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Comments
The reason your car did not exhibit the changing idle before you changed the idle air control motor is most likely due to the fact that the motor was defective and couldn't provide the normal idle adjustments you are now experiencing.
Mr. Vivona
The Diamante is very well built and uses high grade materials. Fit and finish is excellent.
Steering is very linear with an excellent feel "on center" which makes is an easy and enjoyable car to drive.
Brakes are very competent which is good because acceleration is ample, particularly at low speeds.
Interior comfort is top rate.
Interior and exterior style is excellent. I consider the Diamante the best looking car available.
Interior storage is generous.
Underhood access to service items is very good, much better than most cars.
CONS:
Because of limited supply Mitsubishi does not promote the Diamante and demand is low, so short-term depreciation suffers.
There is no trunk pass-through (though you can still fit 8 foot boards inside the cabin by reclining the passenger seat).
The original equipment Goodyear Eagle tires are not that great. I will replace mine with Michelins or Yokohamas when they wear out.
Interior lighting could be better.
Of all the reviews I have seen, I think the following one is the most accurate:
http://www.internetautoguide.com/reviews/2001/2001_Mitsubishi_Diamante.html
Mr. Vivona
My wife has been the primary driver, using it a minimum 60 miles a day. We have put about 2700 miles on it in six weeks, including two distance trips. Part of this report will be a comparison with my other car, a 1999 Ford Taurus SHO. The cars are similar in size, but very different, yet the two sold to about the same markets. Where it seems appropriate I will make comparisons.
Overall, we are very pleased and my wife especially loves it as an a big upgrade over her 1999 Chevy Prizm (which we still have and need to sell!!!). The car is the ES model, but still has a nice level of equipment including auto climate control, auto-off headlights, MANY cupholders, easy-adjust seats, power antenna, and stunning good looks. The car does not have aluminum wheels, power sunroof, traction control. For the price we paid used for it, I consider it a good buy.
The major attributes I have noticed about the car are.......
Styling / Interior....the Diamante (especially in our pearl white) is a looker! Somewhat reminiscent of a BMW, but still distinctive in its own way. Aggressive, yet elegant. Inside, too, is very attractive and decent plastics quality. The door panels are nice and the driver oriented layout is not confusing. The gauges are very attractive and legible. Myself, I don't prefer the "import" style window switches but most folks won't mind. The wealth of cupholders is a major plus (4 of them can be used at one time!). The radio is easy to use and there is a nice big handle for the seat adjusters on the side. The seats themselves are nice and supportive (firm). I felt the seats are a bit narrow and dig into the back a bit much; I much prefer the fabulous seats in my SHO. My wife likes the Diamante seats just fine. Maybe my butt is too big! but the Taurus SHO seats are the best I've sampled and others have commented to me how comfortable the Taurus SHO seats were (no fatigue after 4 hour trips, like a comfy cocoon). This is not at all to say the Diamante seats are bad. I would just say the seats are a solid B plus grade, if they re-shaped the bottom and back then they'd be fine IMHO.
Engine / Trans.....a good V6, but I won't say its top notch. The power is very good, especially if the transmission cooperates by downshifting quickly. Sometimes the tranny can be lazy, but not too often. The power seems to be there. I think the engine can sound a bit coarse at times in comparison to other v6's and is maybe a tad rough at idle, but at cruising speeds it settles into a nice quiet purr and rhythym. Actually, at 80mph the motor behaves much nicer and at that speed I would give the car an A. The powerplant gets smoother at higher speeds. I have owned and / or driven a few other v6's that are smoother, but again not to say the D's motor is bad. Lets say its a B plus. The motor on my SHO is much smoother and sounds sultrier and is a much nicer powerplant but we need to remember it is an aluminum V8, 60 degrees with counter balancers. I believe most folks would think the Diamante engine to be very pleasing. By the way, the engine bay in the Diamante is very well organized, good job!
