Hi all :)

I am considering buying a 1997 KE Verada Xi off my boss but I want someone else's opinion on whether it is a good idea or not! :)

Ok, the car has been sitting around only being driven occasionally for about 2 years. It has done 114,000km and is in reasonable condition.

It was logbook serviced up to 90,000km (timing belt replaced at this service) and then serviced only once or twice between 90,000km (in 2005) and now.

I took it to my local mechanic who did a roadworthy and checked it out mechanically, he said that it needs about $1300 worth of stuff done to it to make it in good condition (including new tyres), and he said the engine and transmission are fine.

Cosmetically, it is in reasonable condition. The biggest problem is faded paint on the roof, the boot and the top of the rear bumper. Inside, the leather seats are in average condition (no rips, just lots of visible lines/cracks or whatever they are) but I guess that is expected after 12 years. The clip on the storage container in the middle and the clip covering the coin holder are both broken. It is also missing the aerial (well, it has a coat hangar :P) and there is mold down the inside rubber lining near every door which from browsing through forums it seems like it is common for these doors to leak water.

The only other problem is that the remotes do not work, and the alarm goes off if you unlock it from the drivers side (I will be starting a new thread on this in a moment), no idea what is wrong and no idea how much it will cost to fix.


So, my boss told me he wants $4000 for it, which includes a full year of registration, as is. So I will need to pay the $1300 to get it fixed, coming up to $5300.

Do you guys think that it is worth it? On the one hand, these cars start from about $5500 for private sales which are probably in better condition (ie decent paint job and a working alarm!), but on the other hand this one has done quite low km's and I know the history of the car and I know the buyer isn't trying to rip me off, which I value a lot.

Would you guys consider this a decent buy? If not, what's the maximum you would pay?

Thanks :)

$4000 and a full years rego for an xi rada isnt too bad as long as you can put up with the paint untill you can afford to get it sprayed but really it depends on what your budget is.

offer him $3400 and see what he says.

Thanks, I am going to try to bargain him down to $3500 :)

yep bargain him down, tell him to have a look on carsales for reference

one way to look at it is add the cost of the car + $1300 repairs + new remotes ($50 each) & bits + new electric aerial ($200? or more from Mitsi) + cost on new paint job

If that is still considerably cheaper than another second hand magna / verada then go for it. There's a couple of 2000 TJ VRX on car sales for $7500, fair enough they have higher mileage.

Also check if its had the timing belt changed as it would have been due no so long ago.

But I guess it all depends on how much money you have now....

Also check if its had the timing belt changed as it would have been due no so long ago.

It was logbook serviced up to 90,000km (timing belt replaced at this service)

Is the low mileage for a 12 year old car and the service history knowledge worth the extra it will cost you to get it looking good? That is really the question you need to say 'yes' to in order to buy this car.

This sounds like a big NO to me.....$1300 worth of mechanical repairs .....$3000 worth of new paint ..... mold??? ....WTF Veradas don't leak. Aerial broken.

I just sold my 1997 Ei Verada for a straight $5000 with 11 months rego immaculate condition mechanically, nice clean condition inside
no rips tears etc , two small dings in the back bumper.

I wouldn't go near this car your talking about.....you'll get done like a dogs dinner when you try and sell it. That paint is only going to get worse making the car virtually impossible to unload. He might not be trying to rip you off but its hopelessly overpriced.

Hi all :)

I am considering buying a 1997 KE Verada Xi off my boss but I want someone else's opinion on whether it is a good idea or not! :)

Ok, the car has been sitting around only being driven occasionally for about 2 years. It has done 114,000km and is in reasonable condition.

It was logbook serviced up to 90,000km (timing belt replaced at this service) and then serviced only once or twice between 90,000km (in 2005) and now.

I took it to my local mechanic who did a roadworthy and checked it out mechanically, he said that it needs about $1300 worth of stuff done to it to make it in good condition (including new tyres), and he said the engine and transmission are fine.

Cosmetically, it is in reasonable condition. The biggest problem is faded paint on the roof, the boot and the top of the rear bumper. Inside, the leather seats are in average condition (no rips, just lots of visible lines/cracks or whatever they are) but I guess that is expected after 12 years. The clip on the storage container in the middle and the clip covering the coin holder are both broken. It is also missing the aerial (well, it has a coat hangar :P) and there is mold down the inside rubber lining near every door which from browsing through forums it seems like it is common for these doors to leak water.

The only other problem is that the remotes do not work, and the alarm goes off if you unlock it from the drivers side (I will be starting a new thread on this in a moment), no idea what is wrong and no idea how much it will cost to fix.


So, my boss told me he wants $4000 for it, which includes a full year of registration, as is. So I will need to pay the $1300 to get it fixed, coming up to $5300.

Do you guys think that it is worth it? On the one hand, these cars start from about $5500 for private sales which are probably in better condition (ie decent paint job and a working alarm!), but on the other hand this one has done quite low km's and I know the history of the car and I know the buyer isn't trying to rip me off, which I value a lot.

Would you guys consider this a decent buy? If not, what's the maximum you would pay?

Thanks :)

Sounds a bit overpriced for what it is with extra needed to be spent on repairs. Have a look at my thread on mine. I bought it 2 years ago with 142,000k's for $4,500 and spent roughly $1000 on wheels. Its an XI KE and was in immaculate condition when I bought it.

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58533

one way to look at it is add the cost of the car + $1300 repairs + new remotes ($50 each) & bits + new electric aerial ($200? or more from Mitsi) + cost on new paint job

I always thought Verada remotes were different, was quoted around $200 (!) each from Mitsubishi.

