Mitsubishi Pick up??? Good bad or ??

old · Jan 15, 2010

Going to look at a 1987 Mitsubishi pick up tomorrow since my Isuzu pup has died on me again and figure it is not worth throwing any more $$ into. I did look at it today but that was it since the people where not home. Truck looked good body wise and the seat wasn't all that bad. Told it has 147,000 but also told it smoked some so not sure on that as to why. Has a 5 speed in it and a 4 cylinder long bed truck. So are they any good?? What type of mileage should they get was told this one got 22MPG.
Thanks

Anonymous-0 · Jan 15, 2010

Plenty on the road here.mostly mid 90's and newer but pretty solid trucks. Most have diesel motors and a bunch ok km when you find them for sale. If you can get ahold of one of the little VW pickups, they are real good go getters and you just can't tear them up. Frt wheel drive also.

Dave

old · Jan 15, 2010

Big problem is the front wheel drive type for what I use them for do not work well because if you load them with much you end up with no go for lack of traction. But yes the VW pick up was baciccly a rabbit car with a pick up bed and the rabbits where great little car and the diesels got 60 plus MPG

Clodbuster · Jan 15, 2010

If it has the carb with 1,000 vac hoses hooked to it...and everything else....walk away!

ted regentin · Jan 16, 2010

I have owned a few of the Mitsu/d-50 pickups. I also have worked on lots of them both in the dealership and in independent shops. I have found them to be money pits. They just seem to have a multitude of expensive problems. Bad carbs, cracked heads, bad balance shafts, broken manual trans, the list is endless. Toyota or Nissan pickups may cost more to buy, but they hold up better.
My two cents worth,

BlaineF · Jan 16, 2010

Take Ted Regentin's advice and STAY AWAY ! Had a engine machine shop for 15 years and I saw a lot of those and they are not cheap to fix .The Nissian is the best choice for a little truck for long term use.

richardinnz · Jan 16, 2010

We have heaps and heaps of Jap pick-ups and cars and trucks here in New Zealand, a lot sold new but loads are brought in used from Japan. The rule of thumb is DONT buy a Jap DIESEL that starts with the letter "M" !

1936 · Jan 16, 2010

Me thinks their is a better ride down the road! Have Mits dealer very near me. Seldom see a new one on the lot. Ifin you are going foreign take a look at the same size Toyota trucks. Stay rear wheel drive. Sould be a lot of Ford Rangers in your area?

GordoSD · Jan 16, 2010

I have a 97 Ford F150 with 60k on the clock. It gets 22 mpg. V6 5 spd. SWB with the stepside box.
AC and radio only options. Get one of those. Or buy mine.

Gordo

JOB · Jan 16, 2010

I don't know why anyone would want to support a foreign economy, I would support the economy you live in. Toyota has had a lot of recalls on their truck frames, they just rot away, Toyota will tell you they are better than U.S. made. I have not heard of a recall by Ford GM or Chrysler for frames. If Toyota will cheapen up their frames they cheapen up the rest of the vehicle also. The junk yards are getting full of Japanese vehicles. Parts for Japanese vehicles cost more than U.S. vehicles.
Ford Ranger is the best small pickup on the market. All Rangers on the road in the U.S. were made here, the ones made in thialand do not come here. I have a lot of friends that have them and they just love them. Ford has a good engine, I have not heard compliants of oil burning, or compliants in general. I drive a 2001 Windstar with 190,000 miles, it burns no oil between changes. I still have a 1989 Ford F150 with over 200,000 miles that does not use oil between changes. I would stay away from Japanese vehicles.

Suffolk1 · Jan 16, 2010

I have a 1989 Mitsubishi pickup-4 cylinder, 4 wheel drive, gas,5 speed. Bought it cheap about 7 years ago with 120,000 miles on it. Now has about 180,000 miles. Have had problems with jet valves, carb, noisy lifters, cracked head. I get about 18 mpg which is not very good for such a small truck. There are better small trucks out there.

JOCCO · Jan 16, 2010

Old you seem like a decent guy. But are you buying it for antique???? its 23 years old!!! I don't think Isuzu and Mitaubishi make trucks any more. And 140000 miles??? Really think this one over.

Uncle Ernie · Jan 16, 2010

They are expensive pieces of CRAP to keep up and repair. RUN, do not walk AWAY.
If you must have a small pick up go with a Toyota or Nizzan.

Animal · Jan 16, 2010

itchie=====what?

Sam#3 · Jan 16, 2010

I can't speak directly about a mister B but compared to the '83 Mazda and '85 Nissan I owned it's not doing well. At twenty three years, 140k miles, 22mph, and smoking it sound like it either has been short hauled or poorly maintained or both. My Mazda made 262k and was still getting 30+mpg and was just starting using a bit of oil. The Nissan had spent some time being short-hauled but had 160k, used no oil and was still in the 30+mpg with a known carb problem. I currently have a '98 Mazda/Ford Ranger with a 2500 engine. Has 207k, gets 27mpg average but has started using a bit of oil.
Those little trucks can be very good but they expect to be driven hard and maintained.
They're all expensive to repair.

randy hall · Jan 16, 2010

old, did yur wife run off with a uaw member? i wouldn't consider a pickup that wasn't made in america. i value my children and grandchildrens future here and i also boycot walmart.

DownSouth · Jan 16, 2010

Old,
I purchased an 80 model for 800 dollars and I've been very pleased with it. It gets 25 to 26 mpg and I'm amazed at how much weight I can haul in it. I purchased it 2 1/2 years ago when the fuel prices were rising in hopes of saving a few bucks. Honestly I figured if I got a years use out of it I would be money ahead, so needless to say after 2 1/2 years of daily use, and it's still going strong I'm very happy. It's badged Plymouth as you can see in the pictures, but built by Mitsubishi. This was the beginning of the Dodge D-50 series and we've all seen a bunch of those running around. The only things that I've had to replace, the starter (which cost less than 30 bucks at O'Reilly) and a brake light switch.

.

old · Jan 16, 2010

If I was buying new would agree with you but this truck has been in the U.S. now for decades so it pretty much is not jap other then the name and most parts that have been put on support theU.S. for the most part. Shoot look at the Chev, Ford and Dodge stufff new now days and at least 50% is jap

old · Jan 16, 2010

Ya this one is priced at $700 so I figure I might be able to talk it down to $600 or so. I need a small truck to haul light farm stuff and get me to the V.A. appointments.

BDT in Minnesota · Jan 16, 2010

No No No Animal ,, that is muchabitchi

Old, that pickup would most likely not be much of a "winner" ,,,,and you have enough projects already.

Dieselbreath · Jan 16, 2010

Bought a '87 for my then 16 yr old daughter. (Big mistake!) Over the years she wrecked it (even rolled it once) countless times. I just pulled or pounded the sheet metal out. I couldn't believe how that thing just kept going. Best little truck I ever saw. Wish I had bought it for myself.

tlak · Jan 16, 2010

I agree, somebody else had made the decision to buy foreign, used its just whoever owns it.

tlak · Jan 17, 2010

Friend was looking for a carb for that exact year/model and the cheapest one cost what you're trying to buy that truck for.

Mitsubishi Pick up??? Good bad or ??

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