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Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:33 am
by RaptorReed
After I picked up my VR4 a few years ago I started reading into the cars' history, as well as the when the whole Mitsu-Chrysler relation started, and all the previous generations. Once I saw pics of the 1st and 2nd generations is where I decided I needed to find one, was so happy to know that there were a few of these imported into the US as Colts. Tried to get a wagon earlier last year, but the owner flaked out on me at the last minute, had everything setup and ready to roll and the owner stopped returning my calls. Kept searching after that and got lucky to find the Coupe when I did in July, pretty solid car with less rust than the vr4. I've always been into classic cars, but never really been into all the V8 tech stuff, just the looks and sounds of that rumble. These just grew on me and suited me perfect with a platform I'm more familiar with even if it is from the 70s, it's a galant! Ironically I seemed to have follow the same footsteps as my older brother, only he's into classic Pontiacs with a few exceptions in his stable of cars ('31 Model A, 73 Porsche Carrera, 54 Chevy Wagon). The coupe is still a head turner even in it's current condition, took it to the shop to get the alternator belt done and all the guys were so amazed by how clean it was and kept asking what my plans were for it.

Haven't posted any pics of it yet, but this past November/December I found a another wagon in great shape! Worked it out with a good friend and he picked it up for me while I'm deployed overseas (back in a few months). Had to think awhile on whether or not to commit to buying it with a price tag of $3500, but with several back and forth emailing with the owner I made my decision and snatched her up. Previous owner took good care of the car, sold it only because he was getting to the point where he couldn't drive a car with no power steering anymore. The manual steering in these cars is much easier than the dry power rack that is in the GVR4 (PS Pump and 4WS removed) and had been driving for a couple years, made autocrossing a workout.
Once I get home I will be making a nice long road trip in her from coast to coast which is roughly 3k miles.

Some people have asked me why I like older cars or when the vr4 would break, why I just sell it and get a new car...Truth is older cars are much easier to work on than newer cars, parts in general are usually cheaper, they are simply fun cars to drive and it's the Mitsubishi community that I have that just rocks! I've met so many cool folks and friends through it, I'm contempt where I'm at, no need to leave it.

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:17 pm
by Nath76LA
Truth is older cars are much easier to work on than newer cars, parts in general are usually cheaper, they are simply fun cars to drive and it's the Mitsubishi community that I have that just rocks! I've met so many cool folks and friends through it, I'm contempt where I'm at, no need to leave it.
This comment pretty well sums it for me too.

Nath

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 11:55 am
by orangelancer
the dash cluster of my lancer. ooooo its soo nice. on a side not always went to enfield spares with the father as a child and saw soo many old mitsu rotting away and the father having had a hardtop galant. i also love how simple they are to work on

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:22 pm
by Hotwire
My first car was a GC Galant Sedan. I wanted at Datsun P510, but was given the galant for free - so couldnt say no! I drove it for 2 years, and loved it.

14 years later, I wanted to buy a project car. Once again started looking at Datsun P510s, but their prices are astronomical for what they are. Began looking back to galants, and realised (with the assistance of the net which I didnt have 16 years ago) just how easily interchanged so many parts are and what good value they are as a project car. So the decision was made - find a GC sedan to relive my youth.

However, the sedan I wanted to buy (my first car) was rusted and ready for scrap so started looking for another project car.. and came accross a coupe shell. And that's where I'm at at the moment - waiting for delivery/pickup of my coupe shell to begin my build.

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:30 pm
by paully77galant
i bought my GD galant from center rd wreckers for $600 bucks, because it had no dents or rust and was totally original, down to the leads plugs and tyres and had only 52,000 kays on the clock... couldn't go past it... :P
I'm actually a gemini nut!
but now i love my galant (gloria)

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:58 pm
by natosig
hi all i grew up in nz were we got the ex lancer had 1 as my fisrt car and both my brothers did 2 strange that they are tough. then that got rolled writen off sent to the crusher after that 1 got 82 starion ja thats was mint till the motor let go so got a 82 jap spec sigma for the engine to put in the starion that 1 lasted bout 8 months two dead cars on the lawn olds getn pised. they had to go kept few bits n pieces so got another ex lancer started modiefying that. till crash bent chassis no longer wanted to expensive to fix . few years later found a mint ex 50,000 km striaght as like new for an absoulute bargain as well as a nissan cefiro then moved out of auckland one had to go wish i sold the cefiro but made money on the lancer wich was good but still wish i kept it. notheing ever went wrong mechaniclly with the lancers i wish australia had them over the last few years had a couple of newer fwd cars and a l300 which was cool lowered wheels sounds i liked that just sold in nz for wat i had spent on it stoked then moved here in wa wanted something old school tough and tidy so got me next best thing to an ex lancer. an 84 gk se sigma remered my jap spec sigma i liked so thats were im at now . will be doin a few thing till i can take it of the road for a wile

