Don’t buy Mitsubishi or Mercedes Benz unless you like:

1. Overheating problems
2. No customer support
3. Like to be exploited
4. No roadside assistance and very few dealers in neighbouring states.  You will be stranded if your vehicle brakes down
5. Waiting months for spares
6. Going to court to get them to honour their guarantee

My story might sound a bit like a horror story, but it is true.   I bought a new Mitsubishi Colt in 2000 from Mercedes Benz South Africa.  This vehicle was absolutely hopeless and the worst car I ever bought.  It constantly overheated and Mercedes Benz South Africa, assured me that it was nothing to worry about.
Eventually the vehicle’s engine totally seized in Botswana with only about 50 000 km on the clock.  After this, Mitsubishi Motors/ Mercedes Benz refused to repair the vehicle under guarantee. Their excuse was that I had once allowed Toyota to have a look at the vehicle and do a repair.  My argument was that I had been stranded and there was no Mitsubishi / Mercedes Benz dealer within 600 km from me.

I summonsed them and eventually after 4 months I received the vehicle back after it became clear to Mitsubishi / Mercedes that they would never win the case. Only after this I found out that the turbo gave in, but by then the guarantee was expired.  Again no support was given by Mitsubishi Motors or their South African representatives namely Mercedes Benz South Africa.  I was forced to pay them R23 000 (in 2001) to fix the turbo. 

I sold the vehicle and, to this day, I still feel that I have done the buyer in even though the buyer paid me only 50% of the original price for a vehicle that was only 14 months old and had low mileage.  A Mitsubishi Colt was worth nothing in my mind.

I asked all my friends to warn me not to buy Mitsubishi or Mercedes again, but it now seems that either I don’t have friends or their memories are as short as mine as despite these problems, somehow the Mitsubishi Triton drew my attention. I bought a new Mitsubishi Triton in August 2010.  This car was clearly in another class compared to the Colt.  It was spacious and powerful.  There were no overheating problems.

However on 19 September 2011 bad luck struck on a trip through Botswana.  I was in a small accident in the Okavango Delta.  What should have been no more than a slightly irritating experience became a nightmare.  Although the agent had promised us roadside assistance everywhere in Southern Africa there was no help from Mitsubishi and I was forced to get the car towed to Naledi Motors in Francistown at a cost of more than R14 000. 

They informed me that the engine control unit had packed up and needed to be ordered.  The staff was friendly and helpful.

However, today, on 6 December 2011, I discovered that the part was only ordered on 25 November 2011 and that it will take at least 20 days more to arrive.  Numerous agents and even the friendly public relations officer told me that there is a huge problem getting spares for this vehicle.  Rola Motors in Somerset West explained to me that it can take anything between one to three months to get parts.  My experience is that it takes at least 4 months.

When I first bought the vehicle from Rola Motors in Somerset West, I was told that they built it in South Africa. This was either untrue or is certainly no longer true.

Before buying a vehicle, make sure that spares are available and also service centres.  Many people use their 4x4 vehicles in neighbouring countries.  Don’t even dream about a Mitsubishi or Mercedes Benz. It is guaranteed to turn into a nightmare.

Post Scrip.  I sent this posting to Mitsubishi Motors on 6 December 2011 and was phoned by their PRO Daniel, who miraculously managed to find the part for me on the same day.

On 19 December 2011, I was informed that the vehicle is ready for collection and that only the air-conditioner does not work.  I accepted this explanation and booked myself a flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg and from Johannesburg to Francistown at a total cost of R2600.  I booked myself into the Cresta Marang Hotel in Francistown where food and accommodation offers excellent value for money.  I also hired a car (luckily not a Mercedes or Mitsubishi but a Volkswagen Polo) from Avis and collected my vehicle the next morning after I paid the BWP 13 180 which included all systems check and drainage of diesel due to water contemanation.  I regarded this as fair and I whole heartedly thanked them for their friendly service.

Unfortunately this was not the end of the horror story. If you are not faint hearted you can continue reading the horror story about Mitsubishi/Mercedes Benz.

Links:

South Africa, Namibia, Botswana. Victoria Falls online reservations and Youth Tours
EUROPE YOUTH TOURS AND KALAHRI VASBYT Temba Youth tours recommends hotels, lodges and self-catering ( self contained ) acccommodation in South Africa Botswana and Namibia.
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Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre in Swakopmund Namibia is the town best hotel. This is a luxury hotel and make use of the old German Station.
Big Five Lodge offers affodable accommodation just outside the CBD in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.
Gables Inn is in Colesberg in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa offers self-catering ( self contained ) accommodation halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Hakuna Mutata Geusthouse is in Koffiefontein in the Freestate province of South Africa.  This is the best accommodation in this mining town.
Misty Mountain Lodge is in the Misty Mountain Reserve in the Tsitsikamma district of South Africa.  This beautiful lodge offers excellent accommodation with breathtaking coastal views.
Sossusvlei Lodge at Sesriem near Sossusvlei in Namibia.  This lodgeis an upmarket and luxury lodge at this important landmark in Namibia.
Ugab Terrace Lodge overlooks the Vingerklip rock formation near Khorixas in Namibia.  The lodge in built on a hill with breathtaking views.
Thapama Hotel is the most luxurious hotel in the CBD of Francistown in Botswana
Spurwing Island in the Matusadona National park in Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe is an excellent safari destination and popular with fishermen.  

Swakopmund Hotel and Entertainment Centre
Spurwing Island
Thapama Hotel
Ugab Terrace Lodge
Sossusvlei Lodge
Hakuna Mutata Guesthouse
Gables Inn
Big Five Lodge
Misty Mountain Lodge