From Lord of the Manor to Soccer Mom....

[Volksy]

Last week, the Jag of much beige wafted on to its new owner. It really was sad to see it go, I do hope that M. Barefoot enjoys it as much as I did.

 

So with a need for a practical vehicle, of which I'm not really known for, I had a look about on all the usual channels. A 306 XUD TD was top of the list, as at times of austerity I've found these pretty much the the most practical vehicle I've ever owned. They seem to get snaffled up pretty quick, or are already completely foobarred, so the search for a decent local one was proving fruitless.

I called an old mate of mine, who occasionally deals in chod, having a father in the trade means that he can pick up part exchanges from a couple of local dealers at cost, these (the lower end of the spectrum) normally, and in most cases rightfully, head straight to copart or frag, but occasionally a bit of a gem* comes through which he will pick up and punt on. Recent vehicles have been a bodykitted MX5 auto (in white so it looked like a melted bathtub), and a tidy BMW 320D (OMG flap ingestion and pricey insurance). Neither of which fitted the bill. "Leave it with me and something will turn up" he said. 

 

A week later he called and said "I really don't think this is for you.... But.."

 

Well, photos were sent through. And I agreed, it really isn't my kind of vehicle. However I had a deadline, I work random shifts in a place (oddly given it's a sodding Airport) not well serviced by public transport, and due to a change of living arrangements having a car had now gone from an option to a necessity. So a deal was struck, and I became owner of this....

 

 

It's a 2001 Mitsubishi Space Wagon, it as grey as the Jag was beige. Everything is grey or silver. I don't think it could be more dull if it tried. I guess as these were designed for the HRT brigade, it was probably best not to offer too much excitement.

 

Strangely, this one doesn't appear to have ever been used for the purpose it was designed. The rear seats (all five of them) appear to have never been sat in. There is no whiff of child vomit, and there is no sticky residue covering all the surfaces... (which hopefully counts out it having been used for other 'purposes' in secluded car parks also). The trim is all clean and tidy and correct, and everything works as intended.
Looking through the history, it was first owned by a chap in the armed forces, so was bought new in RHD UK spec out in Belgium. It was brought into the UK in 2002 where it was sold and registered to it's only subsequent owner. An elderly chap in a local village. Over the next fourteen years he racked up just shy of 94k, having it serviced and MOT'd at a local garage.

To drive it's quite surprising. It's wallowy and soft. But, I hardly expected a Lotus Elise to be fair. But grips well and has a very free revving 2.0 16v gleaned from the Galant I believe. Which actually makes it quite rapid. Current MPG's are averaging around 30. Which isn't bad, and a vast improvement on the low 'teens i used to get from the Jag around town.

 

According to the supplied handbook, It has infinite different seating arrangements, including a double bed that if slept on would have your chiropractor flexing his knuckles for at least a month. And a very odd all seats flat but middle seats set like a gymnasiums vaulting horse, which I believe must be useful for the secluded car park enthusiasts mentioned earlier....

Equipment levels are as per any Japanese vehicle, so pretty much fully specced with electrics for windows, mirrors etc. Oddly no remote central locking, but then the Celica and Corolla I owned from the same period didn't have that also.

 

It has a couple of giffer dents on the extremities and the rear arches are getting a tad scabby, but overall it's quite presentable. I must admit If i was doing surveillance work I'd be getting one of these, as it's so average and nondescript it just disappears. As I found out when trying to find it in the Long stay Airport carpark the other morning....

 

I'm pretty happy with it. Not sure how long I shall keep it for, but I doubt it will be trouble to sell as and when I need to...

 

Here's a few more photos. Try not to fall asleep whilst viewing...

 

 

 

 

[DSdriver]

I've never knowingly seen one of those before. Must be in the all time Autoshite top 10.

[Stanky]

Hasn't someone else on here got a black one of these? PBK maybe? I remember it being spoken highly of, in a practical, reliable, anodyne sort of way.

 

Good work.

[Junkman]

Delightfully grim.

