I'm at 40,000, and haven't had any major issues. My fuel economy is insanely good. Maybe you're driving a little too hard?

Any car made mainly of plastic is going to rattle. I solved my dash rattle by rear-ending a '90 4-Runner. No more rattle. Seriously.

I had a leaky oil sender that was replaced at 11,000, and the two rear sway bars were replaced at 30,000. I still have confidence in the little monster, though.

 

I am happy with mine too. The doors still shut properly because they have been well greased with the servicing I have had done to them. You barely have to close the door for it to shut completely. A few mods and yes the car is more enjoyable to drive. If you keep it clean you will definitely enjoy it more. I think dirt has a bad effect on cars. ( the mouldings and rubber etc)

Wash your car, service it and it will treat you right.

Oh and as for the gas mileage drive it like an economy car and that's what it is. Mod it and start to drive otherwise and the sky is the limit for gas gusseling.

WADAD

 

I'm at 45500 miles.Two years will be March 19th

 

well my passenger door squeeks..and my passenger headlight doesnt work...but thats cuz some lady hit my car in a 97 expedition!! so i got the headlight and passenger front fender in the mail, soon in the mail will be import trenz cwest is300 replica kit or at least the front bumper... than im gonna get my car painted, or at least those pieces...depends on what the shop would quote me....if i get it all painted i was thinkin a pearlescent midnight blue or a metallic burnt orange like on the pontiacs.

whats awesome is i got hit in the fender/tire from a 97 expedition that was probably doing 35 mph and i was doin about 5-8 mph turning left on an a GREEN Light when she ran a red light and hit me....and it still drives the same as it did before...so i think its a well made car!!

 

I have about 24k on my Lancer and I had to have the rear control arms replaced already, and it's going in Friday to have the sway bar link replaced! My driver's side door rattles too but other than that, the car is good. The only complaint is that it is slow and I don't have any $ right now to modify it.

 

im also right at 40K Miles and its running great. I mean, ya its a nice car for me ( 17 yrs. old ) and ya i would love an evo or a luxury car but it wouldnt be a wise choice right now b/c either i would abuse the HP and crash it or think i can do anything and crash it. thats why i love my car, b/c its not to powerfull wehre i can kill myself, and it is fun working on it and making it faster instead of just getting a fast car outta the box.

 

gotta about 30000 on mine ive hit a guard rail and front end was all smashed and still drove perfectly, havent had ne major prolem a few small rattles that i barely even notice, mostly cause of my system and aftermarket springs, but overall im very happy w/ my car, also i have a few mods and dont drive exactly slow and i still get about 28 mpg

 

14,700 miles...

Two replaced idle air control valves, 2 unexplained trips to the dealer for SES lights that were reset and "fixed". Lifter tick when it starts until it warms/oil pressure comes up to spec. Oh, it sounds like the speedometer cable rattles. It will be 2 years on May 1. Granted, I autocross it, but it has regular maintenance above and beyond the owners manual recommendations. I won't mention resale value.

On the up side...the car is structurally stiff but softly sprung and is dampened weakly (no aftermarket struts for us guys in stock class), fun to drive, and rotates better than my '99 Si in an autocross, gets good gas milage, holds my wife and 2 kids comfortably, and is bound to be better constructed than a it's dosmestic rivals.

Not the best, but for the money it is a decent car.

My 0.02's

 

11k Miles, Bought New.
Very solid when i bought it and still very solid with the exception of the gauge rattle, but im sure i can get that to go away.

Im glad i got this car even with the plastic/leather dash.

girls that come into my car love it and they say i have an awesome car, but thats because they dont know how fast it is. the guys are like yea you got a ****ty lancer.

With the seats, shortshifter and ecu this car has been 100% more fun to drive.

 

the only thing i can complain about is the damn paint, and i think everyone can agree with that.

 

The car is great no problems (with the car itself). But the jack on the other hands sucks bad. I was changing a flat tire, when i went to put the spare on the jack decided to break and the whole car fell on the wheel messing up the fender. It buckled and got all messed up. Still havent fixed it yet.

 

ya, the jasck is a pain in the *** to use.

all i gotta say is the lancers are one tough piece of machinenery
i got rear ended, the car behind me was going 35-40+ i was coming to stop, he smashed me with his miata and the car was TOTALED, done, no way it would ever drive again with that engine, my car, all it needed was a new rear bumper, which was still in very good shape, just cracked, a little of my frame was bent, and my trunk lid was scratched. i barely was hurt, the other guy was all kinds of mangled, he did live tho, just broke his arm.

very nice car, i love it and it always turns heads

 

My doors do not shut like they are new, and my other problem was that I wanted this car because I fell in love with it. I didn't do enough research and I should have waited for a 2003 but I didn't. oh well I think I'm going to buy a WRX anyway cause it's affordable and it's all the power I need, and I like the 2004 front end much better

 

same situation but with a 2001 tacoma. the only thing that survived was the front bumper(truck was lifted) my car feels like and drives like the day i bought it. i get ****ty milage but thats entirly my fualt, i got some heavy chrome wheels and a lead foot
what kind of milage do a lancer get with ths stocks on. my stocks only got 15 miles on them(hate rollin stock)

 

i'm satisfied with my car definetly..at 40,000 miles, still averaging over 30mpg with a few mods, only thing it lacks is the much needed HP, but is fine for day to day drivin...only rattles i have are where my aftermarket CD player is in the area somewhere