hakanson@orstcs.UUCP (12/10/83)
#R:ihuxw:-61200:orstcs:3000023:000:4587 orstcs!hakanson Dec 9 10:44:00 1983 OK, you asked for it (not a Toyota, silly): 1) I don't own a Cordia (Turbo, or otherwise). However, I do own a Mitsubishi, of sorts, in the form of a 1980 Dodge Colt Hatchback (FWD). On Mitsubishi's in general, I think that they are very reliable, well-engineered, and well- thought-out cars. My Colt has never (Knock Wood) failed to start, run, or get me where I was going. (We did once lose the water pump belt, but it hadn't quite made it to the 30K mile replacement interval. This showed me that overheating didn't damage anything.) One thing I have noticed on the negative side is perhaps a problem with all cars, foreign or domestic. It's very hard to find someone who knows what they are doing when it comes to working on the things. On my Mits. product, one recommended maintenance service is quite expensive (repacking the front wheel bearings every 22.5K miles runs about $75-100, since you have to pull the entire hub assembly from the drive-shafts). I have been told by a Dodge mechanic who I trust (v. hard to find!) and by another trustworthy mechanic that it is reasonable to wait on this service until it is time to replace the disc brake pads, or about 40K miles -- that way the expense is shared between the two operations. The bottom line on Mitsubishi's as well as other cars is: Do as much of the work yourself as you can, referring to a service manual to find out how hard things are to do. From prowling around under the hood of my Colt, I have noticed that Mitsubishi has done a nice clean job of integrating all the emission controls so they are not all "hung on" the outside of the motor. The troubleshooting procedures are not all that complicated, and it's easy enough for me to tell if all the systems are working properly. I imagine a turbo will complicate things greatly, as will EFI, Electronic Ignition, etc. The price we pay for performance.... My MCA-Jet engine works very well, giving impressive low-end torque (from ~1500 rpm) and turning freely up to 6000 rpm, though there is hardly any need to go that high. My Colt has the 1.6l engine and their Twin-Stick transmission (4x2 gears), which is a fun combination. I usually drive it like a 5-speed (1st thru 4th in low range, then shift to high), but in the high altitudes or when playing around, those half-ranges come in handy. I average ~36mpg monthly, about 50-50 town and freeway driving, in case you are interested. (BTW, did you know that the 5-speed in the Mitsubishi's is the same as a Twin-Stick transmission, only when you shift into 5th gear, the transmission is electrically shifted from low to high range, just the way I use mine?!) 2) On louvers -- I don't have them, and I wouldn't have them, for the simple reasons that they obstruct rear vision (minor complaint) and they greatly clutter up the outside of a car, both visually and aerodynamically. 3) On sunroofs -- I also don't have one, and specifically told the dealer I would not take a car including one, for the following reasons: a) My car has marginal headroom, and the sunroofs I saw took about a half-inch away, since the seam was near the outer side of your head if you were sitting in the front seat. If you are shorter than me, then this is no problem. b) A sunroof of most any variety cuts a large hole in the metal roof of a unibody car. It therefore removes some of the structural rigidity of the car's body. This can make for mushy handling in the extremes, or could merely result in increased rattles & squeaks. Ever wonder why convertibles and Targas and T-tops usually have stiffened bodies? Of course, a sunroof isn't quite the same thing, but how stiff can a glass panel be when it is opened up? c) Again, only a carefully installed sunroof will not add any visual or aerodynamic clutter to the outside (or inside) of a car. Of course, a Colt or Cordia isn't all that aerodynamic in the first place, but why make it worse? d) Besides, in Oregon, who needs a rain-roof? Well, I'm sure you've all heard more than you need to know about Dodge Colts, etc. I'll jump on the bandwagon and say: The above opinions are my own and are not anyone else's. So there! Marion Hakanson CSnet: hakanson@oregon-state UUCP : {hp-pcd,teklabs}!orstcs!hakanson