Any comments of the Mitsubishi Delica

[Toolin Around]

Been looking them and was wondering what y'all think of them. Good, crap....

[doug the slug]

well it depends on what you want to get out of it, its like asking which is the best router: for what?

[Ivan in Oz]

G'day Tool In,

http://www.delicaclub.com/

I thought it was quite good
Took it to http://www.landcruisermountainpark.com.au/
Where I took the Family on one of their "Tracks"

Totaly Peeved a couple of "Serious" 4WDers,
who couldn't shake the famly and I:D

Good on the road,
carries 7 or 8 in comfort, depending on Captains chairs or Bench Seat.
Cruises at Illegal speeds,
have exceeded 140 passing a Double'B' Semi:o :eek:

Wife took it when she went elsewhere:(

[Gra]

Have no word on that specific model, but remember, they werent officially imported by Mitsubishi, so be carefull about spares and repairs.

[bitingmidge]

Are they not the same mechanically as the 4WD Express Van?

In which case they are mechanically identical to the Pajero of the same vintage, including low range box?

Alright in my book.

Cheers,

P
:cool:

[Toolin Around]

well it depends on what you want to get out of it, its like asking which is the best router: for what?


Come to think of it which is the best router ;)

I was deliberately keeping it wide open cause I was inviting comments from any and all. I'm not too familiar with many of the cars here. Maybe it cause I'm looking at them from upside down. I need something that can carry people and something that can carry tools and the odd sheet of ply... and once in awhile I might want to drive up the beach and checkout all the naked people hiding in the rock out cropings. Some say the mileage ain't bad some say it ain't good. Does anyone know what the actually mileage is.

[bitingmidge]

Mat,

By mileage, do you mean fuel consumption?

A square box being driven by four wheels is never going to be the most economical vehicle around!

cheers,

P

[Toolin Around]

Have no word on that specific model, but remember, they werent officially imported by Mitsubishi, so be carefull about spares and repairs.

I'm not sure what that means. So who makes them and who imports them. Aren't most cars imported here.

[Toolin Around]

Mat,

By mileage, do you mean fuel consumption?

A square box being driven by four wheels is never going to be the most economical vehicle around!

cheers,

P


Someone your age should know what mileage means;) You guys used to go by miles a few decades ago didn't ya. And yes I mean fuel consumption. May not be the most economical but a wee bit better than my other choice a toyota troopy. I'd love to get one of those, put a big steel I beam bumper on the front and write on it I dare you to get in my way.:D

[bitingmidge]

I'd love to get one of those, put a big steel I beam bumper on the front and write on it I dare you to get in my way.:D

I've seen how fast you drive, it'd be a speed bump for a road train!
:D :D :D

(Oh and the question about mileage was a "Dorothy Dixer" for the young pups ...:D ) and yes, it will be better than a troopy, but not by much!

Cheers,

P

[Toolin Around]

I've seen how fast you drive, it'd be a speed bump for a road train!
:D :D :D

(Oh and the question about mileage was a "Dorothy Dixer" for the young pups ...:D ) and yes, it will be better than a troopy, but not by much!

Cheers,

P


Hey! are you baggin on my speed bump. Better watch it or I'll park it in your driveway and have a major oil spill.

[Spelunx]

I'm not sure what that means. So who makes them and who imports them. Aren't most cars imported here.


There are 'official' imports that Mitsubishi do, and there is the 'grey market'. These cars, along with a host of others, Nissan Silvia, Toyota Surf, etc are imported by car dealers to sell. They a close to, but not exactly like other cars on the market in oz. Car manufacturers make cars specifically for the oz market, as they do for the american and asian markets. Just because they are made overseas, does not mean they are not made to oz specifications.

If you choose to go down the 'grey market' road, explore the availability and price of spare parts. For example, the Toyota Surf shares a lot of parts with the oz Hilux, but not all. However there are so many Surfs in oz now, you should be able pick up a lot of parts second-hand. I am not sure about the Delica.

There are certainly some good deals to be had, however there are good reasons as to why the prices are so low.

Good luck

Spelunx

[Schtoo]

It's a Mitsubishi.

Which means I'd take up walking everywhere rather than own one...

They are fairly common around here though, big bubble looking things that they are.

[keith53]

Matt,

IMHO its a no brainer. Go the Troopy. They're much more ruggedly built. Bulletproof reliability and the diesels are pretty good on fuel if driven sensibly. Much better than the plasticy Mitsubishi.:D

Cheers,
Keitth

[Iain]

My 80 series Landcrusher GXL Wagon (petrol) returns 23 litres per 100 km, which is about 12 mpg in the old language, if thats any help, a troopy is a bit less I believe.
I think you can add 50% to that figure for diesel.
I have never been overly impressed with Bits of Mishi, bit too plasticky and flimsy, but could suit your needs if you don't need something too rugged.

[Christopha]

Isn't "Mitsubishi" Japanese for " Soon to be ceasing forward motion due to explosion of all moving parts"???

Or maybe it's Nip for "Look at me, I don't have ANY self respect!"

Then again, I think that maybe it's South Australian Govt. for "Please, please, please don't close our Chrysler factory!!"

