So I am about to pick up a 2008 Lancer ES Automatic w/ about 19,000 miles on it. I have a few issues though that I haven't found answered by the threads here, hoping to get some help.

First off, when I test drove the car there was lag off the line until I got around 3,000 RPM. Now is this a known problem? Sounds like a problem? Or is it normal and I am just use to the car I drive now?

Second, the car is a pretty basic, only option installed is blue tooth. Now I say blue tooth because it has blue tooth controls on the steering wheels, does that mean it has blue tooth or do the controls come on every car regardless of the options installed? I just say this because most dodge/jeeps have the blue tooth buttons on the radio even though they are lacking blue tooth support.

Third, has anyone changed out the horn in this thing? I am not sure if the horn on this one is crappy or what, but the horn sounded like a moose crying out in pain.

I am 90% sure I am going to buy this car, I really want to know about #1 and if it is normal for the car how to give it a little pep off the line. Thanks for the help.

 

1. lancers dont have powerful engines, and by automatic in a 08 model ill assume u mean cvt and yes they are very slow off the line, IIRC there was a chip somewhere to help with that and also an intake will help and pulley cant hurt, ie see RRM

2. i dont know, does bluetooth mean that much too you...

3. yes afiak i the horn is crappy sounding ...

 

What car do you drive now? The new lancers seem heavy. Should be slightly faster than my stock 05 ES but when I test drove the new one I didn't feel much difference.

 

commenting about the lag, An exhaust and Intake will do wonders to give you alot more available power at the low RPMs. the chip that was mentioned earlier is something entirely different. Sprintbooster is somthing that interacts with your Throttle controller and allow your car to deliver the throttle response you want. Vs. attempting to be as fuel efficient as possible. It will match your demand power with the proper ratio.

Sprintbooster is a product of JRP in terms of North America, they bought the distrubution rights. If you give them a call. I am sure they can get one out to you right away. Before you pull the trigger, ask the dealer to pop it in and take it for another drive. it is completely plug and play. lol just note that its hard as hell to remove, super easy to install hehe. Just have to squeeze the clip and pull. but it might take you a little while on your first try.
Cheers

 

It's a small displacement 4-cylinder with an automatic transmission, that's not lag, it's the powerband. Bolt-ons won't solve this much but they will make you think the car is faster. I suggest you do more reading on here to see what kind of results people are seeing with mods.

 

id go with the 2.4l engine on the 09 gts and the CAI from Injen, the CAI on the 2.4l makes alot more difference than the CAI on the 2.0l engine.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

As far as the bluetooth, not a huge issue to me. I plan on putting my own system in, the dealer is just touting the bluetooth as a selling point, but i couldn't get it to turn on. So I would like to use this to drop the price a bit.

I wish I could get a GTS but my other car just got totaled so I need another car quick.

I drove a Saturn Astra 5 speed. Small 1.8 L engine, but peppy. Maybe I got use to that and that is why the Lancer seems a bit laggy. I am still pysched about getting the car, none of the things I noted are going to kill the car for me. Just wanted to get some input. I am going to try and get the price down a little lower or get tint put on before I sign the papers though.

EDIT: I have one more question. In my Astra I couldn't put LEDs in the parking/city lights, brakes, or reverse lights because the low watt LEDs would make the car think the bulb was out and shut off power to it. I haven't seen anywhere on here where people have had problems with that, seem like LEDs are just plug n play in the Lancer.

 

You can use L.E.D's pretty much everywhere in the Lancer witout any issues, except for the turn signals where they need to blink.

 

Thanks man. I guess it was GMs CANBUS system made everything 10x harder to do in my Astra. Good to know the Lancer will be easier. Should be picking her up on Friday or this weekend depending on when I get time to go.