Mitsubishi Lancer. A car this boring still has lots to offer! | ReDriven used car review

[@oscarkabowski8413]

I don’t get what’s boring about the design? It’s easily the best looking Lancer sedan…

[@vancefr]

You could honestly just ad a wing and replace the hood and 70% of people would think you got an evo.

[@zectorr9]

Very very far from “the best looking lancer sedan” lol..

[@siemasiema6377]

@@zectorr9 still better than e90 or a4 b7 from these years

[@zectorr9]

@@siemasiema6377 that.... i agree with.

[@kotarojujo2737]

@@zectorr9 previous base model lancer are always ugly tho, until this gen

[@spikechurchill7478]

As a technician for mitsubishi I can say we don’t push these off tow trucks on a daily basis, Overall Reliability of these are good, couple of things that do crop up is … starter motors, they were undersized in earlier models and do crap themselves, and ABS modules like Jim said. The CVT is reliable when serviced on time and when the correct genuine fluid is used. Gotta remember these were $20k cars when new and even when they were at the end of their life 10 years later they were still circa 20k for the base model. Road noise is an issue, sound deadening the car does make a massive difference to the cabin quietness.

[@troywinterbourn564]

I remember car shopping in late 2019 and they were still selling new/demo lancers for $18k drive away . I was really surprised to see what were basically 2 year old cars being sold as new .

[@AS-zt8bi]

My lancer is a 1.6 liter 4 speed automatic transmission I changed the transmission fluid with an after market fluid at 40k kilometres , should I be considered that it's not a genuine fluid ???

[@User-cb4jm]

@@troywinterbourn564 hah more like a 12 year old car. It’s reliable transport but by 2019 felt 2-3 full generations behind the current Corolla or Mazda3. I’d have simply bought a depreciated high spec one for closer to $10k if I really wanted one. Not a bad car but competitive for 2007-10 rather than 2017-20.

[@nimbleryan735]

As a Mazda technician who drives a October2007 build one of these as a daily, never had an issue other then paint peel. Legit did my 390,000km oil change 4 days ago and it still goes strong and drives a lot better then some of the Mazda's i service at 30,000kms. Hell didn't need to replace the original engine mounts, shocks, rotors, suspension bushings and wheel bearings till 12+years/280,000kms+ and this is doing city driving + spirited driving

[@mo198832]

I have a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Gts 2008 with manual transmission and the motor is a beast never got refresh never got any smoke the only thing I change once is the transmission after 14 years of use I can say that it has been very reliable and sometimes I it are on the engine an never gave up and since today is still running like new

[@gangstashots3298]

The Lancer models have a MASSIVE amount of aftermarket support from aesthetic looks to engine upgrades. Which is one reason why so many youngsters like myself look to or have purchased this car.

[@squintus8140]

Bro just spend that money on an actual evo 🥱🥱🥱

[@nonameB6919]

@@squintus8140 nah i prefer cheapest way

[@rolasleyva8602]

@@squintus8140 and spend 3-4 times more??? LMAOOO

[@watersnortmoment3734]

@@squintus8140 An evo is like 30 grand now lmfao

[@solraczetined5951]

@@c3l1y but he never say he wants it to be an evo .i own a gts and an evo x and both of them are almost alike in looks. my 300hp gts can beat stock evos cause is lighter and my 700whp evo can beat hellcats.

[@CWatawala]

I bought my 2010 Lancer back in 2014. I’ve had it for exactly 10 years and she’s done 330 000kms. Only issues I’ve had were the aircon and suspension issues. Ive serviced the car every 15000kms and she runs perfectly. No plans on getting rid of it any time soon!

[@agentarnold86]

Sole owner of a 2008 Lancer ES. I put 300,000 miles on it and its still going strong.

[@leeinwis]

His steering wheel is on the Limey side .

[@dreaminofthedrive5343]

I have owned my 2009 Lancer for about 8-9 years and it's been great. The only issues has been the paint peeling on the hatch and black spots in the roof. Other then a few scratches, it almost like a brand new car. It's had 2 new batteries, a set of tyres and has been serviced once a year. but I should mention it's a manual with only 86,000 km.

[@avreypietila6960]

My dad bought one of these new Bc it was cheap and it looked decent. It is now 10 years old and hasn’t had a single problem. Suffered Chicago city driving, and pot holes. Still have it to this day. We now drive German cars and when those break which is often this thing will start right up and drive perfectly after sitting for 6+ months. Not the best performing ,looking, car but it is very dependable and very economical, while still being comfortable enough to drive every day.

[@zildijannorbs5889]

A 2012 Lancer owner here. The car is 10 years old and besides a petty coolant leak - this thing never missed a beat. The fuel efficient 4J10 can still rev and give a good enough punch for daily fun. This engine is super polite at low revs, gears besides 1st and 2nd are effortless and smooth. The car is super beautiful, even with its paint chipping glory. With a 140 horsepower NA engine, relatively low weight and a manual transmission - this baby evo makes daily driving fun.

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

What's a 4J10? Don't these only have the 4B11 and 4B12 engines?

[@zildijannorbs5889]

@@Spacemonkeymojo it's like an SOHC, fuel-efficient version. It exists out there. I found out when reading stuff under my hood.

[@TakumiFujiwara80]

@@zildijannorbs5889 exactly, the 4J10 resort to use a camshaft finger to activate both intake and exhaust valves.

[@zildijannorbs5889]

@@TakumiFujiwara80 Yes that's right. I wonder, if there are DOHC kits out there. Or perhaps a head swap from the B engine? I've been tuning this engine mentally for so long lol.

