Old member, tough decisions - comparion between L300 & L400

[nishby]

Dude, it's teal. Have some self-respect!...wait, no it looks great (can I have the Turtle?).

[jessef]

I should show Maryna this thread.

So I've been driving around the LWB L400 for the past 3 days non-stop. Truth be told, it's beginning to stick on me.

But... when I come home and see Turtle, I can't help but want both. Ahh.. this will be tough.

I just finished up the shorty. It's awesome. The color is beautiful. A very deep dark metallic blue with dark silver bottom tone. I can't believe it but it even came with two Mitsubishi factory touch-up paint tubes for both colors. Small details...

Now we have three exceptionally unique and great vehicles in the Delica family, so I won't feel bad about selling two of them to anyone. Actually, know that I've gone over all of them with a fine tooth comb, I want to give it to someone I know.

The blue shorty is definitely out of the question because it's really the same space inside as Turtle.

But the LWB has so much more functional room. I took out all of the seats in the back and it's huge. Not only that, but you can swap out with a small mod, the center captain's chairs with the front passenger/driver's chairs so that the two in the front can fold up and swivel 360*. Put a small table there and you have seating for 2, table and then the rest of the van for all the gear/cabinets..

Here's a link to the slideshow of the shorty :

I really like it. Guy before was probably a surfer judging by the stickers and surf wax I found inside. It's lifted, SS exhaust/ turbo pipes, boost and fuel tuned. It's a rocket compared to the other 4 L400's I've driven. 16" holycow $$$ mags. Nice flares.

This one just looks plain kick-ass. It looks mean, feels nice and stiff in corners and have more grunt off the line then all the others.

The acceleration alone puts the L300 to shame. I'm ashamed to say that I like it.

I think this one's already on hold. I'll know soon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26976821@N ... 8943/show/

[Luna-Sea]

Oh Sheeeeeeet!

[mycale]

agree that the L400 has alot going for it. the purist perception that if you aren't sitting on the engine you are in an ugly vehicle is wayyyy out to lunch IMO. seeing as I am currently awaiting the arrival of my L400, I have a skewed opinion about the whole matter. I am however pretty new to the Delica scene so my experience is quite limited with either model. My gf didn't even know what a Delica was until I started fixating on them. She had absolutely no interest in the earlier models but prefered the L400. The unique back seats and the ability to easily crawl from the front to the back is ideal for travelling with a 15 month old and a 1 month old. And while doing some research I saw some pretty sexy L400's so Bah i say to the L400 bashers and of course here is my baby in Japan:

[delicat]

Hey Jesse, nice rigs!

I'm a bit confused though. Are you really asking us what to do or is this post a sale pitch? I mean, it doesn't really matter what we think does it? At the end you'll have to respect Maryna's decision and sounds like she's already made her mind (and I might not disagree with her either). If you ended up keeping them all in your family like you said you might be able to change your mind and take one back... but if one is already spoken for you loose that option. You already have a very good knowleadge of both type, more so than a lot of us so you won't learn much from us unfortunately.

Consider what you really want out of this vehicle, at the end you might have to keep one of each!
For your road trip, with all the gears you're planning on adding onto the van and the weight you'll be carrying the 400 would win 'cause as you know that little 300 is underpowered. Keep on adding weight to it and who knows how she'd respond after months of heavy use. Always nice not having to climb in the back from the driver's seat. Even better if you could swap for a swivel driver's seat, had those in my old vw's and loved that option. So the long wheel base 400 might have to become your new project, too bad it doesn't have the color of the short wheel base...and the pop roof of the 300!

Sorry if I sound a bit like I got off the wrong foot... not meant in a bad way

[Luna-Sea]

So the long wheel base 400 might have to become your new project, too bad it doesn't have the color of the short wheel base...and the pop roof of the 300!

Just turning the screws on him eh! heh heh heh
I think it's important that we torment Jafarsang thoroughly
during this critical decision making process,it's our duty.

A tough choice for sure ,yet very lucky to have such options.

The keeping one of each would be ideal. (finacial well being permiting of course)

The L300's are (to me) more beautiful right out of the box and only get
better with modding. I am also a sucker for the cab-over experience.

The L400's would not get many dates to the prom in stock form,
but get better with a makeover. (which both of yours already have started)

Among other things I think the L400's have going for them (quite begrudgingly I must add)
is the added safety of an air bag system.(they do have them right?)
Mix that with the long wheel base model (nice highway handling I imagine)
,add some more power,throw in that sweet-ass super-select drive train,
do that swivel captain chair mod and then add a good dose of Jfarsang and Parkside
upgrades and mods (only the mitsu gods know what the hay those are going to be,but
they will be epic I'm sure )....and you may have a winner.(I guess )

As far as my actual exposure to the L400's I can only truly attest to the indisputable
truth that the seats are indeed comfy. (sat in one up at CC Auto's)
Josh and I hummed and hawed up a storm that day,but no actual road test.
I suppose that would have to factor in for an extended live aboard
hedonistic-south-american-surf-assault-live-life application.


