Mitsubishi L200’s, are they any good?
Discussion
All, I’ve been looking at getting an L200 crew-cab to replace my aged, or rather very aged Fourtrak, not for the usual off-road fun but with the intention of using it as a general workhorse mainly for the usual ferrying things about, winter and the spectre of snow again (yeh, I know we’re not even into summer yet but I’m just thinking long term and justifying it to myself!) and with a view to using it to tow a track day toy around, these are also appealing to me for helping the folks, who are getting too old to get into the back of my 1 series (BMW) if I have to take them anywhere!
What are your opinions of these? I know there are stories of engine issues with them with heads going and even cranks letting go but is this something I should be worried about? Also what else could I be thinking of? There are the Nissan Navara’s but I understand these have problems as well, and also the Ford pick up / crew cab truck but I don’t know anything about these at all.
So, I throw the question over to your vastly greater knowledge of these beasties on what to do. Oh, I guess I should say the budget is about £4.5K and if I’m going for a track toy to tow around it would be along the lines of a 944 or the ubiquitous E36 BMW, not an MX5, I couldn’t get my fat arse into one
What are your opinions of these? I know there are stories of engine issues with them with heads going and even cranks letting go but is this something I should be worried about? Also what else could I be thinking of? There are the Nissan Navara’s but I understand these have problems as well, and also the Ford pick up / crew cab truck but I don’t know anything about these at all.
So, I throw the question over to your vastly greater knowledge of these beasties on what to do. Oh, I guess I should say the budget is about £4.5K and if I’m going for a track toy to tow around it would be along the lines of a 944 or the ubiquitous E36 BMW, not an MX5, I couldn’t get my fat arse into one
Going to the tip in an L200 is a pain, you have to prove it's your only car or the council assume you're a business and charge. My old Y2k model liked a drink too. Worst thing I found was the rear only drive 'till you select 4x4. Be careful on wet roundabouts unless you can turn a steering wheel at lightning speed to catch it. Long rear body not as practical as it seems with a canopy on, nothing seems to fit lengthways and towing a heavy load can get you nervous, they sway as the towbar's a long way from the axle. Watch out for broken leaf springs. Watch out for the low emission zone rules if you're near London too. I reckon the price of these will crash very soon.
Went for a Disco this time and I'll be towing a track car sooner or later and my trial bike sooner. Better MPG, just more rust.
Went for a Disco this time and I'll be towing a track car sooner or later and my trial bike sooner. Better MPG, just more rust.
My business has had 3 L200's in the past and theyve been okay (all from new) good off road, bad on road, 20-25mpg 113 bhp and not much pulling power.
My best mate recently bought one about 6 months ago, paid £4k for a specced up warrior with 105k.
6 months down the line he's had to replace the water pipes, radiator, head gasket, cylinder head and cambelt. £1500 down the line and now on 115k (plus. A half new engineer rebuild, bent inlet valve on cylinder 4. Selling it next week I think.
My best mate recently bought one about 6 months ago, paid £4k for a specced up warrior with 105k.
6 months down the line he's had to replace the water pipes, radiator, head gasket, cylinder head and cambelt. £1500 down the line and now on 115k (plus. A half new engineer rebuild, bent inlet valve on cylinder 4. Selling it next week I think.
That’s quite a bit to think about, thanks all.
I have a chance of one 53 plate truck that one of the lads in work is thinking of selling on as he’s after more of a family car, it’s a Warrior in black with approx 75K on it, the head went last winter so that has been replaced, I’m just not sure who did the work and how reliable they are after this has been done, I guess its down to the quality of the work that was carried out. The big bonus with this one is that it has only been used as a car so is reasonably clean apart from a dented rear tailgate but from the ones advertised they all leave the factory like this don’t they
I know these will not have the best of road manners but saying that running around in a leaf sprung Fourtrak Fieldman is just as daunting, you want to see how quick that swaps ends on you in the wet or ice, you don’t have any time to try and catch it when it decides to go!
I hadn’t considered the axle being so far away from the tow bar, that sound like it could be a bit daunting, I’ve also heard that reversing one of these is a challenge with a trailer on due to a lack of steering lock, that was from another one of the guys I work with who uses his for towing horse boxes about.
I’m still undecided about what to do, I guess for now I will sit tight and keep an eye on the adverts and eBay to see if prices do bomb.
Also I’ve been holding off from joining the L200 forum because you have to pay to join, I would rather get more of an idea what the general view of these things are first.
