Shogun

[Phil.Q]

Hi,

I have just read the December 2010 article about the Mitsubishi Shogun.
Now we all have our own opinion and mine is that the Shogun should have 5 stars.
Of course I am an avid owner having had 4 of them. They are a very big heavy beast of a car and will pull a house side down if required.
The stability and handling are exceptional and because of the big tires I've never been stuck (kiss of death that statement probably)
If you get hit by another car you will be safe inside the luxurious cocoon unless I suppose its another Mitsi.

There is only two downsides that i know. 1 is the back door is big and hard if not impossible to open when hitched up. 2. they are the thirstiest car I have ever known, at one time even as low as 7mpg but i was towing a 2.5 ton trailer at the time. Normal towing with our van I get about 14 mpg.

If you want comfort, stability, safety, high spec and piece of mind that nothing will stop you then buy one.

My new one arrives on September 1st and we will be hitched up and off the same day. Can't wait.
Does anyone else extol the virtues of this lovely car?

 

[Parksy]

I tow with the third Pajero that I've owned, as you mentioned they are bomb proof but thirsty. I use a Peugot 206 as my day to day runabout and I keep my Paj just for towing duties.
If I tow smoothly on motorways this auto 2.8 td will return around 25mpg when the overdrive has kicked in which isn't too bad considering the weight of the car plus the caravan.

 

[Thingy]

Does anyone else extol the virtues of this lovely car?

Oh yes, I have a 2010 model Elegance and I love it to bits. I accept it is thirsty but I have never suffered figures that low. My previous was a Volvo XC70 and towing, the Mitsi gives higher figures, around the 19-21 level.

Its just done a long run down to the Dordgone, sans caravan, and will be off again to Austria in September. The run to France was particularly good, with four adults, a mass of luggage and high speed all the way, we still retuned very low 30's.

 

[Gagakev]

First one I had was the Pajero LWB with the high top...got rid of it felt like we were riding on the sea, and unsteady on corners. Problem was i did like it otherwise so went for the Shogan Sport and that was great, and the current one is here

The Sport was petrol and getting 10-12 to the gallon towing, this one is diesel and have near on doubled the milage getting around the same as Thingy 20 ish to the gallon.
As for the back door i dont have that problem as the Fleetwood I tow has the longer A frame and opens about two thirds of the way, enough for the dog to jump in.

 

[Thingy]

Did you get the safety recall re the chain tensioner?

 

[Phil.Q]

Hi Thingy,

Yes I did get the recall and mine was OK, unfortunately going into the showroom while they checked it out was a big problem.
Its like going to look at a puppy (something to avoid) as you end up walking out with one.

That's why I'm waiting for new reg day.

Pics to follow

 

[Gagakev]

Hi Thingy, yes mine was re-called and the tensioner replaced, chain OK.
I didnt fall into Phil's trap though :lol: I'm not waiting for the new one

 

[Thingy]

I'm not waiting for the new one

No, me neither. Im done with buying new cars and watching the depreciation. This is why I bought a Shogun, it will run for ever.

 

[MichaelE]

I borrowed a Shogun a few years ago for the weekend and towed the van to Cirencester, mpg was awful around 16 to the gallon as the car wanted to stay in 4th whilst towing, I must disagree with your review of the handling as they do roll significantly and with the bench rear seat the tendency is for your passengers to slide about.
They look great but are now streets behind the other big suv's refinement?

 

[seth1]

Maybe they are streets behind modern suv,s but is that a bad thing.Modern vehicles are nice,but when you have the large monthly payments,it can be hard to also afford the large repair bills.

 

[gta1898]

I really like my Shogun MY2104, great tow car, barely notice my vans behind, but then it only weights in at 1 ton and 14ft.

I bought the SG2 as I wanted a manual gearbox, so no need to buy an auto lock up kit to prevent the auto box wanting to run in 4th when really you'd prefer it to remain in 5th on the auto.

Towing I get about 23mpg cruising at about 65mph on the speedo, this keeps the revs up to just over 2000 which means I don't drop speed on long uphill motorway sections like Shap, the van never moves passing trucks.

I bought the car because it has far less 'technology' than others, I'm not interested in gaining a bit more torque or having slightly smoother suspension as the downsides I'm not prepared to pay for..........air suspension at 3k per axle when they go wrong etc, I keep my cars for a long time! For the price I paid new i would have had to have found another 2k to get a VW Tiguan 4motion, I'm sure the VW is a great car but the Shogun has so much more room and towing capabilities, re weight, if / when I ever buy my dream van, an Airstream 532!!

I find the Shogun suspension much better when loaded up, it absorbs the pot holes and bumps better with a good bit of weight in.

Just done 2.5 k miles around France this summer, camping (tent) with bikes, Canadian canoe and car loaded to the roof, averaged around 32mpg, cruising A roads at 60mph and autoroutes at about 67mph, oh I always run in 4 wheel drive as it feels much more 'planted' on the road.

As for the comment about passengers sliding about on the rear seats.......SG2 only has cloth upholstery so no problems there!

Hope my comments help someone.







Graham

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Towing I get about 23mpg cruising at about 65mph on the speedo,

But the speed limit when towing in this country is 60, probably reading 62 on the speedo. You don't break the speed limit do you?

 

[gta1898]

Errrr no never...........I must have meant when towing in France as the limits higher - there must be a Shap there too!!

 

[MichaelE]

Ermm limits are not higher in France as your cars mass train weight exceeds 3.5kgs so your limit is 90kph or 55mph?

 

[gta1898]

Oh interesting.........I read it that as my ''normal weight'' was less than 3.5t (car 2.2 van 1.0) the upper limit applied, not that I'd ever drive that fast 100kph is fine!

Clearly as you state it's the "gross mass" of both car and van having just re-read the limits which as you state means 90kph.

 

[MichaelE]

I thought it was car plus van less than 3.5 kgs too, but was told its the mass train weight of just your car , i.e if your car weight 2000kgs and it can tow 3.5kgs then your train weight is 5.5kgs? The information was provided by the caravan club when i booked european cover through them a few years back.