Cisco's Intentions

Hey Cisco any closer to another car??
I think the Suzuki Swift Sports would be a good fit with you.
2 members now paddling around in them so more the merrier.
My extractors not far away and still trying to work out which rear muffler would be the best.
Also ordered the " sports" air induction system which will help it breath a bit better.

Ever heard of Hooker mufflers Hack?

They're made by Holley in the USA. http://www.holley.com/types/Aero_Chamber.asp

Heres where you can buy them in Australia:
http://www.vpw.com.au/productgroup.asp?CatID=5&SubCatID=836&priorCatID=836&PrdGrpID=2781


They look good and quite a few of the performance oriented clubs in australia have quite a few mentions of them.

Heh funny thread.

Hack, I certainly do admire your little Swift Sport. Its an awesome little car and I know I would love flinging one around..

But I just have to have a turbocharger. In a small car, I can't do without it any more. The Fairmont's stupid CC capacity means that it has sufficient torque without needing a turbo, but in a small car, you need the technology to give you the grunt.

I am more and more liking the Colt Type R. I am actually now seriously considering leasing one for 3 years.

The thing with leasing a company car is that you get heaps of tax benefits, you are spending it half with tax money that you normally would have paid to the government and got nothing for. I have compared "owning" the fairmont with "leasing" a Colt R. It actually works out slightly cheaper to lease a Colt R. Leasing a brand new WRX works out about the same as "owning" a Fairmont. Crazy huh, so makes sense to lease big time.

I just forked out $470 for new rear right central locking actuator for the Fairmont, two new keyring buttons (yeah they both broke) and the labour to do it. That's almost what you'd pay with real after tax money to lease something brand new around the colt's value. We also just paid $700 to service the ford. With a lease all the servicing is covered, you get a servicing card and a fuel card - no hassles. If anything unexpected breaks, then they fix it under warranty - no more to pay. Other costs associated with "owning" is that you own it with real cash. So if you sell that car, the real cash can be paid off your mortgage if you have one, saving you interest, or put in teh bank etc. It depreciates and you get less when you sell it. I think we bought the Fairmont at a good time so it won't depreciated too much now. We got it for an absolute bargain, actually I think I could sell it for $500 more than I paid for it, even still now with more Kms on the clock.

Older cars always need work. The window tinting will fade, something will break. Leasing means you constantly don't have to fork out for these random things.

Colt R CONS
- Trip Computer, OK I know it will be efficient on fuel anyway - no big deal.
- No reach adjustment. I since found out that hardly any small cars have this. I was dreaming to expect this in a small car. Even the EVO doesn't have this.
- Remote boot release. That's the only thing left to gripe about - nothing major though huh.
- Interior slightly plastic-ish. I will have to get over this and focus on all the leather, recaros and the awesome stylish gauges. It was a minor gripe anyway.

Colt R PROS
- Up to the minute technology. Electronic Power Steering, Electronic handling, electronic traction, torque sensing LSD. Mivec, turbo, intercooler.
- Up to the minute styling - it looks hot. Massive side flares/arches, 16" nice alloys, awesome projector lights front and rear, great stance. I love the front and rear.
- Sporty/driver's car interior. Recaros from EVO 8, leather knob, leather wheel, twin airbags with option for 4 airbags (I would get 4), little subtle ralliart badges around the gear knob and stuff like that. Awesome gauges.
- semi-auto climate control (i.e. knob that you wind to set degrees, not fully digital like the fairmont)
- AWESOME handling, everyone says this. It beat WRXs, porsches and stuff around a tight track in WA. Obviously it wouldn't on longer, taller tracks, but on tight stuff, it cains and is so cheap!
- Great price for all this.
- Rear seat folds back and forward for either more boot room, or more leg room for rear passengers.
- mp3 stereo standard. (I'd probably tinker again and put something nicer in one day though along with better speakers)
- AWESOME fuel economy for such a fast car. With something like an EVO, you're still burning a bit of fuel just to drive it around, its a guzzling 2 litre kinda thing. The colt is more modern and only a 1.5, hardly uses anything when you're not boosting.

- AHHHHH The Spooling of a small car.

I think I'm probably gunna push myself over the edge and do it maybe one time soon..

Of course, I would have to build a web site for Colt people to hang around at. But I was also thinking maybe about a more general small car performance kinda site.. There is so much action in this space in Australia now - so many hot cars coming out.. Why not make one site for all of the fans who like all the compact cars to hang out at.
E.g. Swifts, micras, colts, VW turbos, mazda MPS (although they are pretty fat, not really small any more), XR5 turbo, XR4 turbo (soon to be released, Astra turbo..

Actually I think the XR5 turbo and astra turbo are too big. I'd like to focus on the real compact ones. Swift, Colt, Honda Jazz, Micra, XR4 turbo etc. But I'm almost finished building another automotive kinda related web site lately. Its not a fan club/forums kind of thing, more of a service that I hope everyone will use. Users have already found it and its not even finished yet. But more work yet to be done. Man there are so many web sites to write!

