After 180-odd k, my much loved TS wagon is gone (shoulda just dropped another engine into it), replaced with a 2004 TW ES with 67k on the clock. It's a 3.5 with 4-sp tippy, just picking it up from Northshore Auto (formerly Northshore Mitsu) on Wed / Thurs.

It did feel somewhat more laggy than the TS (which I reckon is just the lazy 4sp) and the brakes are spongy, so will get the brakes bled, basic service and possibly transmission flushed shortly.

Any tips for a newbie on what to look out for when collecting a second-hand, older car? Thanks to the TS, it's been 11 years since I bought a second hand car :D

Sorry if I've put this in the wrong section; still getting a feel of the forum

Welcome to the forum. Don't worry about not knowing your way around. I still haven't figured out how to display an avatar picture yet lol

I use inspection forms because then I don't forget anything. Although I buy old second gens privately so it might not be much help. This is the form I find the best: http://www.raa.net/download.asp?file=documents/document_4015.pdf

11 years for the TS is a good effort, well done. How much did the TW cost you?

I've got a TW ES wagon, 77k on the clock. I love it. I just did my timing belt because it's 5 yrs or 100k, whichever first, I think. So yours might need a timing belt. K-mart was the best price. Replace the 3 platinum plugs in the rear bank while you're at it. Might as well do all the other belts too, won't add much to the cost. At least check them very carefully.

P/steering on mine went very funny a while back but when I realized the fluid was low, a top-up fixed it. So obviously keep an eye on all the fluids. I think it's a good idea to replace all the brake fluid in any car every 4 yrs or so regardless of whether it says so in the book. I would do a FULL service now because you don't really know what's gone on in the past.

*I put AWD twin piston brakes on the front: much better. 380 brakes would be better still. Ask Mal for advice and for the parts. You will need bigger wheels if it has 15". If you go up to 16" wheel, 205/16 is still legal (I think). Michelin Primacy LC tyres (and for that matter, lots of others) give much better grip and ride, and are much quieter, than the B'stone RE92s that might still be on yours. Altho' the RE92 lasts forever. What else? the original radio is crap. The wagon lid struts went but they're cheap & easy to replace. My indicator assembly went but Mal sold me one cheap and it's easy to replace.

Apart from that, it's a fabulous car. Just goes and goes. Reliable. Comfortable. No rattles.

There's lots of good advice here.

Have lots of safe and happy driving.

Its usually a good idea to do the waterpump when doing the timing belt as you can save on labour while everything is off the front of the engine..

What did you pay to have your timing belt replaced?

Was flat out with work, so couldn't get the car till tomorrow.. I'm getting excited about the TW .. Mostly, I am sad about the TS, so that would explain the muted response, and I'm not entirely sold on the bug-eyed lights; I just LOVED the previous nose, but with 67k on the clock, I'm hoping to hang onto this guy as long as the TS. Pretty sure the look will grow on me..

Paid 11k (after I sold the TS for $650/-) which is probably too much, but all the other magna wagons on sale had much higher mileage, more than 100k, and the car feels very tight. I paid too much for the TS too, but I think it paid me off handsomely over the years. Didn't ever kick up a fuss ever, never left me on the side of the road, ever..

I don't want to rubbish anyone, but the TS ran like new for the longest time; serviced at a local auto shop (Don Houghton Auto), but over time we tend to underestimate people's contribution, and so i thought, hell, it's a cheap car, give it to the local KMart.. two services later, the car was shaking, blowing smoke and generally ran like a bucket of crap.

Took it back to Don Houghton and they got it back to 'new' again, didn't have to replace anything major, just back to specs, and good fluids :eek2: but it never really recovered from it. Reading this forum just before i bought the TW, I saw posts that said the V6 was good for 300k, and I do think the bodgy servicing at Kmart really killed the car (I could be wrong as Magnas apparently go a bit funny with valve seals at 200k).

Nevertheless, I'll take good care of this car. First stop will be back to Don Houghton for a full check-up and a complete service. Is this an interference engine? If it isn't I'll keep that away till around March next year.

It comes with steelies, so I might get a set of factory rims off the forum (any idea on prices?) and get decent tyres. I'll check the prices of the Michelins; they are a great tyre, but gee they cost a bit, don't they?

The stock radio is stuffed, so I was thinking of getting a nice bluetooth / USB stereo, and also add the dash speakers (maybe change all the speakers if I can get a decent deal).


The wife drove the TS a lot (P-plater! best car in the world for a P-plater; huge road presence, safe, comfortable, low belt-line -> good visibility, towbar (hit me, mate), quiet, calm, and the just the perfect spot to put the little gps (just in front of where the clock would be on the veradas... :cry: ...), so I'm going to get her those corny my family stickers lol ..

