Would you buy Mitsubishi?

[Kiske]

I actually looked at the 'final' evo model they had gotten in at the local dealership. Just wasn't 100% in love for the cost.

[Jegan_V]

Working with fleet cars, in general I'd say yes a Mitsubishi is worth considering depending on circumstances. I'll go over what I've driven.

2008-2016 Mitsubishi Lancer ES, I know Tcoat got ripped off with the GT, I only get to drive the base ES models. For what they are...I'd say these cars in ES trim are alright. I actually like the styling particularly of the oldest, the new 2016s kind of suck relative to prior versions. Compared to the likes of a Corolla or a horrid Dodge Caliber, the Lancer does reasonably well on the driving dynamics front. The 2.0L engine is actually ok in fuel efficiency. Where I thought it sucked was the CVT which meant lots of drone and the interior fails to hide the cheap nature of the car. The plastics for instance are unpleasant to look at, the spare tire cover is literally a piece of cardboard and a separate thin sheet of fabric, and with regards to the stereo the old red display ones lacked functionality, while the newer white display ones read things like a flash disk like a 14.4K modem...hard to believe the newer stereo is worse. Overall, I'd say this is a C+ car for 2008...but now in 2016 its age is showing its kind of like a D today since everyone else has replaced 2 generations of their cars while this remained the same.

2009-2011 Mitsubishi Galant. Reading up on this car, I now know why I wasn't hugely impressed with this thing. First things first, I actually think this car looks pretty reasonable from the outside. The space inside is also reasonable for someone in the rear. Handling and steering feel are above average for this sort of car. Now, onto the bad things...the interior is really really ugly. Of all the cars I've driven, I think this might be one of the worst looking interiors of them all, not a single item looked even average in cost, all of it looked bottom basement. The engine was somewhat rough and lacking in power most of the time. I did note the interior space was good for the back. The front, due to its windscreen shape can lead to some head room problems if you're not tall(never thought I'd ever have this problem as someone 5'4). If I had to grade this one its something like a C-.

2007-2009 Mitsubishi Endeavor. This vehicle is actually very similar to the Galant, the only difference is I didn't have headroom issues up front due to the upright SUV styling. It also seems very wide inside, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your comfort with fat vehicles. Blindspots also kind of sucked in this vehicle moreso than the other Mitsubishis. The engine is a better than what I've experienced in the Lancers or Galant, however its very thirsty. The AWD performs reasonably well. I feel this is another C+ vehicle.

2007-2013 Mitsubishi Outlander. I managed to drive both SE and GT models. Styling-wise, the earlier 2007-2009 are understated, the 2010-2013 with the Lancer front is more aggressive looking, take your pick both are fine. Interior in the Outlander is actually better than the Endeavor, yes there's still a lot of cheap plastics but the seats are nicer fabric than the ones found on the Galant or Endeavor. Folding the rear seats isn't difficult, but returning them actually requires a bit of effort and some strength, this could've been done better. As for the engines...no question the 2.4L isn't that good, the 3.0L V6 is the way to go with this version. The V6 has reasonable response in much of the rev range, the 2.4L has limited power while being a lot noisier. Handling is actually reasonable in this, as is the steering feel. The AWD system has a few selections, its a decent system. The stereo is a bit dated but unlike the Lancer has a lot of odd options and even has sound effects like auditorium effect, etc. The tailgate is a split folding arrangement...I actually like this a lot, far easier to load heavy stuff. I've not encountered this in any other CUV/SUV except for Land Rovers, yet this Mitsubishi does have it. The GT spec has the optional 3rd row seat...sadly they're kind of useless. GT also has the smart key option...that's just a gimmick. Overall though SE is a B-, GT is a B+.

2011-2015 Mitsubishi RVR. This is basically a raised Lancer hatch in a heavier body. The result is a car that's just a bit less good overall dynamically. Slightly worse here and there. One improvement over the Lancer...the piece of cardboard and fabric sheet are now one piece. AWD system is similar to the Outlander's, but the selector knob is replaced by a single button...definitely a cost saving measure. Due to how unremarkable it is...a C- vehicle.

2014-2015 Mitsubishi Outlander. Like before its SE and GT trim. Now I've heard the 2016 supposedly updates a ton of things, I've yet to drive it. This keeps the exact same engines as the the prior version my opinions for both are exactly the same. The handling and steering feel though...this one is much worse. This version is less sure footed and the steering is very light and completely lacking feel. The split folding tailgate is gone...now its just as unremarkable as other bland CUVs. The biggest weakness of the old one was the cheap materials, this one keeps those cheap materials, the AWD button of the RVR, and presents a uglier interior. Styling is subjective, but I consider this Outlander much uglier than its predecessor especially the front. The GT is also lacking features its predecessor had like the Smart key now an optional extra, and the 3rd row is optional(now standard in the 2016s). So basically this is a downgrade from its predecessor with no upside, D+ grade for SE, C for GT.