Agree with you Cisco re the Colt but the shape does nothing for me.
Be a sad world if we all had the same likes/dislikes.
Go for it Cisco and yes set up a site.I know what you mean about that turbo boost. Swifty unless it one day gets a turbo does not give you the same buzz as Hack when the turbo cuts in.

Ahh its a tough call! Quite a few decisions in this country now re:decent small cars. Its a good fun time for us guys!

Yeah for sure, each to their own. I originally didn't like the rear of the colt, but now I like it. I also like the swift a lot.

Bah cars.

What is the Australian top tax rate? I guess it's that which makes the leasing worthwhile.
Do you have to have some sort of business or be self employed in order to claim it off your pre tax income?

$0 – $25,000
29c for each $1

$25,001 – $75,000
$7,250 plus 30c for each $1 over $25,000

$75,001 – $150,000
$22,250 plus 40c for each $1 over $75,000

Over $150,000
$52,250 plus 45c for each $1 over $150,000

PS. RWD turbo! :) :)

If you get a "novated lease", your employer can just offer it to you. You don't need anything special. It just works out differently depending on the tax bracket and yeah it might suit different people and their lifestyle differently etc.. But anyone can get a novated lease as long as their employer offers it. That's basically it..

Personal opinion cisco bu I think you'd be nuts to put a mitsubishi on a novated lease without doing some number crunching with a few other options first (like the Mini Cooper which I know for a fact is an excellent value for money car on the lease plan my dad uses or the suzi swift which doesn't seem to know what the word depreciation means). They (mitsubishis) depreicate worse than nissans at the moment. I'd hate to see the colt's residual value after 2 or 3 years...

Even the EVO's are depreciating like there's no tomorrow (this happens when the grey imports come in I guess).

I mean its fantastic news for a second hand buyer but bad news for people who are buying new.

yeah i dont think i'd buy a new car..you just lose out.

what happened with the EVO cisco? that was a big player on the cards!

Leasing can actually help make that new car blow a bit softer than usual.

Leasing is just a waste of time if the car you're leasing doesnt hold its value...

One great advantage of the Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart is that a five year warranty is included (rather than just three years from most manufacturers). I imagine this should help to keep resale values higher for longer ??.

I also like the Ralliart colt, it's a real "sleeper" because they don't look overly sporting but pack a real punch.

They actually have a fuel economy rating (6.7/100km) slightly better than a standard Swift, Barina, Fiesta etc. but is obviously much faster than them... Though I am sure if you are driving it hard economy will very quickly become very poor... ;).

In "Hot4s" magazine the reviewer wrote it was the best front wheel drive he had ever driven but he didn't like the look of it... I guess it's a matter of opinion but I think they actually look good (especially in white).

A compact car website is a great idea. I will definately join !.

Mitsubishi's long warrenty isnt transferrable afaik!

It goes down to a standard 3yr/100,000km (whatever the car hits first) if you sell the vehicle.

Well it did when they first released the 5/10 warrenty thing they prout about anyway> They might have changed it as they did cop a bit of flack about it.

http://www.thegarage.com.au/review_details_show.php?rid=79&rtype=New%20Cars

Colt ralliart vs swift sport

polo gti

http://www.thegarage.com.au/review_details_show.php?rid=55&rtype=


Sounds like you really would have to be nuts to put money towards the colt (in my eyes anyway)

Yeah you're right, new cars are a total rip off.

What we paid and got for the Fairmont is unbelievable, and its decked out with pretty reasonable technology, even though its 6 years old now.
Second hand is definitely the way to go, well you can even lease a second hand car. That's not a bad option, but its messier like no warranty and all that stuff etc. It has that check thing when you turn the key with the engine already on, a little light flashes and it doesn't throw the starter back into the rotating flywheel like the micra did heh.

Pftt I dunno. Yeah what about EVOs huh evade. Don't think I'd bother now.. A coupla reasons. Everyone on ralliart.com.au is whinging that most of them have crunchy second gears. Stuff that for a $60,000 vehicle. Also, they are really fast, but again its a bit like all that power like blue monster that you don't get to use all that much unless driving above 100kmh. You pay $60,000 (for a ripoff new one), pay big insurance, big everything and you can't fully use it all that much.

Or something like the colt is half the cost, half the power, but almost half the weight (well not really, but a fair bit lighter anyway) and it still feels AWESOME to drive in terms of performance and fun handling.. So I think you can really get the fun factor in a street car without needing an EVO because of the EVO's top end power and "status". Imagine parking a new-ish EVO anywhere and leaving it there overnight. You would be paranoid about it getting scratched, smashed, stolen. Pfft.

I think I'll think about it more.. No rush. I don't want some half baked piece of crap that has "drawbacks". The fairmont is a really awesome car in terms of features, smart, practical etc. It basically has no drawbacks except for being fat and heavy and uses up fuel. BUt the quality and design is really nice. I would not want some poverty pack compromise small car to give me the shits again..

