Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

So, when I was up-Island this past week, I saw no less than 7 different Delicas and one Kei-van (don't know which one it was, but if I was to guess I would say it was a Subaru). Most waved, some didn't, but even the Kei-van waved.

And then there were those I spoke with. It would seem there are some Delica drivers out there who view these vehicles only as a mode of transport. The don't seem passionate about their van in the slightest. I found this a little troubling.

For instance, when I offered a Mitsumaple sticker to one individual, he asked if it was going to make his van get better fuel economy! No, but it would make his van look cool, but I didn't tell him that. It seems he is one of the first to have imported these vehicles and is troubled by its 20mpg economy. He indicated that he was not involved with the forum and I commented that he must be one of the 'quiet supporters' and left the conversation at that.

Another had For Sale signs in the windows - why? I thought.

At the end of the day, I guess there will always be those to whom these vehicles are just a mode of transport. I imagine them to be the same people who bought a Westie and just drove it around - didn't go to meets, didn't talk about their van incessantly, didn't lovingly care for it every weekends, camp all summer long, etc, etc, etc.

Yesterday I spent twenty minutes talking about the van to a salesman when he asked me about the Moon Machine - I guess I'm not going to be one of those dispassionate drivers I saw this past week.

Thoughts?

if they are upset at 20mpg then they drive the wrong type of vehicle... I dare you to find another vehicle with the ability of a Delica that gets better fuel economy (my work van is a little over 9 mpg in real world use, and it doesn't even have 4wd!) if they want fuel economy they should look for a smaller vehicle (that said, it may not help, many new cars don't do any better than we do, (my friend's passat wagon gets the same fuel economy I do!))

You'll always find some people who don't care, not much you can do about it. I do wonder however how they manage to make do without a forum like this for mechanical advice and such... I would be completely lost were it not for the online forums!

I see where you're coming from, I love my Deli, however at the end of the day it's just a vehicle. It doesn't( or at least shouldn't imo) define who or what you are in the real world.
But it sure is a cool set of wheels!

Crazy idea thinking a 15 year old vehicle, esp. a 4x4, the size and shape of a delica would get more than about 20 mpg. It was pretty obvious to me. And Mararmeisto, don't let that guy's bad trip bum you out. Some people have no passion for anything. Think about how many people hate their jobs, have no activities or hobbies, frittering their short, precious lives away just putting in time in a state of perpetual negative energy. Sure the delica is "just a vehicle" on one level, but like the best material things in life, it's a means to an end beyond itself. If you want it's the ticket to great camping (insert surfing, climbing, caving, snow riding...) adventures and road trips, a reason to meet and make friends with others sharing your interest (this very forum), a little, (or big!) project waiting for your next day off. Some delis are, alas, doomed to spend their last days neglected and resented by owners that don't deserve them. But hey, even worse, I see dogs spending their entire lives tied to posts in backyards. No walks, no tossed balls... It's been 14 years since I had my VW bus and am over the moon (machine ) to once again have a vehicle that offers me more than "just a ride." Can't wait to put a mitsumaple on Hazel, and my guitar case, and get one tattooed on...!

That is still sad that they would not even care about what they were driving. Just had money saw something cool bought it and well aah not that big of a deal. To someone who waited years until he could afford one and spend nights thinking about owning one. It just doesn't seem like the vehicle some one would just buy. What about all the work and trouble the IVOAC went through you would think a person buying a RHD would have some interest.

Well....

I don't know, you seem to be quite judgmental about these people. Just because someone wants or needs to sell their van doesn't make them dispassionate.

And really, it is just a mode of transport. It gets you from A to B. Everything else is fluff.

I'm not trying to diss you or this forum but I am somewhat in both camps here. I think the forum is great and really represents what the internet is for. The sharing of information. But "owner passion" isn't that just ego?

I bought one because I thought it would fit our need and there was no equivalent on the Canadian market. I bought it on a whim from a member here 18 months ago when there were less than 100 members. After, I purchased I figured I better find out as much as possible since it was a rare vehicle and was our only one. I read up everything I could, contacted people shared info etc etc.

One year on the market has exploded, there are hundreds of vans, tons of dealers, tons of parts. Really, nothing to worry about. I share info when I can, I wave if waved at but really, somewhat - the novelty has worn off and its just a vehicle. I nice one but well...

ANyway, we sold ours and bought a deli crewcab. So maybe it was mine you saw with a for sale sign?? Am I dispassionate - we did by a deli crewcab?

Plus, there is so much more going on that is more important to me than dreaming about my ride. For example, Island timberlands is clear cutting in my back yard, the school board is closing all our schools and selling off the land, wild salmon may or may not be extinct in 10 years etc etc...

Sorry about the rant. Got a lot going on and need to vent. Thank you for reading.

what is a deli crew cab, u mean like a truck deli? with 4 doors.

