1.1 CZ1 3dr Hatchback

Excellent city slicker

Bought this car at 17000 km on the clock from Mitsubishi dealer, from their rental fleet.
Four years later and it's 80k km on the clock and I this is what I can say:

1. Inexpensive to run and to maintain: so far I have serviced it three times, each time at different Mitsubishi dealer and each time it has cost me around 200 Euro - not bad.
Fuel efficiency is decent: around 5.5l/100km on motorways, and around 6 - 6.5 mixed motorway/town journeys (I live close to motorway junction).
One problem that occurred at around 65k km was a crack on the manifold. The repair was to weld it and it cost me exactly 100 Euros (Mitsubishi dealer quoted me 150 for this job plus VAT). I've replaced all tyres twice - 60 Euros a pop (195/50/15R, all seasons). It is taxed at band B, in Ireland that is 225 Euro p.a from 1st Jan 2012, was 158 Euro in 2008.

2. Quite comfortable but only for a driver and one passenger. I commuted to work 60 km one way via motorways and it was relaxing time to drive. Only when speed gets faster that 110 km/h the noise from engine and the road becomes a nuisance - not annoying, just not comfortable to maintain conversation or listen to radio programs. Longer journeys, like 300+ km in one go (day) become too tiring for all passengers and a driver alike - Colt is simply too small: boot and back passenger bench is by far too tiny for comfortable lengthy rides.
Clever solutions: back row is divided 30/70 which is excellent for carrying longer loads (i carried 180 cm planks form DYI store, other time I was able to fit 230 cm long roll of carpet (with hatch door open ajar), also you can slide back bench around 30 cm towards the front seats and fold it to get a hefty boot space enough for small office removal (which i did twice).
I replaced all stock bulbs into LED, headlight's halogen bulbs into white blue (including high beam) and it is as easy as ABC - you just need well lit and dry place like underground car park, and a screwdriver. No need to go and pay at the garage.

3. 1.1 l engine, 75 bhp is lively and dynamic enough to carry on at 110 km on motorway and still able to accelerate and overtake row of trucks and what is great, as mentioned, it is not too thirsty for petrol. It generally drives well at all speeds (except 160 km/h which was its max), it feels like much bigger car even when cross winds try to push it off the lane. Cornering is also decent, feels as if car is glued to the road which is attributed to a rather stiff suspension and low center of weight - the back flip of this coin is annoying jerks when driving over a pothole or slow-down bumps. It really makes you to slow down to avoid unpleasant sensations.

4. Value: I bought it second hand for 7500 Euro and after four years and extra 60k km I am looking to trade it for a trade price of around 5000 - 5500 Euro. I just did my first NCT and it passed it first time no problem

4. I suppose the only drawback is the right hand side front blind spot. The culprit is the front right pillar, which is thick and positioned almost at drivers one o'clock. I had situations where I was turning right and could not see oncoming cyclists or pedestrians. I had to lean forward, almost resting my chest on the steering wheel to have full front right view.

Overall it is very good car for a single person or a couple living in town or on the suburbs, especially when their budgets are tight.

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