Hi Guys,

Still shopping for a low Km wagon - and sifting through all of the trickery! Amazing what some people will try if'n you don't go in Eyes Wide Open! :tired:

I have located a couple of low Km TJ's; one private and sounds really genuine and the other a dealer who claims his Km's are too (but he IS a dealer). Both are asking about the same at $6990 including RWC. Two questions:

a) Are the 2001 TJ's - all 3.5 Litre?
b) Is this pricing reasonable for a low K car?

Steve

According to redbook you could still get 3.0l in the executive models in 2001.

Personally $7k for a 2001 magna wagon seems obscene to me, i just paid faaaaar less for a 2001 sports sedan. Although we don't have to worry about RWC in SA so maybe that inflates prices? I would think there would be alot better options if you willing to pay 7k for a magna wagon.

Personally $7k for a 2001 magna wagon seems obscene to me, i just paid faaaaar less for a 2001 sports sedan. Although we don't have to worry about RWC in SA so maybe that inflates prices? I would think there would be alot better options if you willing to pay 7k for a magna wagon.

I AM shopping around - and genuine low K TJ wagons are asking about that. You can get cheaper ones with 200,000+ on them - but we want low K. There are also some lower K TW's around as well - including one just a few minutes from me; but the lady owner won't budge off her $7,000 price so far - and it's well overdue for the 100,000 service. This means I'd have to pay for it which could add $500-$700 extra.

Steve

If you don't mind me asking Cobra - what did you pay?

Steve

I've got a TJ 2001 sedan (August on the compliance plate) and it has the 3.5L engine.
Had 111,000 km on it, paid $1,580.50 for it 2 years ago (didn't pay the 50 cents lol) was mechanically A1 except for the overdue cam belt, but needed some work (read: hail dents fixing, full respray, inspections for rego in SA.) Interior was pristine though.

Also bought a TL wagon (04/2004) with 136,000 km on it for $6,500 4 months ago, this time no bodywork needed but servicing needed updating (cam belt, rocker cover gaskets). Came from a dealer so I judged the car's value from it's condition rather than speedo reading. lol

For the sorts of prices you quote, a TL or TW wagon should be possible in a private deal. Or look elsewhere for a cheaper but good TJ.
Good ones are getting scarce though, there were only 2 TL wagons with low Km in all of Adelaide when I was shopping for one. The other one is still advertised at $8,800 , mine was advertised at $7,500 but I told him I wouldn't bother with any warranty claims if he brought the price down. (Mainly because dealer warranties don't cover neglected servicing, or wear and tear items, and they will always try to squirm out of any warranty work.) Had to fill out a stat dec in front of a JP though.

Just remember someone paid about $32K for that TW when new, so asking $7K is not unreasonable. Mind you, wait a couple of months and if not sold you may pick it up for $5K.

Just remember someone paid about $32K for that TW when new, so asking $7K is not unreasonable. Mind you, wait a couple of months and if not sold you may pick it up for $5K.

Yeah - its one of the reasons we've zoomed in on that model - they've depreciated outta sight. Sad really, apart from their bug eye looks - which I hated when they first came out; they have everything going for them!

Steve

That's what happens when a car model is discontinued, or the manufacturer shuts up the local factories.
Depreciating from $32K to $6.5K in 8 and a half years like my TL did is pretty sad really. 80% depreciation.
TL/TW have electric driver's seat, 4 air bags, tippy 4 speed shift, climate control, and cruise control as standard in the base model, so they are pretty well optioned up. Be good if you could pick up the 5 speeder though.

Be good if you could pick up the 5 speeder though.

The one I've mentioned from the lady owner nearby is a 5 speed and on LPG, so I guess she wasn't being too unfair in asking $7,000. But then the 100,000 is due (say $700) and we want a towbar ($600); so were hoping to get her to sharpen her pencil. She says it has got to go, because she's going O/S - so who knows, maybe if we hang out a bit?

Steve

$7k for a low km TJ doesn't seem to be outside the realm of possibility, as obscene as it seems. Though, up here I have seen a mint KJ2 Verada Ei wagon with approx 130k for less ($6450), but on the other hand, I have also seen a low km TH wagon for $7999(!)

Ultimately, a car is worth what the buyer is prepared to pay for it.

I have a March 2001 TJ Magna with the 3.5L engine (I think it was optional, or the 6G72 was optional). I paid $1400 but that was without reg and roadworthy. So far I have spent almost $700 on it to buy brakes, rotors, brake pedal pad, timing belt kit, spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, oil filter, oil, brake fluid, front bumper bar reo.

