RE: PH Zeroes: Mitsubishi 3000GT

[driverrob]

Nice find. Oh, for an empty park where I wouldn't get arrested for doing something like that.

[dinkel]

Gaz. said:

dinkel said:

PH Hero: Supra!

It isn't. An often overlooked, misunderstood & quickly dismissed gem maybe, but definately not a PH hero. You only have to look at the thousands of 'what car' threads for proof of how it's regarded by the PH readership.

I've been in Bens brown 400 brake Supra and it is a serious GT car: 179 on the Autobahn isn't bad either.

[Z064life]

I don't know why this car got such a bad reputation from car enthusiasts in general, because of its weight.

The R34 GT-R was somewhere between 1600-1700kg and had 4WD, 4WS etc and some similar technology to this car. And the R34 GT-R was made much later so it looks like Nissan didn't really apply any new lessons?

Reliability is another story but there are some heavily tuned 3000GT's out there.

[papercup]

Z064life said:

I don't know why this car got such a bad reputation from car enthusiasts in general, because of its weight.

The R34 GT-R was somewhere between 1600-1700kg and had 4WD, 4WS etc and some similar technology to this car. And the R34 GT-R was made much later so it looks like Nissan didn't really apply any new lessons?

Reliability is another story but there are some heavily tuned 3000GT's out there.

Because the R34 delivered.

[GTO Scott]

papercup said:

Z064life said:

I don't know why this car got such a bad reputation from car enthusiasts in general, because of its weight.

The R34 GT-R was somewhere between 1600-1700kg and had 4WD, 4WS etc and some similar technology to this car. And the R34 GT-R was made much later so it looks like Nissan didn't really apply any new lessons?

Reliability is another story but there are some heavily tuned 3000GT's out there.

Because the R34 delivered.

In a different market.

To the best of my knowledge the Skylines were never intended as a continent-bashing GT-type car - exactly what the GTO/3000GT was designed to be. The R32/33/34 GTR's are certainly more of a driver's car, more focused on getting from point A to point B as fast and as accurately as possible. The GTO/3000GT will do so almost as quickly, and much more comfortably. 160mph+ on an autobahn feels just the same as 60mph - safe, stable and comfortable. The only indications of such high speed are the movement of the fuel gauge and the fact everyone else looks like they're doing about 10mph. Recently I spent 6 hours in mine on a trip from North Wales down to Cornwall - and I stepped out feeling like I could do it all over again. No aches, no pains, no tiredness. Surely exactly what a GT should do?

As for reliability, mine is the most reliable car i've ever owned - 4 years and 35,000 miles with just a new clutch and clutch hose.

I'd never say the GTO/3000GT is perfect, but 6 years after I bought my first one, I haven't regretted the decision to buy for a second.

[k-ink]

Sounds like the worst possible used car to buy: needlessly complex & expensive. Probably cheaper to run a fleet of elephants on cocaine

[GTO Scott]

k-ink said:

Sounds like the worst possible used car to buy: needlessly complex & expensive. Probably cheaper to run a fleet of elephants on cocaine

According to your profile you've owned a 5.3 V12 Jaguar, and a VW Passat W8 4-Motion.

As you appear to know (and dislike) a complex car when you see one, why did you buy both of the above?

[driverrob]

In 1990 things like climate control and electronically controlled suspension and engine management might have been considered "needlessly complicated and expensive".
Why would anyone still think so today?

As for running costs, over 5 years of ownership, I reckon mine has cost an average of about £3,500 for everything; fuel, insurance, tax, depreciation, servicing, breakdown cover, tracker fee, repair work and extras like total brake upgrade and new immobiliser. How does that compare to any car of similar performance?

[k-ink]

GTO Scott said:

k-ink said:

Sounds like the worst possible used car to buy: needlessly complex & expensive. Probably cheaper to run a fleet of elephants on cocaine

According to your profile you've owned a 5.3 V12 Jaguar, and a VW Passat W8 4-Motion.

As you appear to know (and dislike) a complex car when you see one, why did you buy both of the above?

I only learned to dislike over complexity once I had thousands of pounds worth of repair bills to pay. Those were probably the worst two cars I'll own though

Strange you think an XJS is complex though. I'd say it's extremely basic. It's simply that some of the components are rather big and lumpy.

[GTO Scott]

k-ink said:

GTO Scott said:

k-ink said:

Sounds like the worst possible used car to buy: needlessly complex & expensive. Probably cheaper to run a fleet of elephants on cocaine

According to your profile you've owned a 5.3 V12 Jaguar, and a VW Passat W8 4-Motion.

