EvolutionM - Mitsubishi Lancer and Lancer Evolution Community

- Lancer General (https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/lancer-general-9/)

- - kiplinger's survey (https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/lancer-general/8986-kiplingers-survey.html)

kiplinger's survey

i finally looked up that kiplinger's reference from the 'rally or rice' thread...

http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/ar...ding/cars.html

Quote:

But the home-grown Ford Focus ZX3 wins Best in Class honors. It's roomy and moves through traffic with ease, thanks to a 2.0-liter, 130-horsepower four-banger engine. Ford hopes its nimble performance in an edgy-looking package will attract young buyers. It rises to the top of the class with solid resale value, gas mileage, power and interior room. The Honda Civic -- the category's Best Seller -- came close but lost out because it lacks some optional safety equipment.

...

Quote:

The Mitsubishi Lancer ES, the Best New Car in the category, is an appealing package of handling and performance. But the 2.0 liter, 120-hp engine lacks spirit when hitched to an automatic transmission.

just the best completely-new-didn't-exist-before car under $16k. how many completely new under-$16k cars came out last year?

just wondering. i like to check the primary source when people start throwing surveys around :)

-bd

Check out carpoint.com or edmunds.com and start digging. Not sure if this helps but:

Suzuki Aerio is/was all new in '02
Toyota Corolla '03 all new model is offered in '02

I think all of the following are carryovers (more or less):

Focus
Neon
Civic
Sentra
Protege
Elantra
Daewoo
Saturn S Series
Cavalier / Sunfire

I guess Ford has probably worked most of the Focus bugs out by now given the number of recalls the car went through. It does drive with a fairly European feel in the suspension, but it's a lot less refined in overall package terms. The 2.0L Zetec sounds pretty coarse in comparison to the 4G94 in the Lancer.

Everyone and their dog have complained about the Lancer's power. Fortunately the 2004 models will get a power increase.

The reason the :mitsu: engine is so smooth is the balance shaft design. :mitsu: uses the same technology in the Galant and Eclipse engines. As far as I can tell my Galant is smoother and quiter than Accord (2.3l VTEC is rough as a diesel), Camry and Altima engines.:spin:

Quote:

Originally posted by evomk8
Everyone and their dog have complained about the Lancer's power.

"woof, woof" --my dog

-bd

That's like complaining about a Civic or Mirage's power. It's not meant to be a beast. :dunno: It's just another econobox with a bit more torque than those of the same displacement. ...a fun one though. :)

Quote:

Originally posted by HobieKopek
That's like complaining about a Civic or Mirage's power. It's not meant to be a beast. :dunno: It's just another econobox with a bit more torque than those of the same displacement. ...a fun one though. :)

I don't get it either. It beats my previous two econoboxen (Horizon and Sentra) and even the truck I traded for it (you want to talk underpowered? talk about the friggin' '96 four-cylinder-only-since-we-can't-make-emissions-with-our-six Nissan trucks).