At $12,950, Is This 2002 Mitsubishi Montero A Mountain Of A Deal?

The seller of today’s Nice Price or No Dice Montero calls it a “true classic.” They also claim it to be in amazing condition and to come with a refreshed engine. Let’s decide if it’s priced to live up to that classic status.

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Finding the small block Chevy V8 under the bonnet of yesterday’s 1970 Jaguar XJ6 is like walking into a fancy Michelin-starred restaurant and discovering that its signature cocktail is a can of PBR with a Malört chaser. Now, obviously, should that boilermaker cost thirty bucks owing to the chi-chi environs in which it is served, it will likely get few takers. Similarly, the $11,900 asking price on yesterday’s Jag proved less than popular. An 82 percent No Dice loss was the result.

Speaking of less than popular, when was the last time you heard someone say, “I’m hella excited about getting one of those new Mitsubishis”? Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is one of Japan’s big dog companies; over the years, making everything from iconic compact cube microwave ovens to cars and trucks and even the A6M Zero fighter plane of WWII.

Why is it, then, that today, the company’s automotive division—Mitsubishi Motors Corporation—is considered a bit of a joke here in the U.S.? Whatever the reason, with the recently announced departure of the subcompact Mirage from the market, Mitsubishi is down to just three crossover models here in the States, and of those, two—the Outlander Sport and Eclipse Cross—are nearly indistinguishable from one another.

When this Mitsubishi Montero Limited was first sold in 2002, its parent company was far less of a punchline and offered not just this capable and spacious three-row 4WD wagon but also a spate of Lancers, Mirages, Galants, Diamantes, Eclipses, and perhaps most notably, the rally-bred Lancer EVO. Think about it for a minute; aside from the occasional EVO, when was the last time you saw any of those on the road?

That makes this Montero an interesting option in the crowded pre-owned mid-size AWD wagon market. These are as capable and comfortable as a Range Rover Disco, but with vastly greater reliability and a heck of a lot more funky body cladding.

To top that off, the 200 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 in this 155,000-mile example is claimed to have been “rebuilt” 5K back, although based on the ad copy, it’s unclear if it was actually refreshed or it was just a lower-mileage example that was swapped in.

Behind that engine is a five-speed Sportronic automatic and Mitsubishi’s ActivTrac electronically-controlled AWD, with the latter normally splitting torque with a 66 percent rear bias but being able to go 50/50 when slipping is detected.

This is the top-of-the-line Limited model, which means it’s fairly loaded. It offers leather upholstery across all three rows, a power moonroof, windows and locks, and an Infinity sound system with a CD player.

Based on the pictures, everything looks to be in the excellent condition the seller touts. The bodywork, which is far more expressive than most wagons in this class, appears without notable issues. Under that is a set of factory alloys fitted with what appear to be new-ish Futura Mud and Snow tires.

The interior is equally clean, and with the tall greenhouse, it’s appreciably light and airy. The only notable flaws are crazing on the front bucket seat leather and the lack of floor mats. Some may take issue with the strange discordance in color between the fake wood on the dash and the steering wheel, but that’s on Mitsubishi, not the Montero. Missing is the “Touring Package,” which would have added automatic climate control and a powered passenger seat, but those are minor annoyances.

According to the ad, there is “not a cleaner one out there,” and the dealer selling the Montero describes it as “super underrated.” It comes with a clean title and an asking price of $12,950, which the seller says makes it an “Amazing value on a true classic.”

What’s your take on this Montero at that $12,950 asking? Does that seem like a deal for a rare and fairly interesting older AWD option? Or is that a mountain too high to climb?

You decide!

Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.

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