New for '97:
A new, lower priced, Base model tops the list of what's new in Mitsubishi's 1997 3000GT. The Dodge Stealth, 3000GT's automotive twin for the past several years, ceased production last year and Base 3000GTs borrows many of the deceased Stealth's cues including its lower priced, single overhead camshaft engine. New exterior nuances include restyled front fascia and larger, arched rear spoiler.
Background:
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a flurry of Japanese high-performance sports car hit the American market including the Nissan 300ZX, Mazda's third-generation RX-7 Toyota's updated Supra and, in 1991, Mitsubishi's new 3000GT. The Japanese-built 3000GT outsold all three competitors combined in 1995 and Nissan's 300ZX and Mazda's RX-7 no longer are sold in the United States. Sales of sporty coupes have lost momentum in the 1990s. Mitsubishi is Japan's fourth biggest carmaker.
Trim levels:
Mitsubishi's 3000GT is available in three trim levels: the reworked, 1997 Base model, the SL mid-level and top-of-the-line, ultra high performance, 320 horsepower VR-4 with full-time, all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. Mitsubishi no longer builds 3000GT retractable hardtop convertibles as it had in years past.
Price:
Mitsubish's 3000GT comes in a wide range of prices. Base editions (the model we test drove), start at $27,050 with manual transmission. Surprisingly, this is about $3,700 less than a 1996 entry-level 3000GT. In the 1997 model year, a tad fewer standard features are offered. Still, Base models are decently equipped. In fact, our bottom line was the exact same $27,050 figure (excluding a $470 destination charge.) A mid-level SL starts at $33,080 (also priced less than last year) with manual transmission, and $33,990 with automatic and the manual 6-speed VR-4 starts at $44,590.
Safety:
Driver and passenger air bags are standard across all trim lines. Anti-lock brakes are not offered on Base editions, optional in SL and standard in VR-4. Traction control is not available.
Seating comfort:
Drivers sit relatively low to the ground. Like most sporty coupe competitors, the four-seat interior has next to no back seat leg room when front bucket seats are positioned all the way back. Our Base edition had cloth knit, six-way adjustable front bucket seats. Other trim levels incorporate Leather front seating surfaces. Headroom is a bit tight drivers six feet and taller.
Interior:
Side blind spots are not as bad as some sporty, two-door competitors. A center flip-top storage bin houses a transportable dual cup holder. But when removing the plastic molded cupholder, we found no good location to hook or place the cup holder without it wobbling. The best advice is probably to keep the cup holder in the bin with the top flipped up. Cruise control turns on via a toggle switch on the center console, while resume and set functions are found on the steering wheel. Power window buttons are molded into the side of the driver's door, but on more than one occasion, my knee inadvertently hit the buttons, activating the windows. Hatchback and fuel-door release levers are on the floor, left of the driver's bucket seat. Remote outside mirror controls get blocked from view and easy accessibility by the steering wheel. Mitsubishi's 3000GT incorporates a more traditional dash set up rather than a 'wrap around' cock-pit design found in some competitors.
Notable standard equipment:
Power steering, air conditioning, cruise control split folding rear seat power windows and door locks, power mirrors, retractable radio antenna and tilt steering column are standard in all trim levels.
Engine and drivetrain:
Front wheel drive comes standard on Base and SL editions. Our Base editions 3.0 liter V/6 engine delivered 161 horsepower. The powertrain includes an electronically controlled, multi-point fuel injector with twin spray injectors.
Exterior:
Muscular design cues turned more than a few heads during our week-long test drive. Base models include 16-inch alloy wheels. The new arched rear spoiler is one of the largest I've seen in a while, but shows up prominently in the rear view mirror.
Fuel Economy:
The Base 3000GT with five-speed manual transmission registers 19 miles per gallon in city driving, and 24 mpg highway. With automatic transmissions, miles per gallon drops one gallon respectively. Our test drive vehicle, with 6,500 odometer miles, registered 21 mpg in combined driving. The gas tank holds 19.8 gallons of unleaded fuel.
Dimensions:
Overall length: 180.3 inches Overall width 72.4 inches Overall Height 49.1 inches Wheelbase (distance between front and rear axle): 97.2 inches Front head room: 37.1 inches
Final thoughts:
This vehicle was never designed as a practical, family car. It's a bit noisier on the highway then many competitors, but that's half the fun of driving a sleek sportster. Our Base 3000GT test drive car is priced around $2,700 less than last year's Base edition, so it's priced in the same ballpark as a well-equipped Eagle Talon. |