[Rocket88]

Very serviceable............

[cort16]

You know I've often walked passed these.

 

That's it.

[TRW]

Ideal for tip runs in the day and dogging by night. Please remember to vacuum it out after use.

 

After the tip and before dogging, obviously.

[anonymous user]

My sister-in-law had one as her first people carrier, after they had their fourth child (as it was about the smallest practical 7 seater they could get). It lasted well and showed less wear over three years than the VW Sharan which replaced it. Does yours have air-con? They only found out theirs had it after going away in it on holiday in summer, with the roof-box on which meant no opening the sunroof.

 

I think PBK has the Space Runner which is the slightly smaller one, a colleague had one of those which got nick-named "the reasonably priced car" due to the way she drove it on the limit all the time; it spent more time tilted over through corners and revved to the limit between gearchanges than I expect they are used to. Whilst, as you say it's no Lotus Elise, I think she would have given one a run for its money across country.

 

[Volksy]

It does have air conditioning, although it is not obvious as to switch it on you press the fan switch inwards. It's ice cold on this one, the first car I've had with this functioning!

[purplebargeken]

What an ace thing. It is indeed the slightly larger brother to my Space Runner. These arer ace things, yours has slightly better seating options but mine has a slidey side door

[Guest Hooli]

Another reason giffers get them is being slightly higher than normal cars it's easier to get in & out. So you just need to keep it till your 70 & then it'll be your perfect car.

[UmBongo]

It must be good because it is called a space wagon so surely futuristic and made of special alien substances.

[Sheefag]

I know it's wrong but I really like this.

 

Two questions, one rude, how many miles and how much?

[beko1987]

Thats nice! I'd roll in it!

[spartacus]

I like it. I've had a different model of Mitsubishi and it was nailed together really well. Good find.

[r.welfare]

What's the legroom and headroom like in the back row - is it strictly for kids?

[gnorwebthgimi]

Ideal for tip runs in the day and dogging by night. Please remember to vacuum it out after use.

 

After the tip and before dogging, obviously.

Dogging: you're doing it wrong. You should vacuum before the tip...

[Jim Bell]

I didn't know that these were a thing.

[mouseflakes]

I really like these in all their incarnations.

 

Also....
 

a bodykitted MX5 auto (in white so it looked like a melted bathtub)

:)

[billyboy406v6]

If you remove seats before dogging session it saves on upholstery cleaner !

[Volksy]

Two questions, one rude, how many miles and how much?

 

It's done 94K,and was less than £500

 

 

What's the legroom and headroom like in the back row - is it strictly for kids?

 

Nope,it's bloody massive back there. The middle row slides fore and aft to suit.

[jonny69]

Wow, you have brought new levels of bland to the forum. Congratulations. I think.

 

I agree with the other posters. I think this is post-HRT dogging spec for a randy him, after her-indoors is well past it. Seems otherwise odd that all the seats should fold flat except the middle ones, like some kind of workbench for someone who would otherwise struggle to hold themselves up on all fours.

[Twiggy]

Grand that ! Glad to see things seem to be on the up for you.

[Volksy]

Cheers Twiggy.

 

Having driven this around for a few days, it's growing on me a little. Only faults I've found so far is that the middle dash vents are a bit floppy, and it has a terrible steering lock, meaning much faffage in car parks getting in and out of spaces. Seems to be averaging around 30mpg no matter how it's driven, including the run to and from work which is a hoon down some decent backroads. It does however feel like a massive vehicle. The Jag certainly didn't, but feel that this is more to do with the elevated driving position in the Mitsubishi. I must say that visibility is great though given the huge glass area and pre-ncap pillars.

The 2.0 motor has plenty of torque, so it can surprise most tailgaters on the backroads. But it does seem to suffer from an invisibility cloaking device that I've yet to find the switch for. I guess to be expected given the utter blandness of it.

Not sure if it's a keeper, may just whack it on gumtree in a couple of weeks for an inflated price and see if it gets any bites. There must be a market for a clean 7seater I would have thought.