Everyone always goes for the typical suspects; the Ford Focus, Fiesta or the Astra or Corsa. But why? Why do we need to go that route? Why can't we buy something cheap and with a bit more personality? That's why I bought a Mitsubishi Colt - and I love it.
Sure, the Colt looks quite different to the aforementioned, but the Colt has so much more personality; it's fun, ready for a laugh and turns heads. The MPG is as good as any mainstream hatch and, while the build quality may not be amazing, it's enough to keep you happy. The insurance is low, running costs are decent and it holds its value very well. Lots of positives.
I'd say the only downside is probably the driving position, which is a little too high, but apart from that I can't really fault it. It's just a good all rounder which can appeal to almost everyone. I'd recommend it.
I bought a Mitsubishi Colt in the hope that it would be roomy and versatile, as I had heard it was. And it is! The car looks pretty titchy from the outside but inside you can arrange it pretty much however you want and you can easily fit four people in with room for a bit of fidgeting.
The fuel economy is very good and I usually get at least 50mpg out of my little Colt. It feels very well-built and all the interior parts are very sturdy and quality feeling. There's not much room in the boot but it is a hatchback and the versatility in the seats kind of makes up for that. I would say that the engine is a little noisy compared to previous cars.
The Mitsubishi Colt is a great fun drive and gets pretty nippy when you ask it nicely. I didn't go for the more expensive range so I didn't get side airbags which I though was a bit of a rip-off as most cars have them as standard now. Overall though I'm very pleased with this little beast!
The AMT gearbox takes a little getting used to but once you have mastered it it is good fun to use. In fully auto the first to second gear change is a little abrupt and this seems to be a common comment from most owners.
The Mitsubishi Colt is actually more economical in auto than manual as it works out the best times to change gear. It is a computer controlled clutch and gearbox rather than the normal hydrostatic auto which means the changes are a little more abrupt anyway but this is far outweighed by having a 6 speed box with sequential mode. The Colt will not let you get it wrong and will change down for you if you are going to stall so is great for someone to practice who only drives an auto.
All in all a good little car which is a lot more fun and much more economical than a normal automatic.