Matt's Mitsubishi Delica is the JDM Volkswagen Syncro! - One Take 

Matt gave his wife the Turbo-D

I still remember my mum’s 98 delica when I was a kid. I always thought it was the coolest car to be dropped off to school in because how high we were off the ground and the captain chairs. I still have memories of sitting in the back looking through the moonroof at night then looking back towards my mother in the drivers seat. I’m going to buy one, someday. even if it’s a shitbox..

R8? Honestly man i’d rather have the Delica.

Back when Mitsubishi was one of the coolest car manufacturers

Should totally lend this to Doug for a day

When you're a millionaire flying into LA to drive your exotic car and get picked up in this.

Please, Doug should review it 🙌🏽

Morning dump squad 🤘

Imported a Delica about a month ago. What was supposed to be a quick flip has turned into a bit of a love affair. I drive it more than the Cappuccino, Evo II, S4 avant or 996 turbo!

Imagine being picked up in this as an Uber ride. I'd never stop smiling.

We had a TV show here in New Zealand, presented by motoring enthusiast Bill Hohepa. He'd take his Delica on proper 4x4 trails. It was such good fun to watch, especially when they decided one day to wrap pies in tinfoil and cook them in the engine bay!

My dad bought the earlier Mitsubishi L300 brand new in 1983, we drove half way around Australia going on holidays growing up. 4 children growing up, never missed a beat. They are incredibly popular with back packers who want to drive around Australia on a budget. Bullet proof

We had a 1996 Mitsubishi delica jasper with the 2.8td for 13 years in New Zealand. Then we sold it. Miss it to this day.

I used to have a Delica many years ago. It was funny driving them and looking at Range Rover drivers reactions as they craned their necks to look UP at you. But for my needs then, it was a delight. I used to do a lot of fishing so getting my complete carp gear and two other friends complete carp gears into it was no problem. The 4wd system was superb. Ground clearance stunning. It turned on a sixpence and because it wasn't wide, getting into and out of parking spots was a doddle. And it was so comfortable to drive too. As for top speed, I had mine up to 95 mph on the motorway (Allegedly!). Had the 7 seat configuration. Middle row had pilot seats that turned and you could ly the middle and back seats flat to make a full side double bed :-))... And when ALL the seats were raised, you have a massive load space. Also had roof windows for the 2nd and 2rd row of seats. Had curtains too, so with the "bed" in situ, no one could see what you might, or might not be, up too. If you get my drift!! :-))...

Heard about this so much on the podcast. Glad to finally see a video of it.

One of the best things about moving to NZ is the abundance of JDM imports. Enjoy your Delica, they are beasts!

That bullbar is so beautiful. Where i can buy one? 5 speed manual is definately better. It is also faster. The torque converter makes the car pretty slow. My Mitsubishi L300 turbo diesel manual pulls pretty hard with 4th gear compared to the automatic version which i drove once. Also i don't think its making 84 horsepower. The naturally aspirated Diesel version makes 82. The turbodiesel makes ~100hp. Don't take my words though i am not very sure. Also stick shift is WAY more reliable and cheaper to maintain. Thats the main reason that i prefer stick. Also stick is a lot more fun and really connects you with that car.

Daily drove a delica for a year and a half. I miss that van so damn much.

I drove one of these around North America in 2009. Vancouver, New York, Key West, San Diego, Vancouver. It broke down in LA (fuel pump) and we were stuck there for 3 weeks while it was fixed using parts from Vancouver. Now back home in Australia and I own a D5 Delica. Had it 8 years now and still love driving it!

i used to own a delica just like yours , had it painted military green with some black touches and everybody loves it, the car stayed with our family for 13years never stopped the engine from working efficiently i really really love that car, your video made me miss my old friend

Had an L300 for 10 years. It's actually very capable off road. I have a D5 now - better on the open road, but doesn't have the character of the L300.

The headlights look so cute! Wish Mitsubishi had continue it

I bought a 94 delica starwagon with 50 k on it a few months ago. Make sure you check all the rubber parts in it, such as hoses, timing belts, brake master etc. If you haven't already. I had to replace a few things due to it being a low mileage older vehicle. The timing belts are most detrimental. Enjoy, I'm enjoying mine. And I enjoy your videos.

