As far as comparisons go, I do not care whether anyone compares 2.4 to 3.2 or 3.2 to 3.8. It's the individuality, originality, charisma and a certain "X" factor of a car that matters, and in that respect, Mitsubishi has sorely lost the plot...
How can one forget the VR4 galants of old? or rather the last generation VR4s with the 6A13TT motors? Damn fast cars that killed every sedan with practicality, speed, safety and panache. Try a 0 to 100 in 5.9 seconds. It was also available as a wagon. There were no Japanese cars that came near in subjective and objective terms. Even if you compared a car of that type to Europeans, like the Audi S4, BMW M3, and Merc AMGs, you had all the performance and comfort, but at a much lower price and "image problems" and a LOT more reliability...
Then you have the Pajero Evolution. 3.5 V6 MIVEC with 280 BHP (allegedly, probably more...). The most extreme rally 4x4 conceived.
Mitsubishi 3000 GT(O), first car in the world to have 4 wheel steer, twin turbos, active aerodynamics, electronically controlled shocks and All Wheel Drive all at once. People called it dull and uninspiring, but I say it was the most advanced vehicle of its time and if I had the money, I would have bought it.
Mitsubishi was the first manufacturer to commercialise the Direct Injectino system for Petrol cars (GDI).
The beauty of older Mitsubishi cars was, they were all shining stars on the automotive landscape. They all had something new to offer. I'm not banging on Honda, Toyota or Nissan, but except for Engines, Honda hasn't really brought anything new or revolutionary (although its engines are anything but "un"-revolutionary), Toyota has nice, rounded cars, but I never really connected with them (too "everyday" for me - although the Corolla IS the best selling car in the world) but they work very well as everyday cars. As for the Nissan, I rate Nissan as the Second japanese company that has taken risks and strived to make its cars special (that's probably why it felt that economic crunch as well). You have the Skyline with the GTO, the Stagea with the Galant VR4, Nissan Sunny GTi with the Evolution 1-3.
Mitsubishi and Nissan were the very first manufacturers to incorporate Artificial Intelligence into their drivetrain controllers and Engine Control Units.
The problem I find these days is that Mitsubishi has lost some of that "mystique" that it had, you always knew, that a Mitsubishi was special, more than a Merc or a BMW in my opinion. Because unlike the Merc and BMW, every "neo-riche" doesn't fly out of the door with check book in hand to buy one. That's what I liked about it. It was SPECIAL. Not anymore unfortunately. IMHO, comparing a galant to an accord is a disgrace to the Galant (well it WAS anyway until the '80s or early '90s).
Heck my Pajero '90 was a HELL of a lot better equipped than a comparitive Land Cruiser at that time. PLUS it had proper independent suspension and a proper seating position. It had a proper interior. It was extremely comfortable as compared to LC on rough roads. It beat the HELL out of it during rallies. NOW? Newbies like the X5, ForeRunner and the ML are trouncing it in every test. And it isn't as if it is great in the rough either, the stupid power to weight ratios mean that it can't put on a show even in the rough. They enlarged the 3.0 V6 to 3.8 litres, I mean, WHAT THE HECK IS MITSUBISHI UPTO????? I've even stopped reading reviews of pajero against other SUVs as I know it won't be the winner. Other 4x4s just do not matter to me. Why should they? When you got 11 wins out of 21 Paris Dakar Rallies starting from 1985 (The other 1à victories that do not REMOTELY resemble 4x4s), you know that Mitsubishi has better knowledge of building a better 4x4 than anyone else. Because The Paris Dakar IS the test of the ultimate 4x4!
As for the galant? Don't get me started. When you start to get compared to other "Lowly" cars(no offense to lovers of Accords or Cefiros or Camrys, just a figure of speech), you put in some serious development on your engine, suspension package, for the design, if you can't do it yourself, ask some Italian designer to design one for you (witness the Fiat Grande Punto and the 406 Coupe as examples of simple automotive beauty). They are mainstream cars. No need to "Europeanise" your car, because you are NOT European!!! When you are as Innovative as you are, no need to "Bangle-ise" your car, nice serious shapes work well, ditto for the interior. Mitusbishis have always been a bit weak on the interior, but it has always been logial, nicely though out and easy to use, no need for a MercAudiMotorenWerkes "Intelligence test" every time you want to change the speed of the fan that's blowing in your face or changing a radio channel.
Come one guys! Let's not get carried away with all of this! I know there are people out there who are willing Mitsubishi to jump back up to its feet and continue mystifying and gratifying the legions of enthusiasts out there. I LOVE MITUSBISHIs! Let's be clear about that! But the way they are going, I do not see a future for them. I hate to see such a (quietly)celebrated mark become a victim of the economic crunch. And YES, I stand by my previous remark, I think they are no more the cars buyers are willing to pay extra for, hence my remark of overpriced. Then you compare the equipment level or should I say, the "feel good" bits, and you start to see wher my remark of underequipped comes from.
Phew! I've said a lot. I apologise to anyone who's feelings I hurt, but that's how I feel.
Cheers to all,
Till later,
Sami
