Overview of the Mitsubishi Express
Mitsubishi's rear-wheel-drive commercial vehicle was released in 1980 locally as both van and people-mover.
Variant names included L200, L300, Starwagon and on later models Walk-Thru and Window (for the passenger-friendly Express), while there was a choice of wheelbase lengths.
The updated 2003 model was blighted by a poor 1-star independent crash safety rating in 2007 and it led to Mitsubishi eventually pulling the model from sale in 2013.
MITSUBISHI EXPRESS GENERATIONS
2003-2013
RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Consumption
2.4L 4-cylinder: 10.4 litres per 100km
= Highly economical.
= Good economy.
= Average fuel use.
= Heavy consumption.
Servicing
Every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever is sooner. Each service currently costs between about $255 and $295. Mitsubishi Express parts and accessoriescan be found on Gumtree.
SIMILAR MODELS TO MITSUBISHI EXPRESS
Ford Transit
Renault Trafic
Toyota HiAce
Volkswagen Transporter
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: MITSUBISHI EXPRESS (2002 TO 2014)
It's unlikely anybody ever bought an Express van to use as a private car, so assume that any second-hand example has been worked hard.
Some will be in better shape than others, but it's important to check carefully for the sort of damage inflicted by a working life.
The 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine most commonly fitted to the Express can wear out with time and kilometres, so make sure it doesn't rattle when you start it from cold and that there's no blue or grey smoke from the tail-pipe at any time.
If any of those things are happening, it's a fair bet the engine is on the verge of being totally worn out, suggesting the rest of the vehicle might be ready for the scrappy as well.
Pay attention to tyres and brakes, too, as many fleet operators - who owned these things originally - did not.