Hmm!

You're only going to get dissapointed if you look under $30,000 in that case cisco. :( Although it would be a tough decision deciding on which plastics are better, the colt's or the falcon's lol... the au falcon interior quality is terrible compared to alot of new cars. But they really do have a crapload of features for the price.

All the stuff you seem to like in a car only starts becoming available in the next size up. XR5, 3 MPS, Golf GTI etc.

THis is a great thread. Horses for courses I reckon. I could never own a big car. I feel so uncomfortable in them and so isolated from the outside but my foreman at work has a new Holden Dunnydore SS. That thing really flies and when you flick it into sports mode its like another car.A lot of car, goes hard, but gee fill her up and big hole in pocket.
Fun to drive but being a small car man get a bigger buzz from Hack and Swifty.Funny the more I drive Swifty the more I realise what a great package Hack is and its like 11 years old.
Micra still rules my heart.

I know what you mean Cisco. You want to spend your hard earned dollars on something that is more than an appliance. So you'd rather not buy something that buy a compromise! In that price bracket ($25K) you can buy a whole lot of 2nd hand car. Clio sport, even new Minis now.

Clio Sports are hot looking cars. Especially if you can find someone selling it in black. The dual exhaust is a freakin awesome look and im sure would accomodate a turbo nicely.
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=8986&vf=1

Delicious.

The build quality of the new renaults is up to that of Peugeot's quality too which isnt that bad. The japanese manufacturers are having HUGE issues with shitty build quality right now. THey're cutting far too many corners to be able to compete with the Koreans.

thats a bit weird for the cup premium stated on that site, in the uk the cup version of the clio sport is thousands cheaper than the standard version, as it has less equipment to make it lighter (cup spec).

I dont think anyone will ever understand the french. I don't even try.

same with nissan in recent years, they suck.
have people read about the new nissan altima? fwd coupe using the 3.5v6 350Z engine. nissan isnt even going to have it in the uk, instead it will be badged a renault and be called the new laguna coupe. interesting, but fwd, what a shame. guess they dont want it to confuse people who are thinking about a 350z. i'm not confused though, both companies are crap.
if nissan make the URGE concept, then i will see them in a better light again.

Got me Yom. Which Japanese cars have bad build quality??
One of the reasons I like most Japanese cars is because of their build quality.
Must admit the Koreans are catching up quickly but their cars are so boring.
Never mind the Chinese are coming. We will all laugh at them to begin with but give them 10years max and it will be a different story.

Yeah agree. Nissan thesedays sucks for car/performance enthusiasts. They just make utes/SUVs/4WD in Australia, and anything that's not is boring. Tiida - BAH!

That's why sometimes I just feel like supporting Mitsubishi or someone like that because they have had the balls to take a big leap in a country full of V8 bogans and risk selling a small, high-tec performance oriented vehicle. I take my hate off to them, and I don't want to see the same thing happen to these cars as what happened to the micra for us back in 1997 when everything micra dried up.

But then at the same time, when they leave little things out like trip computer etc, then you don't want to buy it, because its not quite perfect. I just wish the Colt had a slightly more expensive model/version that offered this kind of stuff along with nicer interior trim etc. I.e. you could opt for it if you wanted.

But then yeah you're paying low 30s for a car that's still heaps slower than a 200sx, and you can pick 200sxs up second hand for good prices now. And they are pure performance. But like anything Nissan, they are getting older and parts will become harder in a few years from now - especially S14. The interior and stuff of the S14 just looks so outdated now..

Hey the Swift must handle really well. That review that YOM posted said they couldn't keep up with it around the corners in the Colt. By the way, that review seemed like a bit of a home grown job, like kids wrote it or something, but still, its interesting to see what they thought.

Yeah you're right Yom. I think my perceptions of what I like in a car have fully changed somewhat. I used to love the raw poverty of the micra and how much you could get it to perform with barely anything. I didn't care about the interior or any lack of features, it was all kind of an adventure to run around and find JDM things or whatever to try and customise and enhance the car. But then after kind of going around with circles and getting all the issues when things don't run smoothly, I think I now love getting it already all pre-done. I.e. you just drive it, and someone has parts for it and is able to service it no worries.

Yes I agree, the AU's interior plastic around the main centre controls thing is just cheap, hard stuff. But in the Fairmont model, everything else around it is better stuff. The interior is pretty good quality apart from that centre plastic kind of stuff. Obviously its no LTD or Statesmen, but there's plenty of woodgrain and velour for the price. But I certainly don't need woodgrain in a car to make me like it. But I guess the good thing is that newer cars are always seeming to become more and more packed with features. I mean if you just compare what you are getting for $29,990 in the COLT to what you got for $21,990 in a Super S 10 years ago. YOu can't believe it. The COLT is like double the car, double the features, double the technology and refinement of a Super S and it only costs a bit more. That surely is an awesome sign that things are heading in the right direction..

