The Sunday News
Lovert Mafukure
Mitsubishi Chariots came in their scores a few years back and at their peak they were the talk of town. Offering seven-seater capability, they were a good choice for many. A few years down the line, there isn’t many of them still on the road — one can be seen once in a short while with the signature GDI Grandis smokey exhaust. That should say something about the Mitsubishi Chariot GDI.
The model from the 2000s we are talking about is not bad looking; I wouldn’t mind driving it myself, it’s quite nice with its boxy looks. Facelift models have crystal xenon lights. Unlike other 7 seater minivans it never had the sliding doors at the back.
It had the conventional doors of a sedan. The downside about these doors on a minivan is that they are rather long and opening them in tight parking spots is a major mission.
Comfort comes standard on these cars like most of the Japanese cars. The interior is usually light coloured fabric on the seats and side panels and of-course you always find a few with leather interior. Roll down windows are available on all 4 doors. Some minivans do not have roll down windows like the Elgrand, Granvia and the like. They just have the glass panels and air conditioner is supposed to do all the work.
Normally the chariot has a front wheel drive set up with the option of a 4WD. The engine is transversely positioned and driven by drive shafts in front and makes use of a transfer case, prop-shaft and differential at the back for the 4WD. Most of the chariots come with automatic transmissions that seem to survive the long haul. Their automatic transmissions have manual shift mode meaning you can manually shift gears back and forth or you can simply put it in Drive.
The engine driving this big baby is a 4G64 2,4 litre 4 cylinder engine and its GDI standing for Direct Gasoline Injection. This Direct injection technology hasn’t worked that well with us here in Africa or narrowly in Zim. It has been a problem thus far and includes the Nissan DD engines and a host of other engines that also have direct injection. Basically direct injection means the injector sprays directly into the combustion chamber and it has to withstand high pressures.
Cars can be judged in many ways, looks performance, durability etc. I like to judge according to durability mainly because I do not see the point of having a fast beautiful car only for a short while. I’d rather have a car that’s not all that glam but lasts a long while. That does not mean I will be found driving a Fiat Multipla though, No don’t get me wrong! However, the point I’m trying to make is that you just need to have the best of both worlds. The Chariot is not that. Simply put — it breaks down, it starts smoking, you will begin to hate it and soon enough you will give up. That’s why most of them are off the road now.
The problem is the GDI system. As I said earlier its gasoline direct injection. Again, that means the injectors spray gasoline directly into the combustion chamber. That means the chamber has valves, spark plug and the injector. This magic doesn’t quite last the mile. It makes me wonder whether this technology was extensively tested before mass production. The engine is the heart of the car, when the heart fails, you might as well use it as a chicken run or get another engine and wait for it to give in and believe me it doesn’t take that long for it to surprise you again. So if you come across anything that says GDI and its got those 3 diamonds, walk away! They are just a nightmare and you really do not want to experience it.
So it is a good buy or a goodbye. Personally I think it’s wise to stay away from anything that has direct injection. Normal Electronic Fuel Injection EFI has proven beyond doubt that it’s the best thing that ever happened after the carburettor. The direct injection technology is supposed to use less fuel but saving the pocket and the planet as it may, but it hasn’t proven itself reliable and for me it’s GOODBYE! Till next time. Keep it JDM!
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