I just bought a tf magna wagon and would like to know from you guys what sort of things you do or check right away with a new car? Cheers.

Check all your fluid levels. Oil should be full, brake fluid should be full, power steering should be full. Top these up as necessary. Change your oil and oil filter. May as well do your front spark plugs while you are at it. (only $15, so why not.)

Check your automatic transmission fluid. It should be a cherry red colour. If it's not, flush it and change your filter

Check your brake pad thickness and check your rotors for obvious scoring. If there is very little brake pad left, change them and machine your rotors. if your rotors are badly scored, replace them. Do pads at the same time.

Check to see if your rocker cover gaskets are leaking. If they are, change the gaskets, clean your PCV valve and degrease your engine. Check for oil underneath your distributor and underneath your timing belt cover.

Jack your car up and wiggle your wheels around. Make sure that there is no play in your wheels (not left to right, but back and forth). If there is play in your wheels, get your wheel bearings checked and replace them as necessary.

Check your cv boots for cracking, if they are cracked, replace the boots. Do the same for your power steering boots.

Turn your key to ignition and make sure all the warning lights come on, especially if you have ABS. (I have seen the ABS light bulb pulled when there is an expensive ABS issue.)

Run your gears and make sure there is no clunking or anything strange. Drive around with the stereo and air conditioning off. Check all the gears from 1st to 4th and make sure there is no hunting or clunking.

Take note of your suspension, make sure nothing is making noise in the suspension area. If there is noise, have a look at your struts and springs to make sure that they are all seated correctly and not worn. Check your bushings if they are making noise.

Pull up your passenger side footwell carpet and make sure that it is dry and there are no signs of coolant leakage there.

Check all your exterior lights and make sure they all work. Replace them as necessary.

I'm sure someone will jump in and add some more, but the above is a good start.

I have heard of people connecting time delay relays to the ABS light... bit harder to catch onto though :P
As for checking the passenger footwell... I was under there and there was no coolant, but clear water. Are you referring to a heater core leak? Mine is a TJ if it makes any difference!

And are the valve stem seals a common problem on these engines? Its a Mitsubishi, so Im suspect :)

If there's clear water then the issue is more likely a leaking grommet. pull all the trim off and have a poke around.

Valve stem seals can be an issue if the car is really badly treated. If the car has had a good life (or even ok life) then it won't become a problem.

Clear water is a water leak not coolant leak, there are a few places this can come from

Valve stem seals in these cars are generally ok, the main issue I have found is people running Magnatec as this for some reason reacts with the seal and makes them go hard. Is a little crazy but I have had so many come in like this now (including several members) that it seems to be the cause

Both OP and third post, we do offer a check over service here if interested

I had the carpet up... What "trim" do you refer to? I wonder if maybe the previous owner may have let water in and didnt realise liquid was sitting below the carpet? I mopped it up anyway, see how it goes!

Magnatec! How ironic :) I thought my car must have had its seals changed to be running smokeless. Nice to hear they arent prone to it :)

get a compression test done too.

If the car runs with no obvious strain or noise then a comp test will come up fine.

ive owned a few magnas and a common thing I HAVE seen come up on my rego checks is rusted reo bars, i do live coastal though so dont know if its a common

I always change all the brake fluid: you have no idea if/when it was last done

- Service History; timing belt and transmission service; These two are at the top of my list. If they have come due and were not completed then you need to make them a top priority.
- Drive shaft boots; only because I've had one fail/leak.
- Rocker cover and cam end cap gaskets/seals.
- Check for other hints on how the car was maintained or owned - tyre wear and brake pedal pad wear, how dirty/dusty was the engine bay or was it too clean indicating a possibly degrease to hide something.

Tyres are a good point. for 4 new performance, or high end tyres, it can cost over $800.