I own a TJ EXE auto 3.5L and am wondering at what km/year would be a good time to replace this type of car before things start to fall apart and major costly things in the car need to be replaced (like engine rebuild etc. etc.), assuming you drive conservatively?

Asap lol

Really a TJ Exec isn't worth much now and its not got much value left to loose, so (not knowing what you want to do in the future with your cars) my best suggestion would be either to update as soon as possible if you want something newer or hold onto it for a long time. As long as you service it on time and keep check of any leaks etc you might have, it'll go and go and go, 3rd gens are pretty reliable cars all in all.

or hold onto it for a long time. As long as you service it on time and keep check of any leaks etc you might have, it'll go and go and go, 3rd gens are pretty reliable cars all in all.
What he said.

My TF Altera has done over 510,000Ks, and is in top condition because the previous owners had it serviced every 5000Ks since new and got things fixed as soon as something looked like it was on it's way out.

I'll keep it until it dies, and even then I'd probably replace the engine - be cheaper than buying a newer car IMO.

Yeh my dad serviced both his Magnas every 5000Ks and reckons when he traded his TS in the dealer was stoked at the condition (~200,000ks at the time ... quite some years ago now) .. and his TF is going strong at 250,000 even after alot of abuse :P

Thinking of starting to do the same.

I've had two 3rd gens. Had no problems with the TJ appart from a tiny leak in the rear rocker cover at about 160,000km. Verada with 180,000km no problems at all so far (although i caused a couple myself when I pranged it lol) does need new shocks at the moment but thats just general maintinence I spose, like breaks, tyres etc. But nope nothing mechanical!

does need new shocks at the moment

time for lowering at the same time me thinks... lol

Provided it's looked after, serviced etc and minor problems seen to it should go for say another 5 years. If your handy with tools and don't mind changing out engines & transmissions etc then you could probably get another 10 years out of it. My eldest son gets around in a nissan patrol I bought new in 1989 and it's still going strong.

Cheers

I only replace my cars when i have wringed every last bit of life outta them at minimal expense.

Personally id think, if its looked after, you'd probably want to aim for around 200,000k's to change cars. Then the body has seen a fair few k's and the car would be getting on in the years. Having said that many people have run their car for many more, my friends got a Camry thats at around 340,000 and its only the body thats looking tired.

So i would keep my car until 200,000, its at 75,000 now, and i do around 5000 a year... thats... 25 years left =D

Provided it's looked after, serviced etc and minor problems seen to it should go for say another 5 years. If your handy with tools and don't mind changing out engines & transmissions etc then you could probably get another 10 years out of it. My eldest son gets around in a nissan patrol I bought new in 1989 and it's still going strong.

Cheers

He mentioned his car is a TJ.. theres heaps of TP/TRs that are still going strong in almost double the time frame you've given for the life of a TJ

I own a TJ EXE auto 3.5L and am wondering at what km/year would be a good time to replace this type of car before things start to fall apart and major costly things in the car need to be replaced (like engine rebuild etc. etc.), assuming you drive conservatively?

It's not a commodore, so things won't actually fall apart.
If your car is going good, why change? if you buy another car, Your only buying someone else's problems.

My auntie has a 2001 TJ LE. Has just clicked over 380,000k's and they were thinking of upgrading before it gets any older ( like its worth anything now lol ). They have since decided to keep it, after looking back over all the old receipts for it. They have never had to replace anything. The only things they have had done has been schedulded servicing, tyres, and fuel.

Once these cars hit about 8 - 10, they are worth not much more than a family feast from kfc. In saying that, why sell it? If theres nothing wrong with it and you only want to upgrade for the sake of upgrading, you might aswell keep it. Your not going to get anything from selling it.

If your upgrading for a genuine reason, eg; different features, cheaper to run, bigger, more power etc than sure go ahead. otherwise, keep it and turn it into a BBQ trailer. :D

It's not the mechanics of the vehicles that determine their longevity rather it's the obstacles that pop out in front of them ie: other car, trucks, buses, trees etc. Any vehicle that is maintained by an enthusiast will last 20 years. The BBQ trailer or trailer esky is re-cycling at it's best!

3rd gens are pretty robust I must admit! Mines been thrashed to death and it still runs like it did when I bought it haha

What he said.

My TF Altera has done over 510,000Ks, and is in top condition because the previous owners had it serviced every 5000Ks since new and got things fixed as soon as something looked like it was on it's way out.

I'll keep it until it dies, and even then I'd probably replace the engine - be cheaper than buying a newer car IMO.


DomenEK: Besides timing belt, what kind of big maintenance bills that came across you to reach 510k?

Everyone: How much roughly does replacing suspension and engine mount cost?

My car is only at 106k now so it's still going well. I am just planning ahead at the moment.

DomenEK: Besides timing belt, what kind of big maintenance bills that came across you to reach 510k?
Just inherited the car - will have to go through all the reciepts to find out.

My tj has about 120,000km on it and i'll be turning it into an evo 9 at about 180,000.

Selling around 180,000 means its not ridiculously high kms, you avoid the 200,000km service, but its not close enough to deter a lot of buyers with a major service looming, plus, you should comfortably get to 180k in a 3rd gen without any major issues. I know they can go a LOT further, but when playing it safe, sub 200,000km is much more reliable.

I was very close to buying an evo 7 but the magna is too good to sell off just yet, and a 9 is worth waiting for :D

Also when you trade your car may depend on other priorities you may have for your cash. Better to get ahead on an appreciating asset ( like a house) rather than spending funds on a depreciating asset (car)
I have a TL LS with 145K on it and will keep it until my mechanic tells me that major repairs are likely. Who knows when that will be.:neutral:

GEEZ!!!! It's a TJ and you want to upgrade.. I just purchased a KH that has already seen just over 158000k's lol.
I personally have never worried about the amount of k's a car has done. As mentioned above.. if it's been looked after then it will go forever. ;)

i agree! if it gets serviced regulary, it will last long time, haha... like my 91 KR, it got 222,202kms on it and its only 18 yrs old... i am keeping her till the day it goes...bang!! The engine is in great nic and original, besided a little gasket leak... original transmisson... and the body is in almost exel. cond. besides the minor door bingle from other peoples carelessness... The SA guys will vouch for the neatness of my car..

The SA guys will vouch for the neatness of my car..

we will? :P

It depends, too, on where you do most of your driving and whether it's your only car. I owned a TR MAgna from new, drove it for 130,000 km mostly in Sydney traffic for 11 years. By that time, the body was still perfect, ditto the engine, but the clutch was getting a bit tired. The cost of getting it replaced, plus a few other age-related items (such as updating the gas in the air con), would have been too high in relation to its value (about $2000).

In other words, drive it until the cost of maintenance exceeds the market value. This means age plays a bigger part than simply how many kilometres it's done.

hey guys i have a 91 tr with 400,200 on it, still runs ok my wife uses it to run around in, does not cost us much will wait till it goes bang to get another one

The SA guys will vouch for the neatness of my car..

we will? :P
He is paying remember?? but, no seriously KR's is a very tidy 2nd Gen, a credit to him.

My TF was sitting on 345k km when I sold it, only sold it because of the insurance payout from the accident. Still think about offering the guy to buy it back off him every time he comes to work, just to fix up and have, since it was my first car.