Mitsubshi Challenger

Most Mitzs are at 100000ks.
Good luck Pete

Hi Ron,

I used to drive a 1999 manual for a while.
What I loved most was the silky smooth V6/24V 3 litre, and the 5sp gear ratios were good giving it plenty of torque uphill and on overtaking.

Cons: a bit rattly in the back due to the heavy leaf springs (should have improved after 2000 which are coil sprung).
Yes, the timing belt needs to be replaced I think every 100k which is quite a job, but managed to do it myself. Plugs also need to be done at this stage.
Power steering pump: front end bearing is ball (good) but rear end is sleeve (bad). It had developed a whine at 120k which was non fixable although all that was needed was a brass sleeve on the rear end. No factory spare parts for it, only a $1000 price tag for a new pump which was a bit rich I thought.
Maybe meanwhile you could get a much cheaper aftermarket unit.
In the repair manual there was a procedure about how to correctly tighten the power steering pump belt. If overtightened, it'll fail prematurely like mine did.

Other than that, quite a good 4WD.
cheers, Peter

I had my 2003 challenger for 7 years traded last year on a xtrail, proberbly one of the best 4wd iv'e had never gave me any problems except a few warranty niggles at new( which i told them how to fix ),done all the services myself after that including the t/belt at 100k ,very underated 4wd,dont know why they stopped importing them when they did .Downside of vehicle is retained value I loved that 4wd looked after it,serviced it at scedules it was in perfect condition but with 160k the dealers woudnt give me anything for it ,done the rounds ended up takeing 7k trade in, the most money lost on a 4wd for me (previos prado,forerunner,jackaroo ) thats why i didn't buy a new one.If the cars in good condition you cant go wrong. Mick