[@TakumiFujiwara80]

@@zildijannorbs5889 Probably more than a simply head swap (chain and all component already different).I think Mitsubishi manage to make the difference between 2 engine negligible and claim an improved fuel economy. The cost won't worth the power gain. Better to swap with a 4B11T from an evo if you really want to make crazy thing.... but then you start to think if is not better to take the whole cake...

[@GlenAnderson71]

I have 440,000 kms on my 2010 CJ Lancer . Other than suspension parts , only things that have been replaced are the Alternator and Radiator. CVT still runs well.

[@Travilss]

You were changing transmission fluid at recommended time intervals ? I wanna change mine but worried by the horror stories

[@GlenAnderson71]

@@Travilss no horror stories with me ? What type of horror stories ? I get a transmission specialist to change my fluid every 50K and haven't had any problems so far

[@txx_ghost_xxt5638]

This cars the best for its class, I have a 2009 lancer gts and I never lost to any car that’s in its class, never broke down and it still drives good with 150k miles

[@FlashDreams]

(10yr owner here) I have an ES 5 speed manual. I bout this car new and now reached about 115k. I've never had any major issues with the car. I've taken great care of her kept maintenance up to date since day 1. I can say the only thing I had issues was my 02 sensors needing changed but other than that, the car has never left me stranded. Parts are extremely easy to change and cheap! This car is simple, yes but serves as a very proper car. I love it!

[@artkingofwholefoods74]

I’ve had my 08 Lancer (5 speed) FOR 15 yrs now. I LOVE it. Great on gas, never breaks, and cheap to maintain. :) I’m at 107,000 miles and just spent 4,700 dollars on a list of stuff. Most I’ve ever spent besides scheduled oil changes. The car drives as it did when I drove off the dealer! Great car!

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

I've had mine since 2011 and yeah, it's been incredibly reliable. I've only had one oil leak due to not replacing the oil soon enough and it's not been able to start on like one or two occasions. It's incredible how bulletproof it is.

[@mrceepyalex560]

I’ve had my lancer for about 6 months and it’s been a great car and had no issues whatsoever

[@stephanburgess654]

Great review. I currently have 3 Lancers. Yes I’m a Mitsubishi nut. I’ve owned 28 Mitsubishi’s since 1978. To date I haven’t had an issue with any of them. In my driveway today I have 3 Lancers. My current lancers are a 2014 sport with 45,000ks, a 2015 XLS with 120,00ks and a 2017 Black Edition with 56,000ks. On a recent trip from Adelaide to Dubbo in the XLS it averaged 6.4lt per 100ks. I Love my Lancers. But then I’ve loved all my Mitsubishi cars.

[@bayandamsweli2005]

Struggling to understand why you’d have 3 lancers. It’d be interesting to know why.

[@stephanburgess654]

@@bayandamsweli2005 mine wife’s and daughters..dam great reliable economical. So why not?

[@miligutierrez9973]

Is an amzing reliable car

[@Neonant-]

@@stephanburgess654 id figure u would have 3 evos instead

[@stephanburgess654]

@@Neonant- I could only dream. Retail wages are not that good.

[@MattyClivingthedream]

Lancers are bullet proof reliable (if serviced correctly). I've owned a 2011 model since new, and other than a window seal being replaced under warranty plus a new battery & tyres, nothing has gone wrong or been replaced. It still has it's original brake pads and wiper blades. The paint work is perfect (but it is a garaged example that us washed frequently).

[@snehalkrishnan618]

It’s true. Even though sometimes I feel my Lancer is so basic and boring one fault I can’t find is how reliable it’s been. Besides taking it in for oil changes I haven’t had to take it in for any issues. I bought it with 40,000 miles on it. Now it has 1031000 miles on it and not a single issue.

[@TheMoo-o]

i have a 1.6L version of these i get 5.2-5.5 L/100l (44 mpg) no problems with it so far ,i have it for 1 year made in 2012. Really good car

[@brahmagraphix2442]

I own a 2016 Lancer and I still get a lot of compliments about the looks. Its design definately holds up to this day and looks better than most modern sedans. Boring my arse.

[@RameoMTL]

I think the classic simple look of the Lancer actually looks quite stylish in these modern times.

[@Explosivefox109]

I agree, it's so much less swoopy and curvy than say a Civic, Mazda 3 or Corolla of the same age. It's angular without being boxy, especially in the CF 2015-17 facelift. I've pretty much only driven subcompact hatches and Commodores and I like the styling of the CJ sedans in a compact car package. I fucking hate P platers that coat these in rubbish body kits and ricer accessories. All that said the rear of the sportback/hatchback looks like total arse.

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

@@Explosivefox109 I own the Sportback and I personally really love the look of the rear end with the lift back design (most hatches have a steeper rear end, the only other car I can think of atm that has a lift back rear is the newer Civic Type R) although it depends on the trim level. The VRX rear end looks way better than the ES rear end with the spoiler. The trunk also has two cargo boxes on either side which the sedan doesn't have and is awesome for practicality. And the hatch opens really high so you have plenty of room to put manouevre stuff into the trunk. It's just awesome!

[@matthewbergroth4537]

I brought a 2014 ES 5spd Manual with 80,000km and full service history about two months ago now. Absolutely love it, soo economical on fuel and more fun than the auto. Probably the best car I have owned lol

[@SobKnight]

Bro the thing looks better than 90 percent of cars I've ever seen. I seen one the other day and was like damn that's a really awesome car, so I looked it up and found out how cheap they are and couldn't believe it at all. To me it looks slick af.

