Long-Term Road Tests
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
July 31, 2008
"How come you guys have two black Lancers?"
Well, actually we don't. The Lancer GTS, the one that looked tough but swung with fists made of Jell-O, has left our garage. After 19,172 miles, it proved to be a pleasant-enough economy car with an ample dose of style and high-tech features for the money. But it sure didn't have an ample dose of power, as its rackety engine lacked anything resembling low-end power. Of course, this is a problem that lasted only one year in the GTS, as Mitsu dumped a bigger 2.4-liter MIVEC four banger in the bay for 2009 -- lower trim levels still get the same slow-poke engine. The final fuel economy tally for the car was an average of 24.09 mpg, which is exactly what the EPA combined number is.
As for the new black Lancer (the one we wanted all along), it's at least a different shade of black -- a metallic color with a brownish tinge to it known as Phantom Black Pearl. So there.
Stay tuned for the full wrap-up of the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 19,172 miles
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- Posted by: JRiz July 31, 2008, 8:56 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
July 22, 2008
We drove straight to Long Beach Mitsubishi following the fuel tank issue John reported. They ordered and installed a new fuel tank sending unit under warranty. And 20 miles later this warning lights up.
A quick detour to the gas station is next. We fill it full with 8 gallons. Only problem is that the tank holds twice that volume. Something was still wrong. When we turn the key to leave the service engine light also illuminates. We drove right back to the dealer.
Our advisor tells us the float arm was left in the 'up' position at installation. They remedied the problem, it returned to us later that day and we haven't experienced any issues since.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Coordinator @ 18,937 miles
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- Posted by: July 22, 2008, 11:52 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
July 8, 2008
This last holiday weekend, my wife and I were fortunate to add 1,858 miles to the ODO in our long-term Lancer. One family reunion, three states away, in less than three days. My head is still spinning....
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- Posted by: July 8, 2008, 3:52 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
June 30, 2008
I like to drive, to shift, to go fast, to take the curves. Pure and simple. And nothing suits that need like a cabin that speaks directly to the driver, without a lot of extraneous crap: lots of badly designed buttons, switches, nonsense. And the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer's cabin, despite a head unit that could be vastly improved, is fantastic...
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- Posted by: Doug Lyoyd June 30, 2008, 1:54 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
June 25, 2008
Edmunds road tests are now using real-world applications for measuring cargo space. Whereas one can write that a car has 14.5 cubic feet of trunk space, some find it better to say "You can easily fit two golf bags and an overnight bag in the trunk," to offer our readers a more tactile sense of the space.
As you know, I go by how much musical gear I can fit in a car. I appreciate the Lancer's wide-opening trunk, and for some reason I'm always impressed by how its enormous manta ray-like rear wing doesn't impede the opening...
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- Posted by: Doug Lyoyd June 25, 2008, 5:36 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
June 23, 2008
I've had some unkind things to say about our long-term Lancer in the past, but it's time to give credit where credit's due: the optional Rockford Fosgate stereo really cranks (as Scott also observed awhile back). Bass from the trunk-mounted subwoofer is powerful and punchy, and things are screwed together tightly enough back there that there are no audible rattles during bass-heavy tracks, unlike our subwoofer-equipped Accord, for example.
Having driven a Mazda 3 recently that was equipped with the Bose system, I can confirm that the Lancer's Rockford Fosgate system absolutely blows the Mazda/Bose setup out of the water (I digress, but that's quite possibly the lamest Bose system ever to grace an automotive interior). The Lancer was the perfect people-hauler en route to a club in Hollywood on Friday night -- Pit Bull and Lil' Jon's "The Anthem" has rarely sounded so good...
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 16,789 miles
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- Posted by: SadButTrue June 23, 2008, 11:45 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
June 16, 2008
So now that I’ve driven the Lancer Evolution and the Lancer Ralliart, I figured a weekend in our Lancer GTS would be a let down. It was. After all, with only 152 horsepower our Lancer is slow. I distinctly recall making a few lane changes that I shouldn’t have given the Lancer’s meager ability to adjust its speed to faster traffic...
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- Posted by: June 16, 2008, 6:08 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
June 11, 2008
Since time immemorial, automakers have been positioning their manual shifters in the center of the shifter surround (for lack of a better term). But Mitsubishi evidently wasn't satisfied with the status quo, because the shifter in our long-term Lancer GTS is noticeably off-center to the right (and unlike the Mini's shifter, which lists to the starboard side but is rooted in the center of the console, the Mitsu's is off-center from bottom to top). If anything, you'd think they would have done it the other way around, making the shifter closer to the driver rather than the passenger. Call me a nitpicker (hey, it's my job), but this bugs me every time I drive the Lancer...
To me it just reinforces this car's poser status (i.e., big wing, big wheels, no power, blender-like engine note).