2014-2015 Mitsubishi Mirage. Sigh...this is the absolute worst car I've ever driven in my years with fleet cars. The interior sucks irregardless of the trim level, only features differ. Not built very well, the materials are horrid and its not that spacious inside. The engine is awful sounding, from start up to using it...not to mention its extremely slow. Handling and steering feel, it handles very poorly inducing body roll even at 10 km/h along with typical dull steering. Apparently its only redeeming feature is the fuel economy. As far as I'm concerned, the fuel economy is not worth sacrificing everything else, F- car, its absolutely terrible.

So yeah...these are the Mitsubishis I've driven, I could give you a similar run down of nearly every other mainstream automaker...but to be frank they have far far more models.

[tennisfreak]

Today, NO Mitsubishi is just about dead as a car company.

Back in the mid-late 90's, hell yes.

[kmbkk]

Like others have said, the only one I would consider new is the EVO, and they're about gone. I've owned 4 Mitsus: 95 Eclipse GS, 98 GSX, 03 EVO VIII and 06 EVO IX. The IX was the absolute best of course. I went away after it and didn't get a X, although I still look at them as consideration. I just don't want to give up my FRS enough to justify the cost of buying one of the Final Edition EVOs.


Looking at used ones I'd consider a GSX, 3000GT, 08+ Ralliart, EVO.

[S84kam]

unfortunately my friend is buying a used 2009 ralliart premium. Its all good, Its an excellent looking car. Lets just hope it lasts

[rosol16]

Well honestly I wouldn't buy a Subaru save the STI or BRZ the same goes for Mitsubishi. If it isn't a performance car or American I wont even bat an eye at. Which I believe is the quite opposite of most people where they hate American cars. I have owned all American made cars until now and my dad is the same way. He even works for Chrysler. I even had a down payment on a Scat Pack Challenger but then life hit me. Never once have I had issues with my cars granted I take way better care of them then average American. I even owned a Dodge Neon not including my SRT4 and regardless of what anyone says the SRT4 is leaps ahead of the base neon. My base neon never gave me any issues and that was probably one of if not the worst car that Chrysler ever produced. Sorry for the rant/story but just to touch on it again nope never would I buy a lancer.

[Noble713]

I've owned 3 Mitsubishis:

1995 3000GT SL ( FWD, non-turbo, automatic)
2008 Evo X MR
1997 Evo IV

The 3000GT had some nagging electrical issues, and parts for it are expensive. The Evo IV had crankwalk...plus it was modded and kinda beat like most American-owned sports cars in Okinawa.

The Evo X.....best car I've ever owned. I had no reliability problems with it and it was a blast to drive in ANY weather condition (I once turned the traction control off to do donuts in a Wegman's parking lot during a snowstorm.....good times). I've never understood complaints about the interior, but my first car was a 2000 Jeep Wrangler and after that I spent my early twenties driving HEMTTs, Humvees, ancient Vietnam-era 5-tons, and FMTVs....so any vehicle interior not made of OD Green steel is "premium" enough for me.

I'm seriously considering selling my bulletproof but boring Toyota Mark II for another Evo X after I get a new job. MY2007-2008 ones are about $20k...

Evo 3/5/6/8/9/X? Yes. Lancer Ralliart? Yes. GTO/3000GT VR-4....ehhh, Supra or GT-R is still a better choice.

Anything else from Mitsu? No.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Noble713

I've owned 3 Mitsubishis:

1995 3000GT SL ( FWD, non-turbo, automatic)
2008 Evo X MR
1997 Evo IV

The 3000GT had some nagging electrical issues, and parts for it are expensive. The Evo IV had crankwalk...plus it was modded and kinda beat like most American-owned sports cars in Okinawa.

The Evo X.....best car I've ever owned. I had no reliability problems with it and it was a blast to drive in ANY weather condition (I once turned the traction control off to do donuts in a Wegman's parking lot during a snowstorm.....good times). I've never understood complaints about the interior, but my first car was a 2000 Jeep Wrangler and after that I spent my early twenties driving HEMTTs, Humvees, ancient Vietnam-era 5-tons, and FMTVs....so any vehicle interior not made of OD Green steel is "premium" enough for me.

I'm seriously considering selling my bulletproof but boring Toyota Mark II for another Evo X after I get a new job. MY2007-2008 ones are about $20k...

