Mitsubishi 3000 GT

[Justin]

I had a spin as a passenger in one of these recently - a '91 Jap import, a bit plasticky inside and downright ugly outside, but it has tons of go and can be picked up for less than £10k - now why would you want to buy the likes of a secondhand Polo or some piece of cutesy nonsense like a Ford Pimple (sorry - Puma) or an Opel Tigger when exotic Jap machinery like this is around.

Has anyone driven one - what are they like to live with?

[Toad]

Justin,
To answer your question....Insurance.
It ain't cheap on these cars :)

[Anders]

You never know, you might find an ignorant insurance company that doesn't realise what a 3.0 V6 turbo can do... It doesn't have a VTEC engine after all.

I never really read anything good about the 3000GT so I never really got all that interested in it. It seems that Mitsubishi added a lot of techno wizardry to the car just for the sake of it. Probably a lot of complicated electronics that nobody on this island has a clue how to fix.

[Justin]

If you are, ahem, not a "yooth" (i.e. in your 30's) with a reasonable record, insurance in the £1-2k range is not a problem for you. Insurance companies have a real problem with acronyms such as VTi, GTi, RS, Turbo etc. and also of course with engine capacity. As long as the aspiration of the engine doesn't form part of the model name (i.e Mits 3000 GT as opposed to Mits 3000 GT Turbo) for some reason there isn't a pariah like response. My last Impreza turbo cost me the same to insure as a "normal" 2 litre, for example, for some strange reason which I didn't question once I was sure that the model description was exactly correct on the insurance certificate.

The 3000 has lots of gizmos but it is a Mitsubishi, so you wouldn't approach it with the same temerity as, say, an Alfa with gizmos. Looks good to me. Then again I don't need one.

[Gavan]

I have been running a non-turbo Mitsubishi GTO 3.0V6 since January.

On the Downside, It's VERY expensive to run (€2200 to insure, € 800 to tax, € 75 euro to fill the tank every 400KM, €240 per tyre, and parts aint cheap).

On the up-side it never fails to put an enormous grin on my face as I blast past some souped-up rep-mobile, or take it down a fast B road.

It does 0 to 60 in 6 seconds and pulls hard all the way to the limited maximum of 112Mph. The engine has great torque and ticks over at 2300 rpm at 70mph.

Handling is very good with 4WD and 4 wheel steering, it's rear biased with power feeding progressively to the front when the going gets slippery. (Great fun on wet roundabouts !!).

I imported mine direct from Japan and paid €11,000 for a car with a genuine 72000KM on the clock. I do all servicing and maintenance myself (pretty straightforward) and have no trouble getting parts from Micheal Tynan Motors on the Naas Road.

All in all, they're a great car, whether turbo or non-turbo (I've driven both), not practical for everyday use, but a great weekend cruiser.

[Junior]

There is one of the Guys on CruiseIRL with a GTO Twin Turbo, a quick beast, but no 911 Turbo Justin. I can arrange a spin in it for ya if you'd like .. the GTO Twin that is ..

[Justin]

Thanks Junior - I may take you up, particularly if I can bring something interesting along myself.
J

[Phil]

Originally posted by Justin
Thanks Junior - I may take you up, particularly if I can bring something interesting along myself.
J

Hey Justin, speaking in code again. What is the something 'interesteing' that you are going to bring along???? Is it a car or just yourself? :p

[Junior]

Justin drop a Pm when you've the chance ...