In other words, the Delica has become mainstream.

I still think I drive a Really Neat Vehicle (TM), but it's clear that Delicas attract a lot less attention than they once did. They are part of the motoring landscape. Here to stay, I hope. Last Saturday I found myself singing Gumdrop's praises to two separate groups of people. Other days I don't rate a second glance.

The first Canadian L400s will get the same sort of attention our L300s once did. Then they will become commonplace too.

...laura

Hey Kuan of course there are more important things to think about. Will my kids survive in 20 years
but are you makin fun of me for dreaming about my van. cause if are than I am telling mom taking my GI Joe's and not inviting you to my tree fort.

You have a tree fort? Ok, I take it back. Can I come over now?

No but seriously, I wasn't making fun of you. I daydreamed about the big white toaster and was fanatic about it too for a little while. But it wore off and thinking back it seems kind of wacky to pour so much energy into it. Anyway, I was in a grumbly mood last night and the post hit a funny note with me.

All good, I just meant that everyone is in a different stage of their relationship with the Delica - its just like marriage. Some matches are made in heaven, others get divorced after the first year.

Maxpowers, here is our crewcab: http://www.delica.ca/forum/distant-relative-2190.html. Same engine (4D56) but a different beast altogether.

mararmeisto, could you offer me club stickers? I will not refuse them as I am still trying to them with no luck so far. They will make me even more proud of the Delica ownership but please keep in mind that I am 100% on the Kuan's side

So how do I get myself a Mitsumaple to fly the colours?
Just back from an awesome 4 day trip down south - not too many people down there cared much about the deli either. I didn't take offense - got a couple of thumbs up here and there, but would you believe there were a few people who would come up close on the I-5, and move in and around the car as we barreled down the road, and oddly enough - as soon as they passed, I would note that most had BC plates????? and this was in and around the Seattle to North Bend area...NOT near the border???? Seems our American cousins don't care too much about the oddity's found on their roads...or at least not as much as we Canucks. On the other hand - my wife noted that maybe it's because they were doing about 130 Km to my 110/hr.....so how the hell could I tell if they noticed or not. Anyway - good trip all the same.

So, back to my original question? How does a good honest Deli loving man get a Mitsumaple?

By the way, I've got an ulterior motive.....I sell products to Mitsubishi Home Component, who sells building materials to their parent company Mitsubishi Real Estate....as one of my customers once said - "I can spend 90% of my income within my company's other company's"....hmmm. I'd love to flash them a Mitsumaple at the next meeting!!!!

my deli is mainly a work van i love it but it is for work , having said that my wife and i just had a baby, it was a c section and we were pretty tied to the house for a while and when we did get out it was in my wifes car and it ended up being three weeks that my van sat and that first ride back in my deli was such a rush ,fell in love all over again. heck i might even wash it !
bryan

Hey - and for the record, I first saw these beautiful vehicles on my first business trip to Japan in 1996 - and I told my business associate at that time...and I quote "if they ever import these to Canada - there will be a huge market and I'll be the first to buy one". Well, I accidentally came accross Japanoid's website (and then found everyone elses) last summer and the rest is history. The bottom line is that there is no other current vehicle that can offer all the features of the L300. I know it's just a vehicle, a means of transport, and I know that eventually I will move on...but for now, I'm having a HELL of alot of fun which means alot to a guy who has not had the time / energy/ interest to enjoy tooling with a vehicle for over 20 years.....take em for what they are...one persons 4 wheel mode of transport, another persons passion - but either way...they rock.

Just my 2 pence (cents?) worth!

I whole heartedly agree with the notion that a vehicle is simply a means of getting from A-B kinda in the same way that a slice of bread is a means of preventing you from starving.

Some people are happy with just bread, others will want to add some butter and some will want to spice it up with ham, lettuce, tomato, cracked pepper, mayo, chili etc....

All of the above will prevent starvation but how much joy, passion or in this case; taste, do you want to add to the process of filling your boots? How much personality do you want your food to have?

Just as plain bread has its place, so does a plain spec Toyota Corrola (or many other bland Jap/Yank or Bristish cars)....for those that are happy 'just' to get from A-B, this is all that is needed.

Me.....OOOOOOHHH NO!! I spend a LOT of time getting from A-B, especially during the working week, and I want to do it in comfort and with a big smile on my face. I want to do it with the knowledge that I will get there without fuss, without bother or without boredom. I want to know that I have the room to carry what I need, the flexibility to cope with my demands and the facility to have fun while doing all this.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the L300 - the motoring equivalent of stepping into Subway (which I am not a fan of - but you have them over there....) and ordering everything you like off the menu, paying $3.00 for it and getting a whole world of like minded, kind hearted and enthusiastic friends thrown in as part of the deal.

Yes it does the job - but I find bread is just plain boring.