Good thing or bad thing?

GrumpyGel · Apr 8, 2019

Considering buying a Freelander to replace the remodeled Toyota Starlet that is no more.

There's a 1998 1.8 that's for sale that's literally just had the HG done. The workshop that did the HG is selling on behalf of the owner (don't know why) and say it "Runs and drives mint".

What's people's thoughts on whether its a good thing the HG has just been done or a bad thing? It literally has only covered a few Ks on the new HG. I know nothing about the workshop's reputation.

The car's over a 2 hour drive away (and drive home!) so its not like I can just pop round and have a look - if I go there its on the basis I'm buying it.

freelance · Apr 8, 2019

Mainly depends on whether it’s the first time the hg has been replaced, or the umpteenth replacement ?

GrumpyGel · Apr 8, 2019

freelance said:
Mainly depends on whether it’s the first time the hg has been replaced, or the umpteenth replacement ?

Yeh, dunno on that. Looking at the history of the car, it was taken off the road some time in 2013 and then made road legal again beginning of 2017. It hasn't been used much since then either and has missed dates that it is supposed to be WOFed (MOTed) - eg it was WOFed on 18/1/2017 so its next WOF was due 18/7/2017 but it wasn't WOFed until 8/1/2018. I don't know its history since then but its hardly traveled any Ks.

The guy selling it says the only thing wrong is that the ODO display is 'breaking up' and he's quoting a milage of 179k KMs - which I'm presuming is 189k KMs... the last WOF tests (that I can see) were...

2018-Jan-18 WOF 189,756 Km (failed once before pass)
2017-Jan-11 WOF 188,169 Km (failed twice before pass)
2013-Jan-18 WOF 184,568 Km
2012-Jul-16 WOF 180,932 Km

freelance · Apr 8, 2019

100,000 miles, so possibly the second time it’s had a gasket

htr · Apr 9, 2019

Where is it and what $$? bear in mind I paid $1k for mine so I hope its $1.5k ?? no more than $2k.

Alibro · Apr 9, 2019

At 100K miles it's either the 2nd or 3rd HG but pure pot luck as to whether the HG was done correctly or the head was cooked.
I guess if you can get it cheap enough then it might be a good car.
You'd love how nippy the K series is compared to the L series.

Nodge68 · Apr 9, 2019

If I do a K series HG replacement, I do it properly. I'd fully expect that to be the last HG it will need.
Do it properly, and do it once.

digby · Apr 9, 2019

Hi Grumpy - hows things ?

get yourself a nice Td4

Nodge68 · Apr 9, 2019

digby said:
get yourself a nice Td4

I believe they're rare in NZ, and expensive if one can be found.

teddywood1 · Apr 9, 2019

if it has had a skimmed head put on or at least the original head skimmed and the later gasket on all will be good. probably the owner of the car could not afford the bill like my friend did the garage sold it kept the money for the job and gave him the rest.

Good thing or bad thing?

GrumpyGel

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freelance

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GrumpyGel

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freelance

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htr

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Alibro

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Nodge68

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digby

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Nodge68

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teddywood1

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