So, to put you out of whatever misery, and because I haven’t given you nearly enough clues, you might like to know that I’ve bought a 2002 Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Shogun.
Yes it is a direct replacement for the rather less-than-reliable Disco we used to run. It’s got up to seven seats, which is all the Mitsubishi has in common with the Land Rover in my opinion. But the most different thing about the Shogun, apart from the fact it won’t break down, is that it is petrol.
Yes it’s got a great big 3.5-litre V6 engine, which is fantastic. The Disco diesel sounded like a cement mixer and largely drove like one, too. It has been a revelation to have an engine that you can’t actually hear from tickover to 70 something mph on the motorway. The tyres are wonderful balloons, not a low-profile rim anywhere, so it soaks up all those nasty pot holes.
The Shogun is super comfy and that’s important at my time of life. Well, when I get to take a ride or drive in it. However, it isn’t quite as comfy as Shed 7, but when we need seven seats then it’s much less of a squeeze.
Obviously that V6 engine uses a bit more than the nasty, noisy diesel — but I think it is easily worth it. It won’t do a lot of miles, it just bobs about locally with the odd fully loaded long-haul trip.
So far, so good. The interior is exceedingly plastic, but so was the Disco, plus it had added water leaks. The Shogun also has that thin, slippery leather unique to Japanese vehicles.
It isn’t an import, seems to have been looked after and so far all I’ve added is petrol. I presume I’ll be doing quite a lot of that over the coming years.
So what used car are you going to buy next? A stupidly thirsty 4x4, a town centre assault vehicle or something exciting like a Bugatti Veyron? Do tell.
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Mitsubishi Shogun
Excellent choice Mr Ruppert after your experience with the Disco, If you can't run to a Land Cruiser the Shogun's the next best thing absolutely bullet proof.
Even as a new buy the entry level Shogun is a cracking proposition see what to get for the price and then configure a Disco to the same spec then see what it costs!!!
No 289
"BTW, glad to see the proper Norfolk reg on the series 111!"
No 289
sorry, read it as NG....just increased the magnification and you are right- it is MG
Good choice
As ever, if you want reliable, useful wheels, it has to be Japanese.
These are much better value used than used Land Cruisers, which are the obvious alternative.
Interesting that you didn't do for an X5, ML or a Land Rover, which your colleagues never tire of telling us are "premium". How will you cope with those withering looks when you put your car keys on the desk at work and they clock those three little diamonds?