Second-Hand Sense: What happens when a company produces a car that is almost as good as a Mercedes or a BMW, at a price a good deal less than you would pay for either, but which bears the name of a Japanese volume car manufacturer?
Not very much, except the company comes up against the near-unassailable position of prestige brands and the car makes little or no impact. This is the case with the Mitsubishi Galant, a car designed to take on competitors such as the Audi A4 and the BMW 3 Series, but which has languished neglected by those who buy cars as much for their badging as their abilities.
The Galant has been around since the early 1990s. Its principal disadvantage arises from the fact that its design has never been able to convey an impression of style and individuality.
One suspects that the people who came up with the plan to badge large, quality Toyotas, as Lexus models had this car as one of its case studies.
Nowadays the Galant does not even appear on Mitsubushi Ireland's website and the list of second-hand models available is a sparse one indeed.
However, the fact that latter versions had a 2.5 V6 engine represented a death warrant for the car. Which is a pity.
The Galant represented a very good package at one point. At its peak, the car was better equipped than most of its competitors, especially German ones, which are quite notorious for offering little in the line of extra specification.
The Galant has a good record for reliability and is a comfortable and spacious car. Its boot, however, is not as commodious as the size of the car itself would suggest.
Ride and handling are fine but the suspension feels a deal soft on Irish roads.
The interior design has been thought out and been made more interesting than that of most other Japanese cars.
Externally, the looks may be a bit anonymous but chrome wheels are a welcome bonus.
The 2.0 litre is obviously a lot more economical than the 2.5, which is really a joke prospect in this country.
The car does not have a EuroNCAP crash test rating. It has had a few recalls in recent years problems with things like the brake booster vacuum hose and possible leaks from the fuel tank. However, the reputation is generally very good.
A 2003 2.5 V6 model with alloys, metallic paint, leather upholstery, electric windows, multiple air bags, climate control and CD, and with 18,000 miles on the clock has an asking price of €26,950, but keen bargaining should get a good reduction.
A 2000 model with the 2.0 litre engine and 65,000 miles on the clock has an asking price of €10,000.
FOR: The 2.0 litre can be very good value for money. Generous equipment.
AGAINST: Anonymous styling and poor image. The 2.5 V6 not a realistic prospect.