With so many bakkies on the market, how do you decide on just one? The handsome Triton may tickle your fancy – but is it any good as a pre-loved vehicle?
The current-generation Mitsubishi Triton, codenamed the L200, is arguably one of the best-looking bakkies on the road today. Previous-generation models were hardly anything to salivate over, but the Triton, as it looks now, is sleek and sexy (for a bakkie!)
The Triton has been around Planet Earth since 1978 and has undergone many name and engine changes since then. In its second and third generations, it was also sold as the Mitsubishi Colt in South Africa and was assembled in East London.
Should I buy one?
If you’ve been toying with the idea of buying a Triton, you can do far worse. Mitsubishi’s 2.4DI-D engine, a turbodiesel with 100 kW and 324 Nm, is known for its longevity. Tritons are known to be reliable and sturdy.
The only downside to Mitsubishi ownership is that the dealer footprint isn’t as large as other manufacturers such as Ford, Toyota, and Nissan, which are manufactured on local soil, and parts availability can sometimes be an issue. In the same breath, the Prospecton plant in KZN was severely impacted by the recent floods, to such an extent that no new Toyota Hiluxes are available at present and has pushed up the pricing of pre-loved Hilux bakkies as a result. (Read more about the Toyota factory’s flood damage here.)
The Mitsubishi Triton for local import is built in Thailand, so it goes without saying that sourcing some parts might be challenging at times, despite the alliance with Renault and Nissan. Examples of hard-to-find parts include injectors and oil seals.
But there are other options for parts too, such as Mitsubishi parts from Masterparts, who provide a comprehensive range of parts for Mitsubishi vehicles in South Africa. Frequently ordered Mitsubishi parts they have available are brake and wheel components, water pumps, timing belts, spark plugs, and fuel, air, engine and oil filters. While your Triton is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, you will need to fit original parts, however.
When it comes to servicing, the Triton compares well to other bakkies and in some cases, may even be cheaper than Nissan Navaras which are locally assembled.
Still not convinced? Why not ask the mechanic himself? In this article, the writer expands on commonly-seen issues with the Triton so you can decide whether it’s the car for you. One point to remember is that all cars will eventually start having problems when they’re old enough due to normal wear and tear.
Verdict
The Triton is a solid vehicle and will give you many years of reliable service, but if you’re unsure, talk to Triton owners’ clubs (maybe on Triton Facebook groups, for example). Better yet, ask someone who services bakkies regularly how the Triton compares to its counterparts where aftersales and the sourcing of parts are concerned.
Keyword: Is a used Mitsubishi Triton a good car?