What to think about when buying a used Mitsubishi Colt

The Colt from Mitsubishi Motors has been long overlooked as a new car purchase option in this country. Despite its sharp looks and competitive pricing, there just doesn't seem to be the interest in it that you'd expect. If you're thinking about bucking the trend and investing in one of these little Japanese cars, what should you consider?

A short history of the Colt.

Colt was originally the name given to the car manufacturing subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries after the Second World War. The first cars were produced in the 60s. The use of this name continued for some time due to poor public perception of the Mitsubishi name as a result of their military manufacturing infamy. The name continued to be used in the UK until 1984 when the parent company name was substituted. To add a little confusion, the title has also been given to models within the Mitsubishi range in other countries during this period.
The first true Mitsubishi Colt cars were first sold in the UK in 1984 and have had a presence here ever since.

The new Colt

Mitsubishi Motors UK began selling the new Colt in 2002 and it received critical acclaim in the motoring press. The latest models were exceptionally nippy for their size (although, Brabus managed to extract even more power from the Smart ForFour on the same base). Comfort levels are good and the mini-MPV style stance gives it excellent headroom and rear leg room, albeit at the expense of boot space. Reliability is fantastic with nothing other than niggles coming to the attention of the reviewers since launch. Another plus is that there have been no recall either, and this is a rarity in modern motoring circles. The depth of the model range is good, with smaller engines good for townies and sports and a convertible for the more adventurous. Running costs are on a par with the average for this sector and insurance ratings are low. Watch for abuse on the sportier models.

Where to buy

Main dealers will happily sell you a brand new one, but haggling should see a good discount. If buying used from a dealer, it's worth looking for a year old car as the balance of the three-year warranty will still apply. Look for the optional side air-bags as well, these were expensive when new, but should add nothing to the used price. Used traders pick these up when they can and expect good prices when they sell. As a result, the differential between them and a main dealer is fairly small and strengthens the case for buying from a main dealer with all the guarantees that implies.