It’s worth noting it can tow 8000lbs and surprisingly does it REALLY well

We had 2 of these L300’s growing up. An 88 then a 95 both non-4wd non turbo. They are bulletproof except for rust. This is so cool to see one again.

What a cool van. I’ve always loved these. Thanks for the great video Matt.

Delica is short for delicate carrier. The super exceed trim came with a refrigerator and power shades in the high room windows. The US spec versions were sold a wagon or a van. The van was a panel with crank windows. The wagon came in RS and LS trim. The LS is similar trim to what you have, but only RWD and a 2.4 4g63 8v and 4 speed auto. I have an 89 with 290,000 miles on it.

I have had a few monteros and man do i love that generation of mitsubishi. Back when they build properly stout and luxurious cars and suv's. I love the look of the delica! And the sweet sunroofs that some of them had.

I got an l300 4wd 1987.. model .. the 3rd owner since 1999.. it's still awesome. . Takes me almost anywhere .. economical & plenty a 2nd hand parts . It's a 5 speed manual . The 5th gear is kinda like a turbo. Even though it's the 4d56 cyclone diesel engine....

I'm a big fan of the new Delica D:5s I think their just the coolest things.

try checking out the Delica's from Taiwan, the one's facelifted and are LHD, they are called Mitsubishi Space Gear though. It is fitted with a 4g64, a 2.4 liter inline 4 cylinder engine (the same engine series as the Evo's). The Delica's from Taiwan are only 2WD AFAIK (please correct me if im wrong if anybody knows), and I think you wont be needing 4WD if youre only going to use it for airport taxi's and besides, it has more power. And having to own and drive a Delica from Taiwan, they are great, comfy, powerful, and cold. And a plus is that is has two sliding doors, both left and right side.

No mention that the L300 could also come with a factory rear LSD. That you can flip the captains chairs around and sit in any direction ( almost). That the rear " DELICA" lights up on the tail gate with fiber optics. That almost always there is hidden gem's behind the glove box that fall through from its Japan days.The Chamonix is the trim to get, the seat and carpet designs alone are so EPIC. Starlight has problems with electronics. Best to get a high roof no starlight with sliding side windows. Get a mitsumaple sticker on that thing Matt, make us BC boys proud!

Love them old school JDM vans

Best video yet..wanted one of these forever!!

is a little strange, here in Spain, every Delica has a double side door.

3th gen Delica was used at my school as a kids' carrier to the swimming pool or PE at the local stadium. In a small town in the eastern part of Poland in the 90s it was REALLY something else. It had a gear lever under the steering wheel, unlike any other car I knew and it never ceased to amaze me :D

I bought a JoyPop kei van this fall. Everything you said about loving your Delica is what I feel about my van.

I had an 87 Cargo Van and it was by far the most fun driving vehicle I’ve ever owned. It will power brake for days and the previous owner used it in a couple burnout competitions at racetracks taking 1st, lol!

Great video! Have an '86 L300 Manual exceed in Australia and I love it. get a lot of people that come and ask about it

Really feeling the vibe. I like it.

I love 4wd Mitsu vans, some of the coolest off road rigs I've ever seen, with two spares on the back and fully set up for off-roading in Australia. The best thing (apart from making tea befre5 having a nice comfy lie down) is you can see where you're going instead of looking at the sky when you're cresting a hill!

as dope as the delica is, and make no mistake i think it's dope as hell, i have kind of a hard time imagining VIPs getting into LAX after a long-ass flight and being super psyched about a cloth-seat mitsubishi van. I know it's used for exactly that all over the world, but as Matt said, those are 3rd world countries, and this is L.A.... maybe i'm wrong, but you gotta really hope clients are as into 80s off-beat radness as Matt is for this to work out

You are absolutely right about it charm. I’m in Toronto, I saw the Delica on road 2 days ago.... hence why I’m here. Great Review

You can intercool, up the boost, and put a bigger rad in these to deal with hills and highways. Such great vans!

Always loved these cars, especially the L400 Super Exceed with the Crystal Light roof due to its looks

This is the type of content I need in my life 😊

I was on a trip to the west coast of canada and saw these everywhere for the first time in my life. They were all kitted up for different levels of camping and i wanted all of them.

