2,200 original miles! Wow. When it comes to emerging classics, you’d be a fool not to keep a close eye on Japanese sports cars, both old and new. And I mean real sports cars, not that pain-in-the-rear Subaru XT6 I bought and sold a few years ago. Find a car with real capabilities and a strong parts network and you can’t go wrong. This highly-preserved 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 here on eBay is just such a car, and is selling for a mega $36,500.
I do not fault the seller one bit for asking this much. If I was better at math, I’d bet this price is still lower than what the inflation-adjusted purchase price was when new, and since you’re essentially buying a new car, I wouldn’t think about it too hard. This is exactly the era I’d buy, as the later VR4s got progressively heavier and loaded up with tech-driven features that simply added weight and complexity.
Whoever ordered this car did it right: not only do we have all-wheel-drive and the twin turbos, they opted for black leather with red inserts and carpeting! White on red/black is always a good combination, and it works incredibly well here. We just don’t see 3000GTs in this level of preservation and the seller assures potential buyers that despite the low miles, it was used periodically to ensure the car didn’t suffer from long periods of dormancy.
The leather car bra thankfully remains “new in the bag” and never actually used on the hood and bumpers. The engine bay is spotless, and while these aren’t the neediest supercars out there, they’re also not cheap to own when neglected. Given the historically low mileage, I’m optimist this one won’t have many needs other than finding a new owner that preserves it as well as the first one did. Is this the nicest 3000GT VR4 you’ve seen?
A friend of mine in Miami had a GT convertible and couldn’t give the thing away.
He tried to use it as a trade in on a newer car, and dealers were telling him he’d be better off selling it himself.They didn’t want it.
All it had was a problem with the clutch slave cylinder that required a ton of work to fix supposedly. No reason to doubt him.
He finally gave it to his mechanic for some work on another car.
These are great looking cars (although I prefer the 2nd gen), but really complicated and over-engineered, which adds up to big $$ in repairs. They simplified the later ones, but unless you know a good shade tree mechanic the bills add up quick. Still, at a decent price (which this one isn’t), they’re fun cars to drive and admire. Terrible interior quality, though…
Very cool. But unfortunately we’re dealing with a modern AWD car here. So when I’m thinking about $36,500, I start also thinking about a new Golf R. About the same money and you get a full warranty and better performance all around.
Still, this is pretty neat. If you love these and just have to have one, probably not a better one out there.
I will take the looks of the Mitsubishi over the Volkswagen any day.
I second that, Miguel!
No one will take the looks of the Volkswagen. That’s why I can get one for way under MSRP, LOL! ;-)
where were these manufactured?
Nice colour combo.
I had the identical car but as a dodge stealth, the cars were very comfortable and ahead of there time but the motors were junk. I couldn’t give mine away either so I stick to corvettes now.
The difference between like new, and new, is the warranty.or lack thereof.Who are these people that buy, but don’t use? 81.5 miles per year.
The other big difference is zero support from the manufacturer.
These were great cars…..I saw one modified with a removable hardtop….that was so neat!….of course it became a two seater….but it looked so cool…..
The wealthy don’t always drive their cars much.
People die and family can’t get shot of their loved ones cars.
Collectors? The 3000GT was quite a car in it’s day?
They were well regarded but overshadowed by the Mark IV Supra and the 300ZX Twin Turbo and 1993-95 RX-7 by the gearhead set. They were a bit heavier and more complex than those cars and more luxury/grand touring in nature. Built for an older crowd basically.
So this car is kind of tough to value. It’s a beauty but the demand for these isn’t like that of its contemporaries. If this was a 1993-98 Supra Turbo, it would probably pull over 75 grand. But I don’t know about this. It will be interesting to see if somebody pays what he wants.
Or a lot of them had so many mechanical problems the owners put them aside long ago.
At least a car with average or high miles has been on the road.
They were very complicated. The VR4s even had 4-wheel steering. So I don’t think they withstood abuse from later owners like some of the other ones may have.
A japanese car that was made in japan.
The base FRONT! wheel drive car with 222 hp could be gotten in ’91 with no antilock, no adjustable suspension, no 4 wheel drive/steering, etc. for lot less trouble & complexity. Best with automatic & the very durable cloth seats.
Base car has only 2 computers -1 for motor & 1 for auto trans, tho capacitors leak, but can be rebuilt avoiding leaking in future. Power window regulators can be pesky due to PLASTIC wheels that break, guiding the steel cable. Heaven help u if u have super rare crank windows because replacement regulators are unobtainim & have the same plastic wheels inside lol.
A manual window crank all steel GM 60’s regulator is virtually indestructible, darn it.
I have yet to see one of these sports cars rust, or the popup headlites fail!!
Best of all there is NO egr valve on non calif cars & only 1 oxygen sensor.
& best if it has the standard 3 mechanical dials to control climate inside – i have a good laff at new cars with the stupid motorized blend doors that seem to fail a lot – plastic gears, etc. & all those body control modules. lol
The base cars are appealing to me as well!! Your points listed above are well noted! Thanks
I m tired just reading about all the potential problems associated with this model. I hate to be THAT guy but……… just give me some simple iron that can be worked on under a tree………..say a ’47 Ford. :)
I agree with your take on the plastic tension wheels on window controllers but an automatic trans being preferred? Watch your mouth grandma! No self respecting sports car ever had an automatic. Any car, even a two seater with an auto trans is just a sport touring or a commuter car. There are special places for sports cars with automatic transmissions, they’re called handicap parking spots.
Read more at https://barnfinds.com/2200-original-miles-1991-mitsubishi-3000gt-vr4/#IOXzlut05vzlbXQ5.99
Kim, almost all the sports cars, super cars and hyper cars have automatics today.
Something has drastically changed.
Yeah, but no excuse on an older car. And, after all, that’s why we’re all here, right? Vintage rules! Except when you absolutely need to be somewhere on time…
OMMFG KIM!!! That last sentence!!! Hahahaha!!! I have a new catchphrase, thanks!
The getrag manual trans was toublesome on these cars, otherwise i would not have suggested automatic, tho a neighbor has a ’91 3000gt front drive 4 speed automatic with 120k miles & the car shifts fine & trans is original.
I heard honda automatics & some cvts are troublesome.
I have always loved the styling of these…. and whenever I dream of them- they always appear with the red/black interior.
Very nice example! I am not sure if the asking price is reasonable or not? But very handsome!
Is the Mitsubishi still available