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VITARA JX Estate new motor or not

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:18 pm
by Richo GU
Looking to purchase a JX estate 94 model awesome nic fuel injected but with 400 000 on clock. As a potential buyer should we be concerned the amount of kms and what would the approx cost to pop a recon motor in. Its going to be my young blokes first 4wd so probably need to consider running cost of something that has seen kms as well :roll:

Re: VITARA JX Estate new motor or not

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:02 pm
by Guy
Richo GU wrote:Looking to purchase a JX estate 94 model awesome nic fuel injected but with 400 000 on clock. As a potential buyer should we be concerned the amount of kms and what would the approx cost to pop a recon motor in. Its going to be my young blokes first 4wd so probably need to consider running cost of something that has seen kms as well :roll:


To re power I would figure around 800 or so and do the clutch while I was at it

Unless it is real cheap I would keep looking, at that age your looking at alot of "Little issues" that ad up to be a huge PITA ..

I remember I had a kingswood as a "first car" because they were easy to fix .. which was great as it always needed work .. It did teach me how to scrounge pretty well for bits to repair things .. amazing what you can do with a leatherman a meter of fencing wire and some chain

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:09 pm
by cj
I agree. It would want to be amazingly cheap for that mileage as the if it hasn't already been done then the motor is probably going to be needing a rebuild in the near future. Where are you and what sort of dollars ar e you looking at spending? Any particular reason for the lwb?

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:24 pm
by Richo GU
cj wrote:I agree. It would want to be amazingly cheap for that mileage as the if it hasn't already been done then the motor is probably going to be needing a rebuild in the near future. Where are you and what sort of dollars ar e you looking at spending? Any particular reason for the lwb?
They want $4900 so probably get for $4500. Would prefer a short wheel based JLX Soft top but I think in the price range of $4500 to $6000 will get me the carby version(say 92 to 94 model), I spose thats not to bad cause they where reliable if not a little underpowered. Would like the fuel injected one but the early ones of those had issues with the head but having said that they should have recitified that along the way of general wear and tear. From up Newcastle area so looking in the trading post, carpoint etc etc etc. Don't mind the feroza either but they where discontinued around 98, reckon the zooks the way to go with parts availabilty etc etc. The young bloke cant wait we have been a family with a fourby always and have spent a lot of wasted days on stockton beach fishin and on the quad. Anyway i prefer him to go the fourby way rather than wanting a skyline mmmm way out of his price range anyway, at least he can have some fun. Cheers

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:26 pm
by Richo GU
Just adding to that my first was an LX torana 173, matt black bonet yellow with duck tale, then next a 1972 combi :cool:

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:33 pm
by cj
Too many $$$. You can do better than that although having someone impatient doesn't help. Try carsales.com.au as well in the private sellers. They have some good ones turn up from time to time. I've bought my last three cars from up in NSW as it was worth the drive for the savings. You may find a 16v for that money but you should be able to pick up a really good low mileage carby easily.

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:54 pm
by Eddy
Far too many $. It's the same as mine, and I would only get Five max.
Keep looking, unless you can get it for half that.

Example ... a swb was sold from here last week (?) for $1500 in very good nick also.

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:48 pm
by Richo GU
cj wrote:having someone impatient doesn't help.
Na he will be patient for as long as it takes, will take a look at car sales, and see what there. Would it be better to pay a little more for a latter model?

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:53 pm
by Eddy
Richo GU wrote:... Would it be better to pay a little more for a latter model?
yep ... either that or less for an earlier/better one. ;) Older & simpler (carby) can also be a good learning platform too, both driving and maintenance. :cool:

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:26 pm
by =SKB=
$4500 would buy a very good Sierra.

No speeding tickets to worry about and built to take a thrashing.

Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:42 pm
by 12uke
Keep looking I picked up 2 JLX wagons one a 1992 model and 1994 model. The 94 was a repo with some of plastic missing from the inside of the car and the other one was a private sale. Picked up both of them for 4k a pop. :D