My point is, there are many appearance packages misbadging and such throughtout the automotive industry. I do not understand why the Lancer OZ Rally takes so much flack when it takes an already attractive and practical vehicle and gives it a little more flair to make it appeal to a wider range of buyers. I don't see your point about the Eclipses. If the Lancer had a high output version available right now, that car would likely also receive more attention. Hell, most vendors are telling US Lancer owners right now that they are waiting for the Evolution to develop parts, but that is starting to change. Greddy, I think is about to develop a cat-back, which may soon be followed by other products. My point is people who buy Lancers like the car for a lot of other unquantifiable reasons that were put foward in the Edmunds test. The car does have a rally heritage, its stiff structure and quiet ride are very important to buyers. Also the car is doing well for RMR in competition (with modifications of course) and it has so far proven to be a very reliable vehicle for its owners - toss in some great financing deals available from Mitsubishi and its no wonder the car is going to be a great success.

Right now we don't have a car that competes well in the segment that Edmunds picked for the test. One of the reviewers even said something to the effect that Mitsu needs something between the OZ and EVO, which will probably happen next year. When that happens, we will see how our car does.

 

Maybe you should try having some actual data next time before making a claim?
Trying to state a subjective claim as fact does not make it into one.
AAMOF, Edmunds fabricated that competition. Lancer is advertised as an economy car. Period.
No, this thread is suggestive of whether or not people bought their car to use as a base to mod for performance (rally) or a base to trick out the looks (rice). Some of us purchased it for neither reason.

 

Ahh ok.
But you have to admit, Civics, as much as I hate them, have a pretty wide variety of parts availible.

 

If the Lancer sat on top of the aftermarket throne, no one would question its appeal to a wide array of buyers. Is there not room for another? With its multilink rear suspension, stiff chassis and Mitsu strong bottom engine bottom end, the Lancer could also be a great one. Edmunds should have put the Civic EX Sedan in that test also if they wanted a car to kick around, maybe add some of that new FP "Factory Performance" line Honda is talking about with the spoiler and wheels. They same thing would have happened. But of course, it isn't cool for most automotive groups to pick on a Honda.

 

Of course! Absolutely! They practically created interest in econobox tuning.

 

I remember right when the new style Civics came out there were tons of aftermarket parts out already. Just aftermarket companies expecting it out of the Civic.

 

Hmm. Back to the Rally wheels, Again, you would not call them rally ButtDyno? I mean, 15X7 weighing in @ 14 lbs. Tires aren't rally spec but the Chronos surely are, and surely are an improvement over 14" hubcaps.

 

i think that just makes them "light, for 15 inch wheels"

i imagine real rally folk use forged rims...

moreover, just because they are better than 14" hubcaps does NOT make them rally wheels...

-bd

 

again, show me a stock car for the same price or less with better wheels for rallying???? I don't think the car can walk on water, and I don't think the edmunds comparison with cars costing 4k more is fair. But these wheels will be more than adequate for anyone doing entry level rally cross or autox events.

 

i'll say this again:
-being better than a 14" hubcap does not a rally wheel make.
slightly modified:
-being better than the wheels on other $17K cars does not a rally wheel make.

for autox, i'd much rather have the protege mp3 or neon ACR, which are virtually the same price. i imagine those cars would be equally fine in a rallyx but that's a step away from my area of expertise...

-bd

 

I'm not sure who stated this, but someone was saying that if we bought a lancer why not buy a RS 2.5 and spend an extra $3000-$4000. I priced the RS 2.5 with everything that that came with the OZ stock. The total came to about $22,000+ Thats $6,000 more then what we all paid for our OZ. Why spend that extra money when you can throw the $6,000 into mods =).

Just giving my .02

ROCK ON LANCER!!!!!

 

Then how do you know the OZ wheel is not a step towards rally if rally isn't your expertise?

 

Because the 6k you just invested into your Lancer wont even get close to the 4-5k invested into the 2.5 RS, fewl.
Used I can show you, new, I cant. But with the 2k more it costs for the 2.5 RS you get AWD + bigger engine + more mod opportunites. 2k for all that is a damn good deal. Now, if I had the opportunity to get either a Lancer or a 2.5 RS for rallying, and I only had 16k in hand, I wouldnt blow it all on the Lancer, thats just not smart. I would hope that most people would agree.

 

i've never rallyx'd. i don't know how violent it is on wheels, that's all. and like i said, the pros use forged wheels, so if rallyx doesn't require forged wheels, than even the 14"s with hubcaps are probably more than enough.

-bd

 

maybe the neon is. but the Mp3 is impossible to find and at least 5k more. Healthy discussion here fellas. Glad to see the GO RICE crowd dropped out at least.