Mitsubishi Galant test drive since 2008 sedan

Galantereya

Despite the fact that the latter Galant is focused exclusively on the US market, it was sold there 23 times worse than his predecessor!
Why write about the ninth Mitsubishi Galant on the second-hand section, because they have recently been sold with us! The editor -in -chief was indignant. And he is right. Indeed, the new Galant only in 2006 appeared in our market. However, now these machines, and used, are transported from the United States in very large quantities. Why?
Everything is very simple. The last generation of Galant was shown back in 2003, however, this car with a very unusual design was sold only in the US market. But it was decided not to supply Galant to Europe for obvious reasons: in the old world, only premium brands, such as Audi, Mercedes-Benz or BMW, feel good in this class. But nobody needs large budget sedans there. The only country on the continent where these machines are bought with great hunting was Russia Toyota Camry and Mitsubishi Galant are very popular with us, especially in the secondary market.
There are usually no serious complaints about the assembly of the salon (cheap decoration materials do not count). According to the masters, in the vast majority of cases, the salons of Galant coming from America look very decent, all mechanical and electric drives work, climate control does not buggle. As for the body, he, of course, does not rust.
The Galant, sold now in Russia, have only one motor of the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder unit issuing 158 hp. (under the index 4G69). It is cars with such a motor that is most often brought to us from behind the hillock (the Americans write that the engine with a volume of 2.4 liters has 160 hp). However, it happens that in Russian ports from the ferry, much more cool Galant also move on, which have a 3.8 liter engine under the hood V6 engine (6G75). Moreover, the last power unit is in two versions of 233 and 258 hp. Of course, more expensive Galant 3.8 is imported to us in relatively small quantities, which is explained by a very expensive customs clearance of about 8,500 euros (cleaning a 2.4-liter machine costs 4800 euros).
The difference in Galant behavior with a 2.4 liter engine and 3.8 liters is very significant. More powerful cars are noticeably better obeyed by gas pedals, accelerate much more actively. But do not think that Galant 2.4 is some kind of flawed. Nothing like this!
The 2.4-liter 4G69 engine is a long time ago by the mechanics working with Mitsubishi. It was put on many cars of the Japanese company, including the well -familiar Outlander crossover. Fortunately, this power unit does not have a sophisticated GDI injection system, which copes with Russian fuel with great difficulty. But the injection of the 4G69 also, by the way, is quite progressive, with a variable valve lifting height, called MIVEC at 3500 rpm, the system switches to other power fists. At the same time, you can safely pour the more affordable 92nd gasoline into the car’s tank, although it is not worth counting on efficiency in this case Galant 2.4 when driving around the city spends an average of 1517 liters per 100 km.
The long life of the 2.4-liter unit is quite simple: it turned out to be very successful and unpretentious. The engine has no chronic diseases, but for preventive purposes, it is recommended to clean the nozzles every 20,00030,000 km and at the same time change the spark plugs. In addition, when buying a car brought from the United States, check the timing belt with rollers.
They must be updated once every 90,000 km, which, taking into account the spare parts, costs about $ 300350. You also need to remember about the radiator here, like almost all Mitsubishi brand cars, not the most reliable. It happens that the radiator flows a year after the car gets to Russia. There are several treatment options, as usual. The cheapest repair. However, if the radiator has leaked, then he can’t live for a long time. Therefore, get ready to buy a new one, which, by the way, costs about $ 800.
As for the 3.8 liter motor, the masters are also familiar with him, they put him on American Pajero, who are now actively importing us from the United States in a used state. So far, there are not so many cars with high mileage, but, apparently, the 3.8-liter unit is very reliable and does not require much money for maintenance. Unless the Galant 3.8 fuel consumption may be surprised in the city, it takes 20 liters per hundred.
Is there the ninth Galant with already dead engines? According to the masters, sometimes such cars come from the United States, and in some cases the mileage of these machines is not more than 120,000 km. But Mitsubishi cannot be blamed for this company. The engines are actually very reliable, simply, as has repeatedly said, the Americans do not know how to serve their cars properly (and in many cases). Therefore, they pour mineral, not synthetic oil into the engines and do not do it on time. But it is worth emphasizing: so far cases of the capital of Galant IX engines are single.
The most common in the Galant 4-speed automate InVecs-II. It provides decent dynamics even by cars with a 2.4-liter engine (by the way, a 5-speed box is already put on the Galant Ralliart, but there are no mechanics here).
The choice of gearbox does not depend on you. As already mentioned, the ninth generation Galant was never put on the Mechanics (do not forget that the car was created for the American market).
Therefore, buying a car with a 2.4-liter engine and even with a 3.8-liter V6, which issued 233 hp, you will receive only a 4-speed automatic. There are very few speeds, by modern standards, but this machine cannot be called thoughtful. It works quite adequately, does not twitch when switching and, most importantly, does not irritate the driver. Moreover, the 4-speed box of the InVecs II series is adaptive and is able to adapt to the driver’s driving style. In addition, it allows you to manually switch speeds, as a result, the machine becomes more dynamic. But the Galant Ralliart with a 258-horsepower engine already has a 5-speed box.
There is nothing to tell about the automatic disease. There are simply no them, because the INVECS II box, like engines, has long been in service with the Japanese company. This box first appeared back in 1994 on the two -door Mitsubishi FTO compartment, and by the time the Galant ninth generation was released, the INVECS II design has already been worked out and well studied. Therefore, it is not worth expecting some unpleasant surprises from the automatic transmission.
Mitsubishi has long been trying to give its models a sports image. However, the last generation of Galant, even with a great desire, can hardly be called sports. And the point is not only in appearance, but also in setting the suspension and steering. Even the Galant sold in Russia with a slightly adapted suspension cannot boast of honed controllability, and even cars from the USA are not at all tuned to quickly passing turns. Although here to look with what to compare. After all, purely statesfish Ford, Chrysler or Chevrolet is even worse in this regard. But cars brought from behind the ocean are distinguished by good smoothness.