Heh, man I think I'll just think about it bit longer. No rush.. But its really an exciting time. I also don't mind ones like those GOLF GTI's etc. But then my head just always compares cars like that to how much faster a 200sx is, and how much cheaper a 200sx is. An S15 would surely be a top package thesedays. Go evade!

hehe..i love it..have so much fun. the guy at the servo last night said he liked my car. its funny how many people don't really know what a 200sx is either.

Agree with hack, great thread !!
Why on earth don't we get the VW Lupo, have another look at Polar's ... Classic lines, reminds me of the Swift which is our best looking current small car.
NOW couple the lupo with that 1.4 twincharged 125kw motor and Voila !! functionality, performance, and economy !!!
Ahhh to dream!!!
Forgive me if I'm wrong but methinks Cisco's garage may have a nice shiny s15 in it within say 6 mths !!!
See ya !

Unfortunately all of them are mate. Toyota and nissan are cutting corners in the interior. Cheaper, thinner plastics. Mazda are using lovely looking and feeling plastics but they're ridiculously soft (and thin) and scuff up quicker than you can say "off milk on a 40degree day". Toyota's latest 4x4 offers have had corners cut in the mechanicals - differenetials and gearboxes especially. This is where nissan currently pwns toyota in the 4x4 market (the nissan drivelines are quite literally so much stronger and more durable than the toyota stuff at the moment its not funny... although there are clouds over the reliability of the patrol 3.0L turbo diesels).

Suzuki dont seem to be doing too badly but then again they havent exactly priced the Swift to be as cheap as the Echo, Getz etc. The swift has very quickly become one of the more premium small cars. Base model swifts do have terrible carpet and average trim though (but all of the base model small cars do... except the tiida its actually got half decent carpet and trim).

The koreans are putting the squeeze on the japanese. They're having trouble matching the little buggers.

why not get an audi a3 or s4. they small and they are pretty nice. s3 147kw and you can chip them and take it to 188kw. got a friend getting an A3 in a few weeks. i know they cost a lot more.

Reasons I love the Colt R even more than sports style cars:
- Practicality. Its got 4 doors.
- Its super fuel efficient.
- Its super modern with everything that opens and shuts and the latest technology (electronic steering, mivec, projecter lights, computer everything, awesome styling, electronic flip in mirrors!).
- Every car will depreciate a bit, something more rare like a special edition, e.g. Ralliart, will hold its value slightly more. All cars depreciate anyway, the best thing with the lease, is that you get to buy it for a super bargain price at the end anyway. Then sell it for $3k mor e than the going 2nd hand price.
- The practical package with the superb sportscar handling.
- Loaded with features. Man think of everything that the micra Super S NEVER had and we all wished it did. Well check out the Colt's spec sheet: http://www.ralliart.com.au/RalliartVehicles/ColtTurbo.aspx?item=1

I think I'm pushing myself over the line.. Going to test drive one this week and get some final, accurate leasing plan projections..

Man, within 6-12 months, there will be bolt on power up boost kits for them available. Probably simple re-flashing with boost increase and jump from 220 up to 260Nm just as a possible example etc. You're gunna be able to get them to go even quicker so easily, and they have all the traction smart in place to handle it better than a micra ever did.

Why Ralliart/Mitsubishi kick Nissan totally:
- They have setup www.ralliart.com.au which is decicated to their performance fans as well as attracting new performance fans.
- They sent me a massive full quality awesome metallic Ralliart sticker in the post after I signed up - They care about encouraging and attracing fans. Nissan couldn't give a crap. They sell 4WDs to tradesmen and soccer Moms.
- Turbo/MIVIC/Intercooler/EPS/ASC=Technology=Performance.

Nissan are crap. Anything good that they ever made is simply so old and perished now and parts are getting harder and harder to find. I am definitely not proud to hang my Nissan banner up any more. They give me a sick feeling the guts of no post-sales support and hard to find expensive parts. Nissan Australia - A bad experience!!!

Now Look, Of course Mitsu aren't perfect and they would no doubt have their whole swag of problems also, I'm not dreaming that any one of them is perfect. BUT, at least they are making a decent effort to drum up support for the aussie small car performance scene.

Man let the k11's 1992 design blueprints rest in peace. It was and still is a truely awesome small car that took the other manufacturers 8 years to come up with a better all round package.

You're only comparing it (colt) to the micra because you're trying to talk it up in your mind.

Mate if you have to continually go over the specs and the positives as to why you'd buy one then mabye, just mabye you know deep down that you don't really like it and that buying one could be a mistake.

There's some food for thought.

Nah. I just naturally think very seriously about any kind of serious commitment before diving in.. Its clear that you don't like it as much as I do, but that's fine, you don't have to drive one :)

I am definitely not bagging the micra out.. What I am trying to point out is that finally a small car has arrived with a lot of the features and technology that we used to try to source for our micra.. I hope I didn't offend any micra people and/or you Yom. Apologies if it came across that way.. The micra is/was in my blood - I will never forget..

ow many things do you see everyone running around trying to source aftermarket. E.g. cupholders (so simple! yet so hard to get), wide arch kits (the Colt has flares standard). etc etc. Yes you are 100% correct. The micra was a seriously awesome car for its time and still is today. I loved the micra and still love all those times and experiences it gave me. But I am just saying that for not much more $ than what a Super S used to cost, you can now get a pretty good all round car packed with technology.

Heh I'm pretty much definite now.. I bet I can sell the Fairmont for $500-$1000 more than what I scavenged it for when we bought it. They have held their prices well if not gone up since when we bought it. Because fuel prices are cheap again now. There are none for sale for the amount that we paid for the similar year and Km. They are all considerably more expensive. Probably a good time for me to sell the Fairmont, considering that fuel will again rise sometime down the track which can have the effect of lowering large car values.

In my mind, I know there is nothing available anywhere near as good for the price of the Colt. Sure, you can pay a bit more and get a bit more, keep adding $5000 to the price and you keep getting a better car. But you can't beat the bang for your buck of the Colt. I can lease one for cheap as chips and not really feel the cost of owning it. I can't justify something like an EVO with their crunchy 2nd gears that everyone is whinging about..

I also found out they have an electronic boot release on the keyring. Previously I was worried because it didn't have a remote boot release from the cockpit. But its on the keyring, that's just as good basically..

Man I'm getting one.. I asked about the electronic mirrors..

And an owner replied with:

"Just need to double press the remote and it will fold open and close on command."

They are fully electronic flip out just like the JDM cars! YEAH!!!!

I bet there are so many other high tec JDM surprised in these things.

I also know the camshafts and valves are lightened. I think the camshafts are hollow.

And a local owner got his dyno'd 3 runs in a row. 93fwkw in a row 3 times, no heat soak - it kept staying the same.

But consider you up the boost and bit and he'd have 120fwkw pretty easily as soon as some powerup kits come out.. Its blue monster with a bit extra weight, but the clever traction computers.

Go for it Cisco. I would have bought the Colt but the shape just leaves me cold. Yes bang for your buck it wins and good on Mitsubishi
for taking the plunge. I hope they sell thousands of them.
Getting used to cars with all the mod cons is frustrating. I do not know how many times I pulled up, switched off and realised the drivers side window is down. Put key back in, turn on ignition and press up button. I find the power windows very fiddle and not as simple as a toggle switch which you operate manually. Always looking at the key to make sure I have hit the right button re loc/unlock. One click unlocks drivers side door, 2 clicks all doors plus boot.
SWifty is nice for sure and motor still working itself in but still not the same is taking Hack for a spin. Maybe I am getting old and sentimental or just plain mental.

go for it cisco.
do you get the smart forfour brabus in oz? this is the raliart colt, but with loads more kit and electric goodies and ultra high quality trim. costs more though. but if you get the colt, look out for a brabus ecu as that will give you an instant 180ps over the colts 150ps, although it may not be cheaper to source than a tuning remap in your local tuning garage.

Had a great day at the Mitsubishi EvoIX/Colt Ralliart drive-day at the Wanneroo Raceway organised by Lindsay at Paceway Mitsubishi here in Perth.

Used it as a tuning day for my S14 racecar for an event this Sunday but more importantly got to drive an EvoIX and Colt Ralliart around the track as fast as I liked. You don't see Nissan organising these sort of events!

Impressions? EvoIX in stock trim on street tires is simply awesome. Turn-in and ability to hold a fast line through a corner was astounding. You are aware of all sorts of electronic trickery making you drive like a hero but in essence its all there to make the fun safe. That said, I personally would have liked the electronics turned off because I don't like the car suddenly applying the brakes without permission because the back end is stepping out. I would have prefered to feel a bit more sideways action. Still it's nice to know it's there if your wife is driving it on a wet windy road. On R-compound tyres this would stick to a corner and enable a driver to fully exploit it's abilities. I did sit as a passenger in Ross Dunkerton's (for OS members, a West Australian rally star of-old) tarmac-rally prepped EvoIX clubsport (factory fitted with rollcage, fire extinguisher, better suspension) and was given an insight into how hard and far these cars can be pushed.

OK, you would fully expect this sort of report on an Evo. They have a long history of awesomeness. What I wasn't expecting was the Colt to turn-in and corner almost as well as the Evo! Sure it lacks the outright grunt of the Evo but it is a phenomenal piece of kit in a fast corner. Not a hint of wheel spin, torque steer or even understeer. It actually drove like it had 4WD. Sure it is a little high off the ground (accentuated by its highish seating position)and the body would have a high centre of gravity making it feel like it should roll around in corners - but it doesn't much. Lower springs would transform this critter. The ESP is not that intrusive and works well to keep the car on track without slowing down progress - an anoying habit reported on some new cars in the press. The brakes were fantastic. I could apply them with confidence at each corner even after 5 or 6 hot laps doing close to 200km/hr in places.

Cisco you are spot-on about Nissan vs Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi is interested in their fan-base in organising these sort of days and bringing out these sort of cars into the markeplace. Nissan has a fan-base in Australia by accident, not through any effort on their part. They don't bring over most of their hero cars (too many to mention) and when they do they then decide to stop making them (S15) with no direct replacement on the horizon or bring out crap or watered-down versions (we never got the hot version of the AE86). And parts pricing is getting bloody ridiculous. I was quoted $50 each ex-Japan for a windscreen washer jet to fit in a new bonnet for my S14! I couldn't comment for other manufacturers but Nissan is taking us for fools.

i forgot to say there are a few negatives with the colt. i used to be on the colt forum to get as much info as i could before i got my new car. main gripes are the traction control system, reports are when trying to have fun by overtaking a car or something if there is a tiny bump in the road the ssytem will cut in and cut the power, this leaves you on the wrong side of the road and all your turbo boost gone. seems it can be annoying for some in certain situations. and also it cant be turned off. it also presented a problem for the dyno, it couldnt get a run properly as the rear wheels were stationary it locked the sysyem out. think its possible to get around by removing the fuse though.
also ecu map needs to be sorted before any modification parts can be fitted otherwise the ecu detects very sensiteively a fault must be in the engine can go to limp mode. so no easy adjust the boost , or decat things etc., custom mapping is essential. or "only" ecu work as part of any tune up plans would make it easiest progress.
they also loose power if an aftermarket panel filter is put in. this must be becasue the standard one is very good.

i reccomend registering up for a colt czt forum/club and see for your self how they get on. things may have developed in the last few months on tuning progress. some good full exhaust systems were being made last time i was on there.

NissanMania, what a day!!! I wish we were there with you. Sounds fantastic. Glad to hear the handling reports.. nice!

Yeah agree re:Nissan in Aus TOTALLY.

Outright grunt is nice, but at the end of the day, I would prefer the nice fuel economy of the smaller engine and the more efficient all round smaller vehicle. I like small cars. If it can even feel close to the EVO, then that's clever and I'm impressed.

Hack, I read that review that Yom posted and they said they could not catch the Swift around corners in the COLT. Those things must be very nimble. I'm thinking down the track we might need a generic compact car kind of web site where we can all talk..

2008.

i would be interested in joining the compact car web site to discuss on.
i have already been banned from the lupo club. heheh.

Spent half of today in a work car Ford Focus 2.0.

Yuck. Its noy my cup of tea.
- Cheap interior, feels harsh and straight out of an injection moulding machine.
- Gutless 2.0 engine.
- Fuel economy was ok, but nothing exceptional.

Yeah it was just an average experience, not my cup of tea. But remembering its in no way meant to be a sporty model or anything.. So I guess I can't bag it out too much.

I hate the shape/appearance of the normal Colts too. Saw a few driving around. I only like the Ralliart model, they have dressed it up a lot.

Oh well, the exciting thing, is that I think I'm gunna get some kind of car and definitely sell the 'mont. There is a lot to pick from..

Thinking about Colt Ralliart of course. But might take the time to test drive some other things.. Maybe Golf GTI, maybe WRX, maybe EVO.

The focus has a very cheap and nasty interior. The last model did too. Real shame because they're both very composed vehicles on the road.

The mazda 3 and volvo s40 (same floorpant with the current shapes) are infinetely nicer interiors. Bit of a shame really.

Come on Cisco do it!!The Colt Ralliart is calling you. Stay small and fast.

when they come out could also consider the new mini cooper s or Peugeot 207 gti both have the new 1.6 turbo 170ish bhp. or the golf TSI 1.4 supercharged and turbocharged 170bhp, with an easy remap to 210bhp.
or there is the polo gti 1.8 150bhp turbo. i cant remember what you thought of that.
also cheaper alternatives to the golf gti but with same 200bhp 2.0 turbo, are skoda octavia vrs and seat leon tfsi fr. or slightly cheper alternative to the polo gti, the seat ibiza with same 1.8 turbo but with 180bhp.
i know you need a turbo so haven't suggested any high revving NA options.
i'll also throw in for fun, the merc a class a200 turbo 190bhp, 911 turbo or mazda rx8 228bhp. mazda 6 2.3mps 256bhp.

We dont get half those cars you just mentioned. :P

Thanks Polar, but Yeah, unfortunately we don't get most of those in AUS :(

But isn't the Mazda MPS 3 just a crazy piece of kit @ 256hp.
They are almost like buying a factory blue monster with that kind of power to weight! Almost.. It would out-un a Colt Ralliart in the straight line with its raw grunt, but I'd expect the Colt kills it around the corners. That's what some fans have been saying..

The power that the 3 MPS has is kind of too much almost.. I don't know how you could put it all down in the wet.. Its too much of a fuel guzzler I think for me..