[@felipin.el.detailer]

Dude. I daily drive a Lancer and it is an awesome car. Do I need to race? No. Do I need to move fast? No. This car is sure not fast, but why would I want it? I'd rather have a reliable and efficient engine that can move me anywhere without breaking the bank. What I did to mine is: first, a proper sound deadening. Replaced the head unit with a Sony that has Wireless Apple Carplay. Xenon OEM headlamps (not those bad quality VLANDs from the video) along with Osram bulbs and OEM ballasts. Minor paintjob upgrades. And it ROCKS. It looks nice, it is efficient, comfortable and hell of reliable. Love the car.

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

What did you do for the sound deadening? I'm guessing you took off the door panels etc. and stuck some sort of material to the inside of the doors?

[@groosomflame]

I've had my 09 lancer for over 7 years, in that time been traveling to various locations from Perth to Broome, any where in between and gotta say my lancer has done well, no breakdowns, mivac engine still runs smoothly and loving the long drives. Although the exterior paint is starting to fade and my interior needs an overhall 😄.

[@jeffmorse645]

I had a 2010 Lancer Sportback GTS (US trim - 2.4 engine) for ten years. Not a single thing went wrong with it. Strictly regular maintenance and a couple sets of new tires. Most reliable car I ever owned. I kept it in the garage and it wasn't the primary car for the family so it still looked very good when I got rid of it. The styling aged so well than most people thought it was a current model of "something" - most in this country had no idea what it was. In retrospect I wish I had just kept it.

[@damilolaakanni]

I don't have any experience with Mitsubishi, but I have an uncle who had a Pajero since new (~2011, petrol 3.8 V6, 4WD, automatic transmission), and it has been very reliable with routine maintenance. He still drives it to this day. Just keep up with maintenance and you'll be fine, especially with the automatic transmission on these Lancers (I heard they're CVTs).

[@andrewtran6969]

Hi Redriven I have a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. I'm located in Sydney. Happy to lend it to you for a day.

[@jacksonpitstock7757]

People, like this so it gets higher in the comments!

[@jacksonpitstock7757]

Also, I think they've said before to message them on insta about this, hopefully it goes ahead

[@ReDriven]

We’ve 100% noted this! Cheers Andrew!

[@cjmcrae]

I’ve got a 2014 GSR 5spd in Sydney as well if you need two cars like your last Evo review

[@GanjaPanda876]

I am from Jamaica and here we have the Lancer and the Galant Fortis. I have the Galant Fortis. They are great value for money. As long as you maintain it, it will serve you for a long time.

[@davidporter2770]

I am not a Lancer or Mitsubishi owner. I have 2 friends that both have 2015 Lancer ES Manual. Both well over 220,000km EACH, and never a moment,s trouble. And they both only get serviced once a year. Nothing else. Jim is usually a very weak fence sitter, never giving comprehensive details of any car, s problems. But I smiled as he really laid into the Lancer. I strongly suggest he does the same take for all cars. I,ll be watching him closely.

[@psychosquirrel555]

LOL wtf

[@datacipher]

@@psychosquirrel555David porter is an absolute weirdo obviously. 😂😂😂. Gee hope he’s been watching CLOSELY… and smiling! Because of course if you have TWO friends that pretty much proves the universal rule….

[@janosrozgonyi889]

I bought mine new in 2016 mid-range trim and put 125K km in continental Europe. The 1.6 engine with the manual gets 6-6.2 liter/100 km. I wouldn’t mind a 6th gear, but it has been error free with regular oil changes and even 800 km trips don’t wear out the driver or the passengers either. I love the design but have updated the head unit of the stereo to move on with the times. The paint isn’t the greatest, but have been overall extremely satisfied with the car.

[@TCM215]

in my opinion this is one of the best looking cars ever made! This is a great design

[@crm1984]

My mother has a 2013 Lancer Sport and she loves it. She’s now in her late 70s and didn’t want to be overwhelmed with too much technology, so this suits her just fine. I also drive it occasionally and have to say it’s quite comfortable to drive, even on long trips. I’m used to driving SUVs/4WDs and have to say if I’d ever buy a smaller car for a runabout it’d be a Lancer.

[@craigslistseller9354]

I absolutely love my 'ugly duckling', boring, but solid USDM '09 Mitsubishi Galant with the 2.4L 4G69 I4. It has outlived both my neighbor's Camry and my friend's Honda Accord -- both also with 2.4L engines, all over 10 years old with over 100-120K miles. The Camry died due to its 2AZ-FE I4 having defective piston rings/excessive oil consumption/starvation. The Accord's K24 also suffered a similar fate. Who would've thunk the underdog Mitsubishi would outlive both of these immensely best-selling models?!?!?

[@amritpalsaini3046]

Bought lancer 2.4 in 2012 and still running strong without any issues. Great car.

[@ReDriven]

Excellent!

[@stevegerhart929]

My 2010 Gts has 135 thousand miles. Synthetic oil every 5 thousand miles. All original except for brakes and belts and normal wear maintenance items. Clutch still in good working order. Never had check engine light come on once. So far this car has been super reliable. Comfortable. On smooth roads only. Nimble. Yes. Powerful enough. Yes. Fuel efficient. Yes. I’ve added heated seats and remote start . Was originally purchased for my off to college son who got bored with it. Never regret purchasing it. Clear coat is starting to peel . Other than that it’s been a very good car.

