I went to a mitsubishi dealership in St Louis and test drove a 02' oz and was thinking about buying one...BUT the dealer talked me out of it and told me to wait. He said not only will they bring over the EVO (which he didnt know crap about ) but they are also going to keep the regular FWD lancer. The guy said the ES and LS are going to have the same 120hp as the current model, but they are going to give the OZ a bigger engine. He said he heard they were going to put in the Eclipse SOHC 16-Valve 147hp or V6 SOHC 24-Valve 200hp. He said the base price of these were going to be the same as the '02 model, with the OZ being around 19k.

Anyone else hear about this??

 

That's funny cuz 2.0 is the max displacement allowed on WRC cars last I checked. Seems like it'd defeat the purpose of calling it an OZ Rally. I doubt they'll drop a v6 in, but a different engine isn't out of the question.

EDIT: Do we need a USDM Lancer rumors section too now?

 

I'm going to call my dealer and see what they say about "03' Lancer" (not evo)

 

The Lancer will only come with the 4G64 from the Eclipse if and only if they remove said engine from the Eclipse line and only use the V6. At least, that's my take. The Eclipse sells well for Mitsu and I don't think they want their compact car taking a bite of their sales from their only current sports car which they can make more money with. As for the V6, that's just BS. If you're dealer didn't know about a high profile car like the Evo, I'm doubting he has any "real" info on a car like the Lancer.

 

I just spoke to my dealer and asked him...

"Is there going to be a difference between the 02 Lancer OZ and the 03 Lancer OZ ....I know the 02 is on clearance right now....

he responded with...

"The Lancer OZ/LS/ES is a new design for the US and a new model. Mitsu wont be changing it for a while. The only thing different will be the price" ...

PRICE?
I guess theyll offer better sound and leather i guess....
oh well.

 

Hopefully there is some truth in that. i have no idea, even if there was truth in it, why the guy didnt try and push me to buy the '02. I was ready to buy it.....maybe he wanted to buy it for himself....

 

you called the 3g eclipse a sports car

 

Talked to the mitsubishi dealer in Bellevue nebraska and he said the '03 Lancer ES/LS/OZ would be in next week. He also said that the only changes are going to be a Sunroof option in the OZ, and everything else would be the same.

Bellevue Mitsubishi
1203 Fort Crook Rd.
Bellevue, NE 68005
Phone (402)738-3800 or toll free @ 888-290-4443

 

...or maybe since he knew you were going to buy one he wanted to wait for the new, not discounted model.

 

That's what mitsu thinks . . . the pocketrocket concept is gone and all those warranty repairs for the TC'er and AWD models. It's replaced w/ a concept for a more mature buyer. Whether the populist agree or not, their sales #'s speak for itself.

yes, right now, the 3g is Mitsu's bread and butter in sales. Also, it won't take too long before the lancer gets up there . . . the lancer does need an engine upgrade to justify the OZ w/o just areo package.

 

B have u ever driven or sat in a eclipse GTS?

I think that 210hp speaks for itself. I do consider it a sports car. I test drove one and it halls ***.

 

well i was just at my local dealer about to get my buy on and i took the 2003 Lancer OZ edition out for a ride the only difference is that **** has the optional sunroof .. not a bigger or different engine same stuff.

 

bah...handles like poo, and they aren't fast
did I mention they look awful and are overpriced
*cough*2 door galant*cough*
it is NOT a sports car

 

*cough* 2.5 Rs is a WRX wannabe *cough*

haha, just kiddin B

No the Eclipse is not a sports car, but a decent GT car. I test drove one when I was gettin the oil changed on my OZ, it does move pretty well. What I was more concerned with was the exhaust note, definately one of the better V-6 sounds Ive ever heard. Then again I come from a Grand AM and Berretta suburb, so ...yea.....

On a side note, two days till the OZ gets pressed in the autocross. Im expecting lots of cone marks, hehe. If only B was there to show me up....

Dear lord I think I might have just started a war.........