As you appear to know (and dislike) a complex car when you see one, why did you buy both of the above?

I only learned to dislike over complexity once I had thousands of pounds worth of repair bills to pay. Those were probably the worst two cars I'll own though

Strange you think an XJS is complex though. I'd say it's extremely basic. It's simply that some of the components are rather big and lumpy.

Prehaps not complex, but certainly a pain in the arse to work on. Even a spark plug change is a drawn out affair. Effectively it's twice the engine the GTO has, and practically everything takes twice as long. Inboard rear discs? Great for reducing unsprung weight, crap when it comes to servicing and replacement. Don't get me wrong, I do harbour a desire to own a V12 XJ-S, but whilst it may not be needlessly complex, it is needlessly expensive.

[SirClarke]

The GTO is a good car and a real GT bargain, just look at this one!:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1412678.htm

What a steal....


I do actually still quite like them though I'd buy a mkiv Supra over one given the choice

[Speedracer329]

I had been looking to replace my much modified RX-7 for something easy to drive & comfortable due to health reasons, & have settled on a UK 3000GT '98 with full service history, totally standard apart from stainless exhausts. I have to say that I can be totally comfortable & can pootle around in town without many gearchanges, & sharpen up the suspension at the touch of a button & stretch its legs on the open road & very quickly reach silly speeds, again in total comfort, perfect for my needs. I feel I have found a gem. It looks stunning, is more economical then the Rex, & cossets my fragile body more than I could expect. It may be a PH zeroe, but for me it is perfect.

[Oxymoronic]

THe 3000GT/GTO is a great looking car for little money.Keep on hating it as its keeping the values low and then I will be able to soon afford one.
They do look particularly nice in blue!

Edited by Oxymoronic on Sunday 10th January 18:25

[k-ink]

GTO Scott said:

a pain in the arse to work on. Even a spark plug change is a drawn out affair. Effectively it's twice the engine the GTO has, and practically everything takes twice as long. Inboard rear discs? Great for reducing unsprung weight, crap when it comes to servicing and replacement

Ok fair enough. I'm sure it wasn't a pleasure to work on, but I paid someone to do that. Nothing was ever excessively expensive though, but then ours was looked after since almost new, as it was my Dad's originally.

Now I like dead simple cars, with raw involving feedback. I grew tired of being insulated from the driving. But I still need some practicality.

Back OT:


Having said all that, I used to adore the looks of the final Supra. That looked the business.

My mates 300Zx was also amazing too. It had Tein suspension and 450bhp, so was a little fettled. Warp drive, turn the air blue fast.

[Wadeski]

Speedracer329 said:

I had been looking to replace my much modified RX-7 for something easy to drive & comfortable due to health reasons, & have settled on a UK 3000GT '98 with full service history, totally standard apart from stainless exhausts. I have to say that I can be totally comfortable & can pootle around in town without many gearchanges, & sharpen up the suspension at the touch of a button & stretch its legs on the open road & very quickly reach silly speeds, again in total comfort, perfect for my needs. I feel I have found a gem. It looks stunning, is more economical then the Rex, & cossets my fragile body more than I could expect. It may be a PH zeroe, but for me it is perfect.

/lovely pics

That's rather stunning. I drove an MR version and found it much better than i had been led to believe, but what is true is that its very wide, which is why i went for an hairdressers MR2

[driverrob]

Wadeski said:

its very wide,

They're actually not as wide as they might seem. I've not had a problem getting mine between the steel poles at the entrances to some car parks and urban streets.

[Wadeski]

call me a big girl but i went through one width restriction (on a test drive) and it was a testes-raising moment...

its not true that they dont (or cant be made to) handle well - like most jap cars they are very "mild" stock but a few suspension tweaks sharpens them up.

[Oxymoronic]

I like the later '96 onwards cars with the hoop spoiler at the rear like this one....

[Oxymoronic]

Here's a Japanese video of a GTO MR vs an R33 GTR...The MR wins (in a straight line)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW1h9EDGdJg

[jensen2000]

The gt-r's time against the nsx was faster than the gto's in the first head to head. Ergo; drag racing is as much about the driver.

Although I'm a gt-r head I'm still a fan of the gto. Butch looks and great turn of speed in comfort.

Not that comfort was high on my list having increased the rate on my v-spec to rattle teeth on a glass road.

Regards
Jen