[@Kal-h4n]

Hi Guys, I brought a 08 cj vr lancer 5 speed new. I sold it in late 2022 and it had 485k on the clock, with still the original clutch. I changed the radiator at around 400k. A great and reliable car.

[@galactic904]

Canadian here. I never new that they were so pop in Australia. The 2008 Lancer here have barely any rust, strange, considering all the salt they put on the roads here in Toronto. And it was always parked outside (no home garage). At 230K km, it still has some kick to it and robust driving it around sharp turns. Just saying. I heard on a radio show that there isn't anymore lemon cars around today like back in the 70's, 80's. Most cars are competitively good cars in these last 25 years or so.

[@lancer1993]

I would say the 'normal' Lancer with FWD is far from boring and gives you 90% of the fun of the RA or EVO but at a much lower entry price and way cheaper to run! My 09 VRX keeps up with the best of them and has been a joy to own for the last 7 or so years.

[@User-cb4jm]

Depends. Maybe the 2.4L ones were, but my old 2.0L CVT was just slow and drony.

[@lancer1993]

@@User-cb4jm Any manual 4B12 (2.4) is the one to have, put on a RA intake and delete the muffler (yes). They put on a resonator so its not too loud, but still legal and sounds much better when the MIVEC kicks in above 3000 rpm! My only negative is the ride is a little firm with the lower springs and shock in the VRX 18" RIMs but it works and wasn't as bad as I thought on a recent interstate road trip on some of this countries less than perfect roads.

[@mrceepyalex560]

@@lancer1993 agreed

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

@@lancer1993 Does adding the RA intake really do much though? I wouldn't expect more than 1-2 hp.

[@anakinskywalker4113]

These cars are fantastic cars very reliable if you find one that hasn’t been thrashed or neglected. As a mechanic there is not a huge amount that goes wrong again if they have been looked after. If it has missed services or been abused stay away.

[@jaymesirius]

i just bought a 2014 one, used, and i’m having an issue with a coolant leak and possibly an oil leak, or it’s burning it far too fast. it doesn’t leave any leaks under the car so i’m assuming it’s happening while the start is started/driving. have you ever experienced this issue with lancers before? i cant seem to find any answers online and my mechanic hasn’t figured it out yet

[@anakinskywalker4113]

@@jaymesirius if there are no leaks under the car chances are it’s a head gasket failure & it’s burning coolant. As for the burning oil do a wet & dry compression test to check if the piston rings are worn out. From what you say It could need new rings & possibly a head gasket.

[@jaymesirius]

@@anakinskywalker4113 thank you!

[@anakinskywalker4113]

@@jaymesirius no worries 😉 I hope it’s nothing too serious for you. You can also check the water pump as it might be a failing pump. But the burning oil is the big one. Have a proper engine flush done to get all the sludge build up out. Then see how you go. That may make some difference.

[@jaymesirius]

@@anakinskywalker4113 let’s hope 😅 and will check that out too, i appreciate the insight!

[@alejandrocerdenia1235]

I own a 2008 Lancer GTS. It now has 124,500 miles with 5 speed manual tranny. Burrns 1/2 quart oil every 5,000 miles. Sold my 2014 Subaru STI. The rod bearings on my STI broke at 79,000 miles, power steering broke at 82k miles. Kept my Lancer.

[@az_3kgt714]

Never owned a base model lancer, but i own an EVOx in america and i work for a mitsu dealer. You rarely see these come into service for anything more than basic consumables. And a lot of people modify these usually trying to make them look like an Evo lol. Even after up to 10 years they just don't break. And theyre pretty attractive design. And i know mitsubishi has a reputation for cheap interiors but since they have the same interior as an Evox and I honestly think the interior is quite nice if taken care as in not left in the beating sun and never so much as wiped down and throw some conditioner on the plastics. If you think the lancer interior is bad check out the nissan 350z it overuses plastics just as bad and awkward seat controls. Though you never hear of complaints of "cheap interiors"

[@Juhayelen]

Got my Ralliart at the start of the year and it's the only thing that consistently puts a smile on my face. Transmission is having issues from the previous owner so I'll have to save to get that looked at but it's far from a regretful purchase for me.

[@captainbanana2099]

I've bought a new one in March 2014, 1.6 l engine (117 HP), manual transmission. Pros: reliable (no issues so far) good fuel mileage (5.2 l/100km combined in the summer, rarely driven in the city; 5.5l/100 km in the winter) cheap maintenance (approx. 144 EUR/212 AUD/146 USD per year in the dealership) parts are available and not expensive not overengineered, not overcomplicated still looks good Cons: the paint quality is not that great (but no rust) Was it worth the money? Yes. Boring? Gets the job done without problems. If you need excitement, buy a motorbike.

[@vincent7603]

1.6L? :o

[@captainbanana2099]

@@vincent7603 Europe got the 1.6 and 1.8 L petrol engine, and in the Ralliart versions the rare 2.0 L petrol engine.

[@s4cells4cell7]

​​@@vincent7603 it won't burn street in acceleration, but really as a everyday car is excellent. Good looking (people still turn head after more than decade), excellent range (850km+ full tank), excellent top speed (i pushed till 221 km/h on gps on autobanh. On flat it tops 205 km/h) thanks too long gearing. She keeps you busy and entertained while keep your wallet in good shape. And as a side note, you get still 90% of street creds from people even if ,i swear, i'm not try to posing 😂. People just assume fantastic performance just on look. Yeah an evo x is extremely good driving car... but burning gas (450 km full tank),tax, insurance, awd and engine maintanence, take a lot of fun away as a daily driving or long travel. Money that you can spend on cuddling yourself and your gf. And how much can you abuse on street with speedcam, traffic? Great for track.... what i'm trying to say it's that even the base lancer has its reason to exist. Of course if your wallet is thick as a big mag extra deluxe than for sure evo is the way to go, but for average people salary Lancer is still a good surrogate and there's no shame in saying it.