Handling.....I must first say this car has steel wheels and Yokohama 376 All season tires. I don't think I can adequately judge the handling with these OEM products on the car. i would prefer the car had 16 or 17 inch aluminum rims with 225 tires before I can really judge the handling fairly (my wife won't let me buy new rims for the car!!!!). My wife and I both love the light easy steering, although I wish the steering wheel was leather wrapped. The freeway ride is almost perfect for a crusing / travel car. I think there's too much roll in turns, but again, tires. The noise level is very quiet. Overall, handling and ride, my wife far prefers the "D" because of the quietness, ride comfort, and nice steering. I prefer my SHO, but only because I like a livelier handling car, it has a firmer ride, corners with much less roll, and feels more aggressive. Yet, on the days I want to feel pampered by a more subdued driving experience, I would take the Diamante.
Build quality......the Diamante build is quite good. I am having some rear door weather stripping fall off already (frameless windows!) and the trunk closes with a cheesy "thunk", but otherwise the Diamante is built quite well. I would say it is built a bit better overall than the Taurus SHO. Both cars feels well structured, but assembly gaps are less on the Diamante and controls feel nice and slick. The Ford (Yamaha) motor is a well assembled piece under the hood, but the interior has its moments with cheesy feeling controls and big gaps here and there. Again, the Diamante scores very well in this department.
Utility.......the interior space in the Diamante is good, but I won't call it cavernous. Two 6-footers front and back is tight, but admittedly with decent comfort. There are lots of nooks in the "D" to put stuff, and the console is well laid out with nice bonuses like the lighter outlet behind the shifter (perfect for cell phones) and the 4 CUPHOLDERS!!!!! and many other thoughtful touches and little cubbies. The map pockets on the door are too small, however. Interior utility for the amount of space is very good. The trunk is OK sized, maybe a tish small, but yet bigger than my Taurus. I wish I had fold down rear seats to help give more space when I may need it in the future.
Sound system....i do not have the Infinity system of the LS, just the single CD. At first I thought it rocked....but now I'm wanting to replace it. There's just not enough power to drive loud rock music, and the speakers themselves are just typical manufacturer quality, not the level of a good aftermarket or luxury audio setup. Not neccessarily the head unit do I consider the culprit, as I like the simplicity of the controls. I would like an mp3 deck, with an AUX input for a portable hard drive player. As far as sound goes, maybe just a speaker upgrade, add a quality subwoofer and amp would do the trick but my wife won't let me touch the radio! She likes it just fine!
Reliability.......we'll find out! Aside from the mentioned weatherstripping....nothing yet. Well, ok, the power door locks jam sometimes.
conclusion on next post.....
Overall.......we are quite pleased. My wife especially loves the car, as she looks dashing in it. She works in marketing for an orchestra and she loves being seen dressed up and driving the pearl white D to concerts and such. I am sure she would give it a solid A if she were to visit these boards. And she is being very protective over the car...so she must really love it. I give the car a solid B+, willing to upgrade the car to an A if if I could put alum. wheels, wider stiffer tires on it and tighten up the suspension a bit. I am very satisfied with the car as she is...but I would still choose my Taurus SHO for everyday drive and my own trips because of the livelier, more aggressive feel of the car, and the sportier interior. Only because I have that option available to me do I say that. I get to drive both cars!!!!! If could only drive the Diamante I would be pleased as punch, as they say, and have no regrets about it. The Diamante has an edge in overall quality, and the D in relation to the car market as a whole is a quality product that deserves to sell to more owners.
Anyone considering this car for purchase....I say go for it. This is a nice car. Especially in comparison to a Camry or Accord, or as a less expensive alternative to lesser Lexus and Infiniti. I think you would be pleased as I am.
My stereo controller lights on the steering wheel turned on and off frequently when my idle air intake motor went wrong. After replacement of idle air intake motor the stereo controller lights still turned on and off frequently. I just noticed this when I drove in the night.
Does this indicate that my electronic system still has problem?
Thanks!
UCSC
Opinions?
I have read your article "ROUGH IDLE AND STALLING" and I have a question about throttle body cleaning.
