1987 Mitsubishi Starion from North America - Comments

I'm thinking about a Starion myself. I just sold my Mk1 MR2 and looking for something fun to replace it with. I too love the boxy futuristic styling of the MR2 Mk1 and will have another one at some point, that one was just too rusty and needed too much. I don't see what's cool looking about the Starion though, it looks just like a 280z or older Supra/celica (like late 70s) or even similar to a first gen RX7. I do really like the smooth fastback, but it just seems like the others to me too.

About the porsche, I've ridden in one and it was very balanced, but nothing like the MR2. The MR2 was very light in the front end and yet at the sametime would not oversteer no matter how hard I tried, very unique car. The porsche you can definately feel the weight of the engine. The Starion has a regular transmission just under the driver (and not a special torque shaft and porsche like transmission/diff) and I suspect it will feel like a supra or any other light RWD car. It's probably not as heavy in the front feeling as a caprice or mustang, but definately won't feel balanced and will easily oversteer (which is why it's a good drift car).

To poster: 12th Oct 2007, 12:12.

Thanks for your comments on the differences between the 944 and the Starion. I suspected the transmission in the Starion was under the driver. I've never been in either car, but what you said about the handling characteristics sounds correct.

I understand what you mean about the Starion looking similar to cars of the late seventies, that's true, especially the narrow bodied version. I personally love the wide bodied versions chunky looks and stance. The thing that got me interested in the Starion in the first place, was seeing one on Cannon Ball Run 2 with Jackie Chan driving lol. Amongst Ferrari's and Lambo's, there was this weird looking Japanese thing.

Shame you had to sell your MK1 MR2, rust is a f***er. I've just replaced the sills, and the rear arches have also started to become affected. The sills cost me 340 pounds, and only 30 pound of that was for materials, the rest was labor. (I really wish I could weld!).At least you now have the opportunity to try something else.

Thanks MK1 MR2 OWNER.

I've owned various Conquests/Starions over the years.

They are very fun to drive especially when you bump the boost up and the turbo spools.

Yes they are different to work on. Different, not difficult.

Not much from any other car will fit the Starquest.

There really are no aftermarket suppliers, but a few are sprouting up as the popularity increases. Since drifting is becoming popular, there are many looking for rear wheel drive sports cars.

There are several online communities around with plenty of very helpful members.

Check out www.starquestclub.com for starters.

Www.kdmperformance is another good site.

Starions and conquests are cult cars: styling and performance that appeals to a small dedicating following. I own a wide bodied 1986 and I love it. but then again, I love 80's cars in general and I think anything made after the mid 90's is boring. starions are different to work on than other cars, and most mechanics shops will have no real clue what they're doing with these vehicles. typically, these cars are owned and fixed by enthusiasts.

To poster: 22nd Oct 2007, 19:56.

Thanks for the web links, nice to see you have owned some Starions/Conquests. I'm from the UK and they do seem to have a much stronger following in the US. I suspect there were simply a lot more imported there than over here. You occasionally see them up for sale here and they always seemed to be incredibly cheap, even the mint examples. Although I would love one someday, the exclusivity and possible difficulty in sourcing parts would concern me. Hows the reliability on these cars?

Thanks mk1 mr2 owner.

Wow, I can't believe anyone could say the starquest looks anything less than amazing. I think the flattys are kinda ugly, but the widebodies are just beautiful. You have to see it in person really. When I first got my conquest I was surprised at how many heads it turned. I think it is the better looking than the 80's 300zx's, supras, rx7's, and Porsche 944's (in ascending order according to looks, but that's just me). While Mitsubishi's are not known for their reliability, and the starquest is no excuse, it has so much character. It's a late 80's car with auto climate control, 4 wheel disk brakes (which you don't even see on most modern cars), turbo, 5 way adjustable leather seats, cruise, a nice stock stereo, stereo controls on the steering wheel, nice and wide stock rims, etc. I think the starquest looks better than 90% of whats on the road today.

What I've noticed is no one is mentioning how easy it is to work on a Starion or Conquest than any of the other cars everyone is comparing it to.

A given is the TBI system because of its complications especially most being 20 years old +.

But if you have good resources and know what your doing behind a wrench, the Starion Conquest is a nice little RWD Sports car which pushed the envelope on Toyota and Mazda in the 80's for them to further develop potential of their own.