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 16,529 miles
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- Posted by: SadButTrue June 11, 2008, 11:28 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
May 27, 2008
Although I find our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer's cabin spacious and comfortable (with the exception of its lack of steering-wheel telescope adjustment), ultimately, it has some familiar Mitsubishi shortcomings. The plastics are grainy and easily scuffed. The leather wraps on the steering wheel and shifter are nearly always sticky. And the mediocre seat fabric shows every crumb and every stray hair. At the car wash today, I became the annoying customer, attempting to assist the staff with the vacuuming. I'm not ordinarily the fastidious type -- I just wanted all the lint off the seats. But if you look closely at this photo taken after the Lancer's bath, the crumbs have already begun to return.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches May 27, 2008, 3:05 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
May 22, 2008
In our last episode, I'd loaded seven bulky items in the back of our 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI for a trip to WIllow Springs Raceway for a test. The seven items fit with ease with the seats flopped down in the Subie, and it took about a minute to load or unload the stuff. The outgoing Impreza WRX STI had a trunk that wasn't expandable because the rear seats didn't fold. Score one for the new STI and its controversial 5-door hatchback body style.
But some of the feedback I got doubted a regular trunk would have a problem swallowing the same stuff. We don't have an EVO handy for another vs. STI shoot-out, but our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS makes a fine trunk double. Without folding the seats, I could only fit 3 of the 7 items. I tried different combinations, but 3 was all she wrote.
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May 14, 2008
I took a brief spin in our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS last night and I was reminded again just how much I like this five-speed manual transmission. Yes, it's matched with a 2.0-liter engine that's nothing special. But between the just-right clutch engagement and the shifter's positive feel through the gates, the gearbox is certainly up to par in the $21K Lancer -- and it's better than some of the manuals you'll find in $30K cars. I haven't driven a manual-shift Honda Civic in a while, but I can't imagine I'd like it that much better...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches May 14, 2008, 12:51 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
May 9, 2008
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!!..
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- Posted by: Doug Lyoyd May 9, 2008, 2:59 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
May 5, 2008
I've been through quite a number of cars these past few weeks. One annoyance that's common with the majority of them makes me love our Lancer if only for one reason: a touch screen navigation system.
I've been in 5-Series, E-Series, the new Jag XF and a long list of others. The majority of them have rollers or some other kind of control knob...
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- Posted by: May 5, 2008, 3:54 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
April 14, 2008
Jumped into our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer this weekend and noticed this message pop up on the nav screen. Weirrrd! That periodic maintenance message usually only pops up on the trip computer located behind the steering wheel. Does this mean things are urgent now since we've ignored the light for so long?..
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- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla April 14, 2008, 11:00 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
April 9, 2008
Pictured above is the way our long term Lancer's headlights should stay when they are not turned on. They should be off.
You see, our Mitsubishi has daytime running lights (DRLs) and I am patently against using headlights as DRLs. I should mention that I'm not against DRLs but in this age of ever increasing in-car distractions, the brief two seconds out of ten that we allow ourselves to actually look where we're going, it's helpful to have two bright reminders of the oncoming car you're not supposed to run into...
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- Posted by: Kurt Niebuhr April 9, 2008, 4:33 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
March 31, 2008
The Lancer has been in our fleet for a few months now, and its extravagantly sporty styling isn't as glaring to me as it first was. I slide behind the wheel, turn the ignition and the monster wing that dominates the rear-view mirror barely registers. I'll probably never truly be a fan of the car's fan-boy look, but the only aspects that make an impression me these days are the Lancer's positive ones. The satisfying feel of its shifter...
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- Posted by: Warren Clarke March 31, 2008, 2:29 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
March 17, 2008
Each time I drive our long-term 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS, I find myself remarking to myself how good the chassis is. The bodyshell is stiff, and this solidity gave Mitsubishi's engineers the freedom to equip it with damper valving that provides lots of wheel control yet a supple ride.
And that's exactly what they did. Excepting the weaksauce engine, this car simply drives and steers with the composure and precision of a more expensive car, and I notice it every time I'm behind the wheel...
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- Posted by: Jay Kavanagh March 17, 2008, 11:43 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
March 14, 2008
The other day I had a dilemma. I was faced with either taking our 2007 Mini Cooper S or 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. I know these cars aren't usually shopped against each other but for the moment, I was trying to decide if I should follow my heart or my head.
Normally the Mini manages to win by tugging at my heart strings but since I was going to drive way the heck across town to Pasadena from Santa Monica in rush-hour traffic, I considered taking the Lancer...
