Mitsubishi Legnum VR4

[SamuraiFlash]

Hi Guys,

 

I just wanted to know what your opinion's are of these car's? I am thinking of buying one as a family car. I currently have an EP2 Honda Civic and getting the baby seat in and out of a 3-door car is a PITA.

 

I know its not the most economical family car however they are going for a reasonable price and Legnum being an estate is very spacious, they are 4WD and I like the mean front end.

 

There is a great community of Legnum/Galant owners around the midlands and they have regular meets at my mates place where they get together and have workshp days where they fix issues and perform services on each others cars.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.j-spec.com.au/f15343/1998-Mitsubishi-Legnum-VR-4_01.jpg&sa=X&ei=FmJTT-CZKYPS0QWmhcTxCw&ved=0CAwQ8wc4CA&usg=AFQjCNG9asBYaChTFsLZweSU4SGZ9DwLCw

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.akers/images/Legnum%20003.jpg&sa=X&ei=amJTT8ClM6m00QWSzf3bBQ&ved=0CAwQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNELYWbKsB4cOaprhAYn3YIxVqZEqQ

[supra joe]

Was in one one yesterday, quite nippy and comfy, loads of space.

[Swampy442]

Mechanical nightmare.

[j_jza80]

What's your budget?

 

I'd recommend an Audi S2 Avant instead. They give similar performance, more tuneable, more reliable, probably much cheaper to run (I've heard nightmare tales about these Mitsubishis) with similar fuel economy (ie, crap) They are bullet proof, and there are many that have covered well over 200k miles.

 

I run an S2 coupe and it's fantastic, the Avants are a bit cheaper, good ABY S2 Avants starting at circa £3k.

 

 

The Audi RS2 is effectively a tuned one of these. It had 315hp (the S2 can easily be tuned to that with bpu) and it could accelerate to 30 faster than the Mclaren F1!

 

Another great thing about these is the Bosch Motronic ECU they came with as standard. It set the standard when the car came out, and was used on some very exotic machinery (inc the Ferrari F355 and various Porsches). It is still regarded as a very good ECU, and can be remapped by many places.

 

You can also get this soundtrack

[SamuraiFlash]

Thats a great shout Jason! Did these S2's come with an Auto gear box or manual only? As I can't drive manuals anymore because of an injury to my left ankle

 

My budget is about £3-£4k.

[j_jza80]

Manual only I think. However, they did the Audi URS6 in an Auto. Basically the same running gear in a larger body. That comes as a saloon and an estate. They're quite hard to come by, if one turns up DON'T be put of by mileage or service history, it's all about the condition with these things.

 

I'll see if i can find one for sale...

[SamuraiFlash]

Manual only I think. However, they did the Audi URS6 in an Auto. Basically the same running gear in a larger body. That comes as a saloon and an estate. They're quite hard to come by, if one turns up DON'T be put of by mileage or service history, it's all about the condition with these things.

 

I'll see if i can find one for sale...

 

Thanks Jason, I like the look of the S2. Let me know if you find an Auto. So are parts cheap and easy to find for these?

[Dnk]

Cant be many of those around can there and none in auto i think ?

 

For a family estate car but still good and with an autobox i'd go for something like

an A4 Avant with a 1.9 TDi in it or the 2.5TDi.

 

Theres a 2003 petrol 3.0 quattro sport fully loaded with Bose music sport leather

interior blah blah for £4495 in the autotrader. 25 mpg average if your not silly

 

In fact thats right up my street and i might just have a look myself

 

2.5 TDi is around 40 mpg and the 1.9 TDi is 45 +

[j_jza80]

Here you go:

 

URS6 auto with 160k (that's a good mileage for one of these!)

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C270257

 

I'd love that car. Probably the ultimate motorway cruiser for such a good price.

[SamuraiFlash]

Here you go:

 

URS6 auto with 160k (that's a good mileage for one of these!)

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C270257

 

I'd love that car. Probably the ultimate motorway cruiser for such a good price.

 

Thanks alot J, I'll give the guy a call and try and pop up to take a look at it

[j_jza80]

Thanks alot J, I'll give the guy a call and try and pop up to take a look at it

 

No problem it sounds like a good 'un and rare as hell.

 

This forum: http://www.s2forum.com/forum/ is fantastic for anything to do with 5 cylinder Audis, and has a very busy parts sale section.

[SamuraiFlash]

Cant be many of those around can there and none in auto i think ?