[@MrWilliam.Stewart]

The train station announcement, pure gold.

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

I've had a 2008 MY09 Sportback VRX for... around 12 years now and it's been such a reliable car. I've never had any issues with it except for an oil leak that probably occurred due to not changing the oil for a while. The paint has peeled pretty badly but that's just an aesthetic issue. Mine's manual and I love to drive it even if it isn't very fast lol.

[@funnykiasedona1077]

My grandparents have a 5 door lancer, and I have to say I quite like how it looks. My favorite part of it is the back seat they are so comfy!!!

[@arvinjami3992]

My wife, (GF at the time) bought her 2011 Lancer ES 2.0L brand new. It just hit 200,000 miles and I just finished servicing her. Never in my life I have seen spark plugs in such good condition after 100,000 miles. When comparing the base lancer to the civic or corolla the Mitsubishi wins every single time. Better engine, interior, and exterior. And did it mention since my wifes is running on 16 inch rims, she gets about 36MPG on HWY and 29MPG city for a average of 33MPG. Mitsubishi over engineering this car and the little details are well thought out!

[@stevenalexander403]

I bought a brand new GSR Lancer sedan in 2018, that was the last of the inventory available in the pearl metallic white, I did customise it slightly with a black roof and aftermarket tail lights, it was more plush inside than earlier examples including more soft touch surfaces, the 2.4 litre engine was grungy & responsive with a delightful growl, and the gearshift paddles lifted from the Evo actually worked! A very nice vehicle overall, I owned it for two years and regret having sold it because I was given a company car, also a Mitsubishi. I highly recommend one to anyone...The Answer is Lancer as Mitsubishi say.

[@wistaban]

I got a 2015 Lancer SE limited cvt when it came out. It has 60,000km, I clay bar it every spring. Still feels new. Great everyday car.

[@nimbleryan735]

Man i wish i knew about this cause my car would be a perfect candidate for this being at 390,000kms + Western Sydney based, legit did my 390,km oil change 4 days ago and done 300kms since. Video did a good job of telling it how it is with the car, though it did miss how it is agile in turns 🤷 but i did just find the channel 🤷 So im the 2nd owner of my CJ Lancer, it was my mum's car before i took ownership so i know its history, it has had the timing chain and cruise control recalls done as well as the recall for the lights (honestly dont remember its name with all the recall/repair bulletins at Mazda). October 2007 build, took on the servicing which was only natural going into the mechanic industry. Unfortunately has the 2L with CVT but, they still run very very well and are lively at 390,000kms+, better then the Mazda's i work on which often feel exhausted by 80,000kms. Reliability wise, the paint is the only reliability problem it has had. This is also a car that does city driving every day to work + spirited driving on the weekend and has been treated like a rally car, so it ain't babied in any shape or form but it still drives like new Excluding filters, brake pads, tyres, oils and batteries as they are general replacements on any car in my opinion. All parts replaced in next section were original factory parts, shocks perished at 280,000kms/13years and rotors wore out at 13 years, engine mounts replaced at 330,000kms/14years, Front wheel bearings and drive shafts at 350,000kms/14years Catalytic converter at 370,000kms/14 years, front swaybar links bushings + control arms + tie rod ends + radiator at 380,000kms/15 years, and lastly rear sway bar links and bushings + rear control arms + toe arms + camber arms at 385,000kms/15years. I still have to do rear trailing arm bushings and rear wheel bearings but those will be done in next few months as i am doing a Ralliart Brake calliper upgrade (front/rear) which requires me to replace trailing arms Fluids are replaced yearly with exception of coolant, engine oil every 10,000kms though, spark plugs every 60kms. Cabin filter whenever it gets yucky, fuel filter and accessory belt at service intervals. Has Ralliart 18" wheels (like in video), has cold air intake, Whiteline lowered springs, hi-flow cat with cat back 2.5" exhaust, front and rear Strut braces by ultra racing, Kenwood head unit, all engine mounts by Hardrace.

[@Dannyvan14]

I love my Lancer, I must say though, I also had the paint issue mentioned in the video so I did a full respray. My crank also broke at around 200,000km and at the time it was cheaper to get the engine replaced with a Jap import (new engine seems torquier, lucky me). I'm 40,000km into the new engine with no further issues! EDIT: I must mention that Mercedes has custodianship of Mitsubishi in South Africa, so OEM parts are NOT cheap here.

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

How much did your respray cost out of curiosity and where are you located? My 2008 Sportback has been peeling for a while now, considering getting a respray even though the car would be worth less than the cost of the respray...

[@lumberfoot2004]

"The boring cousin that just exists and never says or does anything interesting" yep that's me

[@camerondanks2276]

I bought my 2015 es from new it’s just hit 112000kms with only drama being a o2 sensor which was replaced under warranty and replaced the rear wheel hubs recently which I have done to the coil overs I installed at 20000kms. It looks fantastic with a nice set of rims and very comfortable and fun to drive especially being a manual. “Love that car” 👍

[@kubaur2]

I had 1.6 l mitsubishi lancer for about 4 years now, no break downs, No issues other than short clutch which isnt rly a real problem. If you drive eco you can get around 5.5 l / 100 km - number i never thought you can get on non hybrid sedan and for lot less money. If your looking for great 1st car its on top of my list

[@TakumiFujiwara80]

i have one 1.5 since 2010. The only problem was a rear lamp, that's all (cross finger). I average 4,5 l/100 km when driving relaxed. The more you use the car the less it drink, if you start to use only on weekend she drink a bit more... And i love to push her when the condition are available.

