Mitsubishi Shogun MK3 SWB
Discussion
An oppourtunity to own the perfect commuter/city car came up and I had to take it.
Smaller than a bus, big enough to have priority most of the time, four wheel drive with plenty of suspension travel to deal with speedbumps, potholes and the UK's generally deteriorating road network.
It's a Mitsubishi Shogun MK3 SWB, it's the 3.2DID so very economical (when parked) and as a bonus due to it's Japanese heritage it gets lighter year after year!
It was due to be scrapped or traded in as my parent's were having a new car after owning it for 9 years.
I decided the most environmentally friendly thing to do was to save it from that fate, having driven Ford Rangers and other 4x4s in work for years I'd always wanted one for myself so a deal was made for a very good price.
First thing it needed was a service as though it had only done 5000 miles in the past 5 years, it hadn't been serviced in 3.
While it hadn't done much mileage the cost of oil and filters was worth it for the peace of mind.
New alternator/AC belts as well as it was squealing like a pig on a waltzer.
After that I used it for a few camping and mountain bike trips to see how I got on with it.
Unfortunately I fell in love with it, it drives great and is so much easier to travel with bikes compared to my Z4!
The next job to do was to replace the fuel filler pipe plus tank vent pipes that run from the top of the wheel arch to the fuel tank.
Years of mud and salt build up rots the pipes, the rust particles and water getting in then go on to wreck the Zexel Electromechanical fuel pump which are very expensive to repair and/or replace so I was keen to avoid this.
The vent pipes had disintegrated but thankfully I replaced the filler pipe before it got too bad.
Much better!
Just in the nick of time!
Having defused the ticking time bomb, I had enough confidence in it to take it further afield, so it was taken on a trip to Mid Wales to a place called Coco’s Wild Camp Site.
It drove there and back brilliantly and it's a surprising amount of fun to hustle along Welsh A and B roads, I felt rather smug watching all the vans being dragged out of the camping site by a tractor too.
That's it for now, wanted to get this thread started, there's a few more updates so I'll post them when I get the chance.
Smaller than a bus, big enough to have priority most of the time, four wheel drive with plenty of suspension travel to deal with speedbumps, potholes and the UK's generally deteriorating road network.
It's a Mitsubishi Shogun MK3 SWB, it's the 3.2DID so very economical (when parked) and as a bonus due to it's Japanese heritage it gets lighter year after year!
It was due to be scrapped or traded in as my parent's were having a new car after owning it for 9 years.
I decided the most environmentally friendly thing to do was to save it from that fate, having driven Ford Rangers and other 4x4s in work for years I'd always wanted one for myself so a deal was made for a very good price.
First thing it needed was a service as though it had only done 5000 miles in the past 5 years, it hadn't been serviced in 3.
While it hadn't done much mileage the cost of oil and filters was worth it for the peace of mind.
New alternator/AC belts as well as it was squealing like a pig on a waltzer.
After that I used it for a few camping and mountain bike trips to see how I got on with it.
Unfortunately I fell in love with it, it drives great and is so much easier to travel with bikes compared to my Z4!
The next job to do was to replace the fuel filler pipe plus tank vent pipes that run from the top of the wheel arch to the fuel tank.
Years of mud and salt build up rots the pipes, the rust particles and water getting in then go on to wreck the Zexel Electromechanical fuel pump which are very expensive to repair and/or replace so I was keen to avoid this.
The vent pipes had disintegrated but thankfully I replaced the filler pipe before it got too bad.
Much better!
Just in the nick of time!
Having defused the ticking time bomb, I had enough confidence in it to take it further afield, so it was taken on a trip to Mid Wales to a place called Coco’s Wild Camp Site.
It drove there and back brilliantly and it's a surprising amount of fun to hustle along Welsh A and B roads, I felt rather smug watching all the vans being dragged out of the camping site by a tractor too.
That's it for now, wanted to get this thread started, there's a few more updates so I'll post them when I get the chance.
