A post about 3000GT's

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
10/23/2014 at 14:39 • Filed to: 3000GT, Mitsubishi, DSM, Memory lane

Mostly becasue I am down in the pits becasue this is the longest I have ever gone without driving something with some speed behind it; 11 months. For 11 months the only thing I have driven has been the Jeep, which is slow, like semi truck slow, and if I drive it fast its likely to rattle apart / flip over so...

I have been dreaming (and playing Horizon to help quell my pains). And my dream is, one day, hopefully next year sometime, I will stop being a broke fool, and I will be able to afford a toy again, and I think (at least until next week when I change my mind) I want another 3000GT VR-4.

Some of you may know, many years ago (7 since it left me, thats nearly forever), I owned a 1992 3000GT VR-4 in the rare color of sandstone grey metallic, with the optional removable glass roof (pictured above).

She died, and was resuscitated, many times by me, in the 3 years I had her. She left me, in the worst possible way a car guy could get rid of a car.

Ever since, I have wanted another. No car ever, has cost me as much. Not just in repairs, but in time, and grief, and roadside misery. But I don't care. I want another. I will have another.

I have always wanted an illusive 99 VR4, as it was the 3rd refresh of the body, and, in my opinion, the best looking, even if it does have a factory ricer wing. But on the rare chance you find a 99 thats not been over-modified or destroyed, you are likely to pay about $30,000 for one. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! if you're interested.

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I often dreamed of doing the ever so popular 99 conversion on my 92, which is surprisingly easy, as the unibody did not change throughout the entire production run. Simply swap the bumpers, hood, headlights, sills, and wing; but still, it would not be the same.

I have also had a strange desire for the Spyder variant, which was a 1995 / 1996 model year production only. While the ultra flat rear deck is a bit off-putting, I have an affinity for hard top convertibles, and these cars hold a special place in my heart.

My most recent desire is to combine the best of both worlds, and find a Spyder and then do a 99 conversion to it, like this.

While these cars are known to be quite finicky, they are an amazing vehicle to drive, and should you ever be afforded the opportunity, I suggest you take it. While they may be considered tame by today's standards, a factory twin turbo V6 pumping 320 BHP via an all wheel drive system with viscous couplings, active aerodynamics, dual mode suspension and exhaust, and all wheel steering; all made available in 1991. The car is a bit of a treat, and quite exhilarating to drive. And while it's more common competitors, the Supra Turbo and the RX7 twin turbo, often take the spotlight for early 90's Japanese cars, the under-rated 3000GT VR-4 sits in wait to one day take over the throne (and then soon there after break down and once again be surpassed by the Supra and 7).

DISCUSSION (26)

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 14:43

Kinja'd!!!

Not sure if it's real, but there is this !

CAR_IS_MI > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/23/2014 at 14:47

Thats proper fogs and wheels for the 92 VR-4. the rear wing is mia, and it seems to be in quite rough shape. If the engine and interior were clean, I might pay $2500 for that.

Milky > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 14:49

Didn't you go through like 3 transmissions? You're willingly going to put yourself through that pain again?!

CAR_IS_MI > Milky
10/23/2014 at 14:54

1 transmission (upped from the 91-92 18 spline to the 93' 25 spline), 3 full engine rebuilds, 1 set of turbo rebuilds, 1 set of turbo upgrades (instead of re-rebuilding). And yes.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 14:54

I was going to advise buying something different to expend your horizons, but it seems this car is quite unique and I'm not sure you'd find anything quite like it, unless you get into the business of importing a car.

As a side note, how do you feel about the Dodge Stealth?

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 14:55

There is this one... dem wheels tho *hurls*

CAR_IS_MI > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
10/23/2014 at 14:57

I've been diversifying since I got rid of this, and I will continue to, I just really miss this car and want one to replace it then just keep adding to the collection from that point.

I like the Stealth, virtually the same car, the only thing I truly dislike about the Stealth is that weird rear wing.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 14:59

Well I'm not sure if they are VR4's or not but there are 3 3000GT's and a Stealth 1 town over from me just sitting at this one guys detail shop.