I'd be wary about the car for that price, purely because of the condition it's in. The guys here are right, once paint starts going, it goes downhill pretty fast. We bought our KF xi for $6k a year ago with 150,000 on it, and apart from the drivers side leather starting to look a little tired, not a thing wrong with it, with 10 months rego. A touch overpriced maybe, but it's good not having to chase things when you buy a new car. Keep a look out on carsales, do you really have your heart set on a Verada? $4k can buy a pretty nice Magna.

If you can screw him down to $3500 or less, then i'd start considering it :)

At the end of the day though, you're the one with the cash looking at the car. If you think it's a good deal, then go for it, who cares what others think?

Thanks for all of the advice guys :)


Is the low mileage for a 12 year old car and the service history knowledge worth the extra it will cost you to get it looking good? That is really the question you need to say 'yes' to in order to buy this car.

I guess this is the biggest question. I have bought three vehicles in the past, two of them I have personally known the previous owner and they have been great vehicles, and the third it was just a random private sale and we got screwed, so I definitely value knowing it's history :) I think if he drops it to $3500 I'll go ahead and purchase it.

Why would you buy a car with paint cancer ?

Can you make a list of what this $1300 is for? Is there mechanic things that need doing, or are you only talking about thinks like shocks and tyres etc? ie. General wear and tear items.

I always thought Verada remotes were different, was quoted around $200 (!) each from Mitsubishi.



Get remotes for b/n $50 - $80 new on ebay, i did :happy:

for that price you should be able to find an xi in better condition... it's a buyers market at the moment, if you still have your old car i'd consider taking it in to a dealer and seeing what they'll give you for a trade in

Why would you buy a car with paint cancer ?

Heh, never heard that term before :P It doesn't bother me too much (hey, it would be great if it looked nice but how my car looks isn't number 1 on my list of priorities), and I like fixing cars so I would think about touching it up myself sometime (I've done a bit of 2pak spray painting before that turned out alright).


Can you make a list of what this $1300 is for? Is there mechanic things that need doing, or are you only talking about thinks like shocks and tyres etc? ie. General wear and tear items.

New tyres
New windscreen
Crack in rear muffler
Rocket cover gasket leaking oil
Front brake pads
Upper control arm - front
Lower control arm - rear

I think that was everything :)


for that price you should be able to find an xi in better condition... it's a buyers market at the moment, if you still have your old car i'd consider taking it in to a dealer and seeing what they'll give you for a trade in

Heh, my old car is a really beaten up 94 ED Falcon that I'm going to be lucky to get $1000 for, no way a dealer would want it :p

If you want someone who really Mitsubishi's to look at the car, let me know.

Remotes, the Verada's have different remotes to the Magna of those series.

Personally I would not like to comment on the cars worth without seeing the car first as there are not that many XI's about so one that needs a little attention may be worth while to purchase

Thanks MadMagna, at the moment the car is unregistered though so I can't take it anywhere :p


How can I tell if the paint on the car is 2-pack or acrylic?

Factory paint is 2pac

You can drive it if you get a permit from Vic Roads

BTW, you may want to tell your RW person that Magna's do not have upper control arms on the front?

He may not had said upper control arm on the front, I can't 100% remember as he didn't give me a list. I have to call him on Monday anyway to get a quote to fix everything so I'll let you know the exact list then :)

WTF Veradas don't leak.
Yeah mate cause it says "verada" on it it must mean its mechanically and structurally better then a "magna" which is only difference is bumper bars....

Personally, if the paints rooted, I would stay away, I'd rather pay $1000 more for something with good paint....Saves another hassle of getting a re-spray. Also, if the paints rooted, that's a pretty good indication to how it was treated.

New tyres -- $600 for some decent rubber?
New windscreen -- madmagna said he had a place that could do it for $180ish
Crack in rear muffler -- Cheap ones go on here all the time, post a WTB
Rocket cover gasket leaking oil -- Easy DIY fix, gaskets are about $20 from bursons
Front brake pads -- $60 for Bendix CTs...plus fitting...
Upper control arm - front not sure
Lower control arm - rear not sure


$1300 from a mechanic for all of that sounds pretty good, money to be saved DIying some of it... depending on the tyre size/quality.

Nooob, like i posted to you on another forum, a nice kf verada right now will fetch 6500, ask yourself why is the paint rooted? Why has he not attended to the other little issues? You say you know the cars history, so maybe enlighten us. I'd walk away from it.....unless you got it for a grand.
He's screwin' ya.

Well, he wanted $4000 for it so I said no thanks and walked away.

Thanks everyone for the advice! :)

I still want a Verada though, so if someone is selling one PM me :P

;1041767']Yeah mate cause it says "verada" on it it must mean its mechanically and structurally better then a "magna" which is only difference is bumper bars....

Personally, if the paints rooted, I would stay away, I'd rather pay $1000 more for something with good paint....Saves another hassle of getting a re-spray. Also, if the paints rooted, that's a pretty good indication to how it was treated.

Just thought I'd clear this up ..... I have never come across a Magna or Verada that has leaked through the door seals or has mould. This is really unusual. VB Commodore perhaps.....

Personally I think you dodged a bullet with this car .....

Check carsales or carpoint, some good deals to be had.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1997-Mitsubishi-Verada-KE-EI-Blue-4sp-A-Sedan_W0QQitemZ160327224546QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_C ars?hash=item160327224546&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0| 293%3A1|294%3A50

This one might be OK....it's a dealer car so you can negotiate on price / delivery should be cheap offer cash....

http://www.drive.com.au/used-cars/MITSUBISHI/VERADA/Melbourne/detail.aspx?id=11065139&lid=11065139&pg=1&pp=10&d=0&nv=1&SG=279541203&pt=1

Needs a trim piece see pics but hey everything is negotiable