Posting from Vancouver, BC Canada here. As the title of the thread says, I am new around here though no stranger to car oriented message boards. Member at Club3G, NewCelicaForums, ClubSi, VW Vortex, VW Gruppe, Club 4AG, MR2 FAQ, and SRO. My girlfriend just picked up an 03 Lancer OZ Rally edition and so far the car's been a great little commuter. I think some time this weekend I am going to take her out to a deserted area and give her some driving lessons but before I do that, I've got a few questions for you Lancer gurus.

The one single thing that bugs me the most about the car is its stock suspension. Ok, perhaps the stock tires take the cake but I won't get into that for now. The stock suspension is way underdamped, springs are soft as hell... Basically the slow transitions make the car quite unpredictable, and I've already forgotten how to drive a bone stock 4 door sedan. So, without modifying the car at all, what can I do to make the car handle any better? I am gonna up the tire pressure a bit tomorrow and bring it up in the mountains and play for little.

I am not really looking to increase rotation from the back or make the car handle "better". I just want the car to be more predictable when it dives into a corner. There's this 270 degree turn right after you get off this bridge and I usually late apex that one but the damping is so poor the transition really lags and it's just not really safe...

Ideas?

 

well without modifying there is very little you can do.

With the addition of an RMR or RRM front strut bar you can help out the handling characteristics of the car.

Serious autocross drivers are going with the front strut, upgraded rear sway, obviously better tires and rims and some form of springs.

Welcome to the board and enjoy!

 

buy those little spring clamps at autozone to "lower" the car and hopefully take out some of the dampening factor and make the car more predictable. cheap mod and easy to install and take off if needed

 

Well since it's my girlfriend's car I am sure she is going to leave it stock. I was thinking maybe perhaps there are little tricks you guys have learned when your Lancer was still stock? I honestly don't remember when the last time it was that I drove a bone stock 4 door sedan.

 

From what I'm hearing, I think you expected too much from it, because of its OZ name. The only thing thats differs the OZ from the other models, is the wheels/tires, interior, and "body kit"
Everything else is about the same.
The Lancer is no more than a daily commuter, grocery getter. Don't expect much unless you modify it.

 

Our (OZ) front suspension has larger springs actually. I don't think anyone has really modified the stock suspension so far as I'm aware. Welcome aboard.

 

Sigh, I guess I'll just teach her to use her brakes better then. And those stock tires really suck.

 

Yea, speaking of which, what kind of tires were on the stock Lancer for you guys. All the other OZs at my local dealership have Goodyear something-or-anothers on theirs...but mine had Yokohama something-or-anothers. Mine still suck...heck might even be worse for all I know...but I was just curious as to what you guys got.

 

Why yes. Yes they do.

 

mine came with the yoko's on em.

 

Hmm...wonder why all the others have those Goodyears on them then...I guess it doesn't matter too much though.

 

They're both about the same in grip from my experience.

 

Welcome to EvoM.

You might want to check out some of the suspension mods on this OZ... need any advice or hookups for parts just PM me.

 

Well based on what was inside that package we received from the dealership I am guessing there are four different OEM tires for the Lancer? Goodyear, Yokohama, Toyo, and Dunlop.