 

For a family estate car but still good and with an autobox i'd go for something like

an A4 Avant with a 1.9 TDi in it or the 2.5TDi.

 

Theres a 2003 petrol 3.0 quattro sport fully loaded with Bose music sport leather

interior blah blah for £4495 in the autotrader. 25 mpg average if your not silly

 

In fact thats right up my street and i might just have a look myself

 

2.5 TDi is around 40 mpg and the 1.9 TDi is 45 +

 

Thats a nice looking car Dunk! I guess I'm going to step away from the Legnum lol.

[SamuraiFlash]

No problem it sounds like a good 'un and rare as hell.

 

This forum: http://www.s2forum.com/forum/ is fantastic for anything to do with 5 cylinder Audis, and has a very busy parts sale section.

 

Yeah its sounds really good, it's a one owner car and looks in good nick. It ticks every box for me didn't know this car even existed lol!

 

Thanks for the link, i'll be doing some reading tonight

[Hobgoblin]

Back to the Legnum, I had one a few years ago, and liked it lots; Cheap as chips (I paid £1300 on ebay for it), quick, very easy to drive, (I had the tiptronic gearbox), and huge luggage space. I spent nothing on it, other than oil additive to try and quieten the noisy tappets (very common problem apparently), and repacement gearbox oil, to cure a juddering, again a common problem. I managed to sell it for £1500 about 6 months later.

[Tyson]

Just a hijack but what about its Subaru counterpart the Legacy?

[j_jza80]

Nice cars, but they have quite a few issues too.

[SamuraiFlash]

Back to the Legnum, I had one a few years ago, and liked it lots; Cheap as chips (I paid £1300 on ebay for it), quick, very easy to drive, (I had the tiptronic gearbox), and huge luggage space. I spent nothing on it, other than oil additive to try and quieten the noisy tappets (very common problem apparently), and repacement gearbox oil, to cure a juddering, again a common problem. I managed to sell it for £1500 about 6 months later.

 

Did you have any issues with the Autobox at all? I heard they can be problomatic, however many problems with the Autobox can be resolved with a full Amsoil ATF flush and filter change. Did you ever break down with it?

[Guigsy]

I have one. Great car. Not overly economical but it shifts. It's bloody huge. Our labradoodle has loads of room in the boot.

We have the 97 car of the year edition. Pearl White with full leather. auto. Most of them are auto.

It demolished the snow this year and last. It was great.

I also took it to llandow on the club trackday last year. Chucked it arround all over the place and it was brilliant mostly due to the active diffs I assume.

 

2nd best car iv ever owned. Only had it a few years and the only issue iv had was the maf sensor. Dead cheap and easy to replace with a 2nd hand bit off the owners club forum. My ac compressor did sieze and fill all the pipework with crud. Which I haven't had mended yet. Other than that it's been cheep as chips to run. The tappets on mine are noisy buy as far as iv seen its common and no reason to worry. and passed it's mot before Xmas with no advisorys. As it did the year before.

 

The vr4 owners club is very big and active. And helpful. 2nd best owners club iv ever joined. I went to a local meet as a 100% "who the f are you" newbie and was welcomed with open arms and had a great time.

[SamuraiFlash]

I have one. Great car. Not overly economical but it shifts. It's bloody huge. Our labradoodle has loads of room in the boot.

We have the 97 car of the year edition. Pearl White with full leather. auto. Most of them are auto.

It demolished the snow this year and last. It was great.

I also took it to llandow on the club trackday last year. Chucked it arround all over the place and it was brilliant mostly due to the active diffs I assume.

 

2nd best car iv ever owned. Only had it a few years and the only issue iv had was the maf sensor. Dead cheap and easy to replace with a 2nd hand bit off the owners club forum. My ac compressor did sieze and fill all the pipework with crud. Which I haven't had mended yet. Other than that it's been cheep as chips to run. The tappets on mine are noisy buy as far as iv seen its common and no reason to worry. and passed it's mot before Xmas with no advisorys. As it did the year before.

 

The vr4 owners club is very big and active. And helpful. 2nd best owners club iv ever joined. I went to a local meet as a 100% "who the f are you" newbie and was welcomed with open arms and had a great time.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience Guigsy, its much appreciated

 

I was dead set on buying one, just been put off by some bad experiences people have had. The thing that puts me off is the fact that i'll be worried about the autobox blowing up or breaking down. For the money they are awesome cars, they just grip to the road like nothing else i've been in. If the Legnum had the reliability of the Supra, more people would be driving them.

