2004 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

Summary:

Great car for the money

Faults:

Two wheel bearings, one at 210000kms, another at 290000kms, otherwise all original.

General Comments:

Paid $14,000can. Brand new, great all round transportation, starting to burn a bit of oil about a litre every 5000kms, but it has over 300000kms, and still runs great.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th June, 2011

28th Oct 2012, 01:53

Original poster. Update; now has 351000 kms, replaced front brake rotors 3 times, and a wheel bearing and alternator. Still runs great.

In reply to 28th Oct 2012, 01:53

15th Aug 2015, 15:01

Original poster, car sold with 410,000 km, still running good, time for a new car.

In reply to 15th Aug 2015, 15:01

19th Nov 2020, 06:54

How often did you replace the timing belt?

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer ES 2.0

Faults:

Nothing wrong with it at all.

General Comments:

This is one of the best cars I have ever owned in my lifetime. It has lots of power, and it's at 242000km, and this car will not give you any headache at all. I bought it in 2008, and not one repair to it so far.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th August, 2010

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 2.0 turbo petrol

Summary:

If I keep it serviced as I am doing now, I think it will run forever

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car.

General Comments:

Fast! This car is a rocket. The boost sounds amazing. Best handling road car, period!

The car's an everyday driver for me. It's a good reliable rocket, although it is thirsty, the interior is very cheap, and the ride is very harsh and bumpy. I still love this car! Best car I've owned!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 12th August, 2010

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback LS 2.4L MIVEC

Summary:

A true sports wagon

Faults:

Brakes had to be serviced 69 000 km. The front brake pads were not installed properly.

Link kit and sway bar changed 70 000 km. This is not a life and death issue, but the sound of the squeaking is very annoying.

The alternator belt at 75 000 km.

Front left tye rod 75000 km.

General Comments:

I bought this car used, so I put some little repairs to make it go like new. All the repairs I put on the car were mostly preventive.

This car is very reliable and fast. The motor is a 2.4L, which provides 160HP so you get a fun ride and can load the car without any troubles. The handling is very sharp and precise.

Inside you have a good visibility. The interior design is nice and up to date. You have lots of cargo room when the rear seat are folded.

The gas mileage is OK, but not as economical as a Toyota Corolla. The paint is not very resistant compared to Toyota.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th February, 2009

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Rally Edition 2.0 4G94

Summary:

Sporty, Fun, Cheap Transportation

General Comments:

This is a great car, reliable and sporty. I have only owned mine for 11,000 miles but we have one in the family that's at 112K miles and still running like the day we bought it with 9miles and I expect the same from mine.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd April, 2008

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback LS 2.4 gasoline 4G69 MIVEC

Summary:

Very hard to find yet satisfying, worthwhile vehicle

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with this car yet.

General Comments:

Nothing has gone wrong yet.

General comments? The exterior is sharp, very reminscent of Volvo station wagons, which is definitely a plus. The space is also used very well and the back end is loaded with a variety of nooks and crannies and other areas to hold equipment or cargo. The shape itself cuts right through the wind. Sharp black wood accents and brushed metal mark the inside of the vehicle and the displays are well marked and well placed. Everything works great and feels surprisingly upscale.

The 160 horsepower 2.4 liter engine provides a good, peppy even powerful delivery of power, but is also able to ease into higher speeds without any trouble. Passing is a breeze with this vehicle - you tend to get the sensation that you are going faster than you really are. While driving, you feel that you're driving something that's substantial without being bulky or overly heavy, which is reassuring. Even while driving at high speeds, it's surprisingly quiet. Fuel economy is also very reasonable considering the weight of the vehicle (over one and a half tons) and the size of the engine.

I traded in my '00 Corolla because it didn't have enough personality or legroom for my 6' 3" frame. This has been a definite improvement and the car almost feels like an extension of myself because everything works so smoothly and so naturally. Having about 8k miles on my new vehicle, getting it for $11,200 was a great deal and I have to admit there's the added appeal that this particular model is one of only 3,000 others in the US. I cannot say enough good things about this vehicle; it's been my dream to own a wagon and a Mitsubishi and now it's come true. If you find one, I recommend you strongly consider buying it. You will not regret it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th March, 2006

29th May 2006, 23:53

What figures do you get or think from your sports wagon.

0-60 mph in auto form.

I'm thinking of getting one, but unsure of power, as it seems to be quite heavy. Otherwise I may opt for a Mazda3 hatch.

Cheers.

30th May 2006, 10:06

Reviewer here.

I've found that I can do a 0-60 in about 6.5-6.6 seconds if I play the gas pedal right, which is pretty good, since I did it with a second person in the car keeping time for me.

The nice thing about the MIVEC engine is that it allows a great deal of flexibility for an automatic. Since the cam profile changes at 3,500 RPMs, you get a sort of "turbo boost" at that point, which is great for stop light take-offs or passing on the highway.

Besides that, there's a computer that will tailor the gear shifting to your driving style (I believe it resets every time the car is started, though I may be wrong), so it may hold one gear longer if you're driving sluggishly to conserve fuel or it will hop through the gears to reach that 3,500 RPM sweet spot if you're really laying on the gas. One of the things I like best about this vehicle is that if you manipulate the gas right, you have a lot more flexibility than other automatics, almost as much as an auto-stick without the hassle.

So I'd say its performance capability isn't really in question. It's actually not quite as heavy as you'd think and the engine does a great job of keeping it moving. Considering its size, however, it does a pretty good job of getting painless gas figures. I've gotten between 25-28 mpg combined, keeping in mind that I don't have cruise equipped for highway driving.

If I were you, I'd definitely consider this little gem, or at least give it a test drive. I guarantee that you'll be the only one on the block with one!

2nd Jun 2006, 01:36

Thanks buddy.

Although 6.6 seconds sounds bit too quick for an Auto natural aspirated engine. 0-60mph.

I was thinking more along the lines of 8 sec.

But I will be doing a test drive soon...can't wait.

2nd Jun 2006, 13:17

I find it rather hard to believe the reviewer achieved those 0-60 times, as well. But still, put the 2.4 (which is large for a 4-cylinder) in a smaller car like the Lancer, and it could be achievable. With a manual transmission, perhaps? Maybe not.

13th Jul 2006, 12:14

Original poster here. Did the poster who said he'd be taking a test drive give it a shot? And if so, how'd it go?

In reply to 13th Jul 2006, 12:14

10th Jul 2017, 14:05

To OP: Eleven years later -- how did your ownership experience turn out? Do you still have it?