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- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla March 14, 2008, 11:51 AM
- Categories: 2007 Mini Cooper S, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
March 12, 2008
Dear Mitsubishi,
May I humbly introduce to you a rather nifty concept: the tilt and telescoping steering column. It's actually been around for quite awhile. GM came up with it back in the 1960s and Cadillac was the first brand to receive it. Telescoping took a while to catch on, but by the late 1990s, lowly VW New Beetles had them and a majority of vehicles come so-equipped today. And yet, I see that not a single vehicle Mitsubishi sells in the United States comes with this feature...
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- Posted by: JRiz March 12, 2008, 9:16 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
March 3, 2008
I’m not the first to notice the unpleasant noises our long-term Mitusbishi Lancer makes at higher engine speeds. But after spending a weekend putting up with the Mitsu’s uncivilized under-hood racket, I think this topic deserves its own post. Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton has opined that the Lancer’s 2.0-liter, 152 hp four sounds “janitorial” -- but I think that’s too kind. What this frumpy four-banger really sounds like at full-tilt is your standard-issue $40 blender...
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- Posted by: SadButTrue March 3, 2008, 1:00 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
February 29, 2008
When it comes right down to it, not many cars actually crack the 30 mpg barrier. That's why I was surprised to glance down and see our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer registering 31.8 mpg this morning. And that was after some spirited accelerations in early morning wide-open traffic conditions.
I've owned three Mitsubishis over the past decade and I have to say, they've come a long way...
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- Posted by: Philip Reed February 29, 2008, 9:21 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
February 25, 2008
Our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer did something odd the other day. After getting off the freeway, slowing down by kicking the gear into 2nd and then into Neutral before braking to a stop, the engine sounded like it was still revving and the tachometer was showing it was doing 4,500 rpm. No foot on the accelerator and the car at a complete stop. The tach needle hung at 4,500 for 5 seconds or so and then dropped down and then bounced up again to around 4,000 and then down as low as 500 until it finally returned to normal idle rpm...
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- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla February 25, 2008, 11:02 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
February 19, 2008
This holiday weekend, I started off in our '84 Ferrari 308 and ended up in our '08 Mitsubishi Lancer. I had to swap the Ferrari with Editor Ed Hellwig because he wanted to take it to a car show. Thing is, the Lancer he handed me was suffering from low tire pressure in the rear passenger tire. Ed had filled it with air and said the "Low Pressure" light on the dash went off so it seemed to be fine.
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- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla February 19, 2008, 10:44 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
February 12, 2008
It's been a while since we've checked in to see how the Lancer is doing when it comes to fuel economy. Here are the numbers:
Best tank: 29.49
Worst tank: 17.68
Current lifetime average: 23.7
Total lifetime miles: 11,490
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor @ 11,490 miles
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- Posted by: Warren Clarke February 12, 2008, 3:15 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
February 4, 2008
If you cared to inquire, I would tell you that I have an active lifestyle with the justification that I belong to a gym and, every few days, I go to the grocery store to buy food. Over the weekend, I bought a television and, with slight trepidation, checked off the in-store pick-up option. I was driving our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, you see.
Now I realize TVs have gotten a lot more compact and I was only buying a 32-inch LCD (a Samsung LN-T3253H if you're interested), but I really didn't expect the box to slide right into a trunk that measures 11.6 cubic feet -- before the optional subwoofer is taken into account...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches February 4, 2008, 12:02 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
February 1, 2008
I find our long-term 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS strangely satisfying to drive around town. I say strangely because, as others have written, the Lancer's 2.0-liter engine (152 hp, 146 lb-ft of torque) doesn't feel as potent as its numbers suggest... likely because the car weighs 3,000 lbs. Part of my satisfaction comes from the car's capable suspension and biggish 18-inch tires...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches February 1, 2008, 2:02 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
January 28, 2008
I fully admit to being a bit of a snob because I wish the Lancer had a 6th gear.
Maybe it's pitch of the engine that's annoying or I'm too old for it. Either way the noise coming from the engine when I'm nearing 80mph on the freeway is too much for me. If it had a 6th gear, it'd quiet down to a level I'd feel comfortable with...
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- Posted by: January 28, 2008, 12:44 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
January 7, 2008
There are a number of things I genuinely like about our Lancer, the keyless entry/ignition, the exterior styling, and the ability to provide a good driving position (unlike the recent Evo X with its more-supportive, but fixed-height seat). I even like the hard-drive-based Navi and the ability to rip CD's into the system. James did a good job reviewing the details and pitfalls of the system here. What I wish the audio system had were knobs...
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- Posted by: Chris Walton January 7, 2008, 9:13 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
December 14, 2007
This week I drove our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS from Santa Monica to Scottsdale, Arizona and back. That's an 800 mile round trip. And now I'm convinced that the Lancer ranks right up there with the very best small cars sold in America. I might still prefer the Mazda3 if I really had to choose, but I'd take the Mitsu over a Honda Civic for the same money...
