I just got a 2002 Lancer in gray metallic. I'm young and it is my first stick shift.

Do you suggest shifting somewhere between 2500-3000 rpms? That's what i've heard but I wanted to know, also...downshift when it drops below about 2000? At the dealership i saw one of those nice yellow OZ rally lancers w/ the custom leather inside and a sunroof.

Has anyone here put a sunroof on their car and ifso how much does it cost? I really wish the lancer offered it

Thanks for all the help

 

In my personal opinion, the Lancer doesn't have enough power (well that's another story ) to shift as low as you've mentioned. I usually run up around 3000-4000 RPM's and if necessary for freeway bursts bumping to around 4500-5000. For just city traffic and the like 3000-3500 is perfect if you ask me.

 

as far as a well-installed sunroof anywhere between 300.00 to 600.00 dollars.....a cheap one that will fu^k up ur car will be about 250.00 to 300.00.......u dont want the cheap one obvislousy

 

I'm with pjal on the shifting, but as you get more used to your car you'll get a general feel for when you should shift. It's not just by the numbers though. Between what you feel as far as movement, and what you hear from the engine, you'll start to get used to different shift points.

And personally...I'd say don't bother with the sunroof, but that decision's really not up to me.

I gotta add that the transmission's pretty damn forgiving on the Lancer, so you've got a little room to play around. Just don't give it TOO hard a time.

 

agreed, transmisstion is very forgiving in that aspect, but dont be like hobiekopek quote!

 

Congratulations on your new car!!!


As far as downshifting, that is unnecessary stress in your transmission. Using brakes is much more effective and cheaper. In my opinion, downshifting is probable very useful in a track situation where you can utilize both braking and downshifting in order to keep your RPMs at optimal speeds for the necessary gear.

thanks,

 

I love my sunroof even tho it's one of those cheapo aftermarket ones. It's still electric but only opens half way but i love to be able to get the breeze thru the roof. I have been having problems with the buttons, but i brought it back to the place that installed it and they replace the switch no problem. it does look good on the car tho and if i could go back and buy the car all over again i would still get the sunroof. be careful where u go to get it installed tho, make sure they have a good track record. good luck with ur new car

 

Even if you brake you have to downshift unless you're coming to a stop. If you slow from say 70 in 5th to 50 in 4th for example. I'm pretty sure that's what was meant by downshifting. Transmission aside, it's also a good way to put yourself in a part of the powerband that has more torque if you can maintain the same speed in a lower gear.

 

The reason you won't see a sunroof on a dealer's option list is the car's newer unibody construction. Unlike most unibody cars, the roof is bearing some of the weight, and the cross bars in the ceiling are its primary support. You can see these bars in the dealer's brochure, the big tall one with somewhere around 8 pages.

Adding an aftermarket sunroof involves cutting these bars, which WILL decrease the side-impact stability of the vehicle, and may even detract from the vehicle's handling, reducing control. My advice on adding a sunroof to the Lancer, much like the Subaru Impreza, is not to do it. The Impreza uses the same strength-increasing bars in the roof.

Of course, if you're interested in adding a sunroof, I can't stop you, nor will I attempt to. I can simply let you know why you can't have a sunroof from the dealer.

As for the leather in the Lancer, it feels nice, and looks good, but offers absolutely no support whatsoever. If you like the door or center console holding you in place, pay the extra 1,500. Again, I won't try to stop anyone from doing this (I like the look of the leather, myself) but I can warn you that it might not be what you really want in the end.

Oh by the way, congrads on the new ride. Welcome to the Lancer domain. Oh yhea, be nice to your transmission.

Happy drifting

-Goon-kun

 

'Goon is right about the cross bar. However, we have installed
a few roofs in some of our lancers at list price of $1295. The
actual cost of the roof is a good bit more then the 3-600 dollar
roofs that some of you have mentioned. It is pretty big, and
it does open all the way, and I'm sure that bar had to be removed.
I'll take a pic of one tomorrow and post it.
However, the other day I was ordering cars and lo and behold
2003 Lancers appeared on the list. It seems next year, sunroofs
will be available on LS and OZ models, and even though I was able to order them, we probably won't be seeing them for a few months yet. I guess they moved/reshaped, or removed the bar. And at least
we know the OZ will still be available. And no, before you ask, I didn't
see anything about the Evolution.

 

Dangit! And I was just about to ask.

 

Here is an ES that we put a sunroof in...

 

opened...

 

from the inside...

 

to tell the truth.....if its your first time to have a stick...........then.......you probly would rather want to just listen to the engine.......its alot easier that way.....that way you don't have to take your eyes off the road.....to look at the dash........