The car handles well for the everyday city run, wouldn't expect miracles from a city car. OK at the lights, but needs serious whipping to get decent pick up.
Cold start is a nightmare, where I can hear every valve opening and closing, and the engine running dry close to a minute. Not an impressive sound. Fell for the car when the dealer cranked the engine, and it was super smooth; hence the purchase. Of course he had the engine pre-warmed!!
Fuel economy is acceptable for a city runner with an average of 12km/lt. Have hit 15.5 lt/km interstate. However this is pretty OK for a carby 1.5lt engine with 300,000 on the clock.
Word of caution if buying a used Lancer CC!! Always check for weakening of the clutch cable bracket at the firewall of the engine bay. This is very weak. When the clutch starts to fail, this is the weakest point. Damage is very expensive to fix, trust me!!
Handling on wet roads is very bad for a front wheel drive, with heavy over-steer. Easier to lock the wheels on moderate braking.
Paint work, and overall fit and finish, is holding up for the age of the car.
Best part about the car is the self-maintenance capability. It's mostly DIY, and parts are relatively cheap. Tyres last a while, I've clocked 60,000km on mine.
To increase grip, hope to chuck the stock wheels and fit chunkier tyres.
Overall, I'd recommend the car to first time car buyers. Not recommended for families. You cannot fit anything bigger than a suitcase in this car. It's a downfall of owning a coupe!!