Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Hello all
I am looking at getting a 94 model sometime in the new year. I really like the 93 and unders but my wife likes the newer ones more. I think they may be a better deal with the 2.8L intercooled diesel too.
Does anyone know of any issues with the newer ones? Any advise for when I decide to buy?

Since there are no L400 Space Gears in Canada yet, we don't know much about them.

They are far more complicated than the L300 Star Wagons. You might check the U.K. and Australian Delica forums - the early ones appeared to have some teething problems. They have good stuff, like coil spring rear suspension, better brakes (4 wheel discs) and a much fancier transfer case. This can also be bad, because there is more to go wrong.

The only L400 I've seen in real life was a Hyundai S-Trex, a badge-engineered L400 made under license, last February in Costa Rica.

...laura

TS Pemby wrote:Hello all
I am looking at getting a 94 model sometime in the new year. I really like the 93 and unders but my wife likes the newer ones more. I think they may be a better deal with the 2.8L intercooled diesel too.
Does anyone know of any issues with the newer ones? Any advise for when I decide to buy?

as an fyi the 94 and newer delicas aren't all L400s or "space gear", the "older style" L300 (the ones you see here in Canada) where made until, well according to wikipedia, present. (wikipedia delica link)

loki wrote:

TS Pemby wrote:Hello all
I am looking at getting a 94 model sometime in the new year. I really like the 93 and unders but my wife likes the newer ones more. I think they may be a better deal with the 2.8L intercooled diesel too.
Does anyone know of any issues with the newer ones? Any advise for when I decide to buy?

as an fyi the 94 and newer delicas aren't all L400s or "space gear", the "older style" L300 (the ones you see here in Canada) where made until, well according to wikipedia, present. (wikipedia delica link)

Definitely, because I own one (a 1994 L300). I'm not sure about being made to present, though. I think it was 1998 in the Japanese domestic market. But they may have made them for other markets later, and badged them by another name.

Not so much a problem, more aesthetics: I don't like the look of the L400. I think the L300 'looks' better. The SpaceGear looks a little too akin to the NA mini-vans and that was one of the things I was trying to get away from.

marsgal42 wrote:Since there are no L400 Space Gears in Canada yet, we don't know much about them.

They are far more complicated than the L300 Star Wagons. You might check the U.K. and Australian Delica forums - the early ones appeared to have some teething problems. They have good stuff, like coil spring rear suspension, better brakes (4 wheel discs) and a much fancier transfer case. This can also be bad, because there is more to go wrong.

The only L400 I've seen in real life was a Hyundai S-Trex, a badge-engineered L400 made under license, last February in Costa Rica.

...laura

Thank you very much. I will look on the Aussie sites.

the L300 continues to be made, however since the mid 90s they have been much more stripped down than what we are used to.
we have a member on here (niekt) who has a 2001 L300 (he's in europe, where they have sensible import laws)
and in fact dodge is in the process of introducing the L300 in to the mexican market for 2009
I personally find that the L400 looks too much like every other minivan, and looses a lot of the charm, and functionality of the L300.

I'd like to hear more opinions on the L400 vs. the L300 models. I am aware of the style differences but does anyone have a mechanical opinion?

Check this post:
http://www.delica.ca/forum/test-drove-l ... light=l400

Although it's generally a style preference, there's some very strong point of view between the 300 and the 400. On my recent visit to the UK I brought this subject with Bruce who's quite involved in the Delica thing. He and his mechanic (who's specialized on Delica) went over the common issues found on both the 300 and 400. At the end the 300 had a very short list of issues while the 400 had over 50!

And given that it's a new model, the serie 1 had more initial problem than the serie 2 (which came 2-3yrs later)

Good luck anyway, it's inevitable that L400 start to show up on our shore. (unless Transport Canada...)
David

The L400 has a more powerful engine (2.8L vs 2.5 in the L300) and is known to be much more powerful, the L400 also has a centre differential allowing you to use the 4wd on dry, grippy surfaces without damage (though why you would want to I don't know) (I know some of them have a centre differential lock to make them act like an L300 when engaged, however I don't know if it's standard or an option)
L400 generally has more toys.
The downsides though include the extra toys as it is more things to go wrong, early L400s sound a little less reliable, though that seems to have been fixed in the newer ones.
They are also available in both short and long wheelbase versions, but the long wheelbase version is roughly the same size inside as the short wheelbase version of the L300 and the short wheelbase version is even smaller, this is due to the fact that the engine is now out front making for a longer overall vehicle with less interior space. Now the upside to that is that without the engine "hump" you can actually move from front to rear inside without too much difficulty.