Thanks for the info so far though
I have a chance of one 53 plate truck that one of the lads in work is thinking of selling on as he’s after more of a family car, it’s a Warrior in black with approx 75K on it, the head went last winter so that has been replaced, I’m just not sure who did the work and how reliable they are after this has been done, I guess its down to the quality of the work that was carried out. The big bonus with this one is that it has only been used as a car so is reasonably clean apart from a dented rear tailgate but from the ones advertised they all leave the factory like this don’t they
I know these will not have the best of road manners but saying that running around in a leaf sprung Fourtrak Fieldman is just as daunting, you want to see how quick that swaps ends on you in the wet or ice, you don’t have any time to try and catch it when it decides to go!
I hadn’t considered the axle being so far away from the tow bar, that sound like it could be a bit daunting, I’ve also heard that reversing one of these is a challenge with a trailer on due to a lack of steering lock, that was from another one of the guys I work with who uses his for towing horse boxes about.
I’m still undecided about what to do, I guess for now I will sit tight and keep an eye on the adverts and eBay to see if prices do bomb.
Also I’ve been holding off from joining the L200 forum because you have to pay to join, I would rather get more of an idea what the general view of these things are first.
Thanks for the info so far though
If you get a looked after 1 it should be fine, same as most things in that uncared for ones will bite you...mine did (2002 Animal) but all sorted now.
I used it for plastering stuff and it was fine, 6x3 boards go in with truckman top on, just raise 1 end.
Without weight in the back they're bit bouncy on road. I now don't need it for work so commute into Bristol every day in it and with a couple of bags of cement in the boot its a lot better.
I've towed with it with no real issues.
Average 27mpg.
Tyres matter on road manners, had no back end issues in the wet or the snow in 2wd with Grabber AT2s on.
As for the tip runs, I've never had any grief at any tip I've been to,never been asked to prove its a personal use car.
Turn circle is cr*p, there is a cheap n easy mod to improve this. Cab is a nice place with no worse space than my previous E39 5 series.
Head gaskets aren't the most robust...the problem is much more of an issue with 2003-2004 engines espec with the power upgrade. Bottom cranks can wear and throw the belts out and in extreme cases if they let go it can munch expensive things!! Cambelts need changing at 54k intervals IIRC. Diesel pumps are expensive if they need replacing (mine did
) Turbos can need tweeking to lose any overboost but this is easily done.
They are a truck at the end of the day so don't expect sports car handling or performance but I love mine. Took the CAT off and replaced it with a decat, turbo needed turning down a bit but got more £ for the CAT at a scrappy than the price of buying and fitting the decat cost me and it does make a difference for the better.
I did joint the OC forum and the wealth of info on there,espec tech stuff, has saved me a sizeable wedge while sorting mine out. Also membership gives you access to the For Sale area with quite a few trucks coming up.
Prices seema bit all over the place at the minute but not dropping that much...I paid £3500 for mine and have been offered that by a dealer as p'ex against a new shape 1.
I got put off similar age Navaras due to the engine woes that even the OC seem to say is a case of when not if. I also looked at Ford Rangers but didn't like the looks that much, my local mechanic also said they didnt use the transit 2.5TD engine but an import engine...not sure if this is right but preferred the look of the Mitsi anyway.
I used it for plastering stuff and it was fine, 6x3 boards go in with truckman top on, just raise 1 end.
Without weight in the back they're bit bouncy on road. I now don't need it for work so commute into Bristol every day in it and with a couple of bags of cement in the boot its a lot better.
I've towed with it with no real issues.
Average 27mpg.
Tyres matter on road manners, had no back end issues in the wet or the snow in 2wd with Grabber AT2s on.
As for the tip runs, I've never had any grief at any tip I've been to,never been asked to prove its a personal use car.
Turn circle is cr*p, there is a cheap n easy mod to improve this. Cab is a nice place with no worse space than my previous E39 5 series.
Head gaskets aren't the most robust...the problem is much more of an issue with 2003-2004 engines espec with the power upgrade. Bottom cranks can wear and throw the belts out and in extreme cases if they let go it can munch expensive things!! Cambelts need changing at 54k intervals IIRC. Diesel pumps are expensive if they need replacing (mine did
) Turbos can need tweeking to lose any overboost but this is easily done.They are a truck at the end of the day so don't expect sports car handling or performance but I love mine. Took the CAT off and replaced it with a decat, turbo needed turning down a bit but got more £ for the CAT at a scrappy than the price of buying and fitting the decat cost me and it does make a difference for the better.
