Known higher mileage issues

[Decado]

You two are a bad influence. Just when I have finally convinced myself it’s time to get rid of mine ......

[leadfoot6]

Personally, and in view of the fact that your Solara has been maintained so well, I strongly believe that you would be hard pressed to find an equivalent replacement vehicle for sensible money, even after the added cost of reconditioning your current gearbox.

But, once again, I can understand the need to help entry/exit issues.

Having said that, my 95 year old mother finds my Magna more comfortable to ride in than my brothers well maintained 2004 model Jeep Cherokee/Liberty which at standard ride height is too high for her to enter/exit comfortably.

My Magna rides on lowered VRX spec Dobinsons springs, so it is about 30-40mm lower than standard, and presents no major problems for her, even though she is suffering from extremely severe arthritis.

[Decado]

I hear you.

I have sourced a BA Mk II with 47000 on the clock I can own for $6k with a years rego.

As you said it’s the entry/exit issues for the wife that is my main concern. I can manage for a few years yet but she takes an age to get her legs into the footwell. On my brothers falcon the extra few inches makes a difference for her.

I really do love the Magna even if mine’s only a 2wd unlike yours and AN Observers.

I have booked the car into a specialist early next week for a definitive diagnosis. I’ve advertised it as a whole unit and to part it out this afternoon but if no one steps up over the weekend to make an offer I’m not absolutely ruling out repairing her. I’d even look at a manual conversion if the gearbox specialists say that’s a value option. Including the work done recently that would take it to ten grand which is a lot to drop on a Magna over 6 months though, I’d want to be able to drive her more than a few more years if I did the gearbox.

Also my experience is such that I do get frightened that a week after doing the box the heater core will let go . If I did the gear box the heater core would be the last of the ”usual suspects” I haven’t addressed. That’s probably just paranoia at this point I suppose.

[leadfoot6]

I hear you.

I have sourced a BA Mk II with 47000 on the clock I can own for $6k with a years rego.

As you said it’s the entry/exit issues for the wife that is my main concern. I can manage for a few years yet but she takes an age to get her legs into the footwell. On my brothers falcon the extra few inches makes a difference for her.

In the mid 2000's I had a few different vehicles as company cars at the used car dealerships I was working for.

At various times I had both TJ Magnas(Penrith Mitsubishi) and BA Falcons(Sinclair Ford).

I must admit that I never considered the different sizes of the door openings, but now that I am much heavier than I used to be, I am starting to notice the somewhat restricted entry/seating position of the Magna.

The actual size of the door openings is something I have not considered before, although I steered away from Falcons when ultimately deciding to buy a Magna as the seat/steering wheel relationship did not seem to suit me on the Falcon as much as it did on the Magna.

Being in the passenger seat would, of course, be a different matter.

Also my experience is such that I do get frightened that a week after doing the box the heater core will let go . If I did the gear box the heater core would be the last of the ”usual suspects” I haven’t addressed. That’s probably just paranoia at this point I suppose.

If I was living in Queensland, at least near warmer coastal areas, I would be less inclined to worry about the heater core leaking.

A "shortcut" fix is to not rip everything apart, but merely modify the coolant hose just in front of the firewall to bypass the heater core inside the cabin.

It is an easy, sensible procedure that avoids anything up to $1000 labour and is what I will be doing if/when my heater core leaks.

There are a quite large number of threads dealing with this well known heater core issue and I will point you to them if requested.

[leadfoot6]

You may have already seen these, but they might help make entry/exit a bit easier.

https://www.disabilityshop.com.au/ca...l-seat-lb0340/

[an observer]

The mechanic that tends my car advised to move it on at 175,000ks. There are days i regret ignoring that advice.

Since then i'd had to do the radiator, thermo fan, inner and outer cv boots, windows switches and gearbox. It adds up.

But any car can develop faults and the ba mkii is no exception. Over at ford forums there is much enlightenment about known issues. The ba may need new bushes and suspension components. And presuming its the six speed auto, the zf tranny can experience what has been termed 'milkshaking', where coolant mixes with transmision fluid, turning it white and frothy, with catastrophic results.

A full rebuild is then required.

Opinions abound, but zf (who made the transmission, and later licensed it to chinese manufacturers) advised Ford they had doubts about its block casting process. Zf insisted that casting sand residual in the block was clogging the heat exchanger resulting in failure.

There is an entire industry out there doing external transmission coolers as a result.

Short story is... be aware that low mileage cars dont necessarily guarantee anything. Even the btr four speed in the mark i's can fail prematurely.

Dont get me wrong, im a big fan of the ba and bf and seriously considered one, but as leadfoot referred to, that drivers seated position has always generated controversy. It doesnt feel right for me, though many others disagree.

Anyway, on with the show....

[Custom Magna LE]

Every car is different but I have had a fantastic run from my 02 T J Le model, bought it new, the starter wore out at 250,000K, radiator replaced at 325,000K heater pipes replaced ( big job) needing removal of Dash, Auto reconditioned 347,000K over the past three years shocks and exhaust also. Motor has never been touched except for cam seals. I cannot complain, been a very reliable car and I plan on keeping it for as long as possible. I fitted Pedders shocks three years ago, bad news, will be replacing them soon.

[an observer]

That's a great run from your Magna. Hopefully it keeps going for you.

Back from visiting south australia and there seem to be more magnas and 380s still on the road there. Not trashed, or failed clear coats. Just used and driven everyday.

[Billy Mason PI]

561,000 on mine now and it's leaking oil to the point that I am checking the levels each weekend. Well, it's been leaking oil for years but now it's dripping onto the floor so it won't pass rego come October unless I can conceal it somehow because the cost to fix will be more than the value of the car. That said, at the inspection last year the oil leak was noted but as it was not dripping onto the floor it passed. Apart from that everything is going well.

[an observer]

Billy, that's brilliant. How fastidious have you been with oil and belt changes?

I get the oil changed twice yearly, which is about every 7500ks. The belt every 75ooo, which is due again next year at 225000. Not looking forward to paying for that.