Ah the saloon with different engine...Quote:
Originally Posted by KiwiTT
Lancer Ralliart here, presumably same as in NZ, has detuned Evo X engine...
Ah the saloon with different engine...Quote:
Originally Posted by KiwiTT
Lancer Ralliart here, presumably same as in NZ, has detuned Evo X engine...
If I was in the market for a Mitsubishi based replacement for the VR4 and wanted something other than a X then the Ralliart hatch is what I would go for.
Had a look around and a passenger ride in Chris's car, it's the right mix of practicality and performance. I would have bought one but the desire for a V8 was too strong.
I need an estate car.
Well, more correctly, we need an estate car in the household! And when I only had the one car, the Legnum was perfect - fast and practical.
So it's either I get a fast, practical estate, or we swap the Fiesta for a practical estate, and I get something that's not an estate, which opens up the options somewhat!
Thinking about Option 3.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Mann
I changed my Cambelt @ 80,000 and @ 160,000, and in about 2 years I will hit 240,000. I look at my last full nose-to-tail service and it was horrendously expensive ($5k). I am thinking I can just ride it out and use the fact of the cambelt blowing as opportunity to get my next car. My brother says cambelts can last well over their recommended change time (my 240,000), by up to 50,000+. I am more of a slow driver now because it is all city driving and it hardly goes over 3,000rpm nowadays.
Will cambelts last longer depending on usage?
As for replacement cars, these are the Galant/Lancer models I am considering.
Lancer VR-X 2.4 Litre - << My preferred option
Lancer SEi 2.0 Litre
Lancer/Galant-Fortis Ralliart 2.0 Turbo
Galant-Fortis Super Exceed or Sport
Lancer GSR 2.0 Litre
I know of someone who has been putting off a cambelt change for a while now. Iirc his car has done nearly 100k miles since its last change.
I would be concerned about it developing and unnoticeable oil leak from a cam or crank seal and it contaminating the belt
As you know my 1996 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 is getting a little old, and is also due for a big service (Cambelt, Water Pump, special Mitsubishi fluids, etc.) when it gets to 240,000km. Last time I got it done at the dealer it cost me over $5,000 with additional parts they needed to replace about 7 years ago. Who knows what we will find this time round?
While I still love my car and will find it hard to part with, but I want my new car to give me reasonably trouble-free motoring.
I am considering a 2008 BMW 323i M-sport - http://www.buyrightcars.co.nz/used-c...torsport-34759 as possible replacement. Alternatively, I am also interested in a Mitsubishi Galant Fortis Sport (NZ Lancer VRX/GSR) - http://www.buyrightcars.co.nz/used-c...s-sports-37945 - as this would be my 5th Galant in a row. In addition, I believe buyrightcars should be a reasonable dealer to buy from as I bought my last car from them which has lasted over 20 years now.
So should BMWs still be avoided due to long-term running costs, even if I get it regularly serviced or should I play it safe and buy my 5th Mitsubishi Galant. A final alternative is to get the big service above and defer my decision for a year or two longer.
What's making me think about the BMW 323i is that although it is detuned 2.5 l, most of my driving is around town and I hardly need to push the accelerator to the floor for additional power, that a larger engine may give.
Also the 323i does not have the quirky iDrive.
The 8g Galant was a proper executive car. That Galant Fortis isn't a Galant, it's a cheap Lancer, which in itself is a lower class of car than the Galant ever was, and that shape/model was only ever (in my opinion) a model bought out so that Mitsubishi had a hatchback to attempt to compete with the Ford Focus etc.
The 3 series is at least a better car, but they can be quite expensive for parts - especially if you're a main-dealer-only person.
Most main dealers now only employ trained fitters - they know how to replace parts, and nothing more. You will be able to find an independent, who will be able to more accurately provide you feedback with what is actually required over and above the standard service items, and if you source the parts yourself, you will also pay a lot less for labour.
If you want a new car, then out of those two options I'd go for the BMW (although, I'd be wanting the 330i or 335i), but if it's just because there's some scheduled maintenance coming up on your current car, which is otherwise running well and you're happy with - then better the devil you know! If you spent $5000 on servicing it 7 years ago and haven't needed to do anything else since, that's some pretty cheap motoring!
(I'd also question what "extra" parts they said it needed 7 years ago, too...)
Funnily enough one of the things that attracted me to the Galant was it looked a bit like a BMW sedan.
The one I am looking at has about 149kW versus the ~190kW I have in mine, but it is a lighter car, so that may compensate for that.
I have a friend with a 2013 328i. It is a nice car and goes well but performance wise it isn't in vr4 territory.
Re-mapped 330D, fast as you know what.
I understand that, but 99% of my driving is below 3,000rpm and 0-50kph, where hp and torque differences I suspect are negligible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Mann
UPDATE: I am organising test drives of the 2008 BMW 323i M-Sport and also a new Mitsubishi Lancer GTi
http://www.mmnz.co.nz/assets/Uploads...1440x500-2.jpg
Which will bring back fond memories I had of the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant GTi-16v I once had.
Took the 2008 (E90) 323i for a good test drive - Panmure - Mission Bay - Parnell - Greenlane - Royal Oak - Hillsborough - Blockhouse Bay (Parents) - New Windsor - Onehunga - Mt Wellington - Panmure. A good mix of city and motorway driving. Wow - you could really feel the quality and solid feel of a BMW 3 series. However, analysis on the actual VIN no. showed that despite being registered in 2008 it was actually a 2007 manufacture and therefore had the lower spec 2.5 L motor. So I will pass on this car. But nevertheless, I think I will concentrate my evaluation on 3 series 6 cylinder options over the next few of weeks and probably have a nice BMW before Xmas.
Also the 330i/335i is now on my radar too!
This 2006 BMW 330i Motorsport is my most likely purchase
http://www.buyrightcars.co.nz/used-c...torsport-35650
Attachment 76148
Nice! :sunny:
I assume you wanted a little more oomph after all! :beerbang:
Or maybe the i-Drive?! :D
Is that the easiest way to get one - fresh from Japan?
Easiest and cheapest
Taking it for a test drive today. I have heard the 335i can be quite problematic.
Done the deal on the BMW 330i pending a satisfactory mechanical check by Botany Motor Worx - NZ iDrive upgrade and 4 year warranty and trade of my old VR4. Should have it by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.
Enjoy it!
I will sadly miss the VR-4, but after 228,000km and 20 years of life its time has come to an end. It would never have been a "classic" sadly, which may have justified keeping it. But I did not want to be rushing around to find the right car, should my car die, so I bit the bullet early.
Fair play!
Always a difficult decision. Parting with a large chunk of cash, that is!
Hope it is as faithful as the VR-4 has been. :)