Might get the windows tinted, if good deal, and if it won't make the car claustrophobic.

I really don't like the multi-coloured seats... Is there some way to fit covers that won't be totally lame?

I'd like to get rid of the fake aluminium trim and get a dark trim if possible, but I'm a functional kinda boy, so that's probably not such a priority.

I think I may have caught a bug... :woot:

I can send you a stock radio if you like for the cost of the postage. I don't think it's stuffed, just doesn't sound anywhere near as good as a Pioneer that I bought for $139
I got a set of 4 x 16" Verada mags on Ebay for $120.

I'm intrigued to hear the Kmart servicing problem. I thought they did quite a good job with my timing belt. Do you know what oil they put in?

As per above question - Yes it is an interference engine. Timing belt snapped = Bent valves galore.

about the seats, I've been reading the for sale section, and hopefully I will score some verada seats.. The blue splotches belonged on Hyundai about 10 years ago...ugh..

KMart - No idea about what oils they used, can't see how it could have been very wrong; its not like its a very rare or temperamental car. I think they just basically did the job per a very specific process (check fluid levels, top up, replace filter, blah), but older cars require a keener eye to catch the minor problems before they become an issue. I assume suspension and bits needs a bit of tightening at the time to keep it all together.

Things like.. "mate... your radiator cap isn't holding pressure, so ill hit you up for $25 extra..." if you didn't see the car ever playing up, and the shop keeps whacking on $50 every time you send it in for a service, you tend to think "now why do they keep charging me these silly things.... nothings wrong with my car..? "... lol ... guess you only learn about preventative maintenance once you blow up your car.. lol

For me, kmart were certainly cheaper than Don Houghton, in the short term... actually, I think I went there to buy tyres and then got a voucher discounting service, so gave them a go ... :-\

Cheers for the radio, mate. Appreciate it. I'm weighing up whether I should get a radio with bluetooth ...but if I bail on that, i'll certainly appreciate the stock replacement. I reckon that car would have good acoustics though, so probably worth upgrading the sound a little, esp for added safety of bluetooth phone.

I've asked around the forum for wheels, but shit $120/- for a set of wheels is good value! i'll have a look...

gotta ring around for tyres ... Michelin Preceda LC come in 215/60/16s.. any other recommended tyres?

deen

As per above question - Yes it is an interference engine. Timing belt snapped = Bent valves galore.

Some of us got lucky..Mine snapped at 220... no damage

I really don't like the multi-coloured seats... Is there some way to fit covers that won't be totally lame?


You might want to look into a set of fitted covers - they would need to be airbag friendly (presuming yours has the side airbags in the front seats)? Non-fitted covers are terrible. I've priced them before, around $190 for fronts only. You can check them out online, www.deploysafe.com.au. Other companies probably do them as well.

Cool... I'll check out the fitted covers, thanks for the link. Might also try and be a little patient and see if I find the verada seats on the forum too.. not in a big hurry, particularly since I can't pick up the car till Tuesday.

After chasing me for 2 days, the dealer found that he's missing a part to fix the driver's side rear window that does not work, so car only tuesday. That puts the guy who wanted to buy the TS in a pickle as he was to work on the car over the weekend (it has a defective vehicle notice expiring 8th December), so looks like I might have two Magnas in hand!

used car sales people... ugh.

Well, I got the car, Drives really well, and everything works ..

The seats are not as gross as I thought, no idea where I got the idea that they has blue streaks in them.. It's just an understated grey splotchy pattern that looks quite tidy, so I just scotchguarded the crap out of them. Decent floor mats and the interior is looking nice.

The ride quality of this car is just brilliant, and there is not a sound anywhere. The tyres it came with are pretty decent too, but I thought it would look and ride better with larger alloys. Bought a set of 16" wheels but that didn't quite work out the way I thought it would, so the steelies will be on for now.

The tippy is pretty good, but as all the posts say, the 4-sp gearing is just so wrong, esp. 2nd. Anyway, the auto is good, and it makes for a nice relaxed cruiser.

I'll pick the pioneer from the old car in here as the original unit is stuffed and besides, it doesn't even play mp3s.. Might get the tweeter pods and put in a set of tweeters in the A-pillars; it should help the imaging a lot.

Will get it tinted once I figure out whether my wife will find visibility at night a pain, and if I can price it at $200/- or so for a quality job. It's much too nice a car for me to screw up.

That should give us a pretty nice wagon ... even the dodgy front is growing on me. I think the parabolic headlights were the best, but I can see how the nose is dated; this one looks all new.