Often raising their voices, they pointed to the surprise decision by the German automaker last week not to give further financial support for Japan’s No. 4 automaker, as well as to the recurring scandals about defect cover-ups that have sent sales plunging and damaged brand image.

Can you say crankwalk?

 

I don't know if crankwalk was a problem in earlier Evo's, but the Eclipse (DSM) was never sold in Japan.

 

I believe I made this exact point several pages ago.

 

That would be taken out of context, as the President was stating that they had not ruled out investments from other companies, then stating that they will do whatever they can to make sure Mitsu survives.

 

Can you say completely unrelated? Crankwalk, didn't just happen on its own, it happened to modified cars, pushing more power than stock. That has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the issue that they are talking about (which is actually about axles that were made by Mitsu Fuso).

 

Just FYI, here are the latest sales numbers:

Mitsubishi Motors Reports April U.S. Sales
CYPRESS, Calif., May 3, 2004 -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today reported April 2004 U.S. sales of 16,269 units. Sales of the Mitsubishi Endeavor were up 13 percent over last April while the Mitsubishi Lancer posted a 25 percent gain. Mitsubishi Motors has sold 73,130 units year to date in the United States.

The company also announced today the start of "Mitsubishi's Triple Diamond Days," a month-long sales event featuring 3-year/45,000-mile free scheduled maintenance on 2004 Galant and 2004 Endeavor. The new marketing program also promotes Mitsubishi's standard 10-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations of the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Mitsubishi Motors sells coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of nearly 700 dealers throughout North America. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Following is the sales breakdown for April 2004:

2004 2003 2004
APR CYTD APR CYTD APR CYTD

ECLIPSE COUPE 958 5,279 2,765 8,905 -65.4% -40.7%
ECLIPSE SPYDER 957 4,739 1,418 4,337 -32.5% 9.3%
LANCER 4,786 17,714 3,829 18,428 25.0% -3.9%
LANCER EVOLUTION 418 1,629 447 1,027 -6.5% 58.6%
LANCER SPORTBACK 157 485 -- -- 0.0% 0.0%
MIRAGE COUPE -- -- 1 170 -100.0% -100.0%
MIRAGE SEDAN -- -- -- -- 0.0% 0.0%
GALANT 4,160 18,688 9,141 28,493 -54.5% -34.4%
DIAMANTE 227 2,332 703 4,355 -67.7% -46.5%
TOTAL CAR 11,663 50,866 18,304 65,715 -36.3% -22.6%
OUTLANDER 1,753 7,639 2,719 13,757 -35.5% -44.5%
MONTERO SPORT 557 2,849 1,414 9,959 -60.6% -71.4%
ENDEAVOR 2,033 9,395 1,794 2,029 13.3% 363.0%
MONTERO 263 2,381 531 3,381 -50.5% -29.6%
TOTAL SUV 4,606 22,264 6,458 29,126 -28.7% -23.6%
TOTAL 16,269 73,130 24,762 94,841 -34.3% -22.9%
US Assembled
Cars(1): 6,075 28,706 13,324 41,735 -54.4% -31.2%
Imported Cars(2): 5,588 22,160 4,980 23,980 12.2% -7.6%
US Assembled
Truck/SUV(3): 2,033 9,395 1,794 2,029 13.3% 363.0%
Imported
Truck/SUVs(4): 2,573 12,869 4,664 27,097 -44.8% -52.5%
US Assembled
Vehicles: 8,108 38,101 15,118 43,764 -46.4% -12.9%
Imported
Vehicles: 8,161 35,029 9,644 51,077 -15.4% -31.4%

(1) Galant, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder
(2) Lancer, Lancer Sportback, Lancer Evolution, Diamante, Mirage Coupe,
Mirage Sedan
(3) Endeavor
(4) Montero, Montero Sport, Outlander

Selling Days MTD YTD
April 2004 26 102
April 2003 26 101

 

"APR CYTD APR CYTD APR CYTD"

What do the numbers mean please for the ill informed

 

link, please?

