Calling any Mitsubishi Challenger owners - opinions please.

Bmhdg76

Bmhdg76

Well-Known Member
Oct 6, 2012
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93
North Lakes, Qld.
Hi all,

We are in a situation where we are considering changing the Hilux and in its place possibly getting a MY14 Challenger.

http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/vehicles/challenger/specifications

Now there is nothing wrong with the Lux, but we are considering ditching both family cars and getting 2 new ones for the price we have done the Hilux for and coming out with money in our pockets.

Now my main concern is that we are going from the Hilux's 3L D4D motor to a 2.5L.
We have a 14.44-4 and the Hilux towed it well even though it loose a bit of speed on any reasonable length climb. One of the reasons I am considering the Challenger as well is to swap to an Auto box...

Can anyone give me some honest opinions on what these are like and what I should be looking out for?

I know there may be other vehicles out there, but if we did anything would not be increasing the costs eg Prado etc as that would defeat our purpose for changing.

Thanking you in advance.

BJ
 
fishinglizard

fishinglizard

Active Member
Nov 4, 2012
216
130
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West of Sydney East of Lithgow
I have a 2010 challenger, auto. I was going to buy a Colorado but my brother needed to upgrade his car to to 3t. So he bought a new challenger, apparently they put a bigger trans cooler on it and upped the tow cap. to 3t from 2.5t. He sold it to me for what they offered as trade in, (which was about half what he paid new). I probably wouldnt have even looked at mitsubishi, I always called his the mitsu shity, then I bought it. It has been back to the dealer 7 times with airbag light fault indicator going on, its currently there now getting 2 new looms put in it, (whatever that means). If you search the net the 2010 have heaps of people complaining about airbag lights coming on. Anyway they are saying that mitsi redisigned the loom and should have fixed the prob. Who knows.

I tow my Disco 17 55 5 sh with it which weighs a max of 2020kg. Which I reckon would prob be wieghing in about 1950 loaded by my calculations. And the car has a fridge 2 fold up bikes and 4 people in it. Coming back from the port mac to bottom of f3 the fuel econ on the car sat between 15.1/100 and 16.1. Going up the hills after hawkesbury bridge it sat at 15.8ltr/100. sitting on 100 clicks and occasionally creeping up to 110 which i thought was pretty good. My old dunnydore use to get 17 to 18 towing my old hawk but I was a bit more heavy footed and was happy to be flat to the boards going up hill to stay at 100 ks.

I took it on some real basic 4x4 tracks in the way way state forest, and it seemed to go alright, I went down a steep incline in low range first gear and it rolled down a little quicker than I thought it would or should. (I did a 2 day 4x4 course with toyota troop carriers a few years ago and thats the only real 4x4 driving I have done to compare it to. The troopy went heaps slower in low range but its prob comparing apples to bananas).

My brother was towing his van at 2.5t van and he was pretty happy with the fuel, I cant remember what he said it was but I didn't fall over when he told me.

The wierd thing about it towing I have found is that with haymen and reece sway bars on it feels unstable, I took them off and it seemed to handle the towing much better, I have tried it with and with out a few times and without seems to handle better, not sure why. I am really happy with it over all, but having said that I'd jump straight back into a vf dunnydore given the chance.

The only thing I dont like about it is the fuel tank size, only 70ltrs. apparently to put an extra in you have to move the spare wheel somewhere. But its only has 70000 on the clock so I should have it for a while, I will just put up with it.

I was lucky it was a mitsi, if it was ford theres no way I could have bought it off him no matter how good the deal was.

Lizard
 
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Bmhdg76

Bmhdg76

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Oct 6, 2012
769
516
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North Lakes, Qld.
Hi Lizard,

Thanks. My wife has threatened divorce if I even looked at the likes of a Ford territory! We are a Holden family!

Bit concerning re the airbag light, but it guess like any vehicle, there is always some issue with something. Interesting with your comments re the WDH. As for the comparison of the Troopies low range, they would be geared lower so would probably be slower on a down hill run. We aren't looking at it for a 4wd as such, but where we camp generally if it rains it can get boggy, so is always good to know it is there if we needed it.

I was talking to my brother tonight and he suggested that I google Challenger problems or issues - might see what that brings up - apart from the Shuttle! (No offense intended).

BJ
 
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collinandkerry

New Member
Jun 5, 2013
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hi
with the chance of getting shut down. we own a Challenger 2012 and a jayco 17.56.1. we have 2 children and have towed from ballarat through to merimbula and then to jindabyne through the kosiyosco park then albury.. that has been the biggest trip.. have only had no issues towing that course we averaged approx 16lt and sitting on 100k when could.. the only problem was the auto getting too hot but have since put a larger auto cooler on cost approx $150 and have not had the issut at all.. we done a trip from ballarat, swan hill, mildura and then home and averaged 13.6 lt towing at 100 on the high way with no other issues.
we have put air bags in the rear, and have done no other engine or box mods.. but have a bull bar winch and larger tyres.. over all pretty happy with it...
 
