Mitsubishi Express van axed after ‘zero star’ crash test, fallout with Renault

[Franco Cozzo]

The more time goes on, the more things stay the same - looks like the current 'Mitsubishi Express' is just as much as a widow maker as ye olde Mitsubishi Express

Mitsubishi Express van axed after ‘zero star’ crash test, fallout with Renault

When Mitsubishi adopted the Renault Trafic it knew the vehicle would not perform well in ANCAP crash tests – even though it passed the low bar set for government approvals – but the company took a gamble that the independent safety authority might not test the vehicle.

However, about a year after the Mitsubishi Express went on sale, it was slammed for safety after scoring Australia’s first ‘zero star’ score in crash tests.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/mitsub...-with-renault/

I loved seeing the previous model Mitsubishi Express vans on DCOA compilations, usually doing a mad lockup of a front wheel and blasting through a stop sign because it stops, steers and handles like the Costa Concordia.

This was the previous generation Mitsubishi Express with its 1 star safety rating:



Getting your wig split by the steering wheel is a solid effort from this family of widow makers.

Good lord if over a decade later you're scoring 0 stars, what happens when you stack the current model?

Mitsubishi might want to touch base with our federal government about how to deal with getting shafted by French companies

[roKWiz]

Mitzi Big girls. Go on live dangerously.
All they needed to comply would be a set of bars and and nice bouncy spare hanging up front. I found a dinghy on the roof was always a great fore sail for that extra tacking into the wind, fuel economy.

Gotta say it was a great van that wouldn't die.



Can't believe I'm seeing these things getting around on historic rego now. Why.

[b0son]

I stopped paying attention to star ratings when entire stars were awarded for driver aids. It's like awarding a Noble prize for best advancement, but also having to score well on your physical appearance at the gala.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by b0son

I stopped paying attention to star ratings when entire stars were awarded for driver aids. It's like awarding a Noble prize for best advancement, but also having to score well on your physical appearance at the gala.

Active AND Passive safety should be measured.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Mitzi Big girls. Go on live dangerously.
All they needed to comply would be a set of bars and and nice bouncy spare hanging up front. I found a dinghy on the roof was always a great fore sail for that extra tacking into the wind, fuel economy.

Gotta say it was a great van that wouldn't die.

image

Can't believe I'm seeing these things getting around on historic rego now. Why.

Cause historic rego everyone takes the ****, oh yes I'm sure there's a 1985 L300 Mitsubishi Express enthusiast club that holds regular club meetings at the local tip

They're tough, just don't come off the road or let someone else bump into you.

[Polyal]

I still see that TAC ad when I was a kid with the drivers head bouncing around when a van crashed.

Id never, ever, own a van like that you need something infront of you other than sheet metal.

[jpd80]

Bits a missing….in this case it’s your legs…..

[tweeked]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Active AND Passive safety should be measured.

I don't pay attention to start ratings, they mean very little. Any system that uses ratings needs to have a constant. The rubbish that a 4 start rating from two years ago is no longer a 4 star, and a 5 star form 6 years ago is now a 2 star is beyond moronic. It scares me more than driving a Camira that people who design these systems think that is acceptable.

Why not just add more stars to keep older ratings relevant?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by tweeked

I don't pay attention to start ratings, they mean very little. Any system that uses ratings needs to have a constant. The rubbish that a 4 start rating from two years ago is no longer a 4 star, and a 5 star form 6 years ago is now a 2 star is beyond moronic. It scares me more than driving a Camira that people who design these systems think that is acceptable.

Why not just add more stars to keep older ratings relevant?

Exactly, I think it’s deliberate to force manufacturers to keep their five star rating
but in fact confuses the heck out of buyers who can’t understand why their new
Hilux is now rated as four stars or will be soon..

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by tweeked

I don't pay attention to start ratings, they mean very little. Any system that uses ratings needs to have a constant. The rubbish that a 4 start rating from two years ago is no longer a 4 star, and a 5 star form 6 years ago is now a 2 star is beyond moronic. It scares me more than driving a Camira that people who design these systems think that is acceptable.

Why not just add more stars to keep older ratings relevant?

I'm not saying the system is perfect, as you rightly called out it is confusing.
My commentary was in response to the inclusion of active safety items.

[pcman]

l300's go great offroad....if you have a 4x4 one, love my delica they dont go fast enough to crash like the above video so im safe and yes its on a club permit

[fiestaz]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Active AND Passive safety should be measured.

Absolutely, as separate ratings. Would make so much more sense this way.

ANCAP is a joke, it is far too complicated.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by pcman

l300's go great offroad....if you have a 4x4 one, love my delica they dont go fast enough to crash like the above video so im safe and yes its on a club permit

You don’t get up to 50 kph?

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by jpd80

You don’t get up to 50 kph?

A skilled L300 owner can get upto a 100, slipstreaming semi's.

[Bossxr8]

Crazy to think a manufacturer would try to get away with this, hoping no one will notice.

Where's the media outrage? lol.

