A friend of mine is looking for a new or used Lancer. She doesn't want to pay for an Evo (besides - she likes a smooth ride).
Any recommendations?
Is she better off with a Toyota?
She's in NJ in case someone has a good car for sale.

 

You pay more for a Toyota. That doesn't mean it is any better. In my opinion you don't get all that much more for a used Toyota over a Mitsubishi... especially if the Mitsubishi was taken care of and is still under warrantee.

What kind of Toyota is she looking at? If it is a Celica, which for some reason every girl I have meet seems to like, it doesn't ride as nice as the Lancer. The Lancer handles better, seats more people in comfort, has a bigger trunk, and I think looks better then the new Celicas.

Anyway, if she is talking about a another Toyota I'd still say Lancer. It's good bang for the buck and you can't beat 30 mpg. Unless you're talking a hybrid Echo... ::shudders:: them things are ugly.

Fox

 

My friend, a girl, hates her celica after trading in her integra for one. The shifting is clunky and hard to adjust to and the ride is not smooth at all. I can't really say anything else about toyotas, my friend was thinking about a corolla but got a mazda 3 instead paying about $2000 less for what he thinks is a better car.

 

Why mitsubishi? Only thing worth buying from mitsu. is an evo. My service manager already let me know if this car was modified there goes my warranty. I have to say for a car that is reliable and a company that will back there cars 100% even modded go with Honda.

They are not fast, but niether is a reg. lancer. Just an example of the warranty, my friend bought a aem cai from the dealership and they installed it, it rained and ingested water and hydro locked the engine they replaced it and added an bypass valve.

mitsubishi will not touch your car after modding it, so unless you just really like the car such as myself with my evo, I do not think mitsu is a good company that knows how to take care of its customers. Honda is # 1 with customer relations, owned 2 and if ever come out with a turbo charged car will go back, but for now I will love my evo.

 

all i can say is ive had my lancer for over 2 years now and its been nothing but reliable, considering all the **** ive done to it and put it through. i have NO rattles or squeaks, still get 28 mpg, AND race it AT LEAST once every other week if not more. i drag race it at a track almost once a week, road raced a couple times, street raced, and just plain drive it hard for daily driving. it has 48000 miles on it now and has yet to lose any power.

 

Evors04 brings up customer service with Mitsu being a problem and I would generally agree. But most of the problem seems to be with dealerships. My dealership has been nothing but good to me so I can't complain. As for the Lancer being slow as Evors04 has stated it is in comparison to an Evo... but somehow I doubt that's the main selling point for your friend. Our cars might be slow but so is the compitition in the same class, but when put our cars up against the compitition and they stack up pretty well in comparison. While our car isn't an Evo it still is a damn good car.

Fox

 

well if she is getting a used one, then the warranty isnt even an issue. im biased but say for her to get a used oz.

 

Thanks for input. What about the various models: LS vs. ES vs. OZ vs. Ralliart?

Obviously the Ralliart has better pickup. What about the ride?

 

RA has a fairly stiff ride. But it handles pretty well and can really get up and go stock.

If ride is the concern, I'm pretty sure someone with an ES would swap springs with her.

Best bet is to have her go to a dealership and test the different cars out on the same roads.