Long-term update: 2008 Mitsubishi Galant GTS
Our 2008 Mitsubishi Galant GTS is now in full service, being used as a daily commuter for the Dubai-Abu Dhabi-Dubai slog every evening by my brother. So we racked up 3,000 km in less than a week.
Of course, just before we bought the car at 43,500 km, we had to swap out all the tyres for Dhs 2,600 to pass the RTA testing. We went with Toyo Proxes J33 tyres simply because that was the best one available in 215/55 size at our local tyre shop for our stock 17-inch alloys. They’re apparently the standard rubbers for the Lexus ES 350 and the Toyota Camry SE, and while the owner reviews aren’t good in terms of longevity, we’re better “smooth” drivers than most owners, so let’s see. The reduction in tyre noise has been absolutely amazing.
We drove the car at 120 kph on the highway runs to break in the tyres. Overall fuel consumption came to an astounding 8.58 litres/100 km, with a theoretical range of nearly 800 km from the 68-litre fuel tank. After a while, the car was driven at the 140 kph limit on the Abu Dhabi side of the highway, and 130 kph on part of the Dubai side. The 3.8-litre V6 is now burning a solid 9.3 litres/100 km, pretty damn good fuel economy from an engine that we had low expectations from.
After hitting 46,500 km, we went in for the scheduled “5,000 km” minor service. We made an appointment with the local dealer, and got one two days away. The first thing the phone lady asked was “What car, Pajero or Lancer?” so now you know what models Mitsubishi survives on in the UAE.
We went to the cramped service centre, parked the car and went in. You basically stand in front of a counter to talk to the service advisor, so there’s nothing “premium” about the experience. However, there was no line so there was no waiting, even though the yard was filled with bloody Pajeros. We were quoted Dhs 445 for the minor service, and the advisor tried to sell us an a/c service, which we refused. But our brake pads were crapping out, so we requested that they be changed.
Five hours later, they call us and say the service is done. We ask if they did the brakes. Of course they didn’t, and they claim the brakes are fine. We said no, and insisted that they change the pads and the brake fluid as well. The fluid part, they really didn’t want to do, but we insisted. We later noticed in the newspaper that the dealer has a summer offer of 40% off on parts and 20% off on labour. When we called to inquire, they gave us the runaround, claiming it is for cars over 60,000 km only, although that is not mentioned in the ad. Our car was out of warranty anyway, so we were planning to go argue in person.
The service centre works till midnight, but we went to pick up the car the next day. Again, there was no crowd. The bill had bloated to Dhs 1820, but they had apparently applied the summer discount anyway, so the bill dropped down to Dhs 1300. We got our washed car back, though a minor grumble were the muddy tyres, since they’d parked it in the sand after the wash.
The brakes bite better now thanks to the new pads, though the pedal feel is still light, so we can only hope that they really changed the brake fluid. The cost is actually decent, but without that discount it’d be truly overpriced for what is essentially an economy brand. We hear there is a 25% discount card for out-of-warranty cars that you have to apply for, but that we’ll look into later.
Elsewhere, we just got Dhs 700 worth of premium-branded window tint installed on our Galant too, for half the price using one of those discount voucher offers, but without bothering to buy the voucher. But how we did that will remain our secret.
Original Mileage When Bought: 43,500 km
Latest Mileage To Date: 46,500 km
Latest Average Fuel Economy: 9.3 litres/100 km
Cost of Latest Problems: Dhs 0
Cost of Latest Maintenance: Dhs 3800Total Non-Fuel Running Cost Since Bought: Dhs 3800
Comments
rana
wow in dubai its really expensive in kuwait for that service u did would cost u 200 dhs and front and rear breaks cost u 300 dhs theyve rip u off for real 🙂
Rahul Jones
Apart from the minor service they only changed the brake fluid, isn’t? Or did they change the brake pads? 855 DHS should be one reason why the service centre is not crowded.
ronnie
Memories of trying to bring down the garhoud service centre is still fresh in my mind.I assume they could be given the worst service centre award any day.They should burn it down and start all over.
They think they are doing you a favour.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
I went to the Shk Zayed Road branch. There were no problems really. There were hundreds of Pajeros but no actual crowd or lines. Pads and fluid were changed as we asked for it, extra cost.
Musa
Mitsubishi is probably the brand with the most lopsided model distribution. 98% of its cars sold here are either Pajeros or Lancers. I dont think any other company has 2 brands accounting for such a high % of its total sales
vivek
the same experience as mine…ask ’em to change something and them telling us its all fine and working when the part has actually crapped out!!! haha…
Murf
I like how they say “It will be fine for another 5000 km”, basically saying “I’m too lazy to do anything now, try your luck with another service advisor in the next service.”
Rahul Jones
Luckily Arabian automobiles is ready to do any job on the car. May be more.
And Al Futtaim repair or replace anything you inform them. Or else they just do the service.
ROJ
YOu guys should make a comparo between the VW Scirocco, Mitsubishi eclipse V6 and some equivalent car to these.. Would really love to see that..
ROJ
It sounds like a pricey service IMHO…
Adnan Khan
I am surprised at the Fuel Consumption.. Does it have 6G75 3.8 V6 Mivec engine.. Same as Pajero.. If yes My pajero with 98 Octane Super and fill around 115 AED Super runs for only 380 to 400kms.
Rahul Jones
Pajero is heavier. Weight kills fuel economy.
Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury
And using Super fuel in a car that doesn’t need it might actually make economy worse.
S Mathew
I have both Pajero and Galant which is 2008 and 2009.
I sold the Pajero and bought a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee as I got fed up with the serivice with Al Habtoor both at Sharjah and Dubai. I completely understand by the term “they think they are doing us a favour” when it comes to dealer support. The worst dealer support you can get. I had lots of issues including a manufacturing defect they failed to sort out, having to take back to the dealer 3 to 4 times to sort out the same issue!! Honestly, Mitsubishi vehicles are superb value for money and quality. But the dealer support; pathetic.
S Mathew
Just to add a recent experience with my Galant. I took it recently to Al Habtoor to do the 100,000 service. They informed me that it requires the timing belt to be changed. The quote they gave only for the belt is AED 5000/- I heard it costs only AED 1,500 outside.
Rahul Jones
Al Habtoor is a rip off. Go to a good W/S outside which can be trusted and does professional work.
jamal
i have a galant v6 2011 i bought it new it gave me hell since day 1 and iregeret buying it the dealer al habtoor is horrible even ask anyone