Need help???

[sarp]

Hey, I'm just 19 yr old lad who's gonna buy his first car. So I decided it should be FTO cause it looks pretty nice for its price.
Anyway I found out that generally cars are 100-150k.
How will I be able to understand if engine is almost dead or gonna work a lot? And what is "almost dead mileage" for FTOs?
How much does new engine cost?

[Connor_1994]

mines just done 100,
and ive done all the general stuff, it still goes fine,
just take it for a test drive, and youll notice if theres anything drastically wrong,
you could always buy from a dealer, u get 3 - 6 months warranty, and get it checked over,
might cost a few $$ more though,
and definately make sure it has a road worthy, and look at the engine for obvious signs of mistreatment, or lack of care or any damage
good luck finding one,,
where abouts are you looking

[sarp]

SE QLD.
I even saw one ad that the care is around 250k.

I actually don't know how to test car. I mean I'll obviously if steering wheel is stabilised and if there's any problem with shifting, but I don't know what else I need to test...

[Shane001]

Pay a couple hundred dollars for an RACQ inspection. They'll pick it to pieces so don't be too stressed if there a few little things that need doing but it's the big ticket items that they'll pick up for you.

[dstocks]

Its a V6, so should be good for 300K as long as it hasnt been absolutely caned. Bit hard to tell if this is the case though. Look for one that looks like it has been well looked after and you should be good as this is usually a reasonable indication.

[sarp]

I'm not actually aussie so I don't know the laws and legislations but is it possible to have that inspection before buying the car itself???

[Supplanter]

With the current owner's permission, yes. If they don't want to let you get it inspected, there is probably something wrong with it

[Shane001]

^^ Correct, you organise and pay for it, but the owner needs to make the car available. Don't expect him to reimburse you if there is something major wrong or you decide not to buy it. If you want to be really good about it offer to give him a copy of the report whether you buy it or not. And let him know up front that you're not going to expect him to fix all the minor things they'll pick up (like new spark plug leads lol!). They'll basically prepare a report compared to a brand new car! If you get a good inspector though he'll be able to give you a recommendation on whether the car is worth buying or is likely to be a lemon. That's the important thing.

PS: When I was living in Qld years ago I had a Subaru for sale. A purchaser wanted to do a report so I said no problem. The report came back with a long list of items, including tyres weren't new lol! The purchaser then wanted me to discount the car to replace all the items listed. Told her to go get ****ed! lol! Suffice to say she wasn't happy. Sold it the following week for the full amount

[sarp]

So
1st have an appointment for my own test(if it shifts properly etc...)
2nd ask the owner if I can arrange RACQ inspection
3rd Depending on the paper buy or not.

So I still have a question that has not been answered. How much new engine costs???

[Shane001]

u can generally get import engines around 100K for around a grand give or take $500.

[sarp]

I read it on few sites on the internet as well as a mate here warned me about that too.
The model I should get is called "gpx" because of engine difference also mivec is important fact too.
But are those really fact that is going to change the mileage of engine?(like an engine with mivec can work up to 300k but w/o mivec up to 200k or something?)

[Taz]

IMHO if your going to buy an FTO for your first car, i would advise not getting a mivec engine. Purely for the fact that i personally think its too much power for a fresh p plater. Also the fact that you will be a red p plater in an import car. Screams out to cops and if you have that extra power that your tempted to use you only have 4 points. The non mivec ftos are fine for power and you hardly hit mivec anyway imo if your obeying speed limits. However if your set on the GPX and nothing changes your mind, make sure you find a good manual with no problems, im sure an experienced club member close to you will be happy to come out and inspect an FTO with you or give you a lot of useful pointers.
As far as mileage goes, putting statistics aside, i get about 500 to a tank, and thats probably being more lead foot than most drivers, not insane but i shift at 4k when i should probably shift at 3 - dont have that much willpower to see the difference for a week but highway is much better (700) so im not sure on what GR stats are, but i would assume that only hitting mivec would change economy noticeably?
Good Luck with finding a nice FTO anyway mate.

[sarp]

I will not use an aussie driving license so I'm not gonna have any P.
Speed is not my concern as long as It'd have good ability to be durable and handling.
What I am concerned is the engine. It should be good one without any hassle till 250-300k.