Long-Term Road Tests

The display screen in the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS (also our long-term Outlander so I'm guessing it's all across Mitsubishi), drives me nuts. Let me count the ways.

First of all, the buttons absolutely stink. They are small, flat, and utterly without texture. Aargh!! I am a big fan of the old-school volume knob, and Mitsubishi's only saving grace is that it has redundant volume and CD-track controls on the steering wheel. But these buttons are utterly useless. Yes, I know, you're supposed to only operate them at a stop. Uh-huh. Not a good idea to look away while driving. I agree. But sometimes you have to, and a flat line of quarter-inch-long buttons doesn't help. It's much easier to have raised buttons, so you can essentially count your way down them with your fingers and keep your eyes on the road.

Because here's the other thing. In anything other than bright light, they completely disappear.

Granted, the photo is an exaggeration, but not by a lot.

And last but not least, directing your attention to the top screen you will notice the "open" button for loading CDs. It causes the whole thing to open vertically, placing said button on a horizontal plane where you have to feel for it to see it to, then close the thing up again. Stupid. Put it on the side.

C'mon, Mitsu. You can do better. Turn it into a touchscreen, put the "Open" button on the side, and you're halfway there.

Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor, @ 15,636 miles