[@nr1fan4all]

Representing boring cousins at familiy gatherings, we know we're boring, you don't need to put us on the spot lol

[@joebot2127]

Best car I ever had! the 1.8 Was really fun on backroads. Revvy with a good power band. Only problem I had over 11 years was some rust on the bonnet due to cheap paint. The sportback has some awkward angles but the design grows on you. It has a kind of 80's retro body styling in some ways. I firmly believe it's a future classic.

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

You reckon? I have a 08 VRX Sportback and I absolutely love the thing, the only things I wouldn't mind are the updated MMCS infotainment and the sun and sound package. I'm hoping to get at least 450k kms out of the engine, on 216k kms and it hasn't missed a beat. I still admire the styling whenever I'm walking towards it in the car park, the fighter jet nose was so unique at the time. I would love to be an old guy driving it around as if it's a classic car!

[@icedt2592]

I own a 2012 lancer cj sports back, currently at 210,000km… the oil cooler started to leak and the oil and coolant got mixed. Luckily it was detected early. All the rubber in my cooling system was replaced, new thermostat, cap, hoses etc. It was an expensive repair but it was the only thing that went wrong with this car. It’s still my daily commuter.

[@Spacemonkeymojo]

How did you figure out that it was leaking?

[@icedt2592]

​@@SpacemonkeymojoMy car was starting to over heat slightly. Coolant level in the overflow tank was normal. I suspected that I might have a faulty radiator cap so I opened that up. There was sludge starting to build up in the radiator. It had the smell of transmission oil. Radiator cap rubber also had expanded due to the heat and was not functioning correctly. My top hoses were bloated maybe because the hot oil floats on water. I checked the engine and transmission dipstick to double check and saw that the transmission fluid is a little low. The transmission oil cooler is the only point where the coolant and transmission fluid come close to each other. It's not a difficult repair to do at home just make sure the cooling system is thoroughly flushed and all the rubber components are replaced. My car is now at 230,000km and I am starting to see paint fading on the roof. Mechanically still very reliable.

[@powdermonkey7697]

Actually I think it's one of the better looking economy/commuter cars from the 2007-2017 period in Australia. It's aged well considering how long ago it was first made. Especially with nice headlights and wheels but it looks better that even current economy cars like the corrolla or mazda with their stupid big front grilles and tiny curvy headlights.

[@mehmetsheza1651]

In Malaysia, we have rebadge of Lancer called Proton Inspira, comes with manual 1.8 or cvt 2.0. Mitsubishi still sell the lancer but of course with significantly higher price due to CBU units from japan and people still bought the CBU ones. Quality wise both are the same. There are 3 variants of Lancer; GT, EX and GTE. Peoples like to throw in bolt on turbo for extra power.

[@nathanlester9985]

My Lancer has taken up retirement as a daily driver. With it's 200x miles and not a repair has been made.. it's quite simply one of the best cars I've ever owned in my collection of cars.. The amount of good times that has been spent in that car and all the worn out character it still has is pathetic. Every other Weekend I'll take it out and run on my outtings where I "try not to" spend some money on things I don't need, the Lancer zips around town with ease. But with it's worn out nature, its a bit lazy on corners and on long distance drives the suspension starts to moan and groan and that's when I take it back to the house and take the Equus or something if I'm still running around. The Lancer is arguably a car for just about everyone, from new drivers to older folks, and even enthusiasts who don't always want Forced Induction. The Level of Tech (like in my 08 GTS) and simplicity with the reliability at a nice value is enough of a turn on. With that said, the Lancer is a car that I'll happily own 2 of.. Just maybe, a Ralliart model though...

[@michaelnunn6080]

I have owned a 2012 my 2013 lancer sport back from new & bought from Launceston Mitsubishi.almost hitting the 100,000 K mark with no issues whatsoever.last service was just over 2 half years ago, still drives faultless.as like it was driven off factory floor.. still on same brakes & rotors, which will be replaced next service I reckon,maybe??..a good solid built reliable car it's been.. I'm proud of my car

[@abelpakurutunui2860]

2008 galant fortis (Lancer) bought in 2014 with 80,000kms on. 2024 now and it has 230,000kms everything original except tyres, normal maintenance etc. p.s the check engine light has been on since 2014 😂👍

[@valhakun]

I've owned an MT Lancer X for a couple years, when it came out, and since then there's hasn't been a car I miss more than that simple cheap Lancer.

[@theguyinblue123]

2015 Es 5 speed model here with 162k miles already. Still goes strong.

[@JH-jm8ib]

I love that aftermarket headlight lense assembly. Looks like an Audi.

[@waiwirir]

I've just purchased a used 2011 mitsi lancer 2.0 es sedan auto here in nz. Oh and it comes with an ashtray 😊.

