Doesn't seem to be too much info on them, other than that they are generally reliable.
I'd been thinking about replacing the Primera maybe, and noticed a 2l auto Magentis, 05-reg with only 28,000 miles, FSH for £2500.
I was thinking about going there and kicking the guy in the nuts by offering £1800, and seeing what happened next.
Are there any specific weak points to these cars? Mechanically I mean, not badge/handling etc, I can make my own mind up on those scores :)
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Seem to be pretty good, anything that may go wrong tends to be an isolated case, it is from the 'east' afterall. Popular as taxis round my way.
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I guess that might be a problem in itself -- avoiding ex-cabs. Although I'd imagine that the interior would be a giveaway -- these cars are a bit "fantastic plastic" inside and prone to wear with miles I'd guess.
Unless someone comes up with a major failing I'll have a look tomorrow. Is the cambelt a simple belt replacement, or is it an expensive belt+tensioner job?
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I imagine the taxis are the cheap base models, less likely to be autos altho not a dead cert either.
I would imagine a decent low miler wouldnt be too worn inside - my experience of cheap interiors is that they can be harder to keep clean but generally more durable than a soft-touch interior.
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Thing is they're all cheap, and even the base model has lots of electrics. I'm not sure what a base-spec is on these lol.
I think the main problem with the hard plastics is that they scratch easily. The plastic itself will stay put for a long long time, but it'll collect marks.
We'll just have to see -- I might decide that it doesn't drive well (certainly I wouldn't pay anything like £2000 for one if it's even half as bad as the Daewoo Nubira!!), or the guy might want more for it.
Thanks for the comments. I'm in no rush regardless -- the Primera is fine (I just drove it 100 miles there and enjoyed it), and will only change if I pick up a silly bargain.
Edited by jase1 on 26/09/2008 at 01:41
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if the Primera is a good car I'd keep it rather than get a 2 litre Magentis, I drove a friends 2.5 litre Magentis just to compare it with my Nissan QX 3 litre and was distinctly underwhelmed by it.
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Yeah the Primera is a decent car -- it's high miles but still runs really well.
It's rather gruff at times (I think this is down to the exhaust, but there's a bit of clutch release bearing noise even though the clutch was only replaced 15K ago), and it's only the 1.8 so it isn't quick, but generally it's in good order.
I just figured I could take advantage of the cheap prices going around at the minute :)
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Milton Keynes Kia dealer is selling a 2005 Magentis (15k on odo) for £2995 (surely haggling will reduce a bit).
It's hell lot of car for peanut money! (sure dealership will throw a year of extra warranty if it has just expired)
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Guy would not go below £2400 -- too rich for me just now -- I'd have probably bought it if he'd gone about another £200 lower though.
Not a bad car actually -- I was pleasantly surprised by the handling. There was no mistaking that this is a big car, it wasn't as keen as the Primera and there was some body lean, but the steering was positive, the engine sounded quite pleasant, it shifted pretty well (as you'd expect from a 2-litre) and the interior seemed well enough constructed; I could find no flexing parts and there were only a couple of very minor vibrations.
What put me off though was that "full service history" -- it had been serviced once, at 14,000 miles, and had had an oil change 1000 miles ago. Could do better TBH. Car seemed no worse for it though.
I may well revisit this model in the future if another one comes up. Very comfy seats.
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