The L400 is generally considered worse for serious offroad than the L300, though it is often described as being simillar in ability to a Land Rover "discovery" so it is not completely hopeless.

I've also been told, though I haven't been able to see one first hand yet, that the L400 doesn't look as ugly in person as it does in photos... but I'd have to actually see one to believe it.

I was in England early this year and spoke with a friend of mine that has dealt with Delicas/Pajeros for many years and he stated that there had been severe corrosion issues with the early L400`s . He had said many of the private imports were entering the UK and needed the chassis welding before passing an inspection . He thought that this situation was because of less material being used for structure and felt that the L300`s were better built and quote "had more meat on them" !!
I have been watching the L400`s at auction and there is a lot of reference to corrosion on the inspection sheets .
Only time will tell as to how correct this information is .
He did say that the engines had way more power but had timing component issues do to lack of maintenance . (L400`s do NOT use a timing belt )
Engine reliability should be easy to determine as we already have several 2.8TD Pajeros in Canada and they are the same motors as the L400 Delica .

(L400`s do NOT use a timing belt )

so it's a chain then?

From what I've read on the UK site I thought it was a belt...

Thanks everyone I think I am now scared away from the 94 L400 due to the first model year issues. I am now going to concentrate on the L300.
In the L300 is there a long and short wheel base? If so what is the Super Exceed? Any advantage disadvantage?
My Primary use will be as a family mover in a snowy climate but I love the idea of Diesel and like to go off pavement (not really off road) now and then too.
I love the Super Exceed for all of its gadgets and really like the captains chairs in the second row. Any advise on what and who to purchase from in the Lower Main land?
I also have heard of LHD models. Are there many in Canada?

I appreciate all of the help so far!

TS Pemby wrote:Thanks everyone I think I am now scared away from the 94 L400 due to the first model year issues. I am now going to concentrate on the L300.
In the L300 is there a long and short wheel base? If so what is the Super Exceed? Any advantage disadvantage?
My Primary use will be as a family mover in a snowy climate but I love the idea of Diesel and like to go off pavement (not really off road) now and then too.
I love the Super Exceed for all of its gadgets and really like the captains chairs in the second row. Any advise on what and who to purchase from in the Lower Main land?
I also have heard of LHD models. Are there many in Canada?

I appreciate all of the help so far!

There is an enormous amount of information on this web site, and all your questions have been covered. I have never seen or heard of an LHD L300 in Canada, though I have seen them overseas. When I first got Gumdrop (a Super Exceed, BTW) I toyed with converting to LHD but decided not to bother, since RHD is not actually a problem. Gumdrop was unstoppable in the snow last winter.

I'm not as hard-core an off-roader as a lot of the people around here, so I don't rule out an L400, some day. But it won't be for a while yet. They certainly look different, but lots of people thought the first L300s in Canada looked ugly too. Now that we are used to them, we know they aren't.

The models Mitsubishi currently sell as L300s (e.g. http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.nz/vehicles/vans/l300/) are actually a Mazda Bongo, manufactured under license. "Our" L300s were last made in 1998.

...laura

Hey TS,

I can't speak for anyone elses preferences but my own. I have owned my '92 Exceed now for just over a month which I purchased privately. I did spend about a month doing a bit of research on the vehicle itself. I made a few calls and ventured down to one of the local dealers here in Metro-Van ( assuming you live a tad more north due to the "snowy conditions" you mentioned). After spending an hour with David at Japanoid ( on a Saturday even) I was sold on the Delica. All I hade to do was zero in on the model I wanted.
I model I chose was the Exceed ( Low Roof). Then it was just a matter of finding it, either through Japanoid , or anyone one of the other reputable outfits in town, or privately.

As far as I see , a vehicle is a vehicle, is a vehicle. And with these Delicas , its like any other purchase of a "used" vehicle. Sometimes you get a good one, and sometimes you don't. The great thing about this website, is the vast amount of information to increase your chances on getting something you will be happy with.
I have only been a member here a short while, and like with most clubs, takes a bit of time to get onto the fold. As a"Newbie" I have yet to contribute as Im still crawling around my Delica, and hoping to be upright with a "Little help" from the Delicrowd.

Was I nervous about the purchase - you bet. Am I glad I purchased - you bet.

Hope I helped ease the nerves. Best thing you can do is read til yur eyes bleed, then go play

Have fun TS

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