Bloody elise was too hard to get in and out of!

I'm thinking about getting a Mivec FTO now, with a veilside kit on it, anyone had one? What are the long term issues of such a car?

Anyone selling one? ;D

Loads here...http://www.neweraimports.com/stock.htm

Correction. There is 1 there! Sorry usually has more in stock. Still a good place to buy one from.

Yeah - get an FTO....

I owned one for 3 years (see www.ralliartcars.co.uk for my details and photos)

Great cars, very reliable, reasonably quick (0-60 circa 7s, even for the tiptronic) and quite good on the MPG front. Excellent handling - my FTO handled better that an out-of-the-box 02 WRX that I test-drove last year anyway ;)

The MIVEC is more noise than action - in theory it gives an extra 20bhp and higher red line. In practice the GR (without MIVEC) probably has more low-down torque and in real terms is just about as quick - and more ecconomical. The MIVEC induction roar (with a performance air-filter) is great though.....

If you want more performance, go for a manual box over tip - rather than GPX over GR. Version R is a stripped out MIVEC, and can be quicker still, but doesn't have many bells'n'whistles.

Common problems - not many really. Central locking motors can get 'lazy' (easy, but time consuming to fix), throttle-position sensor gets dirty and causes hunting at idle (quick and easy to fix), tip-boxes have been known to fail (though generally v. good), and the Mitsubishi 'warpomatic' front discs are very prone to warping (though many upgrade to Black Diamonds)

Plenty for sale out there, parts and servicing is easy through Mitsi dealers, or independants (such as EuroSpec).

For more info, take a look at Steve Hemming's excellent site at www.mitsubishi-fto.org and/or enlist on the VERY active FTO list on Smartgroups


Shades





[Edited by MrShades - 3/3/2003 3:24:31 PM]

[Edited by MrShades - 3/3/2003 3:27:00 PM]

Thanks for the replies gents, now...here's the biggie, if I wanted to get the 0-60 time down some, what can I do? Short of NOS and turbo charging...

From what I understand they don't respond well to mods. I'm sure someone will expand on this...

That's what I heard Andy, I might strap a rocket to the back Batman style! Mmm a fat man in spandex ;)

Hmmmmmmm.......

NOS is the easy way - a few have gone this route, see Wizards of NOS for more details.

The GR (non MIVEC) can also be supercharged, which one guy (Tony Banton) has done. Turbo charging should be an option - but it's easier to just drop a Galant VR4 lump straight in rather than turbo charging the FTO unit (Richard Batty is your man for this route).

Decat has some effect, especially with a decent air-filter / cold air induction mod. Air filter on its own does virtually nothing, and can be detrimental to performance as most of the time you lose the cold-air induction that the standard set up utilises.

So - failing that, go with the 'lose weight, don't increase BHP' route - and buy a version R and strip out anything (like seats) that you don't need....... ;)

Have a browse and lurk on Smartgroups - should be a few bods on there that know what they're talking about.

Shades

You can get a MIVEC contoller they are said to improve drivabily but don't give a lot of power
http://www.mitsubishi-fto.org/parts/electronics/

or try here ...good cars

only down side is insurance group 20...:eek: :eek:

Dan:D

Yikes! Had some okay quotes, I think they'll be better with me attaching that rocket to the back rather than me NOSing it ;)

GRP 20! I was a GRP 16 for my GPX with A Plan.

Great car by the way.

most imports are 20, not that the grouping has anything to do with the premium anyway.

Going to see a red Mivec with tiptronic on saturday, £6500. Word to yo mommas ;)

If you have to do all that, like swop engine etc to get it to perform decently, maybe worth looking at something else, they're not that quick, especially for a grp 20 insurance car, and arent renowned for their handling.

ando, where are you based?


my friend is selling one in north west london.

It is a metallic black gpx with tip tronic and custom cream leather with black piping.

Its in lovely condition and has recently been serviced. The car is an N reg with 18 inch wheels and I believe new SO2s.

Price will be similar to that red one (not nice in red) that you are going to see.

email me if you have any questions

adam@22b.com

Yep, can definately recommend the FTO - great car, one of the best looking jap motors on the road at the moment. Not the quickest in the world but a good turn of speed all the same. Go get one, you'll enjoy it, believe me.

Adam M, I'm in Liverpool, bit of a hike down to London ;) I'd probably end up stealing it anyway! ;)

That one I was going to look at has 75k miles on it :(

Think that's alot for this type of car?