The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: lots of T&A - turbos and acceleration

The Mitsubishi subscribes to that philosophy, feeling more like a seat attached to an untamed engine than the pony at the circus that does everything the little old man with the carrots says.

This is great for test driving and banging around the twisties and the few good highways Michigan has to offer, but horrific for everyday driving.

Courtesy of Mitsubishi A $45,000 Mitsubishi? One drive and you'll change your religion too. Two turbos are sometimes better than two Hail Marys.

This is a $45,000 weekend warrior. You wouldn't wear those purple Vans everyday, would you? Would you?

The best thing about the VR4 is that all the included stuff is normally found piecemeal on other cars. Have you ever been able to read off a laundry list like this: all-wheel drive, two turbochargers, two intercoolers, four-wheel steering, and a six-speed manual gearbox? I didn't think so.

Oh, and goodness me! I forgot about the 320 horsepower and 315 ft-lb. of torque that inevitably get transferred to 18-inch alloy wheels. People, this is ridiculous. It's like your Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa presents all wrapped up in one multi-denominational Asian car.

What's the importance of all that crap? It basically means that the VR4 has more balls than a McDonald's Kid's Place Playground. And, you get to keep your shoes on in the VR4.

There aren't any mechanical changes to this year's VR4, but a few exterior touch-ups help the new model turn more heads than before. In fact, while driving Monday I got one "Whoah!" and two "Hell Yeah!"s. That's not bad for a small-time kid from Birmingham with a big chin and a bad haircut.

The new VR4 has a very distinct rear-wing that is straight out of the Playstation game "Gran Turismo." While obnoxious and Cessna-like, Mitsubishi claims the wing helps airflow.

Most people won't ever travel at speeds high enough to appreciate this, nor will most ever use the sixth speed on the gearbox's transmission. But like that little extra fifth pocket on a pair of jeans, it's nice to know it's there. This new rear wing is found only on VR4 models.

Also of note is a redesigned front end that is a bit more snarky and features a front air dam that seems to be an echo of a Formula Ford racing car. There is also a slightly re-done rear end and B-pillar design.

But this isn't the ultimate grand touring car. It's got more than its share of problems over bumps at high speeds, significantly when moving around a bumpy corner. The all-wheel drive system was decent, nothing like a Subaru or Audi system, but you'll thank yourself in the winter, I suppose.

The VR4 is a lot more susceptible to road blips, however. All 3000GTs come equipped with sway bars on the front, which is actually fairly common in most cars. The VR4 also has a rear sway bar, which is good for speed freaks, but again hard on the bum for scooting around the Midwest.

A bit of understeer was noted on M-14 when I hugged the exit ramp this week. Not extreme, and certainly remedied with play on the throttle, but a surprise nonetheless. The double-wishbone design has upper and lower control arms and was a bit bouncy on the lips in the road on that annoying section of the Geddes off-ramp.

But why am I so critical? Nobody as wimpy as me will buy this car anyway. This is for the technofreak, the speed-hungry, forward-moving young professional with a penchant for the flashy.

More pertinent, it is for the 5-foot professional. I'm an honest 5'11", and I had nowhere near enough headroom. I even cranked the seat back, let the lumbar support out and craned my neck a bit. My quaff was still tussled.

But that whine from the two turbochargers is addictive. The sound isn't annoying, but you do know when it kicks in; it's like two sleeping eight-year old children with bronchitis are stuffed under the hood.

Surprisingly, the VR4 has great turbo response, and there is always power at hand. Even if there is a little turbo lag, the 3.0 liter six is usually good enough for power at any speed, provided you shift often.

The 3000GT's biggest plus might be that it comes in so many forms. They all feature the 3.0 liter V6, but in different variations. The base model still has a 12-valve SOHC top end to the engine, making 160 horsepower. Next is the 3000GT SL, which has DOHC and puts out 218 horsepower and has 4-wheel anti-lock brakes. The big dog is the VR4, which only comes with the option of a CD changer. Everything else - leather, heart-palpitating acceleration and huge rear wing - is included.

Have you ever felt your back, neck, and head being pushed really hard into a car seat? It's a good feeling that is definitely more evident in the VR4; unfortunately it's a $45,000 feeling.

If you are the type of person who will drop $45,000 on a Mitsubishi, you probably have a different set of values than I do anyway. I'd stick with a Chevrolet Corvette, BMW M Coupe, or even a Porsche Boxster. But then again, I have a bad haircut.

- Like the pony, Reilly Brennan enjoys carrots. He can be reached over email at brennanr@umich.edu

Reilly Brennan Daily Driver

Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4

3 Base Price: $44,600

3 Price as Tested: $45,070

3 Engine: 24-valve DOHC Twin-turbo, intercooled V-6

3 Power: 320 hp @ 6000 rpm

3 Performance: 0-60 in 4.8 sec

3 Torque: 315 @ 2500 rpm

03-25-99