Mitsubishi Magna 2005 Problems

I WOULD rule out the Commodore immediately because its six-cylinder engine will be too thirsty for your budget. But any cars fitting your price range will almost certainly be unreliable and expensive in the long run. Even though you're stepping up in price range, $5000 will buy an old car that is only marginally better than the cheapies you've been driving. You'll be better if you can spend $10,000 on a car that's still got some life left in it. I'd recommend a five-year-old Nissan Pulsar, Ford Laser, Mitsubishi Lancer or Toyota Corolla. They will still accommodate four and will be much cheaper to run than the Magna, Camry or Commodore.

MITSUBISHI has produced Magnas with dedicated LPG, and there has also been a factory-approved dealer-installed Impco dual-fuel option from TJ. Dual-fuel has been approved for the 380 and will be available in a few months.

MITSUBISHI says: ``With larger bores (90-plus mm), compression ratios around the 9:1 mark and large diameter valves, it is virtually impossible to design an engine that does not have valve/piston contact when a cam belt fails. The level of contact is dependent upon the position in which the cam stops''. The answer is that it's probably good night engine if the belt breaks.

LIKE all carmakers, Holden advises against converting their cars to LPG unless the engine has been modified by the factory. But there are plenty of LPG specialists who will convert your car to dual-fuel. Impco has an excellent dual-fuel system for the 5.7-litre V8 using Sequential Gas Injection.