Used 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Consumer Reviews

Our first car, great choice!

This was my first car and i believe we made an amazing choice. It's very reliable, especially for being 12 years old.. cant even tell! Its comfy inside. I love how the cup holders dont interfere with gear shift. This car is amazing on gas... amazing!! Gas is about 2.13/gallon. $5 gets us close to a half tank.. amazing. We keep up on oil change. I'm sure the timing belt will need replaced (we are at 109k) We change the oil every 3-4k and shes always running like new! We recently had our first big snow. It had no issue turning on even at 5 degree weather. I will stick with Mitsubishi for all future purchases. I feel blessed to own this car!

A VERY FUN CAR!

I have now put over 136,000 miles on this car. I drive the hell out of this car and treat it like a work truck, engine is great and one of the best 2.4's that was built during this time. I have kept up with my regular maintenance items (oil changes, brakes, transmission flushes, etc...) and the car has been great. Good acceleration and a responsive gas pedal compared to other cars. I know people with much newer cars in this category (Nissan versa's corollas etc ) and this car is way more fun to drive. Looks like after a 136K miles i will have to change the catalytic converter. My goal is to try to get this car to 200k if it holds up.

2004 Lancer ES Experience

Economical. Good ride for compact. More features than Honda Civic. Nice looking. A bit on the noisy side. especially engine with noisey valve tappit. However, still breaking in with only 600 miles on odometer. Interior nice except poor simulated woodgrain dash appears scratched. Very smooth shifting automatic. Nice radio/CD.

The best Sport Compact 4 door yet

My 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart is frankly the best bang-for-your-buck in the sport compact market. For $15,600 (standard equiptment), there is simply no other car in its class(Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Honda Civic Si, Ford Focus SVT) that had the quality, performance, value, fun to drive factor, overall. Plus, it runs on regular gas, a savings of about 20 cents a gallon at every fillup.

One of the best cheap Imports to get

I am currently in high school and this is my first car. I've had it for over a year and with that have driven the hell out of the car. It is an amazing car and can take a beating. I have taken my friends in it across the state many times and it's about to see it's 7th Chicago winter. I'm sure for it's time it was the best "economy car" to have but as the years have past, time hasn't been to gentle with it. You can get a car with better MPG as well as more hp for about the same price but you definitely shouldn't over look this mid 2000's Lancer. It of course has the best body style and is the best gen Lancer Mitsubishi has made. They messed up the newest Lancer/Evo X.

Great First Car

Overall this is an excellent beginner's car. I have owned this car for five years and before I got it, it had 17000 miles on it from a rental car company. I haven't had any problems with it other than standard repairs (oil changes, brake pads, new tires, etc). It is almost 6 years old now and it has just under 60000 miles on it. It is completely reliable and easy to maintain on my own and I'm a do-it-yourself kinda girl without much mechanic experience. My only complaints about this car are primarily superficial. The only thing I need to fix is the ac/heat knob bc it won't turn to heat. Read my suggested improvements (which I think got fixed in future models, the 2009s are really nice)!

Great basic car

This was our fourth Mitsubishi and third from this dealer. I needed a car to get to/from work and the Lancer ES fit the bill. Knowing that gas could go higher in price, I had donated my truck to charity and wanted a car that would be reliable, safe, and at least double the mpg of the V8 in my truck. After driving a variety of small cars, I went with what I knew and got the Mitsubishi and I have NEVER looked back. I have taken it cross country twice and averaged 30.5 mpg on the highway. With a Yakima rack, I can haul my canoe and fit 85 duck decoys in the truck and back seat too. Sure, I get a few funny looks at the boat ramp but it doesn't break the bank to fill it either.

The absolute best investment!

When I first test drove the Lancer Ralliart I fell in love! I was in the market to buy a compact car and this one is the best of its class. I can't help but smile every time I get behind the wheel. Allthough I think red is the best color to get because of the interior the black one that I got is equally as good. I love how it picks up on the freeway and how it eats up the Civic SI on the road and at top end. The best investment I ever made. For its price the Ralliart with all options is the absolute best buy. And if you haven't drove one you need to because it is fun!

Great car for what it is

I'm really power-hungry when it comes to cars, but I got this to commute back and forth to school and work while I'm saving up for a Mustang. It is a very reliable car with great gas mileage. Of course, gas mileage and horsepower are inversely related, so I don't expect a thrill ride when I punch it. However, the little 2.0 4-cylinder does have some pep to it, and has great throttle response. (It also does some nice donuts for front wheel drive :-D). It has solid handling (impressive for economic tires and stock suspension). It tracks very well on the highway, even in the rain. The brakes are also very responsive. And even being 6-feet tall, I easily found my sweet spot in the driver seat.

One Great Little Car!

I purchased this car as an anniversary gift for my wife. She's an immigrant who has never owned a car before. So, I wanted her first car to be a special one. Safety, ease of handling and parking, roominess, having good power but not too overwhelming, overall value, powered features like keyless entry, remote mirrors and such were very important features. The Lancer LS beat the Civics, Corollas, Mazdas, Ions, Neons and Ford competitors hands down in cost, value for the buck and in standard equipment! The competitors charge $1,000's more in options for what the Lancer LS offers as standard. My wife loves her car and I drive it often too. A very comfortable car, even for my 7' 3" tall frame.

The Baby Evo!!

This car is amazing. It's got 2 strut bars, (front and rear) is pretty fast for a 162 hp 4 cyl. engine, and handles like a dream. Its an excellent overall package and can trully be called the BABY EVO!

OZ to RALLIART

I recently purchased a 2003 OZ, Lightning Yellow....enjoyed the car since day one....went in to get something fixed and walked out (after 5 hours) with a 2004 Ralliart.....I didn't even make a payment on the OZ....the Ralliart is so much FUN...the performance is excellent, handling is tight and solid, sportier clutch and short shift kit can't be any more of a joy to play with...

My Lancer

It's a really Good car, So far i love it. I have the base model (ES) and it comes with a lot of things standard like power windows, power doors, keyless entry, Am/Fm/Cd stereo that is one of the best stock car stereos i have ever heard.

Great Compact!

My Lancer is an awesome little car. I opted for the base ES, 5 speed, no options, but got most of the features I wanted anyway. This car handles very well and is a joy on mountain roads; however, the base 14-inch tires are much to small and the Yokohama rubber offers no grip in the wet. Fuel economy has been a little disappointing (I average about 27 MPG on my 120-mile round trip commute), but I drive it hard so that's to be expected. The Lancer is an awesome compact that beats everyone else in price as well.

Lancer Oz edition

This is a great little car that has great gas mileage quality interior and feels like a much more expensive vehicle! It also can take a crash very well as I found out recently! A much larger car rammed my front passenger side wheel/fender and I was surprised how well the car took the hit! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a nice comfortable car without giving up your entire paycheck!

Love the Ralliart

I've had the car for 8 months and its only getting better. It is tight and its handling crisp. The interior is quiet compared to all the other in its class. I drove them all before I bought the Ralliart.

awesome

i wanted a sports car and couldnt affod it so i got my 04 O Z Rally and i have no regrets. I love my car. its very comfortable. Perfect for anyone, young, family anything.If you want a good car get the lancer.

Water in Dash

I was disappointed when poor manufacturing or a design flaw caused substantial water to accumulate in the dash of the car. When I brought it to the dealership's attention, the problem was resolved quickly and to my satisfaction. I purchