What made you pick an FTO?

[colm_mcm]

Just wondering what made you all pick an FTO over similar Coupes?

[paul2508]

the looks won it for me. japan were way ahead in car design, perfecat example of course ,the fto.

[cullen5998]

The looks,engine was important too. No point in having a sweet looking car that is as slow as a snail The 2 litre MIVEC is nice to have

[Bernard]

A really dodgy advert back in '03 describing it as having supercar performance on a budget!
I knew nothing about them so I googled, found this as a word document and was hooked

But yeah, like the lads. It was a combination of unusual looks and the performance plus it's a doable car (now even moreso).

[Myfeckin FTO]

For me I saw my first FTO in the flesh back in 96/97 in Malahide in Dublin and was immediately hooked on its looks. Had to have one and in 99 I bought my first FTO - a very clean Red tip GR - the FTO got unbelievable looks on the road back then in pre celtic tiger Ireland. Owned a Manual Mivec thereafter (now cullens) and what made that car for me was the lightweight handling and mivec engine (esp the sound) combined with fantastic reliabilty and ease of maintainance.

[asti rs]

the engine. I love the v6 noise combined with a manual box makes for a pretty fast car

[optical illusion]

Looks, speed and V6 engine.

[mcgon1979]

The sound of the V6 when I heard it starting up and revving at the import place I bought it. SOLD!

[belfastman]

For me it was the looks,brillant looking car,still turns heads .

[Muad_dib77]

the looks.. and the mivec...

[Sebastian]

there were a few similar threads over the years on the board .

for me it was deffo the looks , I wanted an Imperial Red facelift FTO , didnt know too much about them at the time .
It was different than any other car i've seen and funny after all those years I still think it is !

[colm_mcm]

I don't think I've ever seen an imperial red facelift, always a colour I associate with 94 ones for some reason

[Myfeckin FTO]

I don't think I've ever seen an imperial red facelift, always a colour I associate with 94 ones for some reason

Yep - Classic only - though I suppose a facelift bumper on an imperial red (pre 97) would look well.

[CJ]

Back in the day ('99 or so), I was after an ITR but I also needed a car reasonably quickly. The importer coudn't get the ITR in good time so I took a GS out for a spin and was pleasantly surprised with the performance (bear in mind that I was driving an Autozam AZ-3 which was a bit of a slouch). The design certainly got my attention, as did the moonlight blue paint colour - this car was was different and it turned heads. The GS lead to a GPX which lead to a GX, I haven't looked back since. If that ITR had hit the port on time, things would be very different!



CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

........ If that ITR had hit the port on time, things would be very different!.......CJ

Ya - you'd be living out in Tallaght with your moth and 5 kids and saying sh1te like " my Vtec kicked in - wha!"

[CJ]

Ya - you'd be living out in Tallaght with your moth and 5 kids and saying sh1te like " my Vtec kicked in - wha!"

True, things are oh so different. I'm living out in Blanch with me moth and one kid and saying sh1te like "who stroked me bleedin' MIVEC for jaysus sake!"

CJ

[witcher]

For me it was the look. I made typical rookie mistake, found the ad in newspaper, check the car in the internet, check the availability of parts and it did not look bad. then I arranged to meet the guy that was selling it, he drove to me, I looked at the car and gave him the money not even checking the car properly. FTO is beautiful.
The other option I was considering was rx7, but I got scared of the engine problems.
Having said so, the amount of work and cash my FTO absorbs is just insane and if it was not for love of this car I would have sold it ten times already. I have it for a bit over a year and I already changed all suspension, engine, got bonnet and front bumper painted (the lad who was doing it f****d the job big time) parts of exhaust not to mention smaller works. My own brother is laughing at me cause I used to have very practical approach towards cars, except this one. It must be love, love, love - madness.

[Aido C]

The look did it for me. I think they look great. For me they look nicer than celica, integra, civic or levin.

[elaine]

The look, when i saw it for the 1st time was the day John was buying it for my birthday and 5 years on still love it

[miss-enzo]

I was driving an Autozam AZ-3 which was a bit of a slouch
CJ

ironically I was drivin an AZ-3 when i got my FTO too! mine was quick enough for a 1.5l DOHC. wanted the V6 one but couldn't find one when I brought in the Mazdy!

I fell in love with the FTO when my bro-in-law (speedyboy) got his one. I loved that car. and then my sister brought in the one I have now from the UK and had it herself for a while, then I bought it! almost 4 years ago now.

[Wildhound]

I was 21, had been driving a rubbish little shed of a Punto for a couple of years, and wanted something with a bit of grunt. I was looking at the best performance for money ratio that I could actually afford, and was about to settle on an Integra Type R, until I noticed the FTO.

I knew they existed previously, but I never realised they were V6, ~200 BHP, or remotely in my price range.

I was just out of college at the time and hadn't two pennies to rub together, but after reading over this and a few other forums and websites I fell in love. I broke the bank and also bought the first FTO I saw, which cost me in the end, but I don't regret it.

I loved the car and I have an even lovlier one (IMO) now. To be honest, even though they're getting on in years and they're cheap as chips nowadays, I still can't think of a single car that's not in the high five-figures that I'd rather be driving. Well wear!

[LSpec]

because I love mitsubishi (since I had a mirage), i like how it looks, and I look for a lot of information before bought it....

the design, everything..

[gary d]

It was the distinctive looks that sold it to me I particularly like the curvaceous arches and headlights, and how can I forget that V6 purr. At the time I was looking for a Hyundai coupe F2 evo or Toyota celica GT, when a friend who had just bought an Impreza RB5 asked would I be interested in his FTO. When I viewed the car and saw the black leatherette interior and Momo s/wheel I was sold.