I'm planning on getting a lancer again. I used to have an 02 Lancer ES. and am finally going to be able to get back to my first love the lancer. I want to get either an 08 or 09 GTS. Wondering if Manual or automatic is the way to go. Saw one out in my area with auto and paddleshifters but all i've heard about those is overheating problems in the tranny. any advice?

 

if you want the real experience of driving a car, go with a manual. if you have the cash and dont want to pay too much for insurance, 10 RA would be the way to go. Otherwise, if you don't dig the turbo, GTS would be good. I see a black on black 09 GTS in my area. Looks sick.

 

Manual is the way to go. I had a CVT GTS and it was cool and all but my 5 speed is so much more fun to drive. Both cars are '09's. I've never heard of the CVT tranny overheating or anything like that. Mine seemed really robust when I had it.

As for '08/'09, there's not much difference IMO. Changes that come to mind between the two years are:
Obviously the engine. '08 has a 2.0 and '09 has a 2.4
'09 has different gauges (blue/red instead of white/blue(?))
That's all I can think of, but I'm sure there's more changes that they made.