@6:40 “Temp gauge works” *Shows -27 C as inside temp”

I love these things. If I had one I'd park it at some remote beach somewhere and just chill in that second row while watching the waves crash in.

One potential issue with using it as a shuttle is the rear doors, they're on the left side. Curbside pickup will be a bit inconvenient

Beautiful Delica my man! Best van of all time ❤️

Is this car use 4d56 engine? and want some more power? Tune the ve pump.. Add some timing and adjust governor/fuel screw... In my country this car pretty much undestructable (we got 4d56 non turbo engine) Anddd thic car is profen to haul almost 2ton (~4000lbs)

I love Delica I finally bought a Delica D:5 2021 It's gorgeous, fuel efficient and it can go off road with 8 passenger snug sleeping Cheers mate

I saw one in Colorado all white. It was awesome

I have one of the US spec RWD Mitsubishi Van/Wagons. They came with a SOHC 8V 4G64, which has a little more power than the TD, but even I struggle with hills on the freeway and heavy wind. I drove it from Ohio to California, and as long as you're patient, it does fine. It's just a really enjoyable vehicle to drive, and I get a lot of the same reactions you mentioned, which I honestly didn't expect. And like you mentioned, it is actually really comfortable to drive and the driving position feels better to me than most of the other cars I've owned. One thing you didn't mention, and I'm not sure how different it would be on the 4WD versions, but the turning radius is also phenomenal. I had someone at a gas station tell me that in the early 90s they were on the freeway in Colorado during a pretty bad snow storm, and he saw the back end of one of the US spec Vans slowly start to get sideways and gradually it got worse until the two cars beside it got over more towards the berms and the back of the van spun around to the point where it did a complete 360 in the middle of the freeway and afterward the driver just kept driving like nothing had happened.

Most enjoyable vehicle .. traveling with it likely a dream , you don't get tired of it . Handling small turns like a champ.. Seats can be turned into a bed .. 12 screws removed and you have a huge space similar to a commercial van . Its a blast to have .. mine is so rusty , hope I could be able to find a great shop to fix it .

Yep, I so agree! I love my 93. I owned 2 90's Vanagons in my life-time and these little Japanese vans are so much more reliable than the VWs. I put the Bilsteins on mine too, quite an improvement! Nice video and continue enjoying your Delica!

Just bought this exact model in Canada! Love delicas

I'm on my second Delica, I first got my L400 Super Exceed, in 2010 and I then in 2019 I bought a D5 G Premium, I'm in the UK so our import laws don't restrict us to vehicles over 25 year's old. Love Delica's

Great to see the Delica after hearing so much about it on the podcast.

Saw this car in the parking lot at my office in Culver City! Had no idea it was Matt's, it was the exact spec and license, wish i would have saw him. Took a picture of it there soo badasss

I love those things. I don't know why but I always have.

As a owner of a Delica, so cool to see one TST. Mine might be a rust bucket but we love it.

It's about time a review for these things. I've always loved Delicas. Especially the rounded body style just after this one here. Funny thing is Mitsubishi still makes these things. Try researching a modern Delica. They are like frigging space ships. !

As an owner of the T3 Syncro I have to agree, they're way too expensive even here in Europe. Even though I really like Delica (the pre-facelift model a bit more), I'd also rate them slightly higher off-road but not comfort-wise, the drivetrain design is just a regular truck. Because of that I'd rate the Syncro higher for an airport shutlle - better suspension, more room for passengers, way more baggage space. But I have to admit.... in terms of value for money, Delica is a clear winner, unless you're a rear-engine freak (as me). Great video!

this is correct! When i was in my homeland of Vietnam, i was picked up by this vehicle! Then as the years went on, those big mercedes shuttle vans took over

13:50 pure GTA V POV 😂

So cool! I just got to look at one of these in person in the middle of Missouri. I can dig it!

quirky cars like that are the coolest

No mention of the mirrors? The convex mirrors make it super easy to drive/park in tight spots. I had one down in Chile for a few years, except for highway driving, that thing was AWESOME. Love it, nice work Matt!