Evo 3/5/6/8/9/X? Yes. Lancer Ralliart? Yes. GTO/3000GT VR-4....ehhh, Supra or GT-R is still a better choice.

Anything else from Mitsu? No.

I find the bolded hilarious since I drove ancient Korean war era deuce and halfs and the 5 tons we finally got were brand new!


Old





Brand new

[Noble713]

Were you a bulk fueler too? I recognize a Tank & Pump Unit anywhere. ^_^



^2004, Osan AB, Korea. That FMTV was like a Cadillac compared to anything else I drove.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Noble713

Were you a bulk fueler too? I recognize a Tank & Pump Unit anywhere. ^_^



^2004, Osan AB, Korea. That FMTV was like a Cadillac compared to anything else I drove.

First gen pod fueler. Everything prior was a fixed tank. We could swap between MO (motor fuel -gas) to Av (Aviation gas- Some helicopters and light planes), DI (diesel) or JP (jet fuel) in about 15 minutes just by swapping pods. These trucks were so new when I was deployed to Germany (this was Cold War Germany and no cake walk at the time) that we still did not even have placards to say what pod we has so we wrote the current fuel type in chalk on the sides and tailgate. You can just make out MO in the pic so I had gas (well I didn't the pod did) at the time. I was actually lucky in that most of my time was spent on airbases fueling choppers and Canada only had a couple of them.


Not only were we the first users we were also the guinea pigs for development and a lot of things went screwy. At first there were no baffles in the tanks so if you hit the brakes hard the fuel would slosh around in the tank and could bounce the whole truck forward 20 feet and then back 15 then forward 10 and then back 5. It was something you had to experience to fully appreciate. The pumps motors also had a tendency to randomly catch fire, which is not normally a feature you desire when pumping fuel. If pumping JP or DI you would casually saunter over with a FE and put it out. With MO you would rapidly get there and put it out. With AV gas you would rapidly run in the opposite direction and hope to hell it didn't just blow up or somebody else would be stupid enough to put it out.


As far as your FMTV being a Cadillac goes consider that the trucks we drove for years were built in 1951. Seats were foam on plywood (not even springs), the heaters used manifold heat instead of a heater core and the windshield wipers worked off engine vacuum and stopped every time you accelerated. We Canadians were actually lucky though since at least our M135s had a hard top and not just canvas.

[Talus1]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Well now!

1991 Eagle Talon TSi AWD - My favorite car prior to the FRS. Served me well for almost 450K miles. The only real issue I had was I didn't change the timing belt after about 200K miles and even though it was warning me and I disintegrated the engine. Would buy again in a second.

I test drove a (very) used Talon TSi AWD back in the day. It had the flattest, slipperiest leather seats I've ever experienced. The dealer must have 'Armor-All'ed the hell out of them to make them shiny for the sale. Pulling out of the dealership, I stepped on the gas, waited what felt like several seconds for the turbo to spool up, then as the car shot forward I slid back in the seat and my foot came out of the throttle. Of course, the car immediately slowed and I slid forward on the slick leather, pushing the throttle again. No turbo lag at this point, so cue the repeat. I jerked along the road for a few cycles until I had the presence of mind to hit the brakes, whereupon I slid forward in the seat, pressing the brake harder and squealing to a halt in traffic.

I was laughing hysterically by this point, but it kind of put me off the car...

[gravitylover]

My best friends mom had a Starion Turbo when we were in college, that was a great car. Predictable handling, smooth riding and easy to drive and certainly quick enough to embarrass most other Japanese cars at the time other than maybe the Supra.

[Antuono]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

First gen pod fueler. Everything prior was a fixed tank.

I guess now days Marine Corps is running low
Just a quick class now i can drive fuel :_(

This LVSR was also involved in ramming into the back of a POV and the door was left open to be bent back from a Hummer...(not me)

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Talus1

I test drove a (very) used Talon TSi AWD back in the day. It had the flattest, slipperiest leather seats I've ever experienced. The dealer must have 'Armor-All'ed the hell out of them to make them shiny for the sale. Pulling out of the dealership, I stepped on the gas, waited what felt like several seconds for the turbo to spool up, then as the car shot forward I slid back in the seat and my foot came out of the throttle. Of course, the car immediately slowed and I slid forward on the slick leather, pushing the throttle again. No turbo lag at this point, so cue the repeat. I jerked along the road for a few cycles until I had the presence of mind to hit the brakes, whereupon I slid forward in the seat, pressing the brake harder and squealing to a halt in traffic.

I was laughing hysterically by this point, but it kind of put me off the car...

Mine had cloth so no such issues.