Mitsubishi Starion Turbo EX (1988)
Discussion
After 18 months in storage it's just passed it's MOT! 
First registered March 1988, 2.0ltr Turbo Ex with full leather interior.
I purchased her about 6 years ago at age 21 having wanted one for years- the insurance wasn't particularly friendly at first but it was worth every penny to something a bit different as an everyday car.
It was replaced as my daily driver with my DC2 Integra in Oct 09, and about a year later taken off of the road entirely to have a bit of a tidy up.
During it's time off the road it's had a few bits and pieces done to it-
The radiator was completely shot, the extent of which wasn't realised until I got it off;
This was sent up to CPA services in Grantham to be rebuilt, 2 days later and they sent it back having done a fantastic job at an incredible price- would definately recommend them;
Also replaced the power steering pump as this was knackered as well;
I got around to changing the timing belt over the easter weekend, upon which I descovered the previous tensioner had completely seized;
This was a particularly time consuming job as the access to certain bolts/studs on this car is laughable...
Anyway, after all this was done- along with a new water pump, some spark plugs, and a new battery it went for it's MOT... Only to descover it needed some more welding (these cars are an on-going battle against rust) and attention to the front brakes.
Still, after a few days having all this done I went and picked it up Saturday morning with a fresh MOT in place!
(The sticker in the window is the parking permit for the 2003 Le Mans 24hrs)
The wheels need some attention, but I fear they are beyond reconditioning so at some point I will be on the hunt for a second-hand set.
On the road the car very much feels of it's time, however the turbo gives it plenty of punch and it is certainly no slouch. It's only running standard boost pressure, but the intercooler has been upgraded with a slightly larger modern replacement, and it has a full custom exhaust system that is nothing if not loud.
As a driving machine it is leagues away from the precise feeling of the Integra, but has a certain 80's charm and seems to get a lot of interest from older people who 'had one of those back in the day'! Oh, and it has pop-up headlights...
I'm also fortunate to have a full service history for it too. This includes a huge lever arch file of receipts/MOTs- seems weird seeing maintenance receipts for my car that are dated 1989 when I myself was only 4-5 years old!
Unfortunately I need to sell either this or the DC2 in order to have the space to get a TVR Chimaera for the summer. After much deliberation, I realised I've become too attached to the Starion to sell (and there seem very few still on the road in the UK), so the DC2 has sadly now gone up for sale
Hopefully a TVR will ease the pain!
Thanks for reading
First registered March 1988, 2.0ltr Turbo Ex with full leather interior.
I purchased her about 6 years ago at age 21 having wanted one for years- the insurance wasn't particularly friendly at first but it was worth every penny to something a bit different as an everyday car.
It was replaced as my daily driver with my DC2 Integra in Oct 09, and about a year later taken off of the road entirely to have a bit of a tidy up.
During it's time off the road it's had a few bits and pieces done to it-
The radiator was completely shot, the extent of which wasn't realised until I got it off;
This was sent up to CPA services in Grantham to be rebuilt, 2 days later and they sent it back having done a fantastic job at an incredible price- would definately recommend them;
Also replaced the power steering pump as this was knackered as well;
I got around to changing the timing belt over the easter weekend, upon which I descovered the previous tensioner had completely seized;
This was a particularly time consuming job as the access to certain bolts/studs on this car is laughable...
Anyway, after all this was done- along with a new water pump, some spark plugs, and a new battery it went for it's MOT... Only to descover it needed some more welding (these cars are an on-going battle against rust) and attention to the front brakes.
Still, after a few days having all this done I went and picked it up Saturday morning with a fresh MOT in place!
(The sticker in the window is the parking permit for the 2003 Le Mans 24hrs)
The wheels need some attention, but I fear they are beyond reconditioning so at some point I will be on the hunt for a second-hand set.
On the road the car very much feels of it's time, however the turbo gives it plenty of punch and it is certainly no slouch. It's only running standard boost pressure, but the intercooler has been upgraded with a slightly larger modern replacement, and it has a full custom exhaust system that is nothing if not loud.
As a driving machine it is leagues away from the precise feeling of the Integra, but has a certain 80's charm and seems to get a lot of interest from older people who 'had one of those back in the day'! Oh, and it has pop-up headlights...
I'm also fortunate to have a full service history for it too. This includes a huge lever arch file of receipts/MOTs- seems weird seeing maintenance receipts for my car that are dated 1989 when I myself was only 4-5 years old!
Unfortunately I need to sell either this or the DC2 in order to have the space to get a TVR Chimaera for the summer. After much deliberation, I realised I've become too attached to the Starion to sell (and there seem very few still on the road in the UK), so the DC2 has sadly now gone up for sale
Hopefully a TVR will ease the pain!
Thanks for reading
SirSamuelOfBuca said:
awesome. First siting of one of these was some nutter down my street ragging the sh*t out of one up and down the road doing donuts. Always had a soft spot for them .
Whats it like power/speed wise? and ye don't sell it may as well keep it till it disintegrates!
.Whats it like power/speed wise? and ye don't sell it may as well keep it till it disintegrates!
You wouldn't be the first person who has said that!
As for power/speed- they varied between 170-220 ish hp depending on whether it had the 8 or 12 valve head, which intercooler was used etc- they could have massively varying specs. Mine should be towards the higher end of that, and is about similar pace to the Integra so that should be about right. Of course the 215 lb/ft of torque makes it 'feel' faster than the Integra in terms of acceleration.
But I am always somewhat wary of revving the Starion too high, so it probably doesn't get used to it's potential. It's more about the event of driving it to be honest, it certainly turns a fair few heads! (I particularly love the turbo 'woosh')
Saying that, there are some fairly big-power ones in the States (where it was sold as the Dodge Starquest) and as with most Japanese Turbo engined cars, getting more power out of them is not too difficult.
I've always said that if it hasn't disintegrated into dust by the time I'm 30 i'd get the chassis/body properly sorted and give serious thought to getting an Evo engine put in. (The engine in this is essentially the SOHC version of the 4G63 that was developed into the Evo engines so it's a 'reasonably' straight forward- and common- upgrade).
2 and a half years to go!
TheHeretic said:
S10 GTA said:
Everything good from the 80's had Turbo on it
I had a turbo in the shed from the 80's,and IT had a turbo. There may well have been a turbo on that turbo too. In fact it may well be an infinite thing, like looking into 2 parallel mirrors. myles1972 said:
TheHeretic said:
S10 GTA said:
Everything good from the 80's had Turbo on it
I had a turbo in the shed from the 80's,and IT had a turbo. There may well have been a turbo on that turbo too. In fact it may well be an infinite thing, like looking into 2 parallel mirrors. 
Dr G said:
myles1972 said:
TheHeretic said:
S10 GTA said:
Everything good from the 80's had Turbo on it
I had a turbo in the shed from the 80's,and IT had a turbo. There may well have been a turbo on that turbo too. In fact it may well be an infinite thing, like looking into 2 parallel mirrors. 
A picture of the two of them together...
PaulG40 said:
Brilliant! 80s cars are so cool! This and the Alfa 75 on the front page today has really made my day!
I always remember looking into these circa 2003/4, even joined their forum too. Retro coolness, personified! )
That's exactly the same time I started properly looking- sadly I'd not long passed my test so couldn't insure one for a couple of years!I always remember looking into these circa 2003/4, even joined their forum too. Retro coolness, personified! )
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