1995 Mitsubishi Galant ES review from North America

Front and rear seal leaks, air-conditioning clutch failure, transmission failure at 70,000 miles, front brake performance is poor - requires pad and rotor work every 8 months, CV joint failure, door and window seal leaks, misc. fit and finish problems.

We bought this car as an economical alternative to our Cadillac. In the Galant's favor, it does get exceedingly good gas economy - as high as 41 freeway that we've recorded. The ergonomics, handling and engine performance are all very good. The controls are well laid out and logical (something Ford and GM have yet to figure out...) The paint and upholstery quality is good, although the fit and finish of the interior parts has degraded over time - mostly loose fittings and small cracks appearing in plastic trim.

Our first big disappointment was with the front brakes which have need constant attention. They wear very quickly and the rotors warp pre-maturely, sometimes as soon as within 3-months after a brake job.

Another big disappointment is the automatic transmission which failed at only 70,000 miles. Compared with the 727 Chrysler automatics I've been used to - all providing over 160,000 miles of service, this was a real bummer - especially to the tune of $1800!

Lately, the front and rear seals have started to leak profusely. The engine compression is still good, but we typically must add 2-4 quarts a week which gets dispersed along the L.A. freeways... Getting to these seals requires that the engine be pulled from the car, which we'd rather avoid unless replacing it.

Other nit-picks, the suspension has not aged well. It feels generally noisy on the road, loose and rattly.

As for next time??? Probably another solid American car, preferrably rear-wheel drive. A little more minor maintenance, but better that than major failure...