I remeber these JDM vans being relativiely popular and common sight in the Philippines, even my dad used to have one of those, we were so excited when this van was used for going to the mall every Sunday.

Grew up with one of these in NZ. We had the Safari kit with a microphone jack in the center console, in gold with brown interior. Handled dirt roads good too.

Cool! I remember a friend of my family owning one.

It's one of a kind , a 4wd, a van, a People mover. These are very rare model nowadays.

We had the same engine on our old L200 and it was VEERRRYYY slow. But it wouldn't overheat or break down, ever. Although now that I think about it, it had a tiny intercooler under the hood scoop.

Sweet ! Never knew about this model.I sold Mitsubishi's in 1995-97 and learned a lot about the company history and vehicles.They are Japan's oldest auto maker.You stated it is based on the Pajero.Not only did you pass The Jeep but you could probably crush it off road.The Pajero won The Dakar rally many times.Though you slowed down on the big hill in it,if it has The Pajero underneath you can probably climb anything.Very cool ride :) ! If the wife takes it away could always go for a Summit,Montero,or Diamante wagon :) !

I think the Delicas are cool too, but I bought a Vanagon because of the better space in it and because it’s a weekender pop too so I (6’3”) can stand up inside. I stayed away from the synchros though because everything for them costs 50-100% more than the 2WD version which is just because they weren’t as common I guess.

i gotta say i like these type of videos.

4th gen (H100) Toyota HiAce Super GL with the 3L turbo diesel (1KZ-TE) > Mitsubishi Delica > Volkswagen Syncro

I literally laughed out loud so many times during this video. It is *so* true that everyone wants to get pictures and talk about these things! I have an automatic diesel Crystal-lite Super Exceed. It's excellent - I use it for rural mail delivery lol

Omg that thing is the coolest looking vehicle I've seen in years! I'm dead set on getting a Aztek but this is an easy second place. I would engine swap it but I Love it!

I love this car. Sorely tempted to get one.

That’s a cool JDM. vintage time 🧢 capsule. Happy wife van life 👍

In my country is known as L300 and is available with manual transmission only. Yes, is a good family hauler. Great video

I saw that Bronco in the final and started to imagine that thing exploding like in Speed.

Tons of these on the road in BC.

I wish this had the crystal lite roof!

Zach here from DelicaUSA! Very clean van! 🤘

I like the wheel and tire set up 👌

We actually didn’t get the delica here in Oz they are all imported. We got the 2wd versions. I used to drive a petrol auto v6 L400 delica spacewagon with a lift kit made it as high as a truck. They are really cool. Those clusters leak from the sun. They are pretty quick for their size and weight. I’ve been told you can fit a small v8 so an ls swap would probably be the way to go. There’s no way the kms are that low. The one I had came with low really low kms as well and yet it was used as tourist transport .2000 model. I’m pretty sure they change out the cluster or just wind them back. It also came with a sticker on the windscreen it passed its radioactive inspection. Imported after Fukushima happened

Bad Ass , my 88’ Toyota 4x4 Hiace will never be one of these , great video . I’m glad to see not every video has to be up in the curvy hills ..

That thing looks great!! Does it have an overdrive? I wonder if there’s an easy upgrade path, to add a little more power so you don’t have to WOT everywhere.

Awesome! Have exactly the same Delica here in NZ. Do take it off road regularly, it's tougher then you think. Mine has over 220.000 km's on it, no major issues in 10 years of ownership. Second car is a 987 Porsche Cayman S, does everything the Delica doesn't, and vice versa...

Love it. I was geeking out on 'em in Japan a couple years back. I've got a '68 Dodge A100 window van, and one of these might make the perfect (slower!) counterpart.

Its amazing where you can go in those the 4x4 is awesome

I have the L400 LWB tin top, I love all Delicas!!

Im from NZ and have owned 3 L300's and due to our weather conditions for half a year (coastal and rainy) they rust out like no ones business. very rare to find one this tidy.

Man its hilarious seeing stuff that's been a laugh here for 30 years and worth peanuts being touted as something different. Just sold my one owner petrol NZ sportpac version for 5k. Miss it already

We have put a few miles on Delicas. They are a fun van. From the beach to Death Valley.

This man driving a minibus!! 😂😂 I never thought I’ll see the day!