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:02 am
by 72GalantGirl
I wish I could say I purchased my 72 Ga galant but it had been sitting around the corner from the house I now live in for about 11years and my partner just went and asked if he could have it.... I still am yet to 'buy' the parts from him but the build has commenced :)
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http://www.sigma-galant.com/viewtopic.p ... 923#p59923

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 8:52 pm
by pistorf
I was looking for a cheap run around when I came across a '93 HJ Galant for $700 with rego.
We drove to liverpool from here (350K) on Saturday morning,bought it and drove it back that arvo.Spent today sorting out a couple of things,but I am stoked with my purchase.

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:37 pm
by geezer101
I didn't buy my first Galant, it was donated to (read dumped) on my brother by my best mate. GD wagon, GL. Was a PIG! The interior was shot, no straight panels on it and full of rust. Saturn 1600 with borg auto, both were dead. The bro had terminated his Scorpion on a power pole (left chassis rail relocated into the glove box) and the plan was to give the Gal a heart transplant, beef the suspension and brakes and use it as a cheap daily drive. Used the front seats, the carpet, steering column cover, accelerator pedal- literally everything! Ended up with an extremely anti social ride. It wasn't pretty, was loud, sometimes spat fire and the driver's front corner would try to point at the sky on hard launches. The cops stickered it one morning going to work (and rightly so, I should've tidied it up and given it a coat of paint instead of leaving it in 5 different colours)

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:45 am
by geezer101
I was in the market for another cheap running and registered car after my wagon got defected and came across a LB Lancer hatch at a wholesale disposals yard. It was rough but for $400 it was the right price. It didn't have any major issues on the test drive (except some smoke at take off) so I handed over the cash. It had been sprayed in house paint and fitted up with a set of cheviot lace rims and a sunroof. The driver's side leaf spring snapped one day just around the corner from my place, so I scrounged up some springs off the wagon! Spent a year slowly repairing and modding it on the cheap. It also came in handy when I needed a project while enrolled in a motor trimming course. I swapped the head for one I found at an importer, scored a good 5 speed, tricked up a carby, swapped the wheels some 15x6.5's... It was a good little car that was fun to drive. But all good things must end... ImageImageImageImage

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:48 am
by lancersr20
.............. and what happened ????? :wut:

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:43 pm
by geezer101
...KA-FREAKIN' BOOM. Coming out of North Adelaide on O'connell st a VT SS Commodore ran a give way sign and lined me up badly. Saw her coming, no way to avoid her. Oh the humanity!!?! Look away now if you can. :( ImageImage The engine bay before the big bang...ImageImage

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:39 pm
by lancersr20
Oh dear, that's not what the script says :o

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:56 pm
by geezer101
The damage looked bad, but have you seen the front crossmembers and assemblies in one of these thing? It belongs in a commercial vehicle, unbelievable how much reinforcing is lurking under there. The front end was lifted off the ground and thrown about 1.5 metres sideways into the gutter. As she came up on me I did 2 shift downs, controlled braking and then turned with the direction of the commo as it hit. If hadn't reacted as quickly as I did, it would've come straight through the driver's door... I sold the wreck to a local guy who wanted a good drivetrain and interior for his hatch. It had apparently been painted plum- can you imagine how it would've looked with my interior and wheels? Wish I had a shot of the restitched dash, it looked sharp as... :(

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:11 pm
by 1972gagalant
My stepdad had a gb built from the ground up with a 2.6 fully worked it won many sm trophys and i always thought it was cool i didnt choose my first car was a tm magna 5 speed learnt in it then got a cordia turbo gsr 2.0 loved that but had to sell her due to not having any room then i had a vr calais it was a great car but a bit to much on fuel then i bought a ts magna which i still have but will be selling this week i had a tf magna V6 i have a cb lancer gsr daily and waiting on my gb to arrive :facepalm:

