Ok, I read all the FAQ stuff for newbies and I think the suggestion in there about writing down the VIN and calling Mitsubishi to ask what warranty work was done on the car is an *excellent* idea.

I have the VIN, but although I have done several google searches to try and find the right number to call, I cannot find it. I *really* want to find out whether one of the prior owners had the timing belt replaced! The people selling the car have only had it a year, so they don't know. The car looks nice, but it is overdue for the belt job.

Anyone know what that Mitsu number is to see about what warranty work has been done? Thanks!

Failing that, if we cannot find out, would you advise me to just buy the car, and have them rip open the car to do the belt job anyway whether its already been done or not?

And what other preventative maintenance is there that would be smart as long as the huge labor cost of opening the engine up is already done anyhow?

Thanks again.

Also, anyone want to comment on snow handling of the post 2002 era Lancer, please do.

 

I will answer the snow handling. I had an '03 OZ Rally & my friend has an '06 ES. We don't get much snow here (maybe 3 or 4 inch pile up), but the handling is pretty good. Of course, you can lose traction when stomping on the gas, but this can happen w/any car. Braking is good also. So, no issues here. Only thing to watch out for are the struts. I like whipping around corners & after a couple years of ownership, I had to replace them. Tires obviously have a lot to do w/snow handling as well.

Oh, & Mitsu phone # can be found here:
http://mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/jsp/contact.do

 

i have a FWD lancer and the snow handling is bad off the line but once you pick up speed i have no complaints. i usually try to avoid hills and stoping on them.

 

Thanks!!

 

The key to snow driving is the tires, you can have the best AWD system in the world and it'll be useless if you slap on summer tires in the winter. Invest in a good set of winter tires and you'll be fine.

 

Thanks!
What do you think of those new TripleTreads? (or any new high tech tires)

 

http://www.vimeo.com/171846
this is a video of my first rallycross

stock '03 lancer on nokian hakkapeliitta Q snow tires...

90% of the handling is the tires, the remaining 10% is the suspension, and the lancer has a nice soft suspension which does a good job on snow...

i would negotiate the price since they can't tell you if the timing belt has been changed or not, make them take at least 500$ off the price.

You can also try getting a carfax report
here's an example of the report for my car from a couple years ago

 

Nice!
Thanks for the info : )

 

i live in canada and we've had some pretty bad snow here but with my snow shoes on, the car has handled pretty well!