Ha, yes I have sat in a *few* of them. They are a well built car. Please don't abbreviate the word Japanese.

If you research with Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and JD Powers and Assoc you will see that the Eclipse, Galant and Endeavor rank *very* highly for quality (as do all the cars). You may or may not believe them, I know I don't always agree, but unfortunately they are the only sources a lot of new buyers consult.

Some people are still very sore about WW2 and Pearl Harbor, don't get it twisted. MaxR has a point. There is a Mitsu store only 45 miles from me that gets picketed by vets on memorial/veterans day for that very reason. I have run into several individuals that have come into our store mad it us for selling them, one guy claiming our souls were damned. To bad his niece drove an Eclipse and he was there to pick it up for her.

DCX only owes 22% of Mitsu now, at least that's what the percentage will be once the 4.5 billion bailout package is completed. What that will turn to after the next 950 million comes through remains to be seen. Chrysler, Mercedes - none of their managers have anything to do with Mitsu leadership. Merril Lynch now backs our consumer auto loans. The CEO, a japanese man by the name of Yoichiro Okazaki came over from Mitsubishi Heavy. There is no Chrysler content in any of our vehicles.

People think my car is a Chrysler. Actuall it is not. I have the original sticker - the enigne and tranny are from Japan. A 2G N/T is a different story, but GS-T's and GSX are very japanese. Just like an Accord built in Ohio or a Camry built in Kentucky?, I think. Altimas and Maximas and Frontiers from here too among many others. The Japanese are very impressed by American auto makers' skills, that's why they brought their plants here so they could save themselves some money too. I know people claim japanese built cars are still better and they may have a point - but some cars are built here and exported back to Japan for their market too- so its not like they just do it for us and keep the best for themselves. They HAD to bring their pickup truck production here because of tariffs our government put on foreign made trucks. That's why the Mighty Max went away, Mitsu couldn't afford to build another plant to make it here and Dodge started building the Dakota and figured it didn't need the Ram 50 (mighty max) any more.

Mitsu uses UAW workers at Normal and they are probably the most expensive out there. I don't think any of the other Japanese makers have them. The Normal plant is one of the most advanced in the world.

dont wannas start a flame war here
you think us built mitsus are great cars, fine

what I was thinking...sucks to be named that

After munching pretzels for the last 6 pages, It seems that this has turned to a more personal thing. This is my 3rd car in the DSM/Mitsu family of cars. And it's really all luck of the draw hence the lemon law... One or two bad experiences doesn't warrant bad mouthing an entire line of cars or even a manufacturers. If you have nothing but bad things to say about the people who manufactured your car, then trade it in and move on about your business with something else that you will be satisfied with.

My first car was a 90 Eclipse GS. Went through 2 transmissions and a motor. Had nothing more than a K&N drop in and a custom exhaust. Next car was 95' Talon TSI. Had crank walk issues so I got an EVO... So far so good... They all have iterations of the 4G63. Aside from the fact I'm watching people argue over isolated "bad" experiences, I see nothing to get riled up about.

Personally, just sit back and watch how things go. It's all luck of the draw. If one dealership doesn't want to warranty work where it's deserved, find another dealer. If you're not happy with the service, go somewhere else. If you're not happy with the product, replace it with somthing else... That's how I ended up with an EVO... Just my two cents...

Step 1:
Get rid of that BS "Wake-up Call" advertising campaign that features the guy with the Frog voice. I've heard it for years now, and think it is terrible. That has to be the worst radio ad ever!! And Mitsu continues to run it.

Step 2:
Design a car/truck other than the EVO that dosen't have Wheel wells 15 inches too big!!!!

The problem, with mitsubishi are the comercial magazine like car and driver and others, for the comercials magazine the only good cars are Honda, toyota and the problematics Fords.

Mitsu have a excellent engenieers but bad administrators.

Read news about in europe the Colt won a Golden Steering Wheel
http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/p...etail1168.html
http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/p...etail1149.html

http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/p...etail1173.html
http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/p...etail1184.html
http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/p...etail1183.html
http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/p...etail1178.html

Yeah, if you don't like an emperor that died 50 years ago then you should definately jeopardize your job.

Jap

Doesn't FQ400 cost almost twice as much as a GSR across the pond?
For that much dough they better be having a warranty

They brought it back because it was one of the most succesful campaigns they ever ran. When his initial contract was up the guy started holding out for more money. Previously he was a nobody that I guess, Deutsch discovered. Then the commercials blew up big time so when it came time to resign him he asked for a big raise. Mitsu and Deutsch didn't agree and they let him go. He did Greyhound t.v. commericals for a while as the voice of the talking dog. People missed the ads, always asked about them - so they got him back, and we are glad they did.

Interesting. I always thought the new Galant especially the GTS sit pretty low for typical mom and pop family cars. The Ralliart sits *really* low, even lower then an Evo. It is a definite improvment over the 8G Galant which had the stance of a 4x4 and the 3G Eclipse which really needs 17's minimum. The 4G Eclipse will probably change all that. 17's are minimum and 18's on the V6 models. I have seen the final version of the car and it is quite radical, very close to the concept. Should be a home run.

