I've only just brought my carisma it a T reg 1.8 glx gdi model,f.s.h 71k for 600 and must admit, it drives like new, runs straight, like its on rails.
I've had a mondeo for 3 yrs, and must admit the Mitsubishi out classes it, I've heard that the Volvo s40 is very similar, and would like to change the interior on mine to leather, has anyone done this, and can they give me any tips, overall a very good reliable car for the money.

I've had my 2001 Mitsubishi Carisma elegance for 2 years now. It only had 17000 on the clock when I first bought it (bargin) and now has 35000. I've only had a few minor electrical problems ie sunroof switch, which was fixed by the Mitsubitshi dealership from where I bought the car from. Lacks a little still but if all your interested in is getting from a to b without worry then buy one.

My Mitsubishi Carisma is 11 years old and I now live in Switzerland I bought it in March 2000. Now 146500 miles on clock, of which all but 39000 of them are mine. Costs: £6300, Tax and Ins for 8 years 3500; R/ costs servicing and replacement parts 3500; Fuel 105000 " average of .80p per litre = say £10,000 Total cost 24200 / 8 years = average 3000 pa / by13,200miles Total cost p.a. 3000 / 13200miles p.a Effective cost per mile over 8 years is 22.7p p.m.

I bought my Mitsubishi Carisma second hand in Feb/ March 2000 for 6300 cash from Bridgend garage in Irvine with a one year guarantee. It had 39000 miles on the clock. I have spent the following: 1. service over 8 years 890; 2. Replaced Gear no charge under guarantee; 3. Replaced the middle and back pipes of the exhaust 500; 4. Changed the brake lining and discs twice cost: 300; 5. Changed headlight to conform to Austrian /Swiss standards as I live in Switzerland 210. 6. To register and pass two bi-annual TUV tests 400 Total 2350 approx, plus petrol, road tax and insurance etc. I calculated on an average of 13500 miles per annum including all running costs and repairs I've spent including initial cost of purchase and all running costs tax , insurance and foreign registration, petrol service & repairs the total of 22300 over 8 years and did 104000 miles of driving. Divide 22300 by 104000 miles and its works out at .22p per mile. I have no complaints!

I have Owned this car for 3 years now and has over 100000 Miles on the Clock, the Engine is still smooth and Quiet & the Oil Level never Drops. It has'nt let me down once since i owned it, It just keeps going On & On. Fuel Econamy is great i get Average 35-40 MPG ,more on Motorways. It Feels Solid & well Put together. Not a good car to drive or to Take round sharp bends aprart from that its a Reliable Family car & cheap to buy and Run.

Owned this car now for 8 months and have to say its a pleasure to own. You can feel the reliability this car has. MPG is very generous I average well into the mid 40s and have achieved well over 50 on a sustained A-road run. Leather seats are very comfortable CD system great, parts also can be sourced cheaply a full set of front and back brake pads £60. The car does not use any oil, starts first time, the high revving take a bit of time to get used to. Its a Mitsu quirk engine revs high for a couple of mins when turned over.. but what an engine will easily go over the 100k.

The Mitsubishi Carisma 1600 is very reliable with no rust. Cheap to buy second hand. Low running costs (had a gas conversion which will pay for itself - £1.80 gas or £4.08 petrol - saves me £2.28 every 35 miles.

I bought my 2002 model when it was just 10 months old for just £7,000. I have done 40,000 in just 2 years with no problems. The dealer is brilliant. However, never has a car been so mis-named! This car has no charisma whatsoever and suits tight-wads like me who don't care about their image.

The Mitsubishi Carisma is a cheap and cheerful car, and probably better for the older person. I bought it from new, and lost £7000 in the first two years. I'm very disappointed with the ride and road holding, and it's just a boring car to drive. It has developed clutch judder when I pull away, especially when it's cold. The parts and servicing are expensive compared to other cars it its class. It is the Elegance model, but there is nothing elegant about it.

I had this 1999 2L carisma now for 2 years, like the above had no major problems. The car is rather UN_CARISMATIC but is a good drive, problems with screeching fan belt which can also give slight jerkiness to the power drive train all-in -all though a great car.

I have owned a Mitsubishi Carisma 1600 for 4 years now, Initially I bought the car with the intention of using it for only a couple of years, Although the car lacks refinement, and quality build, it is the ideal car for someone who does not want to have to rob a bank to maintain a car. The car kinda grows on you and you begin to look at it in a different way with time. It is reliable, sorry, I mean ITS VERY RELIABLE. I bought mine at 42,000 on the clock and now its 100,000 and I have never had ANY problems whatsoever, even minor. Watch out for road noise, it can be annoying and embarassing sometimes. Also the suspension is poor which has a direct hit on the handling NEVERTHELESS you should not notice any of these unless you are trying to pull some serious stunts on the road.

I've had my 1998 model Mitsubishi Carisma 1600 family car for 6 months. I bought it for a bargain £1500 with only 52000 on the clock and it needed £200 on 2 new exhaust parts straight away but it was still a bargain. Up here in Aberdeen it gets cold in winter, although it's December now and it's been freezing for 2 months and it's started 1st time every morning, parked out on the street overnight. The bodywork and metallic paint is in excellent condition; no rust whatsoever. The interior however is suffering imagination. To be honest, who cares? If you drive one of these you're not likely to be the following; a boy racer; rich; enthusiastic about cars in general. You will however be the type of person who dosn't want to spend much on a car in the first place and only a tiny amount on running costs. In other words, you'll have you're head screwed on. You may however fall deeply in love with it after a short period of time due to all the economic, practical, and relability reasons that you will want the car forever and start spending money on alloy wheels and a new interior, which I am considering. There is no other car in this price range that comes anywhere close to the Carisma. I did spend ages looking as I am skint.

Unfortunately I have had the pleasure of driving a SAAB 95 and now truly understand what the reviewers meant by "poor ride". The Mitsubishi Carisma 1600 is much like a toy car in comparison. The car does not track very well through moderate corners, suspension is noisy, road noise pours into the cabin leaving one highly stressed after long journeys. The appearance of the car left me mildly embarrassed at stop lights! Safe to say my nightmare is over.

The Mitsubishi Carisma 1600 in my opinion is an excellent car. Travels very well and extremely reliable and economical. I have mine for two years and to date have had absolutely no problems with it.

My Mitsubishi Carisma 1600 has done 115,000 on nothing other than routine servicing. It doesn't use any oil, does high 40s mpg and, compared to my 110,000 miles Ford Mondeo it feels like a new car.

On the whole....i like my Mitsubishi Carisma 1600..i read critics reviews and cringed !!!!Admitadely..it could be called boring but i checked out some of its competition and to be honest they are realy a bit dated...i think mines different...4 centuries people have mistaken boring with different..apparently they suffer realy bad roll on the bends!!!what rubbish...my last car was a gti and suffered worse on the bends than this one does...so get lost to the uniform conformists....give the sub a break !!!!!i bet you are not too good lookin either eh??????