LEGNUM/ GALANT VR4

TO SOME THEY MAY LOOK A TAD BLAND BEHIND THE WHEEL THEY ARE ANYTHING BUT

Mitsubishi’s Legnum might look depressingly similar to the Magna wagon you once had as a work vehicle, but this is a workhorse that won’t deliver a load of boredom. Nor will its four-door cousin, the Galant VR4 sedan. Both have V6 engines that produce an officially sanctioned 206kW. In most cases they will feed that power through a five-speed automatic transmission. Although five-speed manual transmission was optional it is scarce.

The sedan and wagon are both well-equipped and cars already in Australia aren’t fearsomely expensive. With changes to import regulations due to arrive soon, these Mitsubishis are also likely to begin appearing in greater numbers

From July 2022, vehicle imports will be subject to a new ‘Rolling 25’ rule which will allow greater freedoms to people wanting to bring in cars that were built in 1997 or earlier.

Mitsubishi Japan launched the Galant VR4/Legnum duo in 1996 and a year later was rewarded with a Japanese Car of the Year award for the Legnum. Production would continue until 2002.

Imports began about 15 years ago, with most of the cars that arrived back then being Legnums. Age and mechanical failures ate quickly into the numbers of available vehicles though, with VR4s in particular hard to find.

These cars share some architecture with the local Magna, but under a bonnet where Mitsubishi Australia found space for a 3.5-litre V6 there is a 2.5-litre version plus dual turbochargers.

Several years ago, UniqueCars sampled an automatic Legnum and discovered a performance car that would flip almost unnoticed between ratios and reputedly haul the wagon’s 1520kg to around 240km/h.

Our experience all occurred in suburban streets and on semi-rural roads though, where no more than 100km/h was permitted, and under those conditions the Legnum was loafing. Select ‘D,’ press gently on the accelerator and it would surge silently to the desired speed. Use the shifter in manual mode or just floor the pedal and it felt capable of outrunning V8s and turbos alike. That was confirmed by o/s tests which recorded mid-14 seconds for the 0-400 metre dash.

Tyres were 225-section sitting on 16-inch rims and a bit skimpy for a car of the Legnum’s performance, but you really wouldn’t go too low in the profile for fear of upsetting ride quality.

Conservatism rules inside the cabin. Leather trim was available, but these cars are normally found with passably comfy cloth seats, Climate-control air, electric windows and power locks are all part of a well-executed package and load-space in the Legnum looks OK, even if the wheel arches do intrude.

In terms of value for money, the Legnum leaves anything in its class way behind. $20,000 buys a manual in close to showroom condition. High-kilometre examples can be found at $10,000 less with Galants typically 30 per cent cheaper than a wagon in comparable condition.

BODY & CHASSIS

The VR4/Legnum body looks well-built, and rust proofed but still check carefully around front and rear windscreens, the bonnet lip, door skins and spare wheel well for rust or hasty repairs. These aren’t serious 4WDs, but some people will ignore the absence of clearance and go off-road anyway so look underneath for damage to the front valance, exhaust and sills. Headlights with tarnished reflectors are useless, so be prepared to purchase some replacements which may need to come from Europe at around $400 each. If you choose a wagon, make sure the cargo door struts can support its weight. Japanese paint suffers in our climate, so slash your offer if the horizontal panels have faded or show areas where the clear coat is flaking.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

It would be unusual to find one of these that hasn’t undergone some mechanical freshening – maybe a complete engine rebuild. Underbonnet heat shortens the life of anything sitting close to a turbocharger so budget to have hard-to-reach hoses replaced if they haven’t been already. Smoke indicates engine work is needed; blue for piston or bore wear, white denoting a failed turbo, steam a head gasket. Misfiring can be due to a failed coil pack and if you buy genuine parts, they aren’t cheap. The standard clutch was a weak point but fitting a better one can send greater stresses to half-shafts or the diff. Listen when coasting for rumbling from the rear differential.

SUSPENSION & BRAKES

These Mitsubishis will likely have been in Australia for a while and already undergone a brake overhaul. With rotors, calipers and pads, this can save in the region of $1000, so ask the vendor for receipts. Thumps from the front-end point to worn struts or top mountings. The power steering should be razor-sharp and more than 20mm of free play at the steering wheel means the rack is likely worn. Steering column joints also need checking for wear. Misaligned front and rear wheels rapidly chew tyre edges.

INTERIOR & ELECTRICS

The trim used in these models seems durable and it’s possible to find them with minimal wear to the original cloth. Aussie sun cracks unprotected dashtops and even the dash structure can fail, so look for damage. Check carpets, especially in the back, for dampness and that the seats in a wagon lay flat when required. Repairing faulty air-conditioning is costly so a car with a recently serviced and regassed system will be worth some extra. Check that the heater warms quickly – if not the thermostat could be incorrect or removed - and the front carpets aren’t damp from underdash coolant leaks. Avoid cars with a sunroof as it steals headroom.