Mitsubishi is losing sales mainly due to its hideous designs. The design of a car gets people in the showroom (has an interest in the car) then the individual tests drives it and decides whether or not to buy/lease it. In Mitsubishi's case, their past is coming to haunt them.

The following two actions were the initial result in extremely bad and illegal workmanship.
1. sex descrimination lawsuit
2. defective part coverup

Those 2 actions resulted in a massive sales drop. That drop was soon spread to the United States like a virus that causes diseases. Quality and customer satisfaction play a huge role in why customers are flocking in huge qualities to other manufacters. I would like very much to buy an evo but since I am not sure whether the company will exist in 5-8 years, I will most likely not buy one. In addition, Mitsubishi has severely reduced its dealerships. This is also not a good sign of staying in business.

My point is the EVO produces 273 or 286 pound feet of torque and transfers that power to all four wheels. The TSX makes around 168 pound feet of torque and at a high RPM and transferred to the front wheels (no lsd).

Example: On the TSX, lets just say you rev the motor to 5K and drop the clutch, what happens? The front wheels spin and then you go.

Now, do the same on the EVO. All four wheels bite into the Tarmac leaving the power to go after two things, either the clutch or the T/C. Peeps blow the clutch then put a heavy duty one leaving the T/C to take the shock. Not to mention the potential the EVO has for making even more power with BPU. Try getting 20 H.P. just replacing your exhaust on the Honda, you will be lucky to get 2.

My point is the more power you make, the greater the chance of breaking something. My other point is Honda engines do not produce enough torque to break stuff unless you go forced induction.

I'll tell you why novemebr sales are down, casue dealers are stupid about things like customer service and price, A dealer in Nashville ahs an brand new Evo 03 and a 04 RS and they won't even think about coming off retail on it.
-James

Mitsubishi may get $2 billion in aid



Reuters / December 13, 2004

TOKYO -- Three Mitsubishi group firms are finalizing aid plans for Mitsubishi Motors Corp. including as much as $2 billion in funding to help ensure their sister company's survival, Mitsubishi group sources said.

Mitsubishi Motors, Japan's only unprofitable carmaker, is struggling to return to health despite having received a $4.7 billion rescue package from the Mitsubishi group and investment funds this year.

Much of the aid, which came mainly from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Corp., the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Tokyo-based investment fund Phoenix Capital and J.P. Morgan Chase, had been spent to reduce Mitsubishi Motor Corp.'s debt load. That in turn left little money for developing new cars, seen as key to the company's profits.

The chairmen of Mitsubishi Motor Corp.'s main shareholders in the Mitsubishi group -- Mitsubishi Heavy, Mitsubishi Corp. and BTM -- met on Saturday and decided Mitsubishi Motor Corp. needed more cash, the sources said. Mitsubishi Motor Corp. is likely to get 100 billion to 200 billion yen in a capital increase and other forms of aid with the group's help, one said.

The financial aid will be separate from Mitsubishi Motor Corp.'s second revival plan expected to be announced this week, the sources said.

Under that plan, Mitsubishi Motor Corp. intends to outline detailed steps for its revitalization, including a hoped-for expansion of ties with Nissan Motor Co., to which it supplies some 660cc minivehicles, and plans to grow in Asia.

To jump-start sluggish sales, Mitsubishi Motor Corp. will likely also include plans to expand its warranty programs to restore trust in the brand, while ensuring profit growth through deeper operational tie-ups with other automakers in Japan and overseas, sources said.

Japanese media have reported widely on the possibility of operational tie-ups with France's PSA Peugeot Citroen and a new joint venture with Nissan, but those were not included in a plan outline as of Dec. 7, sources said.

Still, Mitsubishi Motor Corp. will aim to map out further restructuring, such as reducing its under-utilized sales network and seeking more cooperation with various automakers.

While Nissan, Japan's second-biggest automaker, has confirmed that it was in talks with Mitsubishi Motor Corp. about broadening their alliance in the domestic minivehicle segment, any tie-up is likely to favor Nissan more than Mitsubishi Motor Corp., analysts have said.

An industry source said Nissan would agree to a minivehicle joint venture with Mitsubishi Motor Corp. only if the former had a majority stake. Nissan has also ruled out taking on any of Mitsubishi Motor Corp.'s liabilities or assets, including its assembly plants, as conditions for an agreement.

But that would result in Mitsubishi Motor Corp. losing control of one of its crown jewels, the minivehicle business, reducing its overall worth. And without being able to transfer some of its debt load to the company as it did with its truck arm when it spun that off last year, the benefit to Mitsubishi Motor Corp. would be much slimmer.

With such differences left to be ironed out, Mitsubishi Motor Corp.'s revival plan this week may be limited to an agreement merely to expand its supply of minivehicles to Nissan, sources said.

Mitsubishi Motor Corp. has seen no respite from the double-digit sales slide since its past practice of recall coverups resurfaced this year, while its balance sheet is in tatters since former majority owner DaimlerChrysler AG gave up on its revival in April.

More bailout bucks:

Automotive News reports that Mitsu just got 5.25 billion from MHI, Mitsu Corp and Mitsu bank of Tokyo. The top three execs stepped down replaced by individuals from Mitsubishi Heavy.