I have a friend that is about to buy a car....

His '88 corolla just blew up, so he needs it in the next couple of weeks. (88 corolla was an awesome make)

He wants to spend around $5k.

I did have a look with him on a few sites, just checking prices etc. We checked out The camry, a falcon and a Commodore, not to mention a few others.

We also checked out a few Magnas. I tried not to push him in this direction just because I have one, but he seemed to like them, and they were a fair bit newer for the price.

He is now looking at getting a TJ.

Is there any advice I should be giving him?

Also, anything in particular that I should be looking for mechanically speaking? Even rust, etc that would be something to check out, anything at all!

Any advice would be much appreciated.

if its auto make sure its chaning gears correcley, check for oil leaks + signs of collent in the engine bay

thanx,

Will do my best to make sure its changing gears correctly...

He is buying from a dealer, so I'm sure they will clean out all the coolant if its leaking, damn dodgy mofos.

Getting at least 1 year warranty.....

I highly doubt he will get a decent condition TJ from a dealer for under 5 grand. He is better of looking around on carsales or similar.

yeah, it was a dealer on carsales.

He wants the added security of a 1 year warranty. I said if he gets an NRMA check from a private, that would be better, but hey....

The one he is looking at was originally listed at $5990, now at $4990.

ahh ok to easy. just make sure it's not due for it's big service anytime soon as this could be a reasonable cost on top of the purchase.

Cool, will have to make a checklist....


Changing Gears correctly
Coolant
No big service due
No oil leaks

got a link for the car on car sales

Although the big service might be a down, I look at it as an up. I bought my TE close to its 200,000 and I'm looking forward to it. Going to pull the engine apart and do a good inspection. While the engine is out of the car I am going to take the heads off to inspect the pistons for any play see how I'm looking. Thats just my way of looking at things. Plus it also gave me a huge leaver when trying to beat the price down. I managed to get 1,000 bucks off the car cuz it was due for its 200,000 in 8,000ks

Hmmmm, good point 86.

Will definably knock down the price as much as possible if it needs a service.

I hope we dont find a really nice TJ out there, I might be tempted to talk him out of it and buy it myself.

This one of the TJ's he is looking at, probably going to go have a look around tomorrow.

I suggested he try and drive a few different makes to check out what


http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=7808475&keywords=&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nf=p_GeoLocation_String%7cGCLT%20-33.75923%2c150.9673%2052.3&__Nne=15&PriceTo=443&postcode=2153&PriceFrom=461&silo=1011&seot=1&__sid=124B9FE9F6D9&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294964597% 204294964374%20461%20443&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_PriceSort_D ecimal%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Mod el_String%7c0&distance=50&Cr=4&trecs=116&__Qpb=true

damn big URL.

All this looking at cars has made me want a new one.

Some nice TJ AWD's around for a fair bit less that $10k.

206K. Should have had its major 200K service then. Says it's got log books, is it stamped correctly? Also see if you can suss out its history from the books.

Is it just me or does it have different wheel caps on each side? Also has a tow bar, something to check it as well. It may have had a hard life towing. The auto is the most crucial point, especially if it's done a lot of towing.

JB5

have you looked at the car?

A nice tj for 5k with lowish K's from a dealer is almost impossible!

also, you could get a slightly older model with more options for that price.... body looks straight from what i can see... but it has absolutely nothign to it that i can see.... normal auto box, no second airbag, no climate, i dont think i even saw a cd player... could be wrong... but i think an older verada or sports might be better for the price....

also, you could get a slightly older model with more options for that price.... body looks straight from what i can see... but it has absolutely nothign to it that i can see.... normal auto box, no second airbag, no climate, i dont think i even saw a cd player... could be wrong... but i think an older verada or sports might be better for the price....

that's what i was going to say, go for an earlier model advance/altera/verada i think... just for the above options, and of course cruise control and power windows

also, you could get a slightly older model with more options for that price.... body looks straight from what i can see... but it has absolutely nothign to it that i can see.... normal auto box, no second airbag, no climate, i dont think i even saw a cd player... could be wrong... but i think an older verada or sports might be better for the price....

also no electric windows

yeah agreed a TH Sports / KH 'Rada would be much better and only two years older

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=7701584&keywords=&trecs=8&postcode=2153&SearchAction=N&__Nf=p_GeoLocation_String|GCLT%20-33.75923,150.9673%2052.3&__Nne=15&PriceTo=443&__Qpb=true&PriceFrom=461&silo=1011&seot=1&__sid=124EAAF0843E&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294964597% 204294964374%20461%20443%204294927312&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal |1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&Cr=1&distance=50

thanx,

Will do my best to make sure its changing gears correctly...

