Faults:

Replaced steering rack.

Replaced first clutch at 85,000 miles.

Replaced 2nd clutch 135,000 miles.

First set of brakes went at 50,000 miles.

General Comments:

I didn't like the first clutch. It shifted strangely from 1st to 2nd, and only lasted 85,000 miles. Dealer wanted to charge me over $2,000 to replace the clutch. They said it probably had engine damage. They offered me $400 for the car. I decided to keep the car and went to a different mechanic and had the 2nd clutch replaced for $800. It only lasted 50,000 miles. I went to a different mechanic, and had the clutch replaced for $950, and it has been running like a champ for 140,000 miles.

Lots of room.

Used it like a truck.

Dependable.

Excellent on gas.

The engine doesn't quit.

Doesn't leak oil.

Burns very little oil at 275,000 miles.

Extremely comfortable.

Interior fabric lasts forever. Still like new 9 years later.

Faults:

Rotors are bad, and I've heard that is with all Lancers. I suggest getting new rotors ASAP on all Lancers. The drums OK though.

General Comments:

The car handles awesome. While the car could have had more horsepower for what it is, it doesn't take much to get them to go, but it is pricey...

Most things are cheap for the car unless you are looking to make it run like an Evo; then you've could spend some money. Start with a cold air intake; I got mine from K&N, a wonderful product.

I added a super charger to it, header, cat converter, electric voltage stabilizer, grounding wires, that's what I did and more on way.

I recommend a tsi turbo kit; $3,000 for the complete kit from the turbo to the turbo sensors and gauges. Don't put it together part by part on eBay; you will find that you will get lucky if all parts fit together.

Keep a fire extinguisher in your car; most mount in the passenger side front pillar of the car. Also looks sporty; $18.0 on eBay, lots of colours to choose from.

Overall, yes it is a great buy; it could be faster, but hey, if you've got the money, she will go to about 250 horses!!! Not bad at all.

Faults:

First off, I bought the car with VERY high mileage on it (96k).. so it was out of warranty in three months.

The timing belt went out in traffic a year ago. Amazingly, no damage!

Check engine light was stuck on (most likely from the cold air intake).

Slight electrical issues with the gauge lighting. (random flickers) Mitsubishi's are known for having minor electric issues (gauges, lights for your cig lighter, A/C, etc.)

Headlights could be brighter.

General Comments:

For the price I paid, the mileage, and the fact that I am hard on cars, this car was absolutely terrific!

The timing belt going out was due to the dealer stating it had been replaced when it had not, and myself putting another 30k miles on it.

Amazingly the engine took NO DAMAGE when this belt went out in traffic.

At first I was disappointed in the horsepower. I added a cold air intake, Slotted cross-drilled brake rotors, slight exhaust (not any crazy dooky pipes.. just something a little bigger), performance plugs, performance wires (kind of a joke.. only 2 wires.. other 2 are coil packs), eventually bumping the horsepower to about 142, and improving the handling greatly.

Sadly, last week a deer ended her life :-( I was t-boned by a deer, then I t-boned a tree.

I was going slow enough (under 35mph) that the airbags did not deploy, but the safety features that where supposed to work DID. This car saved my life without a doubt. The snappy handling, excellent crumple zones, and upgraded suspension (only on the OZ edition I believe) kept me from going off of a mountain.

I would recommend this car to anyone!

Once again, I bought it with nearly 100k miles on it, and put over 60k on it in less than 3 years! I maxed the top end NUMEROUS times, even skipped a couple of oil changes and she just kept running!

Very safe car, just remember, it does NOT have ABS. so.. if you are about to be in an accident, you have to act accordingly. If you just stomp the brake, a sliding you will go. It's a rally edition, when the deer hit me, I downshifted, popped the clutch, counter steered, tapped e-brake, etc. And she performed to the best of her ability with the left rim being destroyed by the deer all that time, wet roads with street (not all-terrain) tires.

5 stars and an A+ to this car!