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Bushman

Bushman

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Nov 9, 2010
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A work mate of mine just picked himself up an late 2011 Challenger with 35,000 k on the clock, got a bargin as it was already decked up for touring, I mean well kitted, ARB Bar ,lights, snorkle, brake controller, Anderson plug,UHF etc, he going to add some drawers.
It's the replacement tug for his well in excess of 2 ton dual axle full height van, (previous was Ford Exploder). He's only done a few short trips with the van on and is loving it , tows his van with ease and far better fuel economy the the big Ford, he did have to fit a longer drop shank to the WDH as the Little Mitsi sits high in the rear.

Apparently the previous owner only traded it due to injury and could no longer drive a manual.
 
macca

macca

(aka maccayak)
Mar 20, 2012
1,660
832
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Victoria
If you are a Holden man like me look at the BT 50. It has FoMoCo written all over it. I would be unhappy if it said Ford. That is the closest I have come to buying a Ford since I stupidly bought a BA ute.
 
greynt

greynt

Active Member
Dec 15, 2012
245
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Yarra Valley
Bmhdg76 said:
Hi all,

We are in a situation where we are considering changing the Hilux and in its place possibly getting a MY14 Challenger.

http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/vehicles/challenger/specifications

Now there is nothing wrong with the Lux, but we are considering ditching both family cars and getting 2 new ones for the price we have done the Hilux for and coming out with money in our pockets.

Now my main concern is that we are going from the Hilux's 3L D4D motor to a 2.5L.
We have a 14.44-4 and the Hilux towed it well even though it loose a bit of speed on any reasonable length climb. One of the reasons I am considering the Challenger as well is to swap to an Auto box...

Can anyone give me some honest opinions on what these are like and what I should be looking out for?

I know there may be other vehicles out there, but if we did anything would not be increasing the costs eg Prado etc as that would defeat our purpose for changing.

Thanking you in advance.

BJ
Click to expand...

G'day @Bmhdg76, I looked at the Challenger while i was looking at buying a Paj and ended up buying a second hand NT Pajero. For me one thing that I was a bit hesitant on was 2.5ltr towing a 2+ tonne van. Just my personal opinion though, and i'm sure that there are many happy Challenger owners who will say different. There are heaps of accesories available as well. Long Range Automotive also do a 135ltr long range tank if required. A bonus for buying new is the benefit of warranty. As far as looking at issues on the Challenger, maybe also look up Triton issues as they, as far as i know share the same/similar drivelines.
Good luck with your search and I hope you find what you are after.
Cheers
greynt
 
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Bmhdg76

Bmhdg76

Well-Known Member
Oct 6, 2012
769
516
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North Lakes, Qld.
Thanks everyone for your comments... Still waiting on Pickles to get back to me with a value on our Hilux... We are hoping for good $$$ (as you do), but the Lux is in excellent condition and fully kitted out and only done 58000klms to boot!
 
Matty4

Matty4

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2011
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Wandin North, Vic
Bmhdg76 said:
Thanks. My wife has threatened divorce if I even looked at the likes of a Ford territory! We are a Holden family!
Click to expand...
This I just don't get..........
Holden don't have anything (that you've mentioned) yet the next best tow and family vehicle IMO is the Ford Territory.
As a tow vehicle a 2nd hand AWD SZ diesel would sh1t all over the Challenger in pretty much all respects, yet you're ready to exclude it simply because it's a Ford:der:

By the best vehicle that suits you and your family's needs, not one that has the best badge on the front.
 
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D4Dazz

D4Dazz

Active Member
Dec 31, 2011
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Rowville, VIC
Hi Hmhdg76,

I have just sold my 2010 Ghallenger. We also have a 14.44-4 but had the manual box. I found the Challenger towed the Panda with not real issues at all. In fact we did trip last year to WA and back and no real issues. I was running biggers tyres, bull bar winch so the fuel Eco took a hiding while towing. But I do have a tendency to want to keep up with the traffic rather hold them up.... There only time I struggled was not getting decent run for hills or trying to start from the lights on hills. But you want have as many issues with the auto. As soon as you drop the. Lunch on a hill start the manual would just bog down due to needing to get around 2000rmp for the turbo to boot in.

Is there better tow vehicle out there? Absolutely, however we can't afford LC200's so if the Challenger fit your budget I'm sure you will be happy with it.
 
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Bmhdg76

Bmhdg76

Well-Known Member
Oct 6, 2012
769
516
93
North Lakes, Qld.
Thanks @D4Dazz ,

Well have signed on the dotted line now so hopefully will pick up next week.
At the moment Mitsubishi have a deal on so have been able to get a lot of car for just a smidge over $40k. Am also lucky in that with the leasing, I don't pay GST!

Have gone with
Auto
Nudge bar (hopefully right decision as swmbo didn't want a full sized bar on this one). Don't know how my Hella's are going to look, so there may be a sale for those coming up to replace.
Full protection pack (darkest legal tint, ERPS, fabric, vinyl, paint protection etc)
Window shields
Headlight protectors
Bonnet protector
Hayman Reese towbar (Mitsubishi one wouldn't take the HR WDH.)

Hope I don't regret getting rid of the Hilux.

BJ
 
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