The truthful response is, “It depends.
When buying a well-kept 3000GT, you should keep in mind that these vehicles were tremendously complex when they were first introduced, which was the better part of 30 years ago.
During the middle of the 2000s to the 2010s, the 3000GT was one of those vehicles that became reasonably priced for a while. Despite the fact that they were pricey when they were new, particularly the more complicated 3000GT VR4 type.
This meant that many specimens ended up in the possession of individuals who desired to own one but were unable to adequately care for their purchase (this is a frequent problem with any luxury or performance vehicle that depreciates significantly).
To learn more about the potential outcomes of this, see our post on the perils of purchasing a cheap, used VW Touareg.
The 3000GT/GTO has the potential to be a car that is fairly unreliable and throw up some significant expenses due to its high levels of complexity and the possibility of inadequate maintenance.
Although we believe that the typical 3000GT will be more dependable than a European sports vehicle from the same era, there are undoubtedly many neglected models out there waiting for some unwary owner to come along and blow some cash, only to find themselves sitting on a terrible money pit.
Read this 3000GT buyer’s guide if you’re considering purchasing a Mitsubishi 3000GT/GTO and want to make sure you purchase the most dependable model available.
We have created one of the best online resources for finding, vetting, and purchasing a high-quality 3000GT.
By doing so, you’ll be able to avoid purchasing a subpar car and instead locate the ideal vehicle within your price range.
Additionally, you might choose to spend money on high-quality instruments that can make it simpler to check, maintain, and fix your car. As a great resource for product reviews on auto maintenance and repair, we suggest The Grumpy Mechanic.
In This Article...
Why is the 3000GT so prone to failure?
The first 3000GTs came off the assembly line in 1990, as you would know if you’ve read our 3000GT/GTO buyer’s guide and history.
Age-related concerns including the deterioration of plastics and rubber as well as the potential for electrical wire failure can all work together to increase the likelihood of dependability problems with the 3000GT.
The 3000GT is at that odd age where almost nothing that may break has been replaced, but it is also not new enough to not absolutely require replacement.
If you’re considering purchasing a 3000GT, you should consider which potentially perishable components have already been replaced and which may require attention soon.
You can get help with this from our buyer’s guide.
Is the Mitsubishi 3000GT a reliable first vehicle?
As long as the car is in decent mechanical condition, which it seems like the one you’re looking at is, it makes a terrific first vehicle. The only thing to keep in mind is that insurance will be expensive if you’re young.
The Mitsubishi 3000GT is it quick?
You probably picture amazing speed, precise handling, and svelte style when you think about sports vehicles. Car fans are drawn to the sports vehicles produced by several manufactures.
At the time, the 1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT was a well-dressed automobile. However, good looks are only so good.
The two-door coupe came in three trim levels, according to Edmunds: base, SL, and VR-4. The 3000GT featured new front and rear design for the 1999 model year. The top-trim VR-4 also received a stylish genuine spoiler.
The 3.0 liter V6 in the front-wheel-drive base model wasn’t very impressive. The engine was just marginally more powerful than the original Eclipse’s motor, putting out 161 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. Unsurprisingly, the 3000GT couldn’t satisfy the majority of speed-obsessed sports car lovers.
The FWD SL’s 3.0-liter twin-cam V6 engine produced 222 horsepower. The Mitsubishi 3000GT wasn’t the quickest vehicle to hit 60 mph due to its weight, though. However, it performed exceptionally well when making turns and stops. Additionally, it had a motorized sunroof, leather seats, and antilock brakes.
Top-tier AWD VR-4 vehicles featured twin-turbo V6 engines with exceptional torque. However, the 3000GT’s weight once more had a negative impact on its otherwise thrilling acceleration. The VR-4 models also didn’t stop or turn like the midrange SL.
A 3000GT is it JDM?
The Mitsubishi GTO is a front-engine, all-wheel/front-wheel drive grand touring/sports automobile that Mitsubishi produced and sold throughout four generations, from 1990 to 2000. The 2+2 four-seaters were produced in Nagoya, Japan, as a three-door hatchback coup body style, and sold both domestically in Japan (JDM) as the GTO and internationally as the Mitsubishi 3000GT. Both the Mitsubishi 3000GT (19911999) and the Dodge Stealth (19911996), a badge-engineered, mechanically identical captive import, were marketed in North America. The exterior style of the Stealth was created in cooperation with Chrysler and Mitsubishi Motors.
The marketing variants all had front-wheel drive and transversely mounted 3-liter, 24-valve V6 engines. They were all based on Mitsubishi’s Sigma/Diamante. The GTO’s engines could be twin-turbocharged or normally aspirated, and active aerodynamicswhich automatically modify the front and rear spoilersfour-wheel steering, full-time all-wheel drive, and adaptive suspension were all options.
For the model years 1993 to 1995, Mitsubishi manufactured a retractable hardtop variation that was designed and modified from coup models in California by ASC and sold as the GTO Spyder or VR4 Spyder. Since the 1959 Ford Skyliner, these retractable hardtops were the first fully automated models to be sold.
The Ferrari 250 GTO, also known as Gran Turismo Omologata, which stood for Gran Turismo Omologata and indicated that it complied with motorsport homologation regulations, served as the inspiration for the JDM model. The Ferrari 250 GTO was marketed as a two-door hardtop coup by the company in the early 1970s.
Has the 3000GT a dual turbo?
The 3000GT VR-4 from Mitsubishi is not a sports vehicle. There are 3,737 pounds of tightly packed, all-wheel-driven, twin-turbo automobile here. Even though it is only an inch longer overall, that is nearly 500 pounds heavier than a Chevrolet Corvette. This is actually more of a large touring vehicle. If you put it on the I-15 headed toward Vegas and put the cruise control in at barely subsonic speeds, nothing short of an atmospheric chain reaction will stop it from getting there.