1996 Mitsubishi Magna Altera from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Auto transmission is very clunky and jerky - a common problem in this model Magna.

Timing belt snapped, which then broke the water pump and then did the head gasket, all before the temperature gauge got anywhere near overheating! Expensive...

Auto boot release failed (fixed by dealer at no cost)

Strange rubbing/clunking noise when turning left when cold.

CD player failed (radio still works)

Overall, a very competent and quiet car, far superior to similar era Commodore, Falcon or Camry.

Very quiet (so quiet, in fact, that if you have the stereo going, you can't even hear the head gasket blowing...).

Reasonable fuel economy, although not as good as I had hoped.

Shocking resale value at the time, although this has improved slightly in the last couple of years (well, not by a lot, but a little nonetheless).

Very smooth and refined, apart from the auto transmission on mine, which is a rather common problem of this model.

Make sure you get the timing belt changed according to the service schedule (and make sure your dealer follows the schedule). Mine didn't, and it was an expensive lesson.

With all respect at your opinion, but the Mitsubish Magna can be more superior than the Toyota Camry, but is much more inferior if compared with the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore.

The Magna lacks in comfort, luxury and performance for both of this car (specially the Commodore which also is better than the Falcon).

I couldnt agree more with the above comment, I own a VS Commodore and I know several friends with TS Magna's and I find the commodore a much better car, I feel that the mechanics in the magna are inferior. How many TS's driving around these days are blowing blue smoke on take off? probably 5/10.. how many commodores? 0.

I actually agree with the author. While Falcons and Commodores of the time may be more reliable (I'm not sure about reliability of magnas or camrys) I think the Magna is a superior all round car to the Falcon and Commodore. in 1996, the Magna was a new generation model, whille Ford and Holden were still selling the EL and VS.

The Magna and Camry were more or less unanimously agreed (by every professional motoring review/comparison I've seen) to be superior in terms of refinement and build quality, as well as ride quality, etc. I have driven in a magna of this time, and can definately confirm that they are much quieter and much more refined then my parents EL Fairmont, which was at the time superior to a VS Commodore. And this was when compared to the later AU and VT Falcon/Commodore (which were both quite a big improvement over EL and VS).

In terms of performance and handling, the Falcon and Commodore may well have been superior, and also in terms of interior space, but I don't think comfort. EL Falcons have serverely uncomfortable seats on any long drive, and I dotn belive AU was a lot better. Similarly, the interior of my friends' VS Commodore looks (no exhageration) older and cheaper then that of my 87 XF Falcon (when you put aside wear and tear over the years).

I do belive that Commodores and Falcons are possibly more reliable, cheaper to fix, better performing, and probably better handling, but id say that's where the advantages and. And talking about the AU and VT here, not their previous-generation counterparts.

The review here is not about the TS it is about the TE which is far better than the TS and the commodore. A Magna handles much better than a commodore being front wheel drive it'll pull itself around a corner much faster without sliding out like the rear wheel drive commodore would. Plus being front wheel drive it will get its power to the ground much quicker.

I used to own a vr series 2 commodore and had nothing, but trouble with it. I found it was spending more time at the mechanics than on the road, and it only had 180,000kms. because of this, I sold the vr2 and purchased myself a te magna 3l v6. this would have been the best purchase I have ever made, after the addition of some king springs and a sports exhaust (as I had on my commodore also) the magna goes harder off the line and round corners than any commodore I know of, including vy's. The magna has over 210,000kms on it. I now also have a vs wagon as a company car (as well as the te as my personal car) and because of this, I dread going to work. if you haven't driven the two, you should not comment until you do. it will change any holden fan.

The te/tf magnas are a faster more comfortable all-round car, But with the poor quality of their earlier cars has left them with an image that is hard to get rid of. Having owned 14 different makes and models of car, The magna has been the best so far. The performance is about equivalent to a new xr8-xr6turbo or hsv, Having proved this many times to people who are disbeleivers. They aren't the cheapest cars for repairs, but some parts of the falcon and commodore aren't all that cheap either.

I agree with many above, I moved from a commodore to a TE magna and wouldn't look back...

The Magna seems so much smoother and more luxurious than the Commodore. When looking for this car I did look at a few VS/VR's and felt that it was no real change from my VN where moving to a TE it really did feel like I had a 'new' car...

Hop in a EL or VS, in fact any 90's Commo or Falcon and feel the 'quality' plastics. The centre consoles move and shake about whereas the Magna stays put.

Magna = japanese engineering, quality, longevity, refinement, style.

How many EL and VS do you see on the road in good condition with straight panels and intact bumpers?

Hardly any compared with Magna of the same age. And the Magna's in crap condition were probably not looked after by their owners, whereas a Commo and Falcon would just fall to bits without any assistance.

If you need anymore convincing, check out the Commodore and Falcon pages on here. Sure there are more reviews, but the proportion of positive to negative is more than the Magna.

Nuff said. It's a open and shut case.

The right side of the rear bumper on my 2005 Falcon is slowly increasing its gap between the panel its attached to, but is noticeable compared with the left side, it has been involved in no accidents. Also, the wagon boot does not a-line straight when closed.

I am going to look at a VE Magna tomorrow... Unfortunately it is white, as my parents cars are both white. I might save up some money if I get it, and get the colour changed...! I have looked at a VS, as my parents had one. I sat in a VE the other day, and found for the year it was made, that the Magna seemed much more better, and looked nicer. Now, I am a huge Holden fan, but from looking at buying my first car, I really think Mitsubishi is up there. Their quality...

I am yet to drive one, and hopefully will tomorrow if I like it, and will then be able to see what I think of the car as a whole.

Any ideas on a nice colour in the car? Does blue match?

Cheers.