I leased a Dodge Colt in 1994 (Built by Mitsu in Japan and rebadged)
It came with the Japanese factory stickers still attached! I had it for 4 years and drove it every day in bumper to bumper traffic across the 401. It was bulletproof! Never a squeak or rattle, nothing broke..and I averaged 42MPG! The downside was however the cost of parts!!
Example 1...the price of the paper air filter which looked exactly like the ones for domestic vehicles was (drumroll....) $54.00. A similar one for a Honda or Toyota retailed for $9.00. There where (at that time )
no aftermarket alternatives (I looked extensively). Don't even ask about the cost for tune up parts! I asked the dealer parts guy about this and he had the gall to say "we don't make any money off these".
This was inline with the prices of Porsche or Jaguar parts! Before buying a Mits I would suggest calling the parts counter at a dealer and asking the price for items like air cleaners or ignition wires. You don't want a nasty surprise post purchase.
