My girlfriend is looking at getting a new car for a new job, has to be reliable, safe, professional looking and automatic. Been looking at 10-15k cars, and 380s, she likes the ones with the "pretty lights" (boot lip that extends into the lights), sunroof, and white, silver, or that purpley-blue. Not after extremely low kms, but preferably under 130,000 and with major service already done. Have a couple bookmarked on Carsales, has anyone got advice on what to go for, differences between series 1,2, and 3, are later year models a lot better than earlier ones or the same? Any other info, things to look out for, etc?

First of all great choice :)

Remember K's isnt everything, although they do influence potential buyers immensley, only series I and II VRX and GT get the "pretty lights" as do the series III GT ONLY, series III VRX got the pov pack looking tail lights and that purple coulour, someone correct me if im wrong only came on all models but the GT and GT-L which didnt get that colour. I'd go either a GT or series II vrx as they came with leather seats like the GT series I and III VRX models got the cloth trim unless it was a special order i think.

Good luck mate!

Forgot to mention, leather isn't all that important, her new job might involve taking kids to school and stuff, and the chances of kids taking good care of the interior of someone elses car that they are in these days is pretty slim so cloth is fine. Most that we looked at were VRX's, SX's, and a GT, LS, and platinum. How much does a set of those lights and a bootlid usually go for? I've never seen them up for sale on here...

Just remember that leather wipes clean from the usual spills and spews etc from kids. You do need to watch their feet on the leather though as kids can scratch it. At least you dont end up with that "kids" smell quite as much.

Mr REP prettymuch summed it up, :) here are some basic examples, with good cond's. You've probably seen them already as you said you've looked em up on Carsales, but I'll add my 2cents :)

Silver VRX with the GT luxury pack, Just under100K's with 100K service done. short rego though, but you could probably neg :)
http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?Cr=12&R=10041541&keywords=&trecs=16&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal |1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&__sid=12EE992D15C3&__Nne=15&__Qpb=true&seot=1&__N=1216%201282%204294964376%204294964597%20901&silo=1011

Edit: probably the BEST example near your area if im not mistaken :p
just realized this is the same as mine, just diff colour, I just paid 3.5k more for mine.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=10176689&__Qpb=true&Cr=9&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal |1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294964597% 204294964376%20901%204294933127&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&seot=1&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=13&__sid=12FF550E2BAE

I think she liked that one the most, but also saw the silver one. Have a list of about 10 so far.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=10176689&__Qpb=true&Cr=9&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal |1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294964597% 204294964376%20901%204294933127&SearchAction=N&silo=1011&seot=1&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&trecs=13&__sid=12FF550E2BAE

I think she liked that one the most, but also saw the silver one. Have a list of about 10 so far.

Try get her to like the silver one! lol, is it going under finance? The silver one is 2 years younger with 25k less kay's, in the end it's the womens choice lol

True, but sunroof... Trying to avoid finance from lenders if possible, which means finance from me instead.

We spent the last 3 yrs living in Dubai UAE - did not get to drive a Galant sadly - they gave me an Aussie built LHD Camry - but back to the point - over they they were called "moon roofs" cos so hot in day no one would use them except a t night !

Leather is the best for kids, and the pick of the variants per value for money is a SII VRX only missing reverse sensors and BT from the GT

Whats BT? She likes the reverse sensors too, but not so much the colours/prices of the GTs available at the moment.

Whats BT? She likes the reverse sensors too, but not so much the colours/prices of the GTs available at the moment.

BT= Bluetooth, you can control your iphone and answer phones handsfree etc.

defiantly get one with parking sensors or put them in. I got my now ex mrs a series II VRX with leather and it doesn't have parking sensors, im so surprised she hasnt hit anything yet lol

Looked at the silver 100,000km one today, had a few scratches, the drivers seat seemed to rock around a fair bit and creak a lot, most of the sqeaking seems to be the leather against the seatbelt buckle. Theres a patch of leather up on the side near the airbag? thats pulling out a bit too. The accelerator feels really stiff and tight, is that since its electronic throttle? And theres a weird noise coming from the front. How comprehensive is an RAA check compared to taking it down to a workshop?

Re the seat squeaking - my passenger seat does that and it has hardly ever been sat in - most annoying, but not an indication by itself that the seat is stuffed.
Re the throttle - that shouldn't be stiff and indicates something wrong. The pedal actuates a potentiometer (or two) - it has no cable and the resistance is designed to feel like a normal old style throttle.

Maybe I've just been in cars with floppy throttles? Otherwise it might be too tight. He said its just had the major service and front brakes and tyres done - the front tyres look a bit cheap so I hope the major service wasn't a cheap belt only one. Probably will go have a look at that white one next weekend.