1996 Mitsubishi GTO Twin Turbo
"2001 Vauxhall Corsa 1.0 Comfort (a hateful car in every way but I had to learn in something), 1995 Toyota Celica SS-III 2.0, 2003 Toyota Celica T-Sport, 1986 Toyota MR2 Mk1 Twin Cam."
Car generally standard; 'Essex' wheels to go
"As a 22-year-old I am a one of the PlayStation generation and grew up with a love of Japanese cars from the 1980s and 1990s. The Mitsubishi GTO never received the same recognition as the Supra, Skyline or RX-7 but it always remained a cult hero in my eyes. It is a reminder of a time when the Japanese made some very special cars. Having just sold my Mk1 MR2 I desired something with a bit more comfort and power for the winter!"
What I wish I'd known:
"Very little really; I'm still getting to know the car and I am well aware of the high running costs and service requirements they demand, being such a large and complex old beast. Generally though it seems that the GTO and its UK 3000GT counterpart are both very reliable and capable machines if they are looked after and serviced correctly.
"I made sure to avoid modified examples and chose a car that was entirely original except for an HKS mushroom air filter, an appropriate stainless steel exhaust system and some slightly Essex alloy wheels which I may look to replace with originals at a later date."
A forgotten JDM hero reckons our proud owner
"It is a fast Mitsubishi that isn't an Evo - that has to count for something!
"I love the effortless way that it picks up speed. From as low as 2,000rpm the first turbo delivers a massive kick in the backside with the second following shortly after. With 315lb ft of torque and approximately 300hp the GTO covers ground at a ridiculous rate, especially considering how big it actually is. With 4WD and massive tyres it is capable of putting its power down at any time, making short work of bad cambers and greasy roads - especially important for me living in County Durham. After the tail happy, raw nature of my MR2 it makes a nice change to have something which makes you look like a better driver than you actually are.
"I also love the way the car looks on the road. It is very difficult to convey its sheer size through photos but it has huge road presence. I think the swooping curves are aging well and GTOs and 3000GTs are becoming a rare sight on the roads these days."
Lucky man living near roads like this
"Hate is a strong word, however the lack of rear visibility combined with the bulbous nature of the rear end makes reversing in tight spaces very awkward. The large wheelbase makes the turning circle awful but the steering is power assisted and very light at low speeds. The owners' communities for the GTO/3000GT are nowhere near as busy and useful as they had been for my Mk1 MR2 or Celicas, but I'm guessing that is a result of its rarity, and the fact that they are a mechanic's nightmare."
Costs:
"While these cars are relatively cheap to buy compared to Supras and Skylines of this period, they are not cheaper to run. Approximately 30mpg is possible on longer drives due to a tall sixth gear, but you won't see much more than 20mpg around town. Parts themselves are not ruinously expensive but due to the complex nature of the car and the stringent service requirements there is a lot that potentially could cost you money. Tyres and brakes are obviously larger and more expensive with a car of this size.
"Even as an import I found insurance fairly reasonable; as a 22-year-old with a clean licence insurance was circa £800 third party fire and theft, not bad for a 3.0-litre twin turbo V6. After all, it was not so long ago I was paying more than double that for a 1.0 Corsa whilst learning to drive."
The kind of parental influence PH can rally behind
"Having only had the car a short while the longest journey I have done was the 200-mile drive back from Birmingham where I bought it. The GTO ate up the motorway miles and turned out to be a comfortable, fast and capable cruiser. With cruise control and a plethora of electronic goodies to play with it makes the longer drives so much easier. Apart from this the car has just been taken on the moorlands of County Durham and the surrounding areas so that I can get to know it better! My father owns a ST205 Celica GT-Four so sometime I can get out for a drive over the moors with him. The two cars make for an interesting comparison!
"One particularly interesting journey saw me run out fuel in the middle of nowhere in County Durham. It seems the needle on the fuel gauge is about a quarter of a tank optimistic!"
What next?
"Well with the MoT due in January I expect to be replacing the front pads and possibly the discs too. After that, I may look to source some original alloy wheels and possibly look into a remap if funds allow.
"I also need to replace the front number plate. That was damaged by a pheasant which changed its mind about being alive. I might use the opportunity to put a private plate on the car as I feel the current registration is crying out to be vandalised."
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