[@sgal5845]

My dad has the Israeli version of the ES model called the INVITE, now he changed some parts here and there like aftermarket fog lights and a radio system that has a back up camera, but it’s pretty much stock under the hood, sadly Mitsubishi didn’t sell the 5spd manual you Aussies have in Israel. Before his current Lancer, he had a less known model of the 6th gen Lancer (the mid 90’s when it was based on the Mirage) called the Super Lancer, he had the GLXi trim and he loved it till the end when he had to trade it in for his current Lancer as the motor was worn and ready to blow and the rear driver side window didn’t go down, but honestly i would’ve really liked it if he kept the Super Lancer, but it’s his car so his word goes. RIP Super Lancer. April 9th, 1997 - March 27th, 2015.

[@Haztagz]

My first car off my own money was a new '08 ES sedan I bought at Parramatta Mitsubishi .. It looked great in black and a basic stick shift without too much glitter meant it was reliable and cheap to maintain and on insurance - I drove it a lot exploring Sydney and surrounds incl trips to Canberra and Illawarra Hwy via Macquarie Pass and up north on Putty Rd .. Great memories!

[@paradoxbrothers1635]

Designer of this car is a man from Bosnia & Herzegovina called *Omer Halilhodžić* ,he worked for Ferrari,Škoda,Daimler AG,Mitsubushi and since 2021 he is working for Volkswagen. Amazing career if you ask me

[@YukanMan1017]

I just bought a 2009 Evo X in Adelaide, South Australia back in March this year😂 To be honest, This CJ Lancer would be more than enough for everyday use, and it is actually quite popular in Adelaide, but driving in an Evo would be a very different experience.

[@AlexanderMarsden-k8z]

Went to a Toyota dealership today, there was an impressive one for sale with, airbags, immaculately presented engine area , very clean but boring interior, an immacualtely kept pretty boring exterior. They said they rarely sell second hand cars unless they are top shelf. I purchased the 5 year extended warranty which covers mechanical parts, labour, electronics and so on. I feel confident about the cars use for the next 5 years at least. Price for a 2012 model was $9990 which is competitive with other 2012 cars. I will let you know how it goes.

[@Blueblur444]

I picked up a 2009 VR 2 litre manual for $3k, one owner, full history, 220k. I have no complaints at all. It won't set your pants on fire, but it's never once caused any grief, it's comfortable, economical, and exactly what you would want out of this class of car. Personally I prefer the styling to it's competitors from the same era. Particularly the E150 Corolla & 2nd gen Mazda 3 always looked ungainly to me.

[@russelldines5887]

My partner inherited a 2011 SX sedan and your review is spot on. The CVT goes blaaahhh and the engine note is characterless. Brakes have a good feel but ride is spongy with basic handling. We avoid doing long trips in it due to the seats being unsupportive (and we aren't big people) and the noise level is a bit high. It's far more spacious - front and back - than my 2008 Subaru Outback. The standard sound system is surprisingly good with very good Bass definition. Reliability has been excellent but it only does 5,000km in the city each year. I hate the rear spoiler on the SX sedan as it obscures rear vision. Keep up the great work!

[@xSpaceInvader]

I have a 2008 GTS here in the US. Had it for 6 years so far and its been pretty reliable for me other than a few minor things. Parasitic draw in factory amp has probably been my biggest issue.

[@Mike-er4fo]

Still got my 2012 lancer riding strong at only 115k's it's been super reliable with just regular preventative maintenance. Hope to get another 10 years out of her.

[@traceycrawford9938]

I love seeing you guys review older cars like this! Omg the train station announcer… too real 🤣🤣

[@deaconfriesen2704]

2013 lancer se here, overall I agree. It’s not the fastest at all, but it is sporty enough to impress people especially if you upgrade the thing properly. I did have to replace my CVT after I while but oh well

[@duahaun123]

My engine just blew up at 200k 😓. Lol funny thing is that's the only serious mechanic issue I've ever had with that car. New engine 3k installed 🔥🔥

[@semicolon101]

Man, I wanted one so badly for years, still do.

[@wesmacdougall7487]

I've owned a bunch of Mitsu cars over the years. My US spec 2010 GTS Sportback with the paddle shift CVT. It also benifits from the 4B12 2.4L getting a more HP than other models at about 165. It is still tons of fun even after owning it for 4 years. Drives and handles amazing. Leather and Nav with the Rockford audio package. The last few months I've seen some suspension noise on the factory suspension and the clear coat has begun to fail in spots but I would definately own another!

[@icybanana7985]

:( my 2010 gt is also having clear coat issue now -_-.. paint is pain

[@TwistedDonners]

A youth group I used to got to when I was younger had 2 of these cars and with some of the people that drove them and were driven in them they held up really well. The seats in them too were quite comfy too for passengers sitting in the front or back as well. The basic Lancers really do fly under the radar even though I see a truckload of them go past me at work every day though as you said some of them do look to be in rather dodgy conditions at times. Will there be more of the 0-60kph and 60-100kph test again or not as the last couple of reviews seem to have been missing them. Good work as always gents and have a good weekend. Look forward too next week's videos like always and seeing if you carry on with the Aussie built cars lists on Tuesday lol 😆.

[@groosomflame]

I've had my 09 lancer for over 7 years, in that time been traveling to various locations from Perth to Broome, any where in between and gotta say my lancer has done well, no breakdowns, mivac engine still runs smoothly and loving the long drives. Although the exterior paint is starting to fade and my interior needs an overhall 😄.

[@manujakaluarachi3943]

thanks for doing this review, i remember way back you guys started the channel i requested you guys to review the cj lancer. i recently moved to syd and was considering lending my cj to you for a review and genuinely wanted to know your honest opinion and lord be hold you posted a review. 100% agree regarding the mechanical stuff though personally i think the lancer is a good looking car despite its age and its been rock solid for the 2 years i owned it. Keep up the good work and looking forward for more reviews as always!

