Mitsubishi Gallant 2.5 V6 24 Tiptronic Automatic Review

Overall Rating

Luxury car for little money
Its solid, a nice drive, has a revvy engine that pulls well.
In auto it can be relaxing
Has all mod cons and you still get stares
VR4 owners club is a lifeline, without it there would be less Galants on the road!

Really odd repairs needed - eg. weird knocking noises you never track down,
Automatic requires attention outside of Mitsubishis service schedule or it will fail (I'm on my second box)
Lack of technical knowledge out there on this model, so make sure your mechanic knows what hes doing or has literature supplied by you.

I love to own the Mitsubishi Gallant 2.5 V6 24 Tiptronic Automatic.
I loved to spend money on this car, initially.
But eventually spending this money all the time becomes a little tiring to say the least.

The car isn't classed as 'unreliable' but it has its weaknesses for sure. Its well built generally, has solid surfaces in and out, leather, a mean look, its rare, and it can be fast when pushed, the only real bad thing I'd have to say about it is that the information given to drivers is a mess and the reliability of SOME parts is questionable.
Examples for you. They use automatic transmission fluid that NEEDS to be purchased from Mitsubishi alone. This is still not up to the job, so you must purchase Amsoil synthetic to make it last 25k - without any of this your Auto box could be dead within 10k - but again, not always!
Another issue, is servicing - up to £1k every 54k major service, 9k for oil and filters. And thats if the car makes it to the 54k interval!
The thing is, as I said, its not unreliable - it starts first time, every time, sounds smooth, drives well, it just has niggles that burrow so deep into your pocket if you're not a mechanic, it starts to chaff!
Example of costs: Amsoil Autofluid and flush £190 (needed as soon as you buy!), Cam belt and water pump (includes coolant change) =£300 Spark plugs =£150
I've also had this knocking noise coming from the steering column or thereabouts. Two track rod ends and steering rack end later, the mechanic still can't find the cause, and many others with this car get it too. It just seems to wear parts around the 100k mark, which is when the 54k service is due too! Ouch.
Scares of new steering racks (£1200) and new auto gearboxes (£1000-1500) loom over you every year - it may not happen, but it might, if it keeps up the little failures then fine, but if something big goes I'm afraid its value in monetary terms means this good car heads for the skip, well before its old, outdated and rusty!

Overall, I do like this car, I just wish it was consistent with its failures, then we could prevent them when it gets older. Goodness know what it will be like at 200k, maybe I will have slowly replaced the whole car bit by bit and will be ready to go another 200k!