I just had my throttle body cleaned by Mits dealer, but still have rough idle and was recommended to replace throttle body. But I think Mits mechanics may mess up my throttle body when they sprayed Air Intake Cleaner. The liquefied carbon may leak into and clog the bypass
passages and vacuum ports at the bottom of the throttle body.
Is there any way to check and unclog the bypass passages and vacuum ports?
Thanks!
Euclidean
Theresa
Hope to hear from you before Feb 22 via the Talk to the Press discussion or at jfallon@edmunds.com with your thoughts and contact information.
Thanks as always,
Jeannine Fallon
PR Director, Edmunds.com
Thanks.
Tom
I am currently loking at a '99 Diamate and had the following questions after research:
1. Can this year of the car have an auto day\night mirror otion. edmunds says it was not available but the seller says it does. I have a ic of the mirror for clarifacation.
2. I read the new Diamantes had a power port behind the shifter and had rear cupholders. Does this apply to the '99s also?
3. I read that Ds also had a child seat in the rear. Did '99s have that and ,if so, where is it in the back seat?
Thanks.
1. Can this year of the car have an auto day\night mirror otion. edmunds says it was not available but the seller says it does. I have a ic of the mirror for clarifacation.
I did not see an auto day/night mirror available when I bought my 99. Such a mirror was available in the first generation Diamante and is available as an aftermarket item. Perhaps the previous owner added it.
2. I read the new Diamantes had a power port behind the shifter and had rear cupholders. Does this apply to the '99s also?
The 99 does not have the power port behind the shifter, but it would be very easy to add one by tieing into the wire that feeds the cigarette lighter in the ashtray. The 99 does have rear cupholders that pop out of the center console.
3. I read that Ds also had a child seat in the rear. Did '99s have that and ,if so, where is it in the back seat?
I don't remember the child seat being an option for the 99. I do remember that option in earlier Diamantes.
Mr. Vivona
A throttle body should easily last 100,000 miles or more, so if yours has lower mileage than that I doubt it needs replacing unless all your driving was done stop-and-go and the throttle plate bearings are worn causing the plate to not fit properly in the body.
Look for any hoses or wiring connectors that may have been pulled off and not properly reattached. This is a common problem when a mechanic removes connections to a part and then forgets to reconnect everything.
Try disconnecting the battery cables for a minute, then reconnect and start the car. It may still idle rough, but the computer will try to recalibrate to the cleaned throttle body. If it doesn't clear up with a day of driving, it probably won't from that point on.
The orginal cause of the rough idle may still be present. It may not have been your throttle body, but another problem like a vacuum leak, ignition problem, PCV valve, cracked distributor cap, sensor failure, Idle Speed Control motor, Throttle Position Sensor, etc. I would certainly check these before just replacing the throttle body unless your mechanic can clearly point to the specific part of the throttle body that is defective and explain why.
Mr. Vivona
I live in MN so snow traction must be acceptable, but as much or more I am concerned about any tires they may be a good particular match for the Diamante's chassis and handling traits.
Also, do you know are the suspension and brakes on the ES and LS models the same and would my larger wheels and tires adversely affect either ride or steering and handling in your opinion?
I like the ride and handling now however I do wish the car leaned less in turns and maybe steered quicker. Sometimes the tires feel soft and thin.
Thanks!
I've had issues with front rotors similar to what others have reported. They don't seem to survive much resurfacing before needing to be replaced, either.
I actually haven't ever had a distributor cap problem, but have had the knock sensor fail and the idle control motor (or idle air motor) fail, the second of which is a documented problem per carpoint and it seems a number of our members have seen this. I've not yet seen any evidence that we're burning oil but will keep an eye on it just in case.
Aside from that, with regular maintenance, the car runs as well as any new vehicle I've driven. I haven't driven any others that seem to measure up to the first Gen D's, either.
Michelle
I was kinda thinking a lot of what you said after some shopping on tirerack.com
The 16's are plentiful and a lot less expensive....
Ahhhhh but the expense we guys will go through to get one inch bigger.....wheels.
I just think low profile rims would look so hot on this car.
I guess I'm just dreaming anywyas. My wife won't let me change anything anyways! She likes the car way tooo much!!!!
