CHIPS WITH EVERYTHING (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 211

The Mitsubishi 3000GT represents a case study in technological overkill. Whilst some rivals used a technological sledgehammer to crack a nut, an apt image for the 3000GT would be a small peanut perched atop a hundred-megaton thermonuclear device. It was almost as if there was a momentary lapse of reason at Mitsubishi in the early nineties whereby development engineers decided to throw every driver aid and gizmo they could think of at one particular car. All this technology doesn't make the Mitsubishi a bad car; it just makes it an incredibly complex and consequently risky used buy. If you can bag a good one, and there are a number of good cars about, a 3000GT is probably the best car for the money to cross continents. A sports car? You'll have to look elsewhere for that. The 3000GT was unfairly compared with other techno-laden sports cars such as the Nissan Skyline GT-R, whereas it was probably best viewed as a cut-price successor to Porsche's 928 in spirit, if not in execution. Due to these comparisons the big Mitsubishi was branded as a bit of a dynamic duffer, and as a result can be picked up very reasonably on the used market. These misplaced conceptions can save you a lot of money.

Modelsword count: 8

Models Covered: 3 dr coupe, 3.0 V6 petrol

Historyword count: 221

The Mitsubishi 3000GT was part two in a series of four leviathan Japanese super-coupes. The Nissan 300ZX debuted first in 1990, followed by the Mitsubishi in 1992, with the Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo hot on its heels. A year later Toyota's mighty Supra twin-turbo arrived with performance that wiped the floor with all before it. To put these models into perspective, the Toyota was the quickest, the Mitsubishi the most relaxed GT and also the most expensive. The Nissan made a good case for itself as the bargain compromise whilst the Mazda RX-7 was by far the rawest and prettiest. In its early guise, the 3000GT featured pop-up headlamps, a 282bhp twin-turbo engine. It also had four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. In October 1994 the big Mitsubishi benefited from a facelift. Pop-up headlamps were seen as increasingly passe, and faired-in fixed lamps were fitted to the new-look nose. The rear lights received some attention too, and redesigned alloy wheels made an appearance. In August 1996 Mitsubishi recognised the car's relaxed nature by fitting a six-speed gearbox with a lazy overdrive top gear for effortless high-speed cruising. The final round of changes came in October 1998 when yet another design of alloy wheel was fitted, attractive stainless steel door kickplates were added and the excellent Phillips Carin satellite navigation system was fitted.

What You Getword count: 232

Although the 3000GT is a big, heavy car, it seems that a higher priority was given to packaging the processing power than the people. Headroom inside is tight for anyone over 5'10", especially if fitted with the sunroof that robs two inches of clearance. Couple this with a firm ride and the taller driver will need to slump in the seat and strap something slim but soft to the top of his head. Luggage space is also notable by its absence, the huge rear hatch opening up to reveal a loading bay that would only take light weekend bags. Whilst it's billed as a 2+2, the rear seats in the Mitsubishi are really only suitable as additional luggage spaces. Expect a call from the NSPCC if you plan to put children in the back. Naturally, performance and roadholding are excellent, but the laws of physics will only stretch so far. The 3000GT weighs 1740kg, or to put it another way, about the same as a Volvo V70 estate and a big-boned sixteen-stone driver. It drives like a powerful saloon, so don't expect hot-hatch nimbleness. The early car's looks haven't dated very well, the rather clumsy detailing having been deleted for the models with fixed headlamps. These still look striking, but bear in mind that the super coupe bar has been raised since 1991, and the Mitsubishi hasn't changed considerably under its skin.

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