I did joint the OC forum and the wealth of info on there,espec tech stuff, has saved me a sizeable wedge while sorting mine out. Also membership gives you access to the For Sale area with quite a few trucks coming up.
Prices seema bit all over the place at the minute but not dropping that much...I paid £3500 for mine and have been offered that by a dealer as p'ex against a new shape 1.
I got put off similar age Navaras due to the engine woes that even the OC seem to say is a case of when not if. I also looked at Ford Rangers but didn't like the looks that much, my local mechanic also said they didnt use the transit 2.5TD engine but an import engine...not sure if this is right but preferred the look of the Mitsi anyway.
Edited by stone-islandV8 on Saturday 7th May 12:18
MikeDov said:
That’s quite a bit to think about, thanks all.
I have a chance of one 53 plate truck that one of the lads in work is thinking of selling on as he’s after more of a family car, it’s a Warrior in black with approx 75K on it, the head went last winter so that has been replaced, I’m just not sure who did the work and how reliable they are after this has been done, I guess its down to the quality of the work that was carried out. The big bonus with this one is that it has only been used as a car so is reasonably clean apart from a dented rear tailgate but from the ones advertised they all leave the factory like this don’t they
I know these will not have the best of road manners but saying that running around in a leaf sprung Fourtrak Fieldman is just as daunting, you want to see how quick that swaps ends on you in the wet or ice, you don’t have any time to try and catch it when it decides to go!
I hadn’t considered the axle being so far away from the tow bar, that sound like it could be a bit daunting, I’ve also heard that reversing one of these is a challenge with a trailer on due to a lack of steering lock, that was from another one of the guys I work with who uses his for towing horse boxes about.
I’m still undecided about what to do, I guess for now I will sit tight and keep an eye on the adverts and eBay to see if prices do bomb.
Also I’ve been holding off from joining the L200 forum because you have to pay to join, I would rather get more of an idea what the general view of these things are first.
Thanks for the info so far though
I was looking at these a while back as I like they way they look and I'm quite a fan of pickups.I have a chance of one 53 plate truck that one of the lads in work is thinking of selling on as he’s after more of a family car, it’s a Warrior in black with approx 75K on it, the head went last winter so that has been replaced, I’m just not sure who did the work and how reliable they are after this has been done, I guess its down to the quality of the work that was carried out. The big bonus with this one is that it has only been used as a car so is reasonably clean apart from a dented rear tailgate but from the ones advertised they all leave the factory like this don’t they
I know these will not have the best of road manners but saying that running around in a leaf sprung Fourtrak Fieldman is just as daunting, you want to see how quick that swaps ends on you in the wet or ice, you don’t have any time to try and catch it when it decides to go!
I hadn’t considered the axle being so far away from the tow bar, that sound like it could be a bit daunting, I’ve also heard that reversing one of these is a challenge with a trailer on due to a lack of steering lock, that was from another one of the guys I work with who uses his for towing horse boxes about.
I’m still undecided about what to do, I guess for now I will sit tight and keep an eye on the adverts and eBay to see if prices do bomb.
Also I’ve been holding off from joining the L200 forum because you have to pay to join, I would rather get more of an idea what the general view of these things are first.
Thanks for the info so far though
I was rather amazed at the number of serious issues I read about online and on the pay only forum. I was also concerned about their off road ability and watching vids on YouTube didn't bolster this view.
I still like the look of them though. But I think a Landy (110/Disco/RRC) or a Jeep (Cherokee/Grand Cherokee) are all better vehicles.
I had a 53 plate Warrior bought from new and found it a great vehicle, mpg was about 27 as said before and only found it lively around the odd roundabout in the wet when simply cornering too fast. I kept it for 3 years with no issues and would of bought a newer one to replace it but cant stand the look of the new model 
so bought a Navara instead and still have it.
Oh, 1 issue...the alloy wheels around that year were awful the finish de-laminated and they had lots of problems with it and warranty claims. I claimed for mine but gave up waiting after 14 months and bought a brand new set of 5 of the later Animal ones with tyres on ebay for £500.
so bought a Navara instead and still have it.Oh, 1 issue...the alloy wheels around that year were awful the finish de-laminated and they had lots of problems with it and warranty claims. I claimed for mine but gave up waiting after 14 months and bought a brand new set of 5 of the later Animal ones with tyres on ebay for £500.
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