Thanks - Theresa
As to the power/economy switch, lngtonge18 did a great job answering your question.
The 93 Diamante, while still on Consumer Reports reliability survey, was quite a reliable car. The issue about brake rotors can usually be traced to improperly torqueing the lug nuts. That is almost always done by tire techs and will result in warped rotors. The warping occurs as soon as the lug nuts are improperly tightened. You don't notice anything until 3,000-5,000 miles later when the rotor wears unevenly (disk thickness variation) and that shows up as brake pulsation. Most owners conclude that their rotors just warped at that time, rather than thousands of miles earlier when a mechanic used an impact wrench on the lug nuts.
Since the headlights go off when you turn off the engine, even if you leave them on, you could drive with the headlights on all the time. This would give you daytime running lights for safety and assure that you have your headlights on at night. Only drawback is the need to replace headlight lamps more often. I guess my wife sort of does that by keeping her fog lights on at all times.
Mr. Vivona
I am not sure if the speedometer gear will have to be changed out to offset the larger tire circumference. Since I have the 16" rims already, I have not had reason to check into this.
Mr. Vivona
http://www.geocities.com/diamanteowner/article2.htm
As to the EBD system. It helps with brake distribution, but it cannot help prevent pulsation if some wrench jockey uses an impact wrench on the lug nugs.
By the way, I am at 24,500 miles with the orginal rotors and they are still perfect.
My last Mitsubishi was at 110,000 miles when I traded it and it never had the rotors replaced and they were perfect. I always make sure the lug nuts are properly torqued.
Mr. Vivona
I just got a '93 ES. The research seems to indicate problems with brake rotors and possible valve issues. Anything else I should be prepared for? My car is in top conditon now, but would not be surprised to see some of these things break along the way as it is an older vehicle.
Question: what is the big problem with the valves and how can it be fixed? Either permanently, or just temporarily by good maintenance.
Would love some insight from you guys. The Yahoo and AOL boards for this car are dead.
Oh...anyone else things Mitsu. made a big mistake with that Diamante nosejob for '02?? Took me a while to like the '97s and when I finally came around they screwed it all up. I still maintain that the first gen cars are the best looking. I think they look as good today as when they came out in '92.
Thanks in advance for the info!
Chris
Not sure if I would agree with you on the reliability front, they seem to be generally well-built cars. The resale becomes irrelevant if you keep the car 8-10 years. Otherwise, the best buy would be a used Diamante. They are bargains.
While a solid and well built car, it has rather unremarkable technology. A four speed automatic was cutting edge in 1986, but not anymore...especially when true near-luxury cars have 5-speeds and/or some sort of manual shift capability. Everything else on the car are features that have been standard in the market place since the early-mid 90s.
The Diamante in 1992, while considerably more expensive in todays dollars, at least had features that were new and cutting edge. The trace control, adjustable-suspension w/ 11 different heights, speed-variable steering, and much more. The audio system was killer, versus decent as is characterized by new Diamantes. My point is that the car had something to set it apart. Now, it has nothing to distinguish itself.
I think Mitsubishi doesn't try to market it because they know they have truly nothing interesting to market. They need to decide if they want make this a true near-luxury car and add the appropriate accoutrements or market it as an Accord/Camry killer and slash the prices to what these things are actually selling for. Either of these moves would help to alert the US market to what excellent cars these really are.
Just my two cents...
i've been satisfied so far with my 2001 Diamante. The level of equipment for the price vs Maxima or Accord was much better. I would have had to spend 5 grand more. For what I paid used I'd bet in 4 years I'll still be able to get almost 50% of what I paid to trade. My depreciation will be nothing like a typical GM product and my upfront cost won't be usurious like a Maxima or Accord.
Plus the Diamante is an attractive car, with many features for the money and at least in comparison to Accord and Camry, feels upmarket.
Anyone else see anything on this car?
looks hot! why did i get the 2001? I didn't know this was coming! Now I'm stuck with a dowdy ES when I could have this thing!
sorry.
from what i've seen this car will get a horsepower boost as well.