Mitsubishi Problems

The Japanese work ute is no longer the humble hard working vehicle it once was; today's ute is now also refined, sophisticated, safe and sporty.  Utes like the Mitsubishi Triton now regularly appear on our bestseller lists, among with perennially popular cars like the Commodore, Corolla and Falcon.The ML Triton arrived on these shores in 2006 amid much fanfare about its funky styling, but it has since become a popular part of our ute culture.MODEL WATCHAustralia has one of the strongest ute markets in the world. And where utes were once bare and basic work vehicles with very few frills and even less safety, the latest generation, of which the ML Triton is a member, are much more refined, better equipped, and slowly but surely they're becoming safer.There was much debate over the looks of the ML Triton leading up to its launch, opinion was divided over whether it looked good or was too swoopy.  Three years on the debate has ceased and the Triton has become part of the regular road scenery.The debate over its looks centred on the curved rear wall of the double cab ute's cabin, but it was done with a purpose in mind, to increase the space inside the cabin.  Where most dual-cab utes had a flat rear cabin wall that meant the rear seat had to be vertical with little adjustment, the rear seat in the Triton could be cranked back and was more comfortable as a result.Mitsubishi described the look as striking, sporty and futuristic, and there could be little argument with that.  The range included two and four-wheel drive models, with single and dual cabs, ute or tray bodies, petrol and diesel engines, and three model lines.The 3.2-litre common rail turbo diesel engine was new and boasted 118kW at 4000rpm and 347Nm at 2000rpm.  On the road it was very flexible with good pulling power, and economical to boot.  The 3.5-litre petrol alternative was a single overhead cam unit that put out 135kW at 4750rpm and 309Nm at 3500rpm.Transmissions offered were a five-speed manual and a four-speed auto.  Four-wheel drive models had high and low ratio with the ability to change between two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive 'high' on the move at up to 100 km/h. The changeover is done using a lever on the console alongside the gear lever.For those wanting more traction Mitsubishi offered a rear diff-lock, which was operated by a button on the dash.  Underneath, the ML had coil springs at the front with leaf springs at the back, large ventilated front discs and big rear drums, ABS braking and electronic brake force distribution.Three model lines were offered beginning with the GLX, which came in single and double cab variants with petrol and diesel engines, GLX-R double cabs, and the fully equipped GLS rounded out the range.IN THE SHOPTritons were built to do the hard yards off the beaten track or on the job site rather than soft miles in suburbia so look for signs of such use.  Check underneath for damage caused by extended use offroad, such as gravel rash, or bashed and bent brackets, exhausts, suspension components and floor pans etc.Plenty have been used for family transport, towing a boat or caravan, so look for those.  Make sure of regular servicing with routine oil changes so engines don't get clogged up with sludge.Also look for crash damage, particularly look for poor repairs that would cut the value of a vehicle.  The ML Triton is generally a sound, reliable and durable vehicle that gives little trouble; there are no major flaws to report.IN A CRASHDriver and front passenger airbags are standard across all models, along with ABS braking and EBD for optimum brakeforce at each wheel.ANCAP rated the ML Triton at four stars.AT THE PUMPWith relatively large displacement engines the Triton isn't a fuel miser, and particularly so as a four-wheel drive. Expect to see 12-13 L/100 km around town, with autos a little higher and diesels a little lower.LOOK FOR. Funky styling.. Roomy interior. Flexible diesel engine. Four-star safety. Robust and reliableTHE BOTTOM LINEGood driving and comfortable ute that can double as a workhorse or flexible family transporter.RATING85/100