The Starion was one of those cars that was at the beginning of the digital age computer controlled fuel systems and digital design methods. Although I don't believe the Starion was digitally created because it has appealing body lines 360 degrees around, unlike various production marketed designs.

As I write this in the US, I still wish I had a Mitsubishi Starion. I've owned two, an '85 and an '87 and they both were a lot of fun to drive, when they were well-tuned and had no problems. I especially liked the digital dash and the cool sound the turbo made when accelerating.

What was aggravating was the constant overheating in both models. Maybe I was a bad owner of a turbo-charged vehicles, since you have to operate them differently than normally aspirated cars. But the biggest problem I had was money, it takes lots of money to keep these babies running properly. I remember several times chatting with other owners I met on the road, and mostly we gave each other a list of repairs and their costs.

Yes they are the embodiment of 80's knife-edge design, yes they are unique and will always turn heads, and of course having a turbo charged car is fun to drive, but be prepared to treat a Starion/Conquest like a beautiful girlfriend; spend lots of money on her, show her off when you can, but expect little payoff.

I currently own an 87 Starion and an 87 MR2 MK1. I bought my Starion November 2008 for $3600.00 U.S. I remembered a friend in the Navy that bought a new 87 Conquest and how neat I thought it was.

I always look on Craigslist for vehicles. I was considering getting a 90 to 95 300zx, but I did not want to spend the money that people were asking for them.

I saw the Starion on Craigslist and kept looking at it for about 3 months, thinking someone else would buy it. I knew this was and would be an impulse - emotional purchase because I already owned 2 vehicles (97 Maxima and 87 MR2).

The Starion was the 1st turbo I have ever driven and I immediately fell in love with it. The body lines and style really turn me on also. Both the MR2 and Starion are bright red. I continually ask my girlfriend which red car do you like better, the Starion or MR2. She says the Starion because of the look and it is bigger than the MR2.

I love the way both the cars handle and look.

Things I noticed when I bought the car were that the intercooler was new and had been replaced, the wheels had been rotated which was the wrong thing to do because the wheels are different sizes. There are 225 50s on all wheels. I took the car to Valvoline and paid $15.00 to have the wheels rotated to right areas. I paid $250.00 to have the AC conversion kit installed and charged (works great). I paid Jiffy Lube about $120.00 to change the oil and flush the radiator and replace the antifreeze. The car was running hot and this was a quick fix vice having to replace a thermostat or head gasket. I do not know if this has anything to do with the fact that the car is a turbo, but when I took the car to Jiffy Lube, they tested the antifreeze and it tested bad (maybe broke down by the heat caused by the turbo?). Jiffy Lube replaced the antifreeze and the car does run cooler and better.

The brake on the rear driver side wheel started making a metal to metal noise. I use my emergency brake and thought it was sticking, so I drove the car in reverse a couple of times and pulled the emergency brake attempting to calibrate hoping to fix the issue. It did not work. I took it to 1 mechanic and he told me $531.00 to replace the back brakes (calipers, rotors, pads). Currently this repair is pending because the mechanic needs to order the parts. He said it would take a week to get the parts. While, a week later I called ans he told he could not get the parts (what a waste of time). I called another mechanic I knew and he told me he could get the parts and that he just did a brake job on a Dodge Conquest. While, Kudos to D'angelos, they did come thru. The mechanic told me they had order the parts from different locations. It ended up costing $700.00 to replace the back brakes.

I also paid $180.00 to get all the windows tinted and a California strip on the front window. I believe the Starion had sat for a while over the years so all these repairs are reasonable.

The power steering pump was leaking. The estimate to replace the pump was $500.00 to $700.00. I bought some Lucas power steering stop leak and it stopped the leak. What a money saver.

I plan to rotate driving my 3 vehicles through out the year as follows: The Starion during the summer and days when it is hot and humid because it has AC. The MR2 when it is mild and cool because it does not have AC. The Maxima for family outings and during the winter (snow and ice).

Same guy that wrote last post. Took my 87 Starion to a mechanic to investigate the strong gas smell and hard start after the car is warmed up. Problem ended up being leaking fuel injectors. Cost $214.00 to rebuild fuel injectors. Car is running better, getting better gas mileage, no strong gas fumes or smell, and the hard start problem when warmed up is no longer there.