Like been there for a few years.

I bet if the right guy showed up he'd sell one or all of them.

CAR_IS_MI > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/23/2014 at 14:59

Oh that poor poor car. Bomex body kit, Lambro doors, and those wheels! Who's Escalade did you rob those off of?!?

jsn081 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/23/2014 at 15:01

someone should save that car. Sell wheels, lambo door hinges, front lip, and "system" which will give you some scratch to buy stock parts, vacuum interior of empty crack vials (free), and buy replacement window.

CAR_IS_MI > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/23/2014 at 15:01

Well they could be non-turbos, becasue no one wants those, or they could be VR-4s, in which case, they are all broken down and not running. Both are likely scenarios.

Milky > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 15:03

Ahh 3 engine rebuilds. Not be the "debbie downer" here but that just seems like a lot of time spent not driving the car.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 15:06

They shuffle around the lot (so I suspect they run). I know the bodies look perfect from a drive by, but the guy IS a professional auto-detailer.

3 red 1 black.

CAR_IS_MI > Milky
10/23/2014 at 15:09

Quite a lot. out of the 3 years I owned it, it spend about 2 in pieces in my garage (not consecutively of course). I also was in college at the time so that slowed the rebuild process, and had it been running it would have still been sitting in a garage waiting for me to return home to drive it. I think my total mileage put on it over the 3 years I owned it was just under 5,000 miles. Shortest time between rebuilds was 42 miles driven then crank walked.

Sanettika > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 15:28

I got to drive a VR-4 a few years ago, a 1993 model, if I remember right. I almost bought the thing, too, it was in perfect condition Such a lovely vehicle, and one of the few decently fast cars I've gotten to play with. I actually had the strangest dream last night, where I took the Taurus to a track somewhere and the brakes ended up failing horribly and then it got stuck in mud trying to get home. I miss my fun cars :/

Milky > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 15:30

"Shortest time between rebuilds was 42 miles driven then crank walked."

I bet you needed a hug after that.

PheeNoIVI > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 15:33

Go get it!

offroadkarter > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 15:37

I love 3kGT's so much but damn they make my bmw look reliable.

CAR_IS_MI > Milky
10/23/2014 at 15:46

That one was mostly my fault. I failed to check tolerances while rebuilding from having a valve seat drop and burn off most of my oil... I did need a 6 pack and some room on my credit card though.

FrankenBlaster > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 15:54

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4647562330… This one has been on my local craigslist for months now

Milky > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 15:55

Lol, a costly "learning the hard way" moment.

CAR_IS_MI > FrankenBlaster
10/23/2014 at 16:13

While that one is very clean, it is WAY over priced.

Scottyfb > CAR_IS_MI
10/23/2014 at 16:17

I had a 99 vr4 black... great car but was notorious for breaking down

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAR_IS_MI
10/24/2014 at 10:57

Kinja'd!!!

I actually prefer the old-school headlamps (same with the NSX).

ciscokidinsf > CAR_IS_MI
10/28/2014 at 11:46

Also a lover of the 3000GT's - but those cars don't return the love you give to them. Mine (SL '93, Fully loaded) failed smog emissions 4 times in a row, despite many fixes & $ poured unto it. And the interiors self-destruct so easily. Electronics were an issue at old age, and the thing ate window regulators all the time. I still miss mine, but it was an unhealthy relationship for 17 years. Best Mitsubishi ever - better than an Evo in the sense you 'could' tell it was a premium car inside and out.

humz > CAR_IS_MI
11/18/2014 at 16:50

You know, I went to high school with not one, but two kids that owned one of these. I didn't realize how crazy it was at the time, but they were both Martinique Yellow, both vr4's. Turns out they only built them in that color for two years ('94 and '95) and the total production run of VR4's in Martinique Yellow was something like 211 cars.. And yet, in my town of around 35,000 people, there were two high school students driving one... Anyway, like I said, I didn't appreciate the rarity at the time. I wish I would have gotten a picture with them both together. Especially because one of the kids wrecked his... Save the VR4's!

Kinja'd!!!