But for us, the reliability of the car is of great importance. And with her, Galant has more or less order. At least most cars with a mileage of about 100,000120,000 km need to change practically nothing. Galant buyers can face only one jamb: the lower rear suspension levers were not the most reliable here (replacing each costs about $ 150 with work).
And therefore, on some cars brought from the USA they need to be changed (it is interesting that in America the levers work much longer than in Russia). Another 34-year-old Galant may die tips of steering rods ($ 100 per pair with work) and shock absorbers ($ 110 for each). Perhaps this is all, although you remember that sometimes there are so hackneyed cars with twisted mileage on sale that you need to completely sort out the chassis. And pleasure is oh what an expensive order of $ 2000.
The ninth generation Galant was created not the best for Mitsubishi times. At the junction of centuries, the company incurred large losses, it hardly enough money for new models. The last Galant decided to do only for America, and the development of this model was also entrusted to the inhabitants of the New World from the Mitsubishi studio in California.
Galant was based on a universal platform called PS.
EXCURSION
For the first time, the Galant name appeared back in 1969, when the model of the rear -wheel drive sedan was called Colt Galant.
Colt Galant was produced until 1973. Moreover, in different versions: like a sedan, a station wagon and even like a hardtop without a central rack. They also sold the COLT GALANT GTO compartment, which was equipped with a 1.6 liter engine and a capacity of 125 hp.
In 1973, Galant became an independent model in the back of the sedan and as a 2-door hardtop. In 1976, the third generation of Galant appeared with springs from behind, and not with springs. In 1980, the model underwent serious modernization.
But the truly new Galant was shown only in 1983. The car became noticeably larger than its predecessors and received front -wheel drive. Moreover, Mitsubishi began to share this car depending on the sales market: only cars with 4 cylinder units (2.0 and 2.4 liters) went to Europe, and in the USA they sold only with a V6 of 3.0 liters.
In 1987, the production of the sixth generation Galant began. However, in parallel with Galant VI they also made Galant V, and until 1990. Galant V released a sedan in the back and like a hatchback.
In 1992, they presented the next Galant, which became even larger. True, this car was made only four years in 1996 showed eighth -generation Galant. Galant VIII can most often find a sedan in the back, but the Japanese also made a station wagon. And the most powerful Galant had under the hood of a 2.5 liter engine with two turbochargers at once, thanks to which the power was as much as 280 hp. Eighth generation Galant stood on the conveyor for a very long time. After all, even after the ninth generation Galant began in the USA at the factory in Illinois, the old model was made in Japan until 2006.
At first, the ninth generation Galant was sold only in the USA. But now this car can be bought in Russia and in Ukraine, in Latin America. And a little more modernized Galant, under the name Grunder, is done in Taiwan as Mitsubishi 380 in Australia and even in China (and on Australian cars they put not only an automatic machine, but also mechanics).
American Mitsubishi Galant today is very popular in Russia. They attract buyers with decent dimensions, serious (albeit controversial) appearance, powerful engines and image of a reliable machine. In addition, Galant brought from the United States has a very interesting price, this model in the secondary market is noticeably cheaper than Toyota Camry.
FITTING
The Galant presented in the pictures was originally sold not in the United States, but in Russia, this is one of the first cars officially brought to us. According to the buyer, he decided to choose Galant in the first place because of a good price ratio and quality, because in the class D in 2006 it was the most affordable model among decent brands. In addition, the choice in favor of Galant was also made because one of its main competitors called Toyota Camry uses too much love of hijackers.
To date, Galant managed to run a little more than 40,000 km. And during all this time the car did not cause any trouble. The owner only drove in time for that. Yes, and the inspection of the car on our service showed that nothing needs to be changed, everything functions as it should.
According to the owner of Galant, he is very sorry to part with his car (the price is $ 26,500).
Experts
Andrey Lemigov, Director General of the DAX expert company:
When the conversation comes to Mitsubishi Galant, you inevitably encounter the need to choose between two completely different properties of this model. On the one hand, for reliability and running qualities, this car is rightly called the Japanese BMW, on the other, the price of spare parts and repair nullifies all its advantages, especially in the trim levels from the United States. It should not be forgotten that in our country most often the machines that have high reliability are most often won, but on the contrary, possessing high maintainability and moderate price for spare parts.
In this regard, Mitsubishi cars, unfortunately, are far from the best positions.
Dmitry Erokhin, General Director of the Center for Car loans, Ph.D.:
Today in the Russian market all Mitsubishi Galant cars from 2003 to 2006 of American descent. Accordingly, for buyers Mitsubishi Galant, who would like to purchase this car on credit, there are two features of customs clearance and registration of the car.
Firstly, during the customs clearance of an American car, sometimes a change in the release of the model is actual for a year, which leads to the underestimation of customs payments and becomes a risk for the buyer, who may be obliged to pay customs payments.
Secondly, from time to time, there is no marking sticker on Mitsubishi Galant. This may be associated either with the door repair where it is glued, or with the intentional actions of the seller, who removes it to hide the actual release date of the car and make its customs clearance at low tariffs. In the absence of a sticker, a car in Moscow can only be registered through an official forensic examination conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which takes at least a month.
All these features of Galant lead to an increase in the costs of its maintenance and can cause delay in the loan and deterioration of the credit history of the borrower. Therefore, when buying an American Mitsubishi Galant, it is necessary to conduct a forensic examination of the machine before registration of the transaction so as not to bear additional costs.
Denis Smolyanov
Author photo: Yan Segal
 

Source: Mkobil magazine [January/2008]