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- Posted by: December 14, 2007, 11:58 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
December 11, 2007
On a closed course with a professional driver at the wheel, our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS has a top speed of 121 mph. As you can see. The pro also tells me that the Lancer is dead stable at that velocity. Must be that big, stupid, ugly ass wing glued to its trunk...
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- Posted by: December 11, 2007, 10:27 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
December 10, 2007
Our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS was pressed into a two-day, 941-mile roundtrip north for an 18th birthday celebration, with a brief side trip to the world’s best donut shop. About 90 percent was highway driving, and its 152-horsepower engine handled its own on the steep grades and long, windy straightaways.
Our best highway mileage was 28 mpg, worst was 24.6 mpg, which averaged to 26.5 mpg. That’s slightly better than the car’s 24 mpg EPA combined rating...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke December 10, 2007, 12:04 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
December 3, 2007
The humongous wing on the rear end of the Lancer may be a bit misleading when it comes to signifying the car's performance capabilities, but it does serve one practical purpose: It's a big help when it comes to getting the trunk open. Press the trunk release button and the trunk pops open just a smidgen. There's no formal handle to speak of back there, and there's barely enough room at the base of the lid for you to slide your fingers underneath and pry the trunk open. Enter the gargantuan wing. A gentle nudge to that massive protuberance and you're on your way...
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- Posted by: Warren Clarke December 3, 2007, 2:25 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
November 29, 2007
I recently took our long-term Mitsubishi Lancer in for first service. As usual, the dealership's service advisor initially tried to "sell" me more than what was actually required in the owner's manual. The manual's regular 7,500-mile service calls for an oil/filter change and a tire rotation. After-haggle, the final bill came to $75.06...
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- Posted by: Brent Romans November 29, 2007, 10:31 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
November 26, 2007
With all the recent news on the rising price of gasoline and how to combat it, I decided to see how frugal a driver I could be over the long, holiday weekend. The running average over the Lancer's 6,200-mile fuel log is currently just over 23 miles per gallon. Driving like a granny, never shifting above 3,500 rpm, I managed to earn 28.8 miles-per-gallon economy over 300 miles. I even managed 30 mpg on my drive in this morning, according to the real-time fuel-economy gauge on the instrument panel...
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- Posted by: Chris Walton November 26, 2007, 7:18 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
November 13, 2007
With its high-mounted wing, black paint and big wheels, our long-term 2008 Lancer GTS is one of the sportiest looking cars in our fleet. This does result in certain expectations for performance, however.
Here are the acceleration times of our manual-equipped long-term car:
0-60 mph: 8.8 seconds
Quarter mile: 16.7 seconds at 83.8 mph
In our full test of a Lancer equipped with the CVT, we posted a 9.1-second 0-60 mph time and a quarter of 16.9 at 83.8 mph.
These aren't Civic Si numbers, but they're still pretty decent for an economy sedan...
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- Posted by: Brent Romans November 13, 2007, 9:29 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
November 8, 2007
Earlier this week I drove our Mitsubishi Lancer GTS to San Francisco to attend Ford's introduction of the Mustang Bullitt. I figured it would be a good car to jump off of Taylor Street's hills or try some lurid rally-inspired drifts. Erm, or maybe not. Our economy-minded Lancer was, however, a respectably pleasing companion for about 450 miles of driving.
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- Posted by: Bob Holland November 8, 2007, 3:03 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
November 5, 2007
I have a growing fondness for the three-flash turn signal feature. When used, this feature allows one to lightly and quickly press the turn signal stalk to get an automatic, three-flash turn indicator.
I'm not quite sure why I like it. It doesn't save you any time, and it can be annoying if you don't know how it works (witness Josh's infamous Turn Signal Death Spiral post about our 330i)...
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- Posted by: Brent Romans November 5, 2007, 12:46 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
October 29, 2007
Okay, so our 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer loses major fun-to-drive points for its mediocre four-banger, which lacks the low end-torque to live up to challenge issued by its over-the-top rear spoiler. But it gains some for its five-speed manual transmission. With its fluid gear changes, the tranny is pleasure to experience.
And its leather-wrapped shifter isn't bad, either...
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- Posted by: Warren Clarke October 29, 2007, 12:07 PM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
October 16, 2007
Fauxhawk is to Mohawk
as....
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- Posted by: Dan Edmunds October 16, 2007, 10:08 AM
- Categories: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
October 9, 2007
I took our Lancer on a day trip up to Lake Arrowhead yesterday via the spectacular Rim of the World Highway (pictured). One-thousand-foot precipices tend to make me a coward, so I took a more leisurely pace up this scenic, serpentine road. Nevertheless, the smooth-shifting 5-speed manual was getting a work-out because of the GTS' complete lack of low end power. Drop below 3,000 rpm, and thunk -- you might as well be driving a ride-on lawn mower...
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