I remember the media outrage when Ford released the F6 and one of the journos, probably Josh Dowling, suggested it should be banned cause it made 550nm of torque. The horror.

Funny how he never mentioned the HSV's of the time that actually made more power and were faster.

[Franco Cozzo]

Automotive 'journalists' speak more lies than the Russian government

Originally Posted by roKWiz

A skilled L300 owner can get upto a 100, slipstreaming semi's.

You could probably get it to 250km/h if you understeer it off a cliff because you had 200kg in the back and didn't make it around the corner

[roKWiz]

In the early 80's these things made a lot of guys, a lot of money in the courier industry.
The bigger Japtrucks, Transits and CF bedfords were out of reach for would be start up owner driver couriers.
At a time of WB Holden (which I ran), XD Ford panel vans which couldn't carry as much.L300 and the like, more and still be economical on a daily basis by comparison without to much down time.
Most couriers I ran with used them, I don't ever remember anyone going out to have an accident especially the way we all drve at the time.

The runs we did through city traffic would scare the crap out of Mr Safety conscious these days.

[.:4:.]

I had an 09 L300 van as a work car for 6 and a half years.
They're an extremely analogue thing to drive, as in you drive them. I would much rather get in an accident in a kingswood.
But the L300s make incredible use of space.
Yes they are a tin can. Nvh × 1000, they were a work tool not a luxury item.
Dunno how the Renault mistsi van did so poorly. Its probably got abs, airbags and all the stuff to turn analogue into robotic. The 2019 triton i had had 7 airbags and was a single cab. Driver, passenger, both seats, both curtains and one under the steering column that was claimed to be for knees, but i reckon in a crash it would punch you in the nads. Mitsubishis way of saying dont crash you idiot....

[hawke]

I had one of these in the mid 80’s. When the front brake pads wore, they had the tendency to fall out. Apparently a crap design with a single piston. Happened twice, once when driving on Forest Road Penshurst (Sydney) I ended up “stopping” outside a Brake business. They said it happened all the time. There wasn’t a third time.

[danzvtil]

I’ve done some highway miles on mine this week, it doesn’t need a speedo, 100kph is halfway on the temp gauge, 110 is 3/4. Even when empty!
But seriously, the 2021 version was only going to appeal to sole traders, most fleet companies won’t touch a 0 star vehicle.

[CyberWasp]

Back to the drawing board.
I think even the test dummy when on strike after this one.

[MDS69]

We use to have a fleet of around 35-40 of these things. I once put the bull bar into the glovebox of one that was only 6 weeks old. Table top truck turned across in front of me.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by MDS69

We use to have a fleet of around 35-40 of these things. I once put the bull bar into the glovebox of one that was only 6 weeks old. Table top truck turned across in front of me.

Lose half your workforce to injuries sustained in shopping centers when someone else opens their door into your car and it folds in half

[Franco Cozzo]

This guy fixed the slow aspect of the Mitsubishi Express van - turbo L98 conversion and its his daily driver.



10L/100km - uses less fuel than the standard 2L 4 cylinder engine on the highway lol

[Big_Daz]

My parents friends had one of those Square 80's one (Like Rockwizz's one) but it was the 4WD version. Thing was lifted, on big mud terrains's and had the 2.6 Astron 2 in it (apparently). This thing would cock a wheel around corners at any speed... I flat our refused to get in the thing and reccomended the same of my parents... I still get anxiety from driving behind that thing...

I'll try find photo's...

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

\ Thing was lifted, on big mud terrains's and had the 2.6 Astron 2 in it (apparently). This thing would cock a wheel around corners at any speed

.

I've seen Ford Rangers do that.

[janddbone]

Everyone laughs and contiunes to ignore the renault version was for sale before and is likely to remain here after.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by janddbone

Everyone laughs and contiunes to ignore the renault version was for sale before and is likely to remain here after.

Do people actually Buy Them, Though....!!

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by hayseed

Do people actually Buy Them, Though....!!

We have a small Renault dealer in our rural town, the Traffic is very popular, in particular Australia Post contractors and electricians.

For a while, Renault was doing them at $29,990 on the road, at the time Hyundai iLoad was more expensive, and that's before you even start to look at HiAce's, Vito's and Transits.

[.:4:.]

The 90's/2000s express vans, i think they were discontinued in 2012/13, but the last of the tin can anything. You either love them or hate them. Theres no middle ground. If you dont have a stack of crap to tote around with because you work out of it, you probably hate the things. If you do, because of their small wheelbase and maximised space, theyre awesome.
At my old job, what got me out of one and into a ranger was a meeting with my boss that i was told to keep hush about. I asked him what does he think the most dangerous part of my job was. His response was could be anything as im a risky bastard.
I said nah, its the drive to and from work. Workcover doesnt cover that even if its in a company vehicle.
So bringing up safety, either i get paid from the moment i leave home and get covered, or i get a safer work car. So i got the ranger. The hush money was so that others in the l300 fleet would have to work it out themselves.