Opinions on 2000 MITSUBISHI MAGNA TJ VR-X

[GTENVY]

Hey guys,

as the tittle suggests, just after opinions on the 2000 MITSUBISHI MAGNA TJ VR-X. Not really familar with bits are missing vehicles but our 19 y.o likes the magna.

We found this one on carsales:
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/mitsubishi-magna-2000-12086021?base=1216&vertical=Car&cr=9&eapi=2&__N=12 16%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294964597%204294 964374%20904&silo=Stock&Range=Price:Min,Max~1|Year :1999,2000&sort=default

Would like some opinions and advice on problems they have etc.
Thanks in advance.
Rich

[RHR]

They are a good car. Just make sure the timing belt has been done. They are due at 100k and 200k.

I had a TL Vrx awd and it was a terrific car.

[Ford_The_Win]

Had one in the family for five years and 100,000 kays - the only things that were replaced were the timing belt, muffler and set of brake pads. And the central locking remote control stopped working. A very well built and reliable vehicle the Magna.

[03 GHIA]

Brother had one. Great car. The only things over 5 years that were done outside usual services, was the upper engine mount (easy DIY)
and the central locking remote pulled apart and cleaned as it stopped working.


.

[aussie muscle]

i've never had one, but they sure look nice in vrx bodykit.

[Mickxr8]

Was your 19 yr old taught to drive in a fwd or rwd ? , this makes a bit of difference believe it or not , back on topic, magnas are guite a nice car if well looked after and serviced on time .

[GTENVY]

Originally Posted by Mickxr8

Was your 19 yr old taught to drive in a fwd or rwd ? , this makes a bit of difference believe it or not , back on topic, magnas are guite a nice car if well looked after and serviced on time .

He's still learning atm believe it or not lol. I'm going to be teaching him in both the Focus the territory and the EB XR8. I want him to have a wide range of experience in driving different vehicle types in different weather conditions.

[EDManual]

get the awd one, they are a car that you can be proud of! And have a slight rear wheel drive bias when pushed in slippery conditions. Good fun!

[Nic85]

Originally Posted by EDManual

get the awd one, they are a car that you can be proud of! And have a slight rear wheel drive bias when pushed in slippery conditions. Good fun!

The AWD suffers a 150kg weight penalty, is much thirstier on fuel, and more expensive to service due to the extra diff. Also, it's a 50:50 torque split front to rear, just like an Evo.

The Magnas are a good car. I've owned a couple in my time, both were reliable and have plenty of go.

Things to look for are: Has the timing belt been done? (as others have said, it's due every 100k and is expensive - $1000) If it's an auto, make sure the transmission fluid is pink/red and not brown/black. If it's brown, simply walk away. The transmission is on its way to stuffed and will cost $3k for a reco unit installed. I can't stress this enough. The service book says to service these transmissions every 100,000kms, but by then the fluid is brown and the damage is done. They need to be serviced every 50k minimum. There's a design flaw with the auto boxes pre 2003 (TL) where the wave spring inside the gearbox can break and will eventually become lodged in the oil pump = bye bye gearbox. A healthy service life seems to remedy this.

Common things are the front engine mount on the drivers side perishing due to being FWD, remote central locking fobs failing, front and rear windscreen rubber seals failing.

Then there's the usual stuff of listening for suspension knocks, power steering whine on full lock. Make sure it's got a good service history.

The Magna was/is a really reliable family sedan, just make sure at 19, he treats it as such. If he starts flogging it around, things will break.

Let us know how you go.

BTW: Link in the OP is broken I think.

[BadMax]

My parents had the first of the new shape a TE 3lt V6, only thing done outside normal services was a steering rack due to a leak in about 10 years of service.
Wife has a TJ Ralliart, a little different and a little more expensive due to only 400 being built but just as reliable. Was faster in it's day than either Ford or Holdens 6's including the supercharged Commodore six and iirc it was also quicker than both 8's until the Ls was released.

As has been said, service history is important just like any car, trans fluid if it goes brown does not automatically mean a rebuild.

It's an unasuming car with a bit of pace, comfort and safety without the attached bad stigma of a Commodore so should be cheaper to insure. Oh, new parts are dirt cheap!

[GTENVY]

Originally Posted by Nic85

BTW: Link in the OP is broken I think.

Yeah it is

Oh well, if any one can be bother to look it up the vehicle id on car sales is SSE-AD-538894. Its got 145,000 kms, manual, looks like aftermarket wheels, full body kit. They want $6500 but I would think I could knock them down a fair bit.

[GTENVY]

Originally Posted by EDManual

get the awd one, they are a car that you can be proud of! And have a slight rear wheel drive bias when pushed in slippery conditions. Good fun!

None for sale in W.A atm and they do command a bit of a premium over the the FWD model.

[mrih8hsv]

Have to say magna"s are a great car, i worked for mitsubishi as a mechanic and besides a few minor issues (recalls) eg fuel sender unit. not much went wrong. If they are looked after (as people say timing belt ever 100k) The 3.5 is alot better in my opnion but have seen a mates 3l go to over 300k. I currently drive a tj 2001 3.5l as a daily (wife drives the falcon) and it goes great with a kn filter and cat back 2.5 inch exhaust.

