, i wouldnt touch it personally, not gonna make heaps "parting it out"

What would u be buying it for though? Thats a long long time to leave the timing belt, i wouldnt touch it personally, not gonna make heaps "parting it out"
Yea but if you're getting it for $500-$1000 I think you'd be able to get that back fairly easily!

edit: hell if it was in SA i'd probably buy it if you didnt!

Yea but if you're getting it for $500-$1000 I think you'd be able to get that back fairly easily!

Thats why i asked what he wants it for, if he wants it to have as say a day to day car i would stay away

Not timing belt done@! argh i'd leave it. Belts ****ted and unsynchronised the camshaft. tsktsk

What would u be buying it for though? Thats a long long time to leave the timing belt, i wouldnt touch it personally, not gonna make heaps "parting it out"

Remember its an Advance, thats 300 from power windows, 100 for cruise kit alone - $400 back already!

If the belt has broken yet it should be fine if you replace it strait away and change oil/filters/etc

Remember its an Advance, thats 300 from power windows, 100 for cruise kit alone - $400 back already!

Can u show me where he says he wants to part out the car buddy?

Going on what he posted hes more interest in if the lack of servicing etc will have had much negative effect on the car and its drivability, not asking how much is it worth for parts.

Can u show me where he says he wants to part out the car buddy?

Going on what he posted hes more interest in if the lack of servicing etc will have had much negative effect on the car and its drivability, not asking how much is it worth for parts.

My statement was "if all goes bad, its not really a loss"...

My statement was "if all goes bad, its not really a loss"...

Yes but if he bought it for a a daily driver he would have, to do a lot of work to mate it safe/roadworthy. Timing belt and probably water pump as well which as we know is a small fortune, service etc plus other costs involved with getting it on the road stamp duty, insurance and rego, it would be very hard to make any money off the car.

At that price for a 98 car, i'll come and buy the damn thing.

Get it, change the belt and idlers (comes in a kit), fluids, belts and hoses and away ya go.

****, $1000 barely gets a damn 2nd gen these days

Get someone in the know to have a listen to it first if ya want, there might be a member on here tha might wanna help ya with that.

Certainly cheap enough mate, just remember the major service will be pushing $1000 straight up.

If you can do the belt yourself or even on mates rates it would be a great buy i reckon.

144,000k's is resonably low for that model, just do the belt, change the oil and it would probly be fine.

Remember its an Advance, thats 300 from power windows, 100 for cruise kit alone - $400 back already!


It is a TF. all it has is the cruise and dual airbags. No fast glass.

Tony i'm sure Mal would be able to do the work on that car cheaper than other mechanics, and a better job too. For such a small outlay i would snap up that Wagna.

My intention would be for a 2nd car for the family. Wagon would be handy sometimes. Get the servicing and rego done and I've got a car on the road for around $2.5k (hopefully).

It's actually got me a bit beat - Advance on the back, cruise, airbag - but wind up windows. No rego sticker (something called Vic fleet registration). Monday, I'll get into the glovebox and pull the service manual out.

Mohit - yep, if I get it I'll be on the phone to Mal pretty quick...

Regards, Tony

It's actually got me a bit beat - Advance on the back, cruise, airbag - but wind up windows. No rego sticker (something called Vic fleet registration). Monday, I'll get into the glovebox and pull the service manual out.

Yep, thats a 98 Advance for you. Cruise, dual(?) bags and windy windows

hmmm to me sounds toooo cheap for a 1998 magna I would check it out with the RTA if it's been in a accident.

Post a pic up if you can.

hmmm to me sounds toooo cheap for a 1998 magna I would check it out with the RTA if it's been in a accident.

Post a pic up if you can.

It is a used car from his company. Its a safe bet he would know if it has been in an accident.

It is a used car from his company. Its a safe bet he would know if it has been in an accident.