Life - human and automotive - is so unpredictable. When my 75-year-old father went looking for a car to retire with, he sought reliability, durability, comfort and a long warranty.  He bought a Hyundai, thinking that with a five-year warranty it should ‘see me out’.In fact, he saw it out. The Hyundai Lantra is still ultra-reliable in the hands of a mate of mine while my now 84-year-old father has moved himself and my active mother into the latest Corolla.  I would have expected my parents to drive a Mercedes-Benz in later life as a reward for their tenacity through economic depressions and wars.In fact, they chose economy in reverence to their working-class lives and have come out with only minor financial scars from their post-retirement car purchases.  You can as well. Carsguide readers with retirement looming all want new cars. Most of them want a 4WD or something powerful to tow a caravan or boat because ‘we're not dead yet’.It doesn't have to be expensive, but if you are retired or just on the point of pulling the pin on a working career, you want the least possible hassles.  We'll start this week with 4WDs and SUVs. These are some choices. They clearly aren't all that is available and personal choice will play its role. At the very least, this should get you thinking.4WD is for the adventurer who actually wants to go off the beaten track. These have excellent towing ability, diesel engine options (the better choice), a versatile cabin with seven seats that can be removed when not wanted, good safety levels and a comprehensive feature list. On the downside, they are big, less comfortable than a sedan, require more expensive servicing and repair (especially tyre replacement) and for aged limbs can be difficult to get in and out.Toyota Prado (from $55,990)Solid, high resale (and high initial purchase), great off the road and in the latest model, comfortable on the road.Engine: 127kW/410Nm 3-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/5-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 8.3 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction controlLand Rover Discovery-4 (from $81,990)Exceptionally competent and fitted out with excellent comfort. Fourth generation aims to rid Land Rover of quality bugs.Engine: 180kW/600Nm 3-litre V6 biturbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 9.3 l/100kmSafety: 8 airbags, ESC, traction controlMitsubishi Pajero(from $49,290)Great all-rounder on and off road at an affordable price. Better cabin package than Prado.Engine: 147kW/441Nm 3.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 8.4 l/100kmSafety: 2 airbags, ESC, traction controlSUV: Don't want to go to the Outback but like the practicality of a tall wagon? The SUV usually has all-wheel drive but less rugged construction and no low-range gearbox. Some are even only front-wheel drive so save on purchase price and fuel consumption.Hyundai Santa Fe (from $37,990)Practical, versatile and reliable with a long five-year warranty. A good allrounder. Only available as a diesel and with all-wheel drive.Engine: 145kW/421Nm 2.1-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed manual/5-speed auto/AWDEconomy: 6.7 l/100kmSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, traction controlPeugeot 4007 (from $45,490)Culturally diverse Peugeot made by Mitsubishi (it's basically an Outlander shell) in Japan with an aggressive grille and very desirable turbo-diesel engine and optional six-speed auto.Engine: 115kW/380Nm 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/6-speed auto/AWDEconomy: 7.0 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction controlSubaru Outback diesel (from $40,490)Long-awaited diesel expands Subaru's out-of-town ability in a very desirable package. New style isn't the prettiest but is functional and roomy.Engine: 110kW/350Nm 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/AWDEconomy: 6.4 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction control

What is a grey importIt’s a vehicle – new or used — that is legally imported outside the manufacturer’s official import channels.HistoryIn the mid 90’s the various state motoring regulatory authorities and the federal government agreed that a scheme — should be put in place to allow Australians to buy used vehicles from overseas that were never sold in Australia.  The initial focus of the scheme was performance vehicles such as the Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, and Nissan Silvia Turbo. The cars became known as grey imports due to the vast number of grey-coloured cars arriving here as they were often the cheapest available in the auction houses of Japan.  The scheme now also covers any car manufactured before 1989 as well as many people movers, and various diesel models.The rulesCars brought in using the grey import scheme must go through a compliance process on arrival in Australia to conform with ADR requirements, including changing to Australian standard tyres, emissions control gear, and AC gas.Only certain models that are in some way different to any locally delivered example are allowed to be imported under the scheme.  Any other models are hard to comply as the car must go through full ADR testing including a full crash test process.  Some regulations have been relaxed in recent years – for example, the forced replacement of every seatbelt.Why buy a grey import?Most of the models available through the grey import scheme are heavily optioned compared to comparable models in Australia.  High performance turbo engines, rear wheel steering, all wheel drive, and multi-zone climate control air were all common as early as the 90s on even basic models in Japan. Basically, if you could buy a comparable model in Australia you would have paid more-for-less.  The cult status of many grey imports also makes them appealing.  The current plethora of Nissan Skylines on Australia’s roads attests to grey imports popularity.  Choice of turbodiesel powerplants has also driven the grey market when looking at 4WDs and people-movers in car yards.Owning a grey importBack in the early days of the scheme, when grey import dealers were few and far between, it was extremely difficult to acquire spare parts for many of the plenty of spare parts dealers and many manufacturers such as Nissan are able to bring in brand new parts from Japan to suit.  There are also a multitude of specialty vehicle clubs and web forums devoted to these cars with members who are only too happy to help out with parts — or even help with entire engine swaps — for a very reasonable price.The true costsMany people fall for grey imports due to the bang-for-bucks factor.  Cars such as the Nissan 180SX offer great looks and performance for a bargain basement price in comparison to say a Subaru WRX of the same year.  The trade-off comes when you look at the lack of any service history, and possibly wound back odometers.  A full mechanical check (pre-purchase) is a must!Most non-diesel grey imports coming from Japan will require premium unleaded as the quality of fuel in Japan is higher than Australia. And like any performance car they will also need love and attention in the service department too with frequent oil changes.One of the biggest turnoffs for people looking to buy a grey import is the cost of insurance.  There have been a lot of insurers who simply cannot insure them due to their underwriters refusing them. In recent years the situation has relaxed with even heavily modified performance grey imports being insured by several big name insurers.  You should expect a slightly higher premium, or excess at least, than an Australian delivered model, especially if the ‘T’ word – turbo — is added to the end of the model name…SummaryDue to the number of grey imports in the country now and the cult status they have gained no one should be turned off buying an import.  Do your research, trawl the information, get a proper inspection and you could be driving away with a unique, and extremely well-equipped car at bargain price.Top 10 grey importsNissan 180SX and Silvia variantsNissan Skyline and Nissan Stagea Wagon variantsNissan Elgrand People MoverToyota SupraToyota Hilux SurfMitsubishi FTOMitsubishi DelicaMistubishi Evo IV and VHonda Civic Type R EP3Toyota Soarer / Lexus SC400