He is buying from a dealer, so I'm sure they will clean out all the coolant if its leaking, damn dodgy mofos.

Getting at least 1 year warranty.....

As ARS55 said, finding a TJ for under 7k at a dealer is a challenge - 5k no chance. Best bet is to buy private. If he is only spending 5k I would recommend a TH Altera or something instead as well as 5k will prob get you a base-model TJ exec with no options.

Cool, some good advice, i will be sure to pass it all on.


I am thinking of getting an AWD TJ, seen a couple around the 9k mark. Havent had a look at any yet tho, but specs and pics look pretty sweet.

I just bought http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=7849113&__sid=124C5F5028F0&__Qpb=true&Cr=1&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_PriceSort_D ecimal%7c1%7c%7cpCar_Make_String%7c0%7c%7cpCar_Mod el_String%7c0&keywords=&__N=1216%201282%204294964597%204294964374%20429493 2160%20900&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=4&silo=1011 Just have to wait for the check to clear :D


Try the auction houses out your way. There's always good deals going at them.

He wants the added security of a 1 year warranty. I said if he gets an NRMA check from a private, that would be better, but hey....
If the warranty is a big deal for him, make sure he reads the fine print first, as it could catch him out later - check out this post (http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?p=784499&highlight=barina#post784499) (as well as the OP in that thread) if you want an example as to why you should read it properly.

90% of used car warranties arent worth the paper they arent printed on.

I have got a KR he can have for $2k if he wants a Verada.

Just had the transmission flushed too :)

Well, he just bought a TJ and for well under the $5k mark too, with a trade in.

In not to bad nick, engine seems fine, and with what he has left over he can get any work that needs to be done too.

Overall seems a very good purchase indeed.

He joined the forums, so I'm sure he will be poking around pretty soon.

Well, he just bought a TJ and for well under the $5k mark too, with a trade in.

In not to bad nick, engine seems fine, and with what he has left over he can get any work that needs to be done too.

Overall seems a very good purchase indeed.

He joined the forums, so I'm sure he will be poking around pretty soon.
TJ for under $5k with a trade? Meaning he still paid near $5k and had to trade his car? I wouldn't think a TJ is even worth $5k.

Depends on the condition K's etc, 5K is about normal in Gippsland area probably a bit more if it has low K's and service history.

Depends on the condition K's etc, 5K is about normal in Gippsland area probably a bit more if it has low K's and service history.

Seems awfully expensive to me. :io:

Oh, his car barely made it there for the trade....

He needed his head gasket done, plus a few other things, so was a struggle getting it there, especially in the heat.

So in the end, i think he did pretty well,

I was going to go have a look with him, but I thought he was going to wait until next weekend, oh well...

Oh, his car barely made it there for the trade....

He needed his head gasket done, plus a few other things, so was a struggle getting it there, especially in the heat.

So in the end, i think he did pretty well,

I was going to go have a look with him, but I thought he was going to wait until next weekend, oh well...

Makes sense then. I remember when I traded my TR, the friggen thing got a flat tyre on the way to be traded! Had 282,000kms on it, blew smoke like a champ too, but they still gave me $3k trade when I bought my Ralliart. Hehe.

Seems awfully expensive to me. :io:

Yep that's the price, I think they know they have a relatively captive audience in Gippsland especially when it comes to use cars people prefer to deal with locals as they also have to live in the same area. Having said that I did pick up a one owner TJ with full service history from the pig pen in a Mitsubishi dealer for $3,000, it has 187k and laminating paint but mechanicals and interior A+...... is this Spam?

Yep that's the price, I think they know they have a relatively captive audience in Gippsland especially when it comes to use cars people prefer to deal with locals as they also have to live in the same area. Having said that I did pick up a one owner TJ with full service history from the pig pen in a Mitsubishi dealer for $3,000, it has 187k and laminating paint but mechanicals and interior A+...... is this Spam?

Sucks when you're in isolated areas like that I guess. Car yards can charge what they like.

It's definitely spam. I fear if I use the report system tho I will be banned.