[@ReDriven]

Sorry it took so long!

[@freiduumforall8843]

My wife and I had two Lancers that we bought new, a 2011 VRX and a 2014 GSR hatchback...both 2.4L. We always had them serviced on time and never ever had an issue in the years we owned them. However, the cons for us were that the CVT was so obviously whiney, the doors made a really tinny sound when you shut them, and the panels appeared to be really thin as the sides of Lancers can start to look like morse code if you frequent shopping centre carparks on a regular basis. Obviously not all CVTs are equal as we have a Subaru Outback now with a CVT and it is quiet as a church mouse in comparison.

[@licksludgee]

I had a RalliArt for 3 years, i spent a fortune on the sst services alone but it never let me down. Also it had an RCA connection on its MMS so I would hook up a PSone console with a travel adaptor and play ridge racer & Gran Turismo in it. The stock Bluetooth modules would also fail quite rapidly, and then putting in an aftermarket stereo was difficult because of the bespoke sound system in the boot

[@racerman9452]

After having 2012 cj for about 2 years now, I can confirm everything said in this video especially the paint! Had the bonnet repainted and a few months after that the boot started peeling and now the roof is. Honestly it's gotten to a point where I don't care anymore, it gets me from A to B and with the manual I can still have a bit of fun. It's no impreza or corolla but is love my little lancer to bits. It's like what jeremy clarkson said about Alfa's. a car needs flaws to be human.

[@lancer1993]

This is where you go and carbon wrap the roof!

[@wildwombat]

100% the same. The paint peeling is my only concern too. I looked into the wrap, as suggested elsewhere, but companies won't put in over dodgy paint, as it has to be user smooth. So all paint would need to come off, and I don't care that much.

[@KarlosWolff]

Have a 2008 GS4 (UK) Lancer, is at around 248,500mi / 400,000km It's never let us down. 0 Breakdowns and no major fixes needed.

[@tievox_gsr]

Proud owner of a 2013 es, yes it’s the one with 3 pedals

[@thewightfang6537]

Just saying on the older ones you can swap the higher model trim levels in to them my dad swapped a evo steering wheel in to his and the evo door trims and raliart interior and some custom headers and newer tail lights

[@SilverTroy76]

I own a 2014 lancer SE limited edition 2.0 liter manual transmission. I have put 200,000km in 4 years. Only issues have been wear and tear items. Like brakes, wheel bearings, struts. Very reliable vehicle, interior is very basic.

[@minimumtrade]

The steering is pretty woeful coming from off centre (earlier Hydraulic steer variants atleast) . Put up with the road noise and buy firm sidewall tyres, try to avoid the silent/soft tyre. Reliable as hell though.

[@guillermobeltran7811]

I have one with357000 km and just regular maintenance. Breaks, fluids, etc. The best machine ever had, from the same creators of the zero

[@solraczetined5951]

My first car was a 2008 lancer gts i drove it for 500k miles until the engine gave up, but i got a new one in and since i own a modified evo i place all the stock parts in the gts and now it has 300whp.

[@davdav8709]

I have a 2013 2L Lancer the first 2 years it had a hard life as a driving school car, had clutch replaced at 50000kms, blower fan for AC replaced at 150000kms, currently on 290000km and used to ferry kids around town, no problems would buy one again

[@klano8443]

The Lancer was voted the most reliable car in europe at one stage and that included the corolla , every mechanic I've talked to said there indestructable and yes i own one

[@aaryeshg.6526]

One thing to point out about the CVT is that if you buy one with the paddle shift (GT and GTS models), it actually wakes up the engine and goes really well. And you can switch between that faux manual mode and auto mode without taking hands off the wheel.

[@AaaBbb-ff1pn]

avoid the cvt at all cost. kill performance,kill economy run, require more costly service

[@leosheppard8517]

Heya, we’ve got the 2010 hatch VRX 2.4 L in 5sp manual with factory black leather, Rockford sound system. According to the stealership, the factory were over stocked with interior leather hence they throw it in. Initially, getting reasonable priced tyre was a challenge due to odd size. The interior blower HVAC fan failed. Making buzzing noise. A $15 replacement fan from the wreckers fixed it.

[@ultimatedijo7058]

Have 1.6 AT with a borla exhaust at +380k kms and runs smooth as butter. Maintaince is a must.

[@fil23ralliart]

I bought my manual ES new in 2008. Ive never had a problem with it, and its a fun car to drive. I only need to sell it now because I have the Ralliart. The paint on the roof is a mess, but it only has 86000km on the clock. The interior is great with an updated head unit. I'm sad to see it go, but the Ralliart, oh the Ralliart is just sooo good!

[@ReDriven]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Markiiee300]

2017 GTS here, no problems after 3 years, I even have an intake/exhaust/tune

[@playvoltage]

as an avid junk collector my only complaint about the lancer sedan is that it's surprisingly un-roomy for bulky items - back doors don't open that wide and even with the back seats folded down there's an annoying bottleneck between the boot and the cabin. that said, i love the hell out of my boring car and i'm gonna miss the way it drives when i finally upgrade (prob an suv but most likely a ute)

[@Superfly1503]

I owned a new CJ back in ‘08. It was a very dull but very sensible car. I had wanted the Ralliart but was talked out of it…something I regret to this day as I would still have it now. I think I owned the ES for 18 months.

[@jiovannyzavala294]

They’re reliable for sure, 2.4 is the way to go! Got a 5 speed sport back