1989 Mitsubishi Lancer GL review from Finland
"Almost repair-free"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
In the first year I got the car I burnt a valve driving to harshly with it. The valve clearances must be measured every 30000 km.
The front brakes on the drivers side were soon found stuck as a result of poor installation; the pads had not fitted correctly to their guide and had got wedged. I installed new ones and had to file them a bit.
In the early models the rear (drum) brakes easily squeak due to poor design. This can be fixed by making a lengthwise cut to the soft surface on the shoes.
Otherwise the car has been flawless.
General comments?
The G, GL and GLi models are really weak performers with their (some) 65hp and 150km/h top speed. In cities you can manage and on the highways as well if you don't need to pass a lot of other cars.
The car feels very light, even when there are no power steering or other aiding devices.
I have fitted 185/60 tires on 14" aluminum spokes and new gas shock absorbers and the car rides very smoothly.
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| Economic runabout |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.3 G13 Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 144000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 193000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Honda Accord |
| Date of Entry | 12th August, 2002 |