Hey Cisco hows things, Is it possible yet to lease a Suzuki Swift Sport with a turbocharged motor from a dealer yet? With the Colt Ralliart i've noticed lots of performance shops have started working on them up here in Queensland,APC have already got a page on the website with the standard kw at the wheels but haven't got any modified dyno graphs yet.

Here's afew pics i found,The first ones that are not stock anyway.

2

3

4

Very nice. This uses shiney wheel arches not the matt black plastic ones we see in the Australian version. Nice wing, wheels and graphics. Looks hot.

Yeah I was also thinking of getting the arches all sprayed black properly. The matt ones will fade after a couple of years.

Also the thing about hatches that i've realised is the driving position..when you are in a low slung car you sit in a better position, instead of sorta sitting up...they're made to be easier to get out of for older folk lol

Yeah true..

BTW - the colt has the exact same TRACK as a 200sx!

And a chassis which needs electronic driving aids to cover its weaknesses :P

Nah that's crap Yom, stop making such crazy suggestions you dumb ass.

Its called technology. If Nissan still made any good performance cars, they would have it too.

In fact, read the article somewhere about the Colt in Wanneroo blowing all the expensive sportscars away. On a tight track, the Colt beats a 200sx around the track. It beat porsches and WRXs. An STI beat it near the end as well as a porsche.

All the comments I have read say the Colt's ASC hardly kicks in and never interferes with the driver, its only when you're really on the edge it does stuff at times..

Sure Nissan made some great cars in their time. But stop defending them, they have dropped the ball and all their cars are too old now. They've all been flogged to the max and are faded and ugly. Move with the times, evolve or die. Nissan has dropped the ball.

But you already knew all that.

I'm going to drive it and make my own mind up about how it handles. I've owned a 200sx aswell, so I will be able to give you an accurate comparison.

I think that its not that a 200sx won't handle!It's just no where near as much fun,or as chuckable as a smaller car.

Once also being an owner of a 200sx aswell as many more japanese cars i think that your taste Cisco is similar to mine where you enjoy the smaller cars yet still appreciate the larger. I must say that all the small fwd turbos and 4wd turbos are the most fun to have on 4 wheels in my opinion. Get the colt mate, it'll be sweet.

No need to get defensive about a comment which is clearly not aiming to be offensive or malicious.

i want to see a fight!

but really my 2cents or 2yen is that u should really wait till the start of next year and buy a 2006 badged model as there are always big discounts and as i used to work for mitsu i know that every jan/feb is trying to get rid of 2006 model year and 2006 badged AND 2007 model year(after sept) with 2006 badge

but that is if u decide on the colt..

and shop around alot!!! and not just at ralliart showrooms as ALL dealers have ways of getting rallyart models like the EVO...because i sold one before and normal mitsu dear are "not ment to"

Yeah good call Blake. No rush just yet. I might do that. Give it a couple of months and see what happens after things calm down and its 2007. I am messing around with different leasing companies to work out the best deal and will see what happens. If its too hard, then I won't bother, but it would be good to fire one up.

in the uk you can get a few thousand $ taken off the new price, and 3 years free servicing just by asking the dealers for it. so they have quite a bit of room for discounting, it maybe a similar story for the oz mitsu dealers. the dealer i took the test drive with was very keen for me to buy, he called me quite a few times for a few weeks afterwards asking me if i had decided yet lol.
i'm starting to get interested in a turbo kit for my lupo now!

i own both, and drove both still..turbo micra was fun - in the sense that you could have a run with people and smoke em and they'd be in total shock...the fact that it just wasn't expected to go fast was the best part of it..it was chuckable..i love flying through twisties with it..

the 200sx is fun in a different way..sideways is loads of fun...i wouldn't use it/expect it to get the best times at the track..its more of a drift machine around corners..

i enjoy them both still, but *for me* i was getting a bit bored of fwd so the rwd world is a welcome change.. *for me*

but yes, we're all about our own opinions here..so each to their own!

btw my mates civic beat a ferrari and gt3 porsche around winton...which is a tighter track...thats pretty cool haha

Far out, go the civic.

Spot on evade.

Went and check out an R.Colt again this arvo..

A couple of cool things I noticed.. There is also a button inside to make the mirrors pop in or out.. Two clicks of the keyring also does the same thing.. Nifty!

The trim all throughout the car is totally covered, carpeted, plastic, vinyl everywhere. Unlike the painted bare metal sections you used to be able to see all over the micra.

The hatch has an inner handle like the 1997 model micra's had. Plus the trim all around it is fully tidy and no bare ugly metal to be seen anywhere.

The trim looks really nice. I had a good play with the seats today, adjusted them, played with all the adjustments, put my phone/wallet and crap in all the compartments etc to see how it would all fit practically from day to day when you're busy etc. It has a funky sunglasses holder up in the ceiling.

The ralliart badge and leather is really nice.

The gauges and steering wheel are really nice.

Yeah I'm not sure why, but its really grown on me even more this time.