And most companies just want to get rid of them as they're most likely been "written off" the books anyways. My old work sold a 2008 aurion with 40k on the clock for 10k just before I left, was tempted to get it and onsell it at a tidy profit! :badgrin:

At that price for a 98 car, i'll come and buy the damn thing.

Get it, change the belt and idlers (comes in a kit), fluids, belts and hoses and away ya go.

****, $1000 barely gets a damn 2nd gen these days

Get someone in the know to have a listen to it first if ya want, there might be a member on here tha might wanna help ya with that.

Seems a good deal to me. Have it serviced well and cleaned up, and then just drive it!

I'd get it for sure! Sounds like a bargain to me :D and if not, sell it for parts!

It is a used car from his company. Its a safe bet he would know if it has been in an accident.

Correct. No accidents, it's cheap cause it's at zero cost in the books. They did have a similar one last year, it was snapped up before I even knew about it. But this one hasn't been offered yet so I had a quiet word with our accountant who "owns" it.

Someone who had a 2007 380 has left so that's the new pool car (yes, I did try to offer $1k for it but it's leased).

Regards, Tony

Not timing belt done@! argh i'd leave it. Belts ****ted and unsynchronised the camshaft. tsktsk

Again another quality post from you vast experience

Bet you did not know that when a belt has not been done, it is not broken that it can be changed!!!! And guess what, it is new then!!!!!

And cams unsynchronised....WTF man are you on about. I have seen these do over 170ks' and one I did recently with just over 200k's we suspect had never been changed. Not recommended but it can happen.

Again I will say this, if you do not know what you are talking about, dont bother posting as you will just confuse people.

Now back to the OP, for that price if you do not want it, I will buy it ina heartbeat!!!!

The mileage is no real concern, I can do the 100k service for you as you know and even if the engine is shot, I can sell you mine with similar mileage for not much anyway.


Remember its an Advance, thats 300 from power windows, 100 for cruise kit alone - $400 back already!
Crusie yes, power windows no but can be easily fitted as all wiring is there to the doors


Yes but if he bought it for a a daily driver he would have, to do a lot of work to mate it safe/roadworthy. Timing belt and probably water pump as well which as we know is a small fortune, service etc plus other costs involved with getting it on the road stamp duty, insurance and rego, it would be very hard to make any money off the car.

Sorry mate but you have not seen the car, it may be fine and just need the service which is not a life ending cost. Given the mileage and the fact it has been driven around the plant the mechanicals most likely are not that bad

So as I stated tony, if you do not want to buy it, get it still, pop a coule hundred bucks for profit and sell it to me as I would love to have a waggon. May even give you a free trans for your sedan lol

Again another quality post from you vast experience


hahahah I've seen this said about 5 times from you now, you're just following him around :badgrin:

hahahah I've seen this said about 5 times from you now, you're just following him around :badgrin:

Hahaha no such luck. Jast happen to read the threads when I see them

hahahah I've seen this said about 5 times from you now, you're just following him around :badgrin:

No need to follow him, we get enuff feedback to know where he is :D

An absolute bargain ...I'd snap it up . Show me where you can get this sort of car for this price !!!

What you might actually have to spend some money maintaining the car....well blow me down. Even if you spent a cool $1500 your still ahead.

Go for it man, even if it's $1000, that's what, 2 weeks wages? The guys are right, with those k's, if you look after it from now on it'll be fine :cool:

Go for it man, even if it's $1000, that's what, 2 weeks wages? The guys are right, with those k's, if you look after it from now on it'll be fine :cool:

Even if you just sell it on? Make a few grand :D

No need to follow him, we get enuff feedback to know where he is :D

lol :badgrin:

If that's the case then good god man take it and clean it up have her serviced then re-sell it for a very tidy profit then get the car you really want. :D

If that's the case then good god man take it and clean it up have her serviced then re-sell it for a very tidy profit then get the car you really want. :D

What if he really wants a ............ Magna Wagon????

So sell it, buy it back lol ?