£1000 Challenge
We’re back to Goodwood, but with so many on board for the Revival trip, its making some bad noises…
Mitsubishi Galant
1991 MITSUBISHI GALANT GLSi THE STORY SO FAR Miles driven 288 Total mileage 235,910 What’s gone wrong It’s trudging on, but the rear suspension will need some work soon CHARLIE CALDERWOOD
Our Galant is no stranger to lugging heavy loads over long distances – it racked up a large proportion of its massive mileage delivering stacks of newspapers for the Derby Telegraph after all. But, despite this preparation, the Mitsubishi was groaning with complaint for most of our return trip to Goodwood, which saw us load up the car with more stuff (three journalists, their luggage and a load of camera gear) than it’s seen so far throughout its time as one of CCW’s £1k Challenge cars.
That’s not to say that we were ever worried about the Galant not making the trip – there wasn’t much doubt in my mind that the old tank would make it, but it seems that all that time hauling newspapers about has taken its toll on the rear dampers. They moaned over every speed bump and even allowed the tyres to catch the wheel arches under very hard cornering, which was a bit disconcerting for rear passengers.
To be fair, 235,910 miles is a good innings for any damper and I had felt them to be a bit on the loose side when we first picked the car up, but more urgent jobs always forced them further down our to-do list. This weekend has shown just how bad they are, so we’ll get on to sorting them sooner rather than later. It’s an easy job at least, and should transform the car’s ride, which, while comfortable, is currently excessively bouncy.
Weirdly, the Galant’s battery impressed us the most during this trip; features editor Chris attempted to drain it by accidentally leaving the lights on as we spent ten hours at Goodwood Motor Circuit. Somehow, it still had enough power to start, though it did so with an almighty howl from the auxiliary belt; the alternator’s appetite was no doubt ravenous. We were a bit worried about the belt’s loud whining, but it died down after about half a minute and hasn’t returned since.
The Galant otherwise ploughed on with its usual comfortable, in-its-own-time aplomb, though it was thirstier than usual – which was doubly annoying given that any attempt to fill the tank usually ends with petrol-sodden shoes thanks to the dodgy breather.
That’s just one of the car’s many foibles that I’ve come to get used to, along with the rear tyre that needs pumping up every week or so and the coolant that sometimes – but not always – burns away.
Still, this trip counts as another victory over the Reliant Robin – you won’t see three of us going to Goodwood in that!