Which would you buy ?

[tez]

If Magna's are the go

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MITSUBISHA-MA...QQcmdZViewItem

Might not have cruise or power windows, but its a manual!

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mitsubishi-Ma...QQcmdZViewItem

[Sturmovik]

of course why would you need easy access to spare parts if your car is reliable in the first place? well, that's what a camry owner would tell you anyways heh....

Havnt you heard of the Toyota V6 problems in the US? They settled out of court over issues with 3.5million engines. They extended the warranty on those vehicle's engines to eight years.

[Fatboy]

Mitsubishi 380 will be in your price range if you can hold off for a couple of months Jase... :p

Just get a basic SII VX exec Commodore wagon. Practical, not bad on fuel and parts are $5 a pop on every second corner...

[Southo]

Before I read this bit, I was going to punt that the Camry would be a repairable write off.

Do you know why these were written off, or have you only done the REVS checks on it?

Confirmed,
The Camry owner admitted it after I confronted him about it ( didn't offer the information) - he then went on to say, Hey, I have a green one just like this, also a RWO)

The Magna owner went on to say how he had to make a lot of repairs to the car (and there was evidence of a full respray) but stopped short of admitting it was a RWO.

I will check the Magna details properly at work tomorrow to see why it was a RWO and see what damage there was etc, ie, if it was hail damage 5 years ago, then I don't really mind that much...

[Southo]

Mitsubishi 380 will be in your price range if you can hold off for a couple of months Jase... :p

Just get a basic SII VX exec Commodore wagon. Practical, not bad on fuel and parts are $5 a pop on every second corner...

I wish I could wait that long Paul, Unfortunately I need something to get me to Melbourne in over easter, and I want my Cressida back ASAP..

If I could wait until the end of May - I would have about $17,000 at least to spend if I don't buy anything now.. It's just the wrong timing...

If it were for me - a Povo pack EB Falcon or VR Commodore would do me fine... unfortunately the "princess" won't make the same sacrifices, and I AM NOT leaving my Cressida in Melbourne any longer than absolutely needed, I have already been without a car for at least 4-5 weeks now... I am getting very pissed off....

[tez]

Confirmed,
The Camry owner admitted it after I confronted him about it ( didn't offer the information) - he then went on to say, Hey, I have a green one just like this, also a RWO)

The Magna owner went on to say how he had to make a lot of repairs to the car (and there was evidence of a full respray) but stopped short of admitting it was a RWO.

I will check the Magna details properly at work tomorrow to see why it was a RWO and see what damage there was etc, ie, if it was hail damage 5 years ago, then I don't really mind that much...

I just started to avoid going to look at cars in those parts of Sydney as alot were RWO. Hail damage wouldnt be a concern, although I guess with paintless dent repairs now, the car shouldnt need a respray, apart from areas that mabe needed panel replacement.

[Steve Whitney]

Havnt you heard of the Toyota V6 problems in the US? They settled out of court over issues with 3.5million engines. They extended the warranty on those vehicle's engines to eight years.

no i haven't heard of this.

i'm not wanting to start any pointless debate on which brand is the better one etc etc etc (as my previous comment was partially made in jest) but i can't really understand why "parts are easy & cheap to get" is considered one of the best attributes of a car?!
i dunno, it sounds a little defeatist to me, like you expect something to break every fortnight for some reason.

[Steve Whitney]

I just started to avoid going to look at cars in those parts of Sydney as alot were RWO. Hail damage wouldnt be a concern, although I guess with paintless dent repairs now, the car shouldnt need a respray, apart from areas that mabe needed panel replacement.

try going to the auctions in adelaide, hail damage is almost unheard of.

[Smashed S15 Bloke]

97-00 VT / VTII Calais 3.8L V6 Sedan FTW

1) not povo
2) has cruise
3) it's commodore, its not rocket science
4) parts available in every corner store for not much coin compared to the others.

[Steve Whitney]

97-00 VT / VTII Calais 3.8L V6 Sedan FTW

1) not povo
2) has cruise
3) it's commodore, its not rocket science
4) parts available in every corner store for not much coin compared to the others.

honestly, i could insert "fairmont" "vienta" or "verada" of a similiar age into your quote in lieu of calias, & come to a similiar conclusion.

[Smashed S15 Bloke]

honestly, i could insert "fairmont" "vienta" or "verada" of a similiar age into your quote in lieu of calias, & come to a similiar conclusion.

fairmont maybe, but mitsu's have always had pricier parts... my neighbour has a magna and we cant believe the prices he has to pay (his mitsu dealer is also a holden dealership as well)

[tez]

Posted from another forum

1996 MITSUBISHI MAGNA TE Altera
Price: $6,000ono
Kilometres: 124,000
Body: 4 door 5 seat SEDAN
Colour : White
Interior Colour: Grey
Transmission: 4 speed Automatic
Drive type: Front
Engine: 6 cylinder U Multi-point injected 3.0L (2972cc)
Reg Plate: VJQ 692
Reg Expiry: DEC-2007
Road Worthy Certificate: Yes
Location: Blayney, NSW, 2799

or

1998 VT Holden Berlina V6 3.8L

Well maintained with regular servicing every 5000kms
Just had minor service 2 weeks ago
Odometer reading 170XXX kms
Engine still in perfect running condition
Long rego until 30 Dec 2007

Reserve $7000 Instant $7500
Only post if u are serious interested and we can arrange a time for inspection

scratch on the rear passanger door... would cost around $250 to fix
rest if the paintwork is great
one of the rear light cracked ... works with no problems

[Peter...]

My parents have owned VT and VY Commodores, and for long trips the driver's seat is great, the Aircon is frosty and the fuel economy is brilliant for a car of its size. From what you've listed they'd be where I'd start looking. PS why anyone would buy an Avalon over a Camry is beyond me.

[Captiva Fan]

Given that list (& I'm too lazy to think of other alternatives right now), I'd be looking for a manual 4cyl Accord ... I'm assuming the VTi being a V6 is a typo? Or is it correct that you can't get the 4cyl 'cos they cost more?

It's not as safe a bet in terms of reliability, but if you can get a manual Mondeo ST24 that's probably the alternative that interests me the most. Of course, if it were me I'd probably be considering 940S or 90 Turbo wagons but they're too old (and the other thing is that, if it were me, I'd realise that the chances of finding a good one for sale are stupidly slim - people just don't sell those bastards, the streets of the lower north shore are littered with 940S's that they refuse to sell the greedy pricks ).

PS why anyone would buy an Avalon over a Camry is beyond me.

Price mostly. With Dad's car, we had a look at quite a few cars; the 2003 Avalon was clunkier & more old-fashioned than a Camry which was the same age, but if you compared a 2001 Avalon with the 2001 Camry (which was a different model to the 2003) then the Avalon was a better car (smoother, quieter, etc). They just happened to have upgraded the Camry before the Avalon ceased production.
However ... the 2003 Avalon was cheaper than the 2001 Camry, despite seeming to be a better car.
We ditched the whole Toyota idea though, they Maxima was soooo much better in every way (but then the models we were looking at were not the ones in the $8k price-range - apart from the Avalon).

[HoonBoy]

Given that you want to sell it in 18 months time, I would go for a Camry.