[Auld Bassoon]

Anything called a "Delica" has to be of doubtful provenance :D

[doug the slug]

Isn't "Mitsubishi" Japanese for "Soon to be ceasing forward motion due to explosion of all moving parts

Actually, it translates into english as "Three Diamonds" (hence the logo) but having owned one i like your translation better. it seems to more accurately describe the product

[keith53]

My 80 series Landcrusher GXL Wagon (petrol) returns 23 litres per 100 km, which is about 12 mpg in the old language, if thats any help, a troopy is a bit less I believe.
I think you can add 50% to that figure for diesel.
I have never been overly impressed with Bits of Mishi, bit too plasticky and flimsy, but could suit your needs if you don't need something too rugged.

Iain, I said driven "sensibly". You can get 25+ mpg out of a DI Diesel Troopy if you're not too heavy on the throttle. Trust me, I've done the figures.:D

Don't take this the wrong way but I can never figure out why anyone would buy a big 4WD with a petrol engine nowadays. I've had two of them in the past when diesel wasn't an option. Great on the beach, plenty of power but absolute fuel gutsers. Not much better on the black stuff either.

[doug the slug]

Iain, I said driven "sensibly". You can get 25+ mpg out of a DI Diesel Troopy if you're not too heavy on the throttle. Trust me, I've done the figures.:D .

thats nice Keith, but what about when it breaks down. cost me nearly $10,000 for an exchange diesel 4 cylinder 2.8 ltr engine about 8 years ago, shudder to think how much it would be now.

[dazzler]

HI Toolin

IMO you really need to make a list of what you want the vehicle to do.

What type of 4wdriving do you intend to do?

Do you need low range? Do you need 4wd?

Are you comfortable taking a hit on resale because its an import?

If you are after a people mover that can go onto unformed roads without fear of losing traction, then the delica would suit that role and is a lot of car for a reasonable amount of money. You will get fleeced at resale, particularly if you trade as they will use the grey status against you.

If its a diesel then make sure that you have the engine checked by a diesel specialist. They will run tests on the cooling fluid to see if there are any contaminants from cracks in the heads.

Another alternative to the delica could be a nineties VW transporter synchro that are holding value well and should not lose as much in the long run.

good luck

dazzler

[dazzler]

thats nice Keith, but what about when it breaks down. cost me nearly $10,000 for an exchange diesel 4 cylinder 2.8 ltr engine about 8 years ago, shudder to think how much it would be now.

Hey doug

guess what. Toyota halved thier prices on 2.8 engines in 2002. Long blocks for $4500:o

dirty buggers

[Iain]

Iain, I said driven "sensibly". You can get 25+ mpg out of a DI Diesel Troopy if you're not too heavy on the throttle. Trust me, I've done the figures.:D

Don't take this the wrong way but I can never figure out why anyone would buy a big 4WD with a petrol engine nowadays. I've had two of them in the past when diesel wasn't an option. Great on the beach, plenty of power but absolute fuel gutsers. Not much better on the black stuff either.
I thought the troopy had a lower ratio diff to the wagon, same as the tray tops.
I bought a petrol for a number of reasons, more power initially, better acceleration, Toyota because it is a full time 4WD which equates to far superior handling and the sheer weight for towing my extended horse float and two bloody big thoroughbreds around all over the countryside.
When I am in economy mode I drive a Toyota Startled or daughters Foulcan wagon.
It frightens me to see what people will tow, unsafely, with the family Commode or Foulcan, just not up for it, and I don't want to buy a truck with the huge rego fees.
Plus it is pleasant to drive and affordable on LPG, with oil injection to the upper cylinder.

[journeyman Mick]

Mat,
I had a petrol Mitsuishi Express Van (4wd, 2.4L EFI) until recently and it was good for the work I was doing when I bought it, (Maintenance carpentry and a few kitchen installs) Fuel consumption was absolutely atrocious, because it is, after all shaped like a brick and over 2M tall. The 4wd vans are all short wheelbase and you won't fit a full sheet of ply in it. If you fit roof racks you'll find that they cause stress cracking in the gutter area which leads to rust. The diesel will give better fuel economy, but I doubt it will be great. My 2.8L TD Rodeo returns about 9kms per litre but has about half the frontal area to push through the air.

As others have pointed out parts may be a problem for the "grey" imports. You'll find that the dealers/distributors for the "real" imports may be extremely unhelpful in supplying parts. Just because an import vehicle looks the same as other vehicles here is no garuantee that they are the same mechanically. I've had a look underneath a Delica of the same vintage and bodyshape as my van and found that it had two small fuel tanks connected in series and in a completely different location to the tank in my van. I've got a friend in the auto parts industry and he's given me some interesting tales of woe about some of the imports. Like the 2.8L diesel in the Surf has the same block as the local Hilux - but a completley different and non-interchangeable clinder head, different mainfolds, injector, fuel and water pumps.

Personally I wouldn't buy a grey import unless I knew for a fact that I could get parts, and for the right price. Good luck in your vehicle hunt Mat, and BTW did you ever get the "Dog and Lemon Guide"?

Mick