Quick Spin in the Lancer GTS

By Ryan Porter

IN-N-OUT Editor

Yesterday Rob handed over the keys to the Mitsubishi Lancer GTS and said, “You’ve got 15 minutes go drive it.”  With the small allotment of time, I was pretty much pinned to the South Lake Union area, so I figured I would hit my normal chicane up to 99, blast across the bridge and dip back through Fremont.

Check out my quick review after the jump, and here is a pic of me getting slideways… jk the car is front wheel drive!

First things first I know the car goes for about $18K but the thing looks good.  Put it side by side with the EVO and a 16 year old will probably think it’s the same car.  Jumping inside I wasn’t terribly impressed, but it’s what I expected for a Mitsubishi cockpit.  Turning the engine over was rather uneventful, but what do you expect in this price range?

Well get it on to the road and you will find it’s easy to spin the tires through first gear, but when you toss it into second it loses that little luster in the bottom end.  The road noise is standard but the thing zips pretty well for a basic powerplant. Having not popped the hood I wasn’t sure what I was working with, but the powerband is pretty impressive considering the naturally aspirated engine.  To be honest it fooled me… I thought it was a turbo until Rob told me different.

When I hit my chicane the suspension slopped through it and was as light as a feather (i.e. not safe for high speed maneauvers). On the hand, take this through a sweeper corner and the weight distribution felt good. The nose dives a little bit if you lay off the gas, but if you like pushing the front out when coming through the corners this thing is a blast.

All in all I liked the car and had I would have loved this car in high school.  If I ever have kids this could be the car I will be looking for as their first ride!

If you’re feeling the Lancer GTS make sure to check out these hot member rides:

Nasario’s Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
Jack’s Mitsubishi Lancer GTS

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