[AndyXR6T]

I had a 04 TL VRX for 6 years. Only problem I had was the cat converter needed replacing twice. The first time was under Mitsubishi warranty still and the second I got an after market put on and not an issue since.
I serviced it every 10k (11k when I bought it, sold it with 105k) and never had a mechanical issue. Great cars but for some reason everyone runs when they hear the name "magna" lol

[AndyXR6T]

Ps I was told the timing belt needed changing at 90k, not 100k like majority of cars????

[4.0i OHC]

Understeer is the word of the day with these cars; turn in is definitely not up to Falcon standard. However, for a young driver, this 'safe' type of handling may very well be what you desire. This car features a very comfortable, well built, and well laid out interior. The motors (especially the 3.0) are also not known for being reliable, although when running correctly they're far ahead of the Holden and Toyota V6s (although not a patch on the SOHC Falcon 6). However, there's the niggling problem of safety; these were not as safe as their competition, and are actually said to be a downgrade from the previous model (which most certainly was very safe compared to the competition) by UCSR. Not a bad choice but I'd personally go for an AU Falcon.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Andy XR6 Turbo

Ps I was told the timing belt needed changing at 90k, not 100k like majority of cars????

I was told the same, but only from a servicing point of view. The belt is due at 100, but with service intervals of 15k, it's either 90 or 105, and they (Mitsu) prefer to do it early rather than late.

I have a 2008 model 380, which is like a BF to AU comparison - ie essentially the same car as a VJ, just upgraded somewhat. The VJ in VR-X spec is a good looking car, with plenty of room and power (not a V8 beater, but certainly as quick as a 4.0 falcon), and not bad economy.

[Ben73]

I had one as my first car. Not VRX just a sloara.

Check the oil cap and its seal. They are a known problem on magnas apparently.
Mine would blow oil all over the engine bay.

[Ezz]

Go the 3.5 lt VR-X if you can. I could not recomend a better first car for anyone. Value for money, reliability and even the looks factor, the 3rd gen Mitsu Magna's are right up there with the best.

I've posted these on another thread once before, may as well show you.
I've had plenty of Magna's, and I swear by the 3rd gen magna. Especially the Ralliart and VR-X.
Unfortunately I had to sell my Flame Red Ralliart (build no.083). I'd did some nice work to that car... in the end she had 154.3kw @the fronts where as stock they have between 135 & 140kw @the fronts.

Anyway, if you wanna read up on them go for it. Check out Aussie Magna Forum to get some sound advice if you'd like too.

Here are some pics of my old Ralliart and my VR-X... which I still have now!

2002 Ralliart Magna



[IMG=http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3279/scasn05.jpg][/IMG]



2002 Magna VR-X SII

[SSD-85]

I still have a love affair for Magnas. There I said it.

And Ezz, your shape is my favourite. A very horn looking Magna. Massive thanks for the pics.

[IceValk85]

i do like the red rallyart, and would gladly own one, despite my hatred for all things magna and 380 lol!

[RobVee]

gotta love the frameless windows. great cars the 3rd generation magna especially with the 3.5 V6!!!

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by RobVee

gotta love the frameless windows. great cars the 3rd generation magna especially with the 3.5 V6!!!

They are even better when converted to 3.8

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

They are even better when converted to 3.8

Even better with the 3.0 mivec...

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by RobVee

gotta love the frameless windows.

Yeah gotta love the wind noise and the leaks

Oh dont forget to budget for rear spark plugs, rarely are they ever done because the engine has to be unbolted and shifted over to do them.
The are platinums are supposed to last 100k kms (but are normally stuffed well before then)

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Yeah gotta love the wind noise and the leaks

Oh dont forget to budget for rear spark plugs, rarely are they ever done because the engine has to be unbolted and shifted over to do them.
The are platinums are supposed to last 100k kms (but are normally stuffed well before then)

I am yet to see a magna leaking from a window seal and never noticed any wind noise :-)
Rear plugs are done by removing an intake plenum - not that hard to do.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

I am yet to see a magna leaking from a window seal and never noticed any wind noise :-)
Rear plugs are done by removing an intake plenum - not that hard to do.

Ha. A mate at work has one and so does my dad.
You can see daylight through the gaps
Around the rear door windows are particulary bad.

[RAPID_BA]

i know someone who just traded one in. it was worn to buggery with 320000km but largely gave him trouble free motoring. didnt change anything major and did a bit of towing.

he also said he embarrassed many eb-au windsor xr8s with its power.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Ha. A mate at work has one and so does my dad.
You can see daylight through the gaps
Around the rear door windows are particulary bad.

If they remove engine to do do spark plugs - wonder what they do to the windows :-)

[raised by monkeys]

always loved the aggressive fronts. Minus rear spoiler and a set of sweet wheels set these off nice. Im in love with 8cyls, but id be happy with one of those rally art magnas... as long as it had leather.