Delicat has a point about the decision already being made,but
that would be mean to bring that point up again and really
quite cruel to end off post with that point........heh heh heh

Right on!

[pototoy]

keep the l3 and lwb l4; then sell me the swb l4

[jessef]

None taken at all !

I'm going to keep driving the LWB for the next week and put it through some my own tests. Basically, comparing it to Turtle.

I have to say though, there is so much more room inside. Idea's start popping up in my head of what to put where, etc...

I'm taking it out on the highway this afternoon and will put it to the test.

The 4H (AWD) mode works great. I took it on a hard packed clay/dirt road that's been coated with dust so it's quite slippery in dry conditions. Kept it in 2WD and started to feel the rear end slipping a bit so threw it into 4H and it did the subaru thing. Keep in it's track.

We'll see.

I'm not asking for opinions. Just giving mine as I go along with this decision. Plus giving comparisons between the two.

If any of you are getting a L400, get it in the midnight blue/silver color option. In person, it will blow your mind. They did an amazing job from the factory on the color scheme.

Jesse

Hey Jesse, nice rigs!

I'm a bit confused though. Are you really asking us what to do or is this post a sale pitch? I mean, it doesn't really matter what we think does it? At the end you'll have to respect Maryna's decision and sounds like she's already made her mind (and I might not disagree with her either). If you ended up keeping them all in your family like you said you might be able to change your mind and take one back... but if one is already spoken for you loose that option. You already have a very good knowleadge of both type, more so than a lot of us so you won't learn much from us unfortunately.

Consider what you really want out of this vehicle, at the end you might have to keep one of each!
For your road trip, with all the gears you're planning on adding onto the van and the weight you'll be carrying the 400 would win 'cause as you know that little 300 is underpowered. Keep on adding weight to it and who knows how she'd respond after months of heavy use. Always nice not having to climb in the back from the driver's seat. Even better if you could swap for a swivel driver's seat, had those in my old vw's and loved that option. So the long wheel base 400 might have to become your new project, too bad it doesn't have the color of the short wheel base...and the pop roof of the 300!

Sorry if I sound a bit like I got off the wrong foot... not meant in a bad way

[BCDelica]

Forums=asking for opinions.........From another thread....giggle

I've driven the L400's.

Not my style.

The L300's are more rugged.

They are based on the 1st Gen Pajero/Montero while the L400's (white one you posted) are based on the 2nd Gen Pajero/Montero.

They are more like a Mazda MPV minivan.

The pop top on the Delica we have is a god send. I have yet to see one on an L400 that can fit two adults up top.

But the shorty L400 does look better...IMHO

[jessef]

Although it's all great and dandy, every time I look at that LWB 400, it just doesn't feel like 'my' Delica.

I'll keep on reasoning in my head.

Then again, if the lottery decides to pick me, then I keep all three.

Forums=asking for opinions.........From another thread....giggle

I've driven the L400's.

Not my style.

The L300's are more rugged.

They are based on the 1st Gen Pajero/Montero while the L400's (white one you posted) are based on the 2nd Gen Pajero/Montero.

They are more like a Mazda MPV minivan.

The pop top on the Delica we have is a god send. I have yet to see one on an L400 that can fit two adults up top.

But the shorty L400 does look better...IMHO

[konadog]

Driving along today I looked up thought - OMG! that's the first L-400 I've ever seen coming down the road - oops, wait - it's a Windstar!!!

[nishby]

I had the same sort of experience yesterday, which was doubly shocking since I'm in Ontario. Turned out to be an MPV from the back.

[deLOOKA]

Driving along today I looked up thought - OMG! that's the first L-400 I've ever seen coming down the road - oops, wait - it's a Windstar!!!

^LOL....

I used to not think much of the L400 (based on looks only) until Mardy had the pre-view.
Completely changed my way of thinking after seeing them.
For what the L4 has to offer (for me), I could live with the "common" exterior.

Kind of reminds me of a couple DH mountain bikes i've ridden.
Frame design was just ugly. Then I rode them. The performance outweighed the look.

-Isaac

[DeliTan]

Not only that, but you can swap out with a small mod, the center captain's chairs with the front passenger/driver's chairs so that the two in the front can fold up and swivel 360*. Put a small table there and you have seating for 2, table and then the rest of the van for all the gear/cabinets..

Really?

Where can I find the info on the seat swap? I would love to have 2 arm rests and swivel function on the front 2 seats. I plan to leave only 1 seat in the back (probably the left rear bench half) for the occasional third person and leave the rest open for cargo and camping.

john

[Green1]

I saw it posted on the UK forum a while back, it had been done to a camper conversion in New Zealand.... looked like a good plan... what I don't know is how "simple" the mod is... they said they had extended the slider track all the way forward and added a second set of seats to it... the question really becomes, how secure is that track extension in a collision? (if they just screwed it in to sheet metal I'd be VERY affraid!)