Second-hand Sense: The Oxford dictionary defines "charisma" as the ability to inspire followers with devotion or enthusiasm, or an attractive aura or great charm. It's as well, therefore, that Mitsubishi dropped the letter "h" from the name it gave to its mid-1990s offering and left the word technically neutered. For few cars have deserved the association with charisma as little as the Carisma car did.
Originally designed as a competitor for cars such as the Ford Mondeo and the then Toyota Carina, the Carisma was dull, nondescript and forgettable. I once asked someone who owned one to describe it to me and the attempt fell just after the bit about the four wheels and the four doors.
In fairness though, a Mitsubishi engineer admitted to me that the reason for its blandness was the fact that Japan had no tradition of car design. Other makers are not so honest and don't readily acknowledge that every one of them relied on European and American design input for any of their cars that have been successful.
Apart from its looks, the Carisma was never really going to be a serious threat to the Mondeo or the Carina. The Mondeo was designed methodically as the ultimate car for sales teams and families. The Carina as a reliable and well-built saloon. Both of them had more space inside. The Carisma is far more limited, especially in the rear. The interior is also far more drab than that of the others.
Boring it may be, but is it a good car? The answer is yes. The Carisma was part of a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Volvo, with some partnership involvement from the Dutch government. The same production system was used for the Carisma and the Volvo S40 and V40 models. Engines, gearboxes and other components were different, but there were many shared features.
The Carisma runs well, has a good, if loud, engine and does everything pretty smoothly - with the exception of its ride quality which is very patchy on Irish roads. But the car is reliable, will take high mileage in its stride and, like many other Japanese cars, seems to go on for ever.
The car started life as a 1.6- and 1.8-litre but later models have featured smaller 1.3 engines. The petrol versions are grand, but the diesel is not the most sophisticated although it runs economically and dependably.
The Carisma has no recall history, indicating its reliability, and it's not known for giving major trouble. It has a good performance record in the EuroNCAP crash tests with a three- star rating out of a possible five. In fact, it would have had a fourth star had the front restraint system prevented the driver's head coming into contact with the steering wheel during testing. Child restraints were also criticised because of possible risk of head injuries.
You can get a Carisma with good levels of equipment for a reasonable price. A 2003 model with extras such as metallic paint, electric windows, remote locking, anti-lock brakes and other items and with 13,500 miles on the clock is available for €13,950. A 2001 model with the same spec and 53,000 miles is available at €7,450. The latter doesn't cost much more than a 2000 Toyota Yaris and, with bargaining, could be shrewd buy.
FOR: Reliable and well-built car. Well-priced on second-hand market
AGAINST: One of the most forgettable cars around. You could lose it in a car park