Of course, it’s not just Toyota that had a go at the ruthlessly tech-heavy (and just generally heavy) grand tourer in the Nineties.
Mitsubishi, at least in the 1990s, was never one to let price, packaging or practicality get in the way of throwing as much technology as humanly possible at any given situation. So the 3000GT VR-4 (also known as the GTO or Stealth) got twin-turbocharging, complex all-wheel-drive system, active aerodynamics, four-wheel steering and adaptive suspension. As such, it weighed… let’s say enough. Yet with a gentleman’s agreement ‘280bhp’, it could somehow hang with a lighter R33 GT-R in a quarter-mile drag race. Now, we find it ungentlemanly to throw heavy accusations around lightly, so we’ll leave that where it is.
The fact is that for all its heft and histrionic levels of tech, the 3000GT was still… well, fat and weighed down with tech. The aftermarket for the 3000GT isn’t even close to what a Supra or Skyline owner enjoys, in case you were looking for four-figure power outputs. And besides, you’ll lunch the rather specific (and expensive) gearbox if you try.
What helps the 3000GT thrive is simple – or, more to the point, simplicity. Bin the active aero, adaptive suspension and four-wheel steering, then fit a set of coilovers and upgrade the brakes (bigger, thicker discs to soak up more heat before warping). After all, that’s basically what Mitsubishi did with the ‘MR’ version – and it’ll make that twin-turbo V6 feel like it has way more power than… er, ‘280bhp’.
Come on… live a little
Source: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/top-gear-advice/11-used-cars-ps15k-weve-found-week