1989 Mitsubishi Mighty Max Pickup from North America - Comments

Owned a 94 2.6L for about three years now.. the trucks at about 165k miles. and other than routine maint. I've put about $200 into the truck, but I do all maintenance myself.. doesn't leak a drop and gets me everywhere I need to go still exceeding 100mph.. have absolutely positively no complaints.

I wrote a review on the 88, and it didn't show up here, so I'll try again.

I have an 88 Mighty Max SPX, and bought it new. It now has 279,000. I will drive this truck until it dies, I have no idea when that will be. It recently developed carb problems, I am going to switch to a Weber. If you can work on them yourself, there is no cheaper transportation out there, period. The SWB models are not comfortable, but the extended cab SPXs are. When it needs fixing, fix it right and keep on trucking. I found a junkyard in CA that has Mitsu parts, get online and find parts if you have to, you can find what you need. Probably needs valve stem seals to cure the morning smoking, last set was at 150,000. No oil leaks ever. The list of original parts still on this truck is astonishing. Only had to be towed once. Air still blows cold. Everything else still works, including all switches. These things are freaks, treat them right and they will take care of you.

Hello I own a 1987 Mighty Max.

I get about 20 miles to the gallon in the city, and about 14-15 in hwy.

I purchased the truck for 300$, and it was smoking. I rebuilt the head, replaced timing belt and oil pump belt, resealed the engine front to back, top and bottom, installed new gaskets, cost me about another 400$ It's been three years now, not a single drop of oil on the floor.

The one thing I don't like is the hills in SO CAL. The truck has about 100 horse power, but it's great for towing vehicles. It takes me back and forth to work. Recently my carb is been acting up, but it's only 80 to rebuilt it. I do the work myself, so it comes out a lot cheaper. It's great transportation.

I own an 88 mitsu. It's been in the family since 88, we just keep handing it down. 191000 miles on the 2.0L 5 spd. and it still runs strong. It spent 2 years parked and ignored in the California desert before I got it. Some oil and a new battery and it started right up. Obviously the gaskets needed help and it leaked oil. I put in some stop leak to replenish the gaskets and it stopped leaking within a week. I recently rebuilt the carb and put a magna flow exhaust on it and plan on putting in a weber carb to increase H.P. in the future. It passes CA emissions and is cheap to insure. Yea the car is a slug, but there are options. Stop thinking truck start thinking Tuner car. a lot of these parts are adaptable to increase H.P. The part I hate is 14in wheels. It really needs upgraded to 15's for todays tire market. Touring tires on a truck just seems wrong.

Hi All.

I live in Perth, Australia and have recently bought a 89 extra cab triton (mighty max to yanks) and it is a great little beast.

It doesn't lose any oil, starts great on cold mornings, cruises on 110km/h great considering it's a commercial and has pretty good pick up too.

Not sure about m/g yet, but seems to use little fuel.

Great Car and glad I bought it.

I had a 89 mighty max 2.0 5 speed for my first car. it had 133k when I got it no real prom just reg maintance. I didn't hold back on it, I ran it hard (first car) WFO. they may not be fast or pretty, but they run forever when you abuse them. they can haul amounts they they should not be able to, I had 3,260 lb of scrap metal on it once got the ticket to prove it to. all around good trk, wish I still had it. when we parted it had over 200k on it.

I have a 91' max 2.4l 2wd 5sp. and it was my first, I put that little truck through hell and on any givin day that thing will start on command!! it does leak a lot of oil, if driven a lot in one day up to 2 qts my need to be added the next morning. I am a mechanic and I have priced out everything from napa auto parts to rebuild the motor, around 3 or $400. it has around 165k miles, smokes leaks but has bee more than wonderful to me, I have raced many stock s10s and beat most. i havent decided if i want to rebuild it or drop a chevy 305 in it but if any one has parts, motor or just anything to sell for these trucks please email me @ josh_cav788@hotmail.com thanks!!

I have a 1989 mighty max 2.6 5-speed best truck I have ever owned 214,000 miles. these trucks are nearing 20 years old if they are driven average miles things should be wearing out. the 2.0 was a very bad idea, the 2.6 is the answer, at interstate speeds this truck will run with most v-6 engines.

I average 28miles per gallon with a/c.

I am the first owner of a 1988 Mighty Max 2.0 with automatic transmission. It is on its 2nd engine, with about 220,000 miles on it. AWESOME little truck.

It will be 20 years old this year. Still has the original shocks, original (stainless steel) exhaust system. Not a flake of rust on it (Bought it in North Carolina brand new, and now live in Virginia).

This is a 2-wheel drive truck, and I have driven this truck in 18 inches of snow (I have pictures to prove it). With 10-12 cinder blocks in the back and chains on the rear wheels, I was passing 4X4 idiots all the way home (this was in about 1995 if memory serves me correctly).

If you take normal care of this truck, it will not fail you. However, if you have had problems with yours, chances are you have had other problems in life, because if you can't keep this truck running, you probably can't roll a basketball down a hill without instructions!!!