Looking to buy a CJ lancer...

rad000 said:
I was looking very seriously at getting a Ralliart not long ago but there seem to be a lot of owners with broken TC-SST gearboxes. They cost a buttload to fix and even maintenance on a good one costs a lot. There are still good ones around obviously but it was too risky for me.
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Yeah I thought about a Ralliart or used Evo X a while back but the TC-SST gave me second thoughts after hearing of other manufacturers having problems with dual clutch autos and that was before I started looking into if there was many that failed. How often they fail and the cost of rebuilding would be something that you would want to research before buying one.
 
during the early tcsst years, when the box failed outside warranty (2008-2010) models, it was an entire gearbox replacement for almost 10k

now the specific parts are available to purchase from the parts division. normally its the mechatronics unit that fail which cost 2k (prolly less with a trade discount)

id be more wary of the timing chain stretch on the ralliarts and evo x's. RTR have started to repair some now. quite troublesome, you need a mut to reset the chain stretch tolerance in the ecu
 
The man thing ruling out the Ralliart and EVO for me is costs, not just buying them but also running costs.
One of the ones Rigby listed had a GB replaced and cost $4k according to them.

My goal (if I decide to go down this path) is a VRX manual sedan, maybe around 2010 model.
I know the hatch is more practical but I've never liked its rear end.
Really wish they went with a shorter body on the hatch which could have made all the difference.
 
Just wondering how easy is it to get parts like weather shields for the CJ and do they make a rear window sun shield (like on Rigby's CC) I have seen the 'shark' fins you can get for the CJ.

I know it's had to get some cosmetic parts for the CC but the CE-CH are easier as they are newer.

Being low on funds I probably wouldn't be looking at doing any serious mods, just easy stuff like painting wheels/brakes and the middle of the bumper black.
Also dash and floor mats, not sure is I want a tow bar yet.

If it doesn't have tint should I push for them to throw it in for free?
 
Just looked at this one, its a CJ VRX sedan, 09 model with what appear to be a Ralliart bonnet and just in my price range. Don't really like the wheels or the 'racing' stripes but they said they could take car of the stripes. Its only got 74k on the clock which is not bad for a 5yo car. It would come with a 6 year 200,000km warranty.

So a couple of questions, is it worth it for $14990? and whats with the bonnet, did Mitsubishi release a non Ralliart with it or more likely the previous owner did the change, the color matches. Also it have a twin exhaust, is this common for the VRX?
 
Twin exhaust will just be taken from another model most likely, they came standard with twins on a few models (don't ask me which ones, probs ralliart and evo), And if the bonnet is steel, then yes it was taken from another car.
 
The bonnet looks factory, not carbon fiber or anything.

Hey one thing I noticed and never realized but the exhaust on the CJ comes out the back between the engine and firewall, never realized that about the CJ, I guess the scoop and stuff in the bonnet could aid in cooling even without a turbo?
 
Not jumping at it yet but I might take a test drive next week to get a feel for the CJ, didn't look underneath so maybe they have a cat-back to go with those twin exhausts?

I'd be looking at replacing the radio with a screen and GPS at some point, so it's not an issue. Only the latter CJs have the better stereo, this one doesn't have a sub in the boot.

The only wear I could see inside was the gear knob, the leather was worn oh and minor scuff marks on the plastic you drag you feet over at the door, mind you I was only in the car a few minutes.

I don't like the wheels, didn't even check the size they could be 19", anyway they said they might be able to do something about them. Not sure what or if it would cost more, I'd prefer the standard ones over them... not to mention the extra boot space you loose with the full size spare.
 
Here are come pics I took of the car.

The bonnet.


And wheels, they are 18" with 225/40 ZR 18 tyres. Don't really like them but I can paint them or get something else later.
 
You spend so little money on your CC as it is. I doubt you'll be spending money on a CJ with a 14k loan breaking your balls.
 
You're jealous of the EVO/Ralliart bonnet aren't you...

I have some money saved so it wouldn't be a 14k loan and the stupid thing is with a 5 year loan the repayments aren't that high and I'll buy bits I need for the engine conversion as I can afford them, and with some kind help here I can do most of the work myself. First need to sort out a few things.

And having a 2nd car I don't have to worry about getting things done in a weekend and stuff.
 
lancer1993 said:
Just wondering how much would a Ralliart bonnet be worth, like on the car I'm interested in?
http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/detai ... =2&sdmvc=1

Is it uncommon to find them on a non-Ralliart Lancer?
As I said above it appears to be a genuine part and not a cheap one, painted to match the car, even under the bonnet. I'll be taking a closer look next week.
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Unless you can find a second hand one, a new one is probably $1-2k. Not worth spending. You shouldn't put much value on what mods a car has when buying second hand car because when you go to sell it no one else will. In fact cars like Lancers are actually I'd say harder to sell when modded....

As for the rims, they are just cheap crap from Bob Jane, including the tyres on them.
 
They said they can remove the strips, just hope they haven't been on long so you can't see a difference in color on the paint.

I'll see if I can find out more details on the previous owner, doesn't look like they did much else apart from the exhaust, don't know how it sounds yet, will book a test drive today.

Anyone know if the wheels are worth much? They do have some minor gutter marks on the very edge, I could paint them or just sell off the 5 wheels when the tires are due.
Also they did get a 5th one in the boot (I did the same thing with the CC first time around) good in theory if you have a flat but OMG it takes up so much more space in the CJ.
They said they might be able to do something about them, I assume find some stock ones and replace them, not sure if that would cost me more and I'm not sure if they will be new?
Is it worth having a full size spare, I know personally I haven't had many flats in the CC over it's life.

Finding out more this week, if it was white this would be sold already!

Dumb question but buying from a dealer, should I get a mechanic to check it over?
It does come with a 6 year warranty.
 
What insurance company are u with? How can prices be so higher??

I pay same amount for my turbo coupe as I pay for my old N15 pulsar, through NRMA

GIO is alot cheaper though

My 4x4 costs an extra 150/200 per year on insurance but that's coz it's a heavy biach
 
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