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 11:17 pm
by VGJONO
I had been looking for a Cheap valiant to use as a daily but with a $1500 budget i was getting nowhere, one day while looking through valiant listings on another forum i came across the Galant, id had a bit of a fascination about them but i didnt really think much of them, so i went did some research, found S-G.com talked to some relatives and nothing but good things were seen/said about them (engines are indestructible/haven't seen one in years ect. ect.) so i went ahead and got the Galant thinking it would be a good, cheap to rego daily, after about 6 months the thought crossed my mind to sell it and make my profit (i had spent nothing compared to what its worth) and get a val but i just don't have the heart to sell her :P so now its full steam ahead with a 5 speed + 2.6 conversion (possibly efi, if i find the money)

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Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 8:52 am
by Scorpma82
Dad had a 2.6 auto GH...was tuned a lil bit ran on LPG ( in the early days of lpg, when it had a much higher octane rating)..widened steelies, exhaust, shaved head (was our only car...so it had to be reliable...which it was!)

After scrounging around in the Trading Post looking for my first car (continuously changing my mind on my 1st car), a mate of mine showed me an old VHS tape of him older brother in a burnout comp....we ended up watching the whole tape...one car that grabbed my attention was another GH......it was purely a burnout hack with graffiti painwork all over the car, welded diff, a letterbox on the bonnet (for those who done know.....bonnet scoops of the early days wre very square and flat and were nicknamed letter/mailboxes), cut exhaust and fast and furious rear wing.

The car looked like rubbish....but the burnout it did was sensational and from then on..i was addicted!!!...i had to have one!!!
So i managed to find a GJ SE 2.6 manual with GT 12 slotters...great lil car!!!

After that, i wanted a wagon, which i got (again, a GJ with 2.6/5-speed) i star to really like the front end of the twin square headlight Scorpions...but i couldnt stand the impracticality (in comparison of a wagon) to a coupe. I quickly decided if it were possible to put the Scorpion front end onto a GJ wagon.....after a miserable attempt..the answer was a "no". As luck would have it, i smashed the front end in, not much damage, mechanically the car was fine, but the panelling was finished...so me being the persistant/arrogant type of person i am.....i took out a loan of money to get my car fixed and modified in one hit....i purchased a rolling shell scorpion with all the panelling i needed for the conversion....as it was a panelshop that my step-bro worked at...i was able to walk in anytime and keep track of the build....i watched how they did the front end (which went smoothly once we knew the differences of the two cars).....the car looked a million bucks...but sadly me being stupid, the car got nelected over time and slowly rotted away and was eventually detsroyed :(

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:57 am
by ST19MA
So my story is like this


I have a vp commodore (factory manual 3.8 v6 sedan)
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Had it seven years.
Step dad had a baby blue 2.6 gn auto sedan a few years back

Aunt had a round light se sigma years ago

Commo is off the road for a rebuild ATM

Wanted tough rad RWD old girl for daily

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Got ST19MA. For $700 with April 2014 rego 200,000 kms f*ck all rust near on perfect body so yea (H)

Sucks that I only get 300 to a tank but it runs pretty good for a stocker :o :banh:

Will do something to it next year (paint/body/maybe v6)

Who knows but she ain't going nowhere :D

Re: Why did you buy a Sigma, Galant or Lancer?

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 12:06 am
by InsaneTD
Got my first sigma over 10 years ago now (is it really that long ago? Damn). A GJ SE sedan. 2.6 with the 5spd. Loved that car so much. Learnt to drive in it. Survived 6 years through a L/P plater behind the wheel. The motor smoked really bad if you took it over 4k rpm, synchros in the gear box was fucked, clutch slipped from day one. Payed 300 for it. Owners reason for getting rid of it. Didn't have aircon... It actually did, was just out of gas. :P Came to be know as The Beast in my last year of high school. Broke the motor in the end. Not sure what I did to it. The body was fair fucked at that point. Ended up stripping it for parts for my current car.

In between the first and second sigmas, I had a pintara, that was a fun car too but I quickly got over saying, "No it's not a skyline." Killed the motor in that too.

Second Sigma, my current car, is another GJ SE Sedan, only this one is a 2.0 with the 3spd. Currently off the road because, you guessed it, I killed the motor. I think it might actually just be the bearings on a balance shaft. Bodywork is in much better condition so it's getting a balance elimination kit or sold as a project if that doesn't work. If I do sell it, I'll be looking for a Sigma SE Wagon. Probably a GJ.