VR4 Reliability query

[smitty]

Hi all,

Was just informed by my boss the other day that i'd soon be issued a company car of my choice(w00t!). My first option would obviously be a Galant, but being a tradesman, the extra storage space of a Legnum would be perfect as a sedan boot isn't quite big enough for my personal hand tools.
However, being a work vehicle, i'm concerned about reliability, i can't have a car that would break down regularly as i'm the head of a crew and my daily presence is not negotiable(If i'm not there, the job won't get done, period).
Do legnums have any reliability issues that could make them an unsuitable choice for me? I've been told that they can blow transfer cases frequently, however the guy that told me that was trying to sell me a Toyota Caldina, so i don't put too much weight in his words. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as i look forward to officially joining the VR4 community soon!

By the way, i do plan a bit of performance work, but nothing too extreme.

 

[SupremeMoFo]

Caldina wouldn't be too bad a choice - the 2001 onwards model looks fantastic. But manuals are as rare as hell and autos are only 4spds. And it's a 4 cylinder. 6>4, especially with turbos involved.

 

[smitty]

Mmm they do look good, but a caldina isnt a legnum... so far i've narrowed my choices down to legnum or Navara. Both are practical, but I WANT a Legnum. Can't have a two-door car such as a ute, I need to be able to put my son in the back seat. All i really want to know is what i'm about to get myself into... or what things to watch out for that would be a tell-tale sign of something about to break.

 

[Peter_D]

So far mine is the only Legnum on this forum which has had any issues with transfer case leakage and that was due to poor workman ship of the mechanic who didn't know what he was doing when he re-assembled the thing. There are a couple of tricky seals within which have to be aligned correctly or they don't go back into place the right way.
Anyways I'm not a mechanic and not that technically minded. There are far more knowledgeable people on this forum who will be able to answer your query far better than me.

 

[Guest]

Not trying to put you off here, but you don't buy a Mitsubishi for reliability.

I've owned many Mitsubishi's a Lancer GSR, 3000GT & GTO all were pretty average in reliability and I know the Galant I have coming will be about the same.

Yet saying that there fun cars when they work

 

[bradc]

The transfer case isn't anything to worry about. Very few people have had anything go wrong with their cars that actually take them off the road. About the only two things that have happened to more than a few people would be:

Auto trans failure which is largely fixed by using the right fluid and changing it frequently (or buying a manual )

AYC diff issues, mostly due to the pump wearing over time or failing. It won't result in a car that doesn't drive though, only a car with an open rear diff rather than an active diff.

 

[VR-04-TT]

Not trying to put you off here, but you don't buy a Mitsubishi for reliability.

I've owned many Mitsubishi's a Lancer GSR, 3000GT & GTO all were pretty average in reliability and I know the Galant I have coming will be about the same.

Yet saying that there fun cars when they work

I disagree, I've hardly had any problems with mitsi's and when I did, they were just natural wear and tear issues. The main thing that goes wrong is owner neglect.

 

[Guest]

All I can think of is get a new battery when you get it as the jap ones are usually old.

Do a service and change belts.... and water pump, all oils, AYC flush.....

Some people have had to get the alternators reconditioned.

Some people have had the radiator tank split, so had that changed.

Just like any other car thats 10 years old really. Just keep on top of the fluid changes and they should be fine.

 

[Guest]

I disagree, I've hardly had any problems with mitsi's and when I did, they were just natural wear and tear issues. The main thing that goes wrong is owner neglect.

Unfortunately for me it was more then wear and tear lots of other silly things going wrong with the car. By no means owner neglect I spend lots of money on my cars maintenance, preventative maintenance and modifications as cars are my passion.

Compared to all the Toyota's I have owned, Mitsu's are unreliable in my experience.

 

[bogan bob]

Coming up on 12 months of ownership, i havent had any major issues.

prob keep in mind that you will need to service it more often than a navara too, but if you do that (esp if you can get work to pay for it/write it off on tax), you shouldnt have many major dramas i dont think

 

[frozen]

a performance car is always going to need more maintenance than a regular transport vehicle, however i havent had any major issues with mine, or with my old lancer which i thrashed the hell out of..

 

[naughtika]

I'd say Galant & Legnum VR4's are VERY RELIABLE**

they only start to **** up when you start to **** with it.. lol

** Keeping in mind that you have to perform periodical maintenance and checks regularly

 

[smitty]

Oh, the Boss is paying for everything... the car, rego, insurance etc so that regular services won't be an issue. Well thanks for your help fellas, in a month or two i should have my own mitsubishi road rocket to play with too! *glee!*

How often SHOULD i service it, by the way?

Coming up on 12 months of ownership, i havent had any major issues.

prob keep in mind that you will need to service it more often than a navara too, but if you do that (esp if you can get work to pay for it/write it off on tax), you shouldnt have many major dramas i dont think

 

[bradc]

Engine oil should be every 5000km's, cambelt and everything around 80000km's, auto gearbox every 20000km's, ayc every 10000km's, thats about it really

 

[Subaru ETA]

AYC every 10k brad? thats abit over thhe top isnt it? unless you are some kind of rally driver!

if you get an auto first thing to do is full service and fit a trans cooler!!

i hhave had mine since 96k and hhas just click over 144k. (2.5 years ownership). i have done the cambelt etc, replaced the clutch and overhhauled the steering rack. not bad for a 11yo car!

 

[bradc]

According to mitsi you're supposed to do it every A service, which is more frequently than I think is needed as well.

 

[smitty]

Well i suppose it can't hurt to service it too frequently, however i'd rather not be without the car for one or two days a quarter... Are they hard to service at home? i do all my own servicing on my two commodores, although working on those isn't exactly rocket surgery...

 

[bradc]

everything is just as easy as a commodore, APART from the AYC. Best to leave it to a dealer or an evo specialist

 

[VR-04-TT]

Unfortunately for me it was more then wear and tear lots of other silly things going wrong with the car. By no means owner neglect I spend lots of money on my cars maintenance, preventative maintenance and modifications as cars are my passion.

Compared to all the Toyota's I have owned, Mitsu's are unreliable in my experience.

Fair enough, seems like you must've lucked out

 

[smitty]

Well that's good to know. Where abouts would i be able to acquire a service manual? And does anyone know of a decent Evo specialist around southeast Melbourne?

everything is just as easy as a commodore, APART from the AYC. Best to leave it to a dealer or an evo specialist