LandieMark said:
I like Mitsubishis. They do have a propensity to rot, but these old Shoguns hold their value surprisingly well. Excellent 4x4 system too.
This one was absolutely rotten, still not 100% but I'll be treating the underside in Spring.I'm looking forward to testing it out properly off-road, wish it had a locking rear diff but I've heard the traction control works well for what it is.
Alex_225 said:
I sold a Shogun Sport early last year (I know not technically a related car) but the buyer was surprised at it's lack of rust as it seems they're terrible for it. Seems it wasn't the only model.
Looks good though, love the fact that it's a three door, just makes them look cool.
Not just the Sport models unfortunately!Looks good though, love the fact that it's a three door, just makes them look cool.
This one was really bad but it's mostly sorted now.
I love the look of the short wheel base, especially the MK3.
Looks so chunky with the flared arches.
C5_Steve said:
I've always really liked Shoguns, I remember as a kid thinking they looked so much cooler than every other 4x4. The SWB ones still look brilliant and glad you've saved this one.
I'm glad it's been saved too, I get way too attached to cars. 
I think the long wheel base would've suited me more for the boot space but the short wheel base looks so much better.
I had a LWB Shogun for more than 5 years a while back.
The best car I've ever owned. Yes the Porsche was faster, the RangeRover sounded better, the Volvo is more comfortable and the Leaf is cheaper to run; but for a single does-everything vehicle these are just the best.
Faultlessly reliable, cheap to service, huge, comfortable, surprisingly quick. Tows brilliantly, whether it's a 3T car trailer or a 44T artic on the end of a tow rope in the snow. Sails over potholes like they don't exist.
Being forced to have the centre diff locked in low range and a maximum of 21mpg were the only downsides I can remember.
If you fold the seats down you can fit bikes in the back of a LWB, upright.
The best car I've ever owned. Yes the Porsche was faster, the RangeRover sounded better, the Volvo is more comfortable and the Leaf is cheaper to run; but for a single does-everything vehicle these are just the best.
Faultlessly reliable, cheap to service, huge, comfortable, surprisingly quick. Tows brilliantly, whether it's a 3T car trailer or a 44T artic on the end of a tow rope in the snow. Sails over potholes like they don't exist.
Being forced to have the centre diff locked in low range and a maximum of 21mpg were the only downsides I can remember.
If you fold the seats down you can fit bikes in the back of a LWB, upright.
agent006 said:
I had a LWB Shogun for more than 5 years a while back.
The best car I've ever owned. Yes the Porsche was faster, the RangeRover sounded better, the Volvo is more comfortable and the Leaf is cheaper to run; but for a single does-everything vehicle these are just the best.
Faultlessly reliable, cheap to service, huge, comfortable, surprisingly quick. Tows brilliantly, whether it's a 3T car trailer or a 44T artic on the end of a tow rope in the snow. Sails over potholes like they don't exist.
Being forced to have the centre diff locked in low range and a maximum of 21mpg were the only downsides I can remember.
If you fold the seats down you can fit bikes in the back of a LWB, upright.
I'm yet to tow anything properly with mine, I can imagine it is a pain manoeuvre a heavy trailer without access to low range but mines an auto at least.The best car I've ever owned. Yes the Porsche was faster, the RangeRover sounded better, the Volvo is more comfortable and the Leaf is cheaper to run; but for a single does-everything vehicle these are just the best.
Faultlessly reliable, cheap to service, huge, comfortable, surprisingly quick. Tows brilliantly, whether it's a 3T car trailer or a 44T artic on the end of a tow rope in the snow. Sails over potholes like they don't exist.
Being forced to have the centre diff locked in low range and a maximum of 21mpg were the only downsides I can remember.
If you fold the seats down you can fit bikes in the back of a LWB, upright.
Agree with everything else though, it's been absolutely brilliant so far.
Edited by Birr97 on Thursday 11th January 18:30
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