 

APR = April

CYTD = Current Year to Date

Basically the numbers show the sales for April 2004 vs. April 2003 and CYTD 2003 vs. 2004 CYTD.

 

http://media.mitsubishicars.com/deta...73160&mime=ASC

 

It has ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

This was an article referring to Mitsubishi Motors fiscal outlook. Mitsubishi Motors is the maker of the 4G63T engine found in Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T, GSX and Spyder GS-T.

"...as well as to recurring scandals about defect cover-ups that have sent sales plunging and damaged the company's image. "

"Recurring" means something happens with a degree of predictability . "Scandals" is the plural of scandal, which indicates more than one incident in which Mitsubishi cheated their customers out of justice. "Defect" refers to a part that fails to perform its intended function. "Cover-ups" means supressing evidence in an attempt to avoid punishment (eg; responsibility, in this case finanical loss). If you perform a 5 second search you will find brand new Mitsubishi 4G63 crate motors that crakwalked "recurringly" (see 1st definition)
And keep in mind the number of Supra's, RX7's, 300Z's, SE-Rs, Miata's, Integra's, Civics, Preludes, Volkswagons, who are running aftermarket parts with a recurring degree of reliability.

 

you should have left your better yet final statement in with the pulling and all..

 

I think the thing is, when they say scandal and cover-up, we are talking about issues in the JDM market. While the Eclipses have had their fair share of crankwalk, you can't necessarily make the connection that all 4G63's have had that problem (the EvoVIII certainly doesn't, the VII probably doesn't either. Not sure about the previous Evos). The crankwalk issue was specific to the US market, and while yes, Mitsubishi has had reliability issues here in the US market as well, it is not related to the scandals that are being uncovered in Japan right now.

 

Yeah, you really proved that you really dont know what you are talking about. Those scandals they are talking about are about Mitsu Fuso axle problems and the attempted cover-up of a woman killed by a tire that fell off a truck, IN JAPAN.

It has nothing to do with crankwalk. Crankwalk only happened on cars that were modified. They have no reason to be responsible for that. And that PLAIN AS DAY is not what that article is talking about.

Seriously, dude before you post again, please learn what they are talking about before you embarass yourself further.

 

Just a few points to make from over this 13 page monster:


Crankwalk is blown way out of porportion but it is a problem. And it DIDN'T just happen to modified cars. Their are documented examples of stock 2G's walking after only 15-30K miles. All of them replaced under warranty. It is true that modded cars with aftermarket clutches have a higher chance, but it doesn't mean it WILL happen to EVERY modded car.


Everybody rags on the 3G Eclipse and although I don't care for it, it is a far better seller then the 1G or 2G. It put the Honda Prelude and Mercury Couger out of business and outsells(sold) the Toyota Celica and Acura Integra/RSX. It is a success and is the most popular Japanese sports coupe. I hear the Celica's future is cloudy now that the Scion tC is on the way.

Comparing the Evo to the 300ZX, Supra, RX-7 is silly. The Lancer's chassis comes from another of Mitsu's cars (regular Lancer, Outlander, Sportback) I don't remember any other USDM Toyota's riding on Supra chassis besides the popular Lexus Coupe or any other Mazdas with with rotaries or FD underpinnings. When the 300zx died the 240SX went with it a couple of years later. The Evo's tooling and assembly lines are in place and the R&D is done and paid for. It would be silly not to keep making Evos while the current model cycle is still in play. And slapping an MR turbo, aluminum roof, new suspension, tranny and wing on a USDM 8 and sending it over here as an MR or RR or whatever is not going to cost any more. The car is profitable.

Coming up with a new plan to save Mitsu in the few days that they had after DCX announcement to pull out has been trivialized. Coming up with 2-3 billion is nothing to scoff at. I mean why spend your own money when you can spend someone elses? They probably just didn't want DCX to have controlling interest, but still wanted to use their money. I am glad DCX is staying as well as the platform sharing because I look foward to the Dakota based pickup, and a possible minivan. But I hope they will form a Japanese style leadership without DCX.