Got under it.. There is some additional lower bracing on the front end, they have definitely put braces and stuff around the place to stiffen it up - that's the Ralliart coming out in it.. The exhaust looks I dunno, approx 1.75-2" in diameter, really good for a factory 1.5litre turbo anyway.. It looks pretty free flowing for sure..

The wheels look pretty cool, the brakes are big.. The engine bay is very refined, tidy and well organised.. You can see the little turbo down in there.. Its a pretty simple, but tough looking manifold.

Hmm what else..

Two cupholders, two airbags. The rear glass (all rear side windows and the main back window) are all "Privacy glass". Which is darker than legal tinting, but its actually just the glass, no tint on it.. So that's another awesome thing, its legal and it means the tint inside the glass never ever fades.. Then you only have to tint the front windows to match..

You can get ralliart floor mats and headlight protectors etc.

The adjustment in the bucket seats is good. They come forward and back a fair way and you can tilt them with a knob on the side. No adjustable lumber etc, as they are racing seats heh.

A fair amount of cool little pockets and consoles everywhere.

A cool tray thing under the steering column like the micra has, but wider and it has all these little shapes and trays in it so that things sit in particular spots without sliding around.

I reckon its a pretty refined, feature packed hatch.

Going for a test drive at 10am on Friday.. Have to suss it out..

I'm selling my micra, I've just ordered a brand new MY07 WRX.

all it took was one drive, and I got out of the car and said 'where do I pay?'...

AWD is impossible to beat for control and getting that power down. I learned my lesson when I built a hardcore turbo FWD...

The Colt is cool, I even took a look at it. Certainly a car I would consider.. Alas, I want something I can throw a baby seat in the back (when the time comes), WRX was the ultimate decision for price, performance and practicality... :)

yay

Are you guys "MICRA" enthusiasts or just "CAR" enthusiasts?
I joined this site and keep my Micra because I'm in the first group.

Do I sell my 1958 Triumph because it's "OLD" no, I keep it because I'm also a Triumph enthusiast.

Otherwise I'd just be trading in and buying the newsest whatever model every couple of years.

Mychael

The latter mate. Just "Car enthusiasts".

Kinda like ghetto, I poured too much into something and took it as far as it could go. Once you have done that, you see the whole cycle and that the flaws in anything can't be fixed by pouring more money at it.

I am very much a fan of modern design, refinement and factory grunt now. There are just so many less hassles.

Good to hear from you Mipcar.

Hey Ghetto, nice choice.. I drove my mates 2003 WRX the other day, its certainly not a 2006 model, but its still pretty nice. They certainly are bang for your buck aren't they. WRX is good for baby seats and carrying prams etc. The colt is 4 door, but not as roomy, but the biggest difference is the boot - there isn't one :)

I honestly like my micra just the way it is. There's very few things I'd change which could make it a better car than what it already is (without going overboard to make things match each other - can't have a heap of power without the suspension to handle it now can we).

Mipcar, I think we are seeing a transitional period in Micra ownership that will see lots of people opt out of it and get a newer, fresher model. Nothing wrong with that.

Hopefully we'll see the die-hards hang in there till the car is 20-30 years old when they will become collectable. We are seeing this with old Aussie muscle-cars. Could buy them for a song 10 years ago. Now they're changing hands for $250,000AUS. I'm not saying K11 Micra's will become a blue-chip investment to be held as superannuation but interest will increase in years to come especially in Australia where the model no longer exists. I reckon a mint Super S would be sought after rarity in 10 years time. Same goes for a mint 200SX - a great car abandoned by Nissan.

Hopefully this forum will keep running into the future as a valuable source of info to new and existing Micra enthusiasts. I know it's motivated me to get into a Micra project!

The thing for me is also that I don't "need" anything else.
My Micra (series one so the seats folds flat) can carry my dogs, tow a trailer, give great fuel economy,reliabilty and low maintainence costs. Plus it's nippy, handles great on the twisty roads where I live and capable of long trips. Shit I drove up and back to Cisco's in a day once to get parts (or was it deliver,I forget).
Anyway the point I'm making is that more modern cars are only a refinemnt on a solid theme started by Micra.
I would have more cars if budget allowed and yes just about anything modern will do most things with more refinement then a similer but 10 year old design would, that's just technology in progress.
Refinement is easily defined but "better" is a more subjective thing, I don't believe that the modern cars (taking purchase cost and depreciation into account) really do anything "better" then a good condition Micra.
I hope the forum continues and the technical data base remains for those that keep their Micras.I've not needed much help with mine 'cos nothing ever goes wrong with it.
Recently my posting ratio has dropped off the scale from times past but I'll remain around and keep the Micra faith.

Mychael

Just went out and told Hack nothing to worry about.Looking at both Swifty and Hack side by side I know which one stirs my blood the most.
If Swifty is in as good a condition as Hack is after nearly 12 years I will be more than happy.
Hack after a wash and due to the attention to the interior and paintwork still shines like a new car and goes pretty hard.
It has been overall near faultless in all regards.
If I had any doubts the drive across the Nullabour fully loaded changed all that.