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FTO Drivers Club, Western Australia
A general discussion for members of the FTO Drivers Club (WA)
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Steph
Guest
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 Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 10:19 pm Post subject: Wanting to buy |
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Hi Guys,
I'm looking to buy an FTO right now. Is anyone selling or know anyone that has one for sale. In Good cond for a good price. |
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Guest
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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| steph, give us your email and i'll let you know of my car details |
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Guest
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:38 am Post subject: |
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| car for sale. look on the forums |
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joe
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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i have a fto for sale call me on 0421890814 for details
thanks |
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Steph
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Perth
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:15 am Post subject: FTO Bought |
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Hey Guys,
Thanx heaps, Scored myself a FTO GPX.
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Steph
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Perth
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:17 am Post subject: FTO Bought |
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Hey Guys,
Thanx heaps, Scored myself a FTO GPX.
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RichardH
Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 804
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:35 am Post subject: |
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Excellent! Was it you who emailed me asking for a "buyers guide" bit of advice? Did it help? Hmm, I guess it did!!!! 
- Rich |
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Steph
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Perth
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:43 am Post subject: |
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Yeah it was.
Thanx Heaps. I knew what I was looking for and what to look for. The info you gave me was fantastic.
Just eager to get my car out there and meet you guys.
Steph |
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Skidoo32
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:38 am Post subject: |
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Im also looking at purchasing an FTO can any one tell me a few things i should keep an eye out for when looking at them?
Also are there anythings that I should look at doing soon after purchasing one? |
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Guest
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| hey Skidoo32 im currently trying to sell my fto u can email me or call me on 0402 960 316. |
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RichardH
Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Posts: 804
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Skidoo32 wrote: | Im also looking at purchasing an FTO can any one tell me a few things i should keep an eye out for when looking at them?
Also are there anythings that I should look at doing soon after purchasing one? |
I've finally managed to dig up an email I sent to Steph recently on this subject! Don't expect anything ordered or structured here... this was just off-the-cuff FTO buying thoughts. There are plenty of good FTO buyer's guide web pages out there that are neat and ordered!
But maybe there will be something of interest in these ramblings...
MODELS?
In case you haven't found such a list yet, here are the main FTO models...
GS - Puny 1.8 litre engine. Avoid. Not seen one in Perth myself.
GR - 2.0 litre engine, no variable valve timing (but don't hold that against it - solid performer).
GPX - 2.0 litre engine with MIVEC variable valve timing & lift. Also has better front brakes than a GR.
GP version R - Like a GPX, but a little "stripped" in the cabin options for weight savings. Firmer suspension too, I think.
There have been some other variants, but essentially they are just mixing and matching bits from the above models.
As far as engines go, the MIVEC 2-litre in the GPX has a bit more spirit than the GR non-MIVEC 2-litre. Both types drive well. All else being equal, the GR should be a little cheaper. The choice is yours.
Then there's the decision between 5sp manual and the auto/tiptronic gearbox (the same one now used in the local Magna "sports" version cars). Older tiptronic FTOs have a 4-speed transmission, and newer ones - post 1997 I think - have a 5-speed.
The pre/post-1997 also sees the following notable changes:
- Pre-97 FTOs have ABS as an option - pretty rare too. Post-97 has ABS as standard.
- Pre-97 FTOs have the oval "classic" look nose. Newer ones have a square grille bit, and the fog/indicators are separate, circular moulds instead of the larger, oval "double" lights in the old one.
HARD TO FIND?
Apparently, FTOs have not been imported at all since the rules were changed a year or two ago. But... and it's a big but... at least one new company is arranging compliance of 1997 FTOs for importing. They should be complete in about 6 months. This will very likely devalue the older 1994/1995 FTOs quite a bit once "facelift" 1997 ones hit our shores. But expect to pay a tidy sum for the new import ones - the new rules forbid accident-repaired hack-jobs from being dumped on us (unlike the dodgy old system). I've hardly seen an FTO that wasn't accident damaged in its past.
WHAT GOES WRONG?
Not a lot, really...
Central locking motors can be iffy, but are cheap and easy to replace.
The "Idle Speed Controller" (ISC, and also known as the stepper motor) was dodgy in early models, and will probably have gone wrong already... so will have been replaced. Symptoms are: won't idle normally, won't run when stone-cold without foot on throttle for a bit. Costs about $300 to replace. Mine was a 1995 FTO, bought in 2000, and was already sporting a replacement Idle Speed Controller.
Rear suspension drop-links wear out (as do all suspension bits, but these seem to go first!). Symptoms... Funny knocking sounds when going slowly over speed humps, or dips in the road. It sounds like there's something loose in the boot.
The FTO has been the most reliable car I've owned... and I thrash it doing club motorkhana once or twice a month!! They are good little cars.
OTHER STUFF
You can tell a factory sunroof from an aftermarket one by looking at the roof shape around it. Mitsubishi built FTOs with the factory sunroof option using a smooth roof panel. The ones without it have a big indentation running front to back, for extra panel strength. If someone's slapped in a sunroof, it looks a bit funny due to this panel shape issue.
A good, accurate service history is a big bonus. The 2 drive belts and the timing belt need replacing periodically - losing them at 8000rpm can be ad. The MIVEC engine also needs its valve clearances manually adjusted every 40,000km to stop it sounding like a diesel tractor, hehe. Knowing these jobs have in fact been done will save you on servicing costs. Plus, confirming that regular oil changes have been done is vital. Anything over 10,000km a change and I would not be happy - especially if the car was driven hard.
A good tyre choice will make the FTO shine. A bad one will make it drive like a dog... like most cars, really, but the FTO does handle very well, so
there's a lot of upside to spending as much money as you can stomach on the round black things. Something like Toyo Proxes T1-S will cost around $800 a set, but are awesome in the wet or dry. I've driven on cheap tyres, and on good, pricey tyres. Pricey tyres are better! If you must save a few dollars, try Kumho brand. They seem to do well in comparitive tests, and the set I bought for my grotty old Commodore wagon did very well for the price.
So there you go.... I hope that lot helps.
- Rich |
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