 

I totally agree with your comment on the VR4 forum, they are a bunch of helpful people, they have a great community.

[Abz]

I totally agree with your comment on the VR4 forum, they are a bunch of helpful people, they have a great community.

 

And one of them is your cousin

 

His a big mod on that forum isn't he? I love the seats he has put in his car, looks very nice & tidy.

 

I have owned an FTO but not a Legum, but these VR4's are a great combination of practicality and power. With a decent forum and plenty of parts avaliable, ownership shouldn't be a problem as long as you are fine with the fuel big. Though putting on my sensible hat, I'd be interested in leaning towards what Dunk has said. The price bracket you have opens you to loads of options, You can also get the A6 in a 1.8 turbo petrol version which is pretty good too.

[Guigsy]

Iv not seen any auto box problems tbh. But I don't read the forums there as much as I do here.

[Hobgoblin]

Did you have any issues with the Autobox at all? I heard they can be problomatic, however many problems with the Autobox can be resolved with a full Amsoil ATF flush and filter change. Did you ever break down with it?

 

That was exactly what I did after the car developed a low speed, light load judder. Although it is not enough to simply drain the oil, as much of it will still remain in the system. I got a Legnum guru (called Nick Mann, in Redditch), to purge it, and replace with the Amsoil, and that did the trick straight away.

[SamuraiFlash]

And one of them is your cousin

 

His a big mod on that forum isn't he? I love the seats he has put in his car, looks very nice & tidy.

 

I have owned an FTO but not a Legum, but these VR4's are a great combination of practicality and power. With a decent forum and plenty of parts avaliable, ownership shouldn't be a problem as long as you are fine with the fuel big. Though putting on my sensible hat, I'd be interested in leaning towards what Dunk has said. The price bracket you have opens you to loads of options, You can also get the A6 in a 1.8 turbo petrol version which is pretty good too.

 

Yep, he is a bad influence on me, constantly tempting me

 

I was thinking the Legnum won't cost me much to buy and parts aren't that expensive when they need replacing. Where as I would still be buying an old Audi which will probably need parts replacing just like the legnum. The Legnum would cost me £1500-£2000 to buy whereas an Audi Avant Diesel will cost me £4000. Fuel will obviously cost me alot more on the Legnum than the Audi but hw much will I actually save over the course of the year considering I will only be doing 7k miles in the year? I'll have to think this through as this car isn't going to be a long term car.

 

That was exactly what I did after the car developed a low speed, light load judder. Although it is not enough to simply drain the oil, as much of it will still remain in the system. I got a Legnum guru (called Nick Mann, in Redditch), to purge it, and replace with the Amsoil, and that did the trick straight away.

 

Hi bud, yes I know Nick Mann, I've met him several times, he knows his way round a Legnum and he is also a top bloke

[Abz]

Yep, he is a bad influence on me, constantly tempting me

 

I was thinking the Legnum won't cost me much to buy and parts aren't that expensive when they need replacing. Where as I would still be buying an old Audi which will probably need parts replacing just like the legnum. The Legnum would cost me £1500-£2000 to buy whereas an Audi Avant Diesel will cost me £4000. Fuel will obviously cost me alot more on the Legnum than the Audi but hw much will I actually save over the course of the year considering I will only be doing 7k miles in the year? I'll have to think this through as this car isn't going to be a long term car.

 

His tried to convince me too when he came round, so I beat him with a stick

 

If it isn't a long term car then get it, this way it is out of your system. The biggest advantage you have is you have a close relative who is handy with the car so if you do have any issues it can be solved easily & at a decent price. My FTO mainly had problems with the gearbox ECU and again the noisy tappets, apart from that it was a great car to drive.

 

Good luck

[SamuraiFlash]

His tried to convince me too when he came round, so I beat him with a stick

 

If it isn't a long term car then get it, this way it is out of your system. The biggest advantage you have is you have a close relative who is handy with the car so if you do have any issues it can be solved easily & at a decent price. My FTO mainly had problems with the gearbox ECU and again the noisy tappets, apart from that it was a great car to drive.

 

Good luck

 

Thanks Abz, I think I'm going to need some luck with a Mitsubishi LOL! Long term I'd like to end up with a 3.0 Litre Audi Quattro Estate, it's just that my budget doesn't stretch that far at the moment. I still haven't made my mind up yet, I need to think things through.......I'm confused