I need both the front seat belts for it as well which Mitsubishi quoted me $411.10 (for both). Driver side costs $139.70 and the passenger side costs $301.40. Even they couldn't tell me why there is such a bit difference in price and why the passenger side costs more then the driver side.

Victoria always have higher prices than most of the country; especially QLD. Wagon's are also more pricey than sedan's as well.

7k seems a little ambitious for a 11 year old magna, but if its in pristine condition then I think it would be worth close to there.

The prices for magna's in the used car market have really seem to slow down recently, and the average 2002-2003 magna sits around the 4.5-5.5k mark (depending on condition).

Steve, be careful with only looking at km's. It really isn't everything. I'd advice you to rather be critical of maintenance over km's. I'd much rather have a 150km magna that has been maintained and all problems/repairs fixed on time, than a 80km neglected magna that has been abused. I've seen magna's pop up with 200+ km's with a full list of parts they've replaced and really there was nothing left for the next buyer to do in the coming few years.

Car's get to the certain point where many expensive things need to be replaced from the driveline and in some cases it'd be better to buy a car with higher kms that have had these issues fixed by the previous owner, than reaching that point in the car's lifetime, and then having to spend even more money to replace/repair those issues.

If you want a wagon with looks and features, try find the sportwagons. These came with 5sp auto gearboxes, sports suspension, full ground effects kit, vrx interior, rims, power windows, climate control, sports dash and more. Getting rare, but not impossible to find. I think they look great for a wagon. Have lots of power for the highway and city. Fit with lpg and you'll be sweet for a long time.

Steve, be careful with only looking at km's. It really isn't everything. I'd advice you to rather be critical of maintenance over km's. I'd much rather have a 150km magna that has been maintained and all problems/repairs fixed on time, than a 80km neglected magna that has been abused. I've seen magna's pop up with 200+ km's with a full list of parts they've replaced and really there was nothing left for the next buyer to do in the coming few years.

If you want a wagon with looks and features, try find the sportwagons. These came with 5sp auto gearboxes, sports suspension, full ground effects kit, vrx interior, rims, power windows, climate control, sports dash and more. Getting rare, but not impossible to find. I think they look great for a wagon. Have lots of power for the highway and city. Fit with lpg and you'll be sweet for a long time.

Hey MagnaPI - thanks for your input! I'm using K's as a guide and then Service history and a look-see to focus on mechanical condition. Both cars that have caught my eye - a TJ and a TW have book services done, though the TW is 26,000 overdue for the timing belt.

The sportswagon side of things would be great if I were buying for me - but it will be for my wife and our hounds; so overdoing the cosmetic side would be pointless. Mind you - since hanging out with you guys here I can see a Magna sedan for myself in the near future! :woot:

Steve

If you don't mind me asking Cobra - what did you pay?

Steve

$1800

$1800

$1800 bucks! Man - nothing in that range here - except if I was to accept HUGE KM's I guess!

Steve

if the car is in good condition and has low KMs, anything around the 6 - 7k mark sounds about right to me. i was dumbfounded that i got my TJ VRX for $4500. no more than a week after having it parked at work, people were asking if i was selling and offering as much as 8k for it. the value of a car seems to change depending on the person who wants it and how badly they want it.

hi everyone i bought a vic plated 2002 magna exc series 2 for $8000 from a mob in Eden ( my ford done a head) it had 87,000 on the clock, it came with tow bar electric brakes for vans and full service history.

i think it depends on the area your looking

You need to keep an open mind as to what you will pay and be prepared to spend money on it as soon as you bring it home.

I found my brother's car (96 te altera) which had leather, an immaculate interior and 248,000km on it. It had front panel damage. $800 for the car. The reason the guy was selling is that he couldn't afford the $2300 in alleged damage.

Bonnet: $60
Guard: $45
Bumper: $60
Headlight: $40

Will repair it all in a day.

It's then getting a 3.5l with 118,000km and a manual gearbox. Also getting new front and rear subframes off the same car (tj 2001). I will then sell that wreck for $150 + whatever I get for parts on it.

So, $205 in panel repair and $900 in mechanical bits.

$1105 + $800 purchase price for the car is a $1905 car exactly how we want it with low km and in perfect condition. To buy a car in that condition would have cost around 4k.

Catching my drift?? Cheap cars are often the way to go, if you are prepared to spend some of your remaining cash on it, do a bit of research, buy a few tools and get your hands dirty.

Cheap cars are often the way to go, if you are prepared to spend some of your remaining cash on it, do a bit of research, buy a few tools and get your hands dirty.

Amen! But to forgot to mention the pride that comes from a DIY resurrection. lol

Amen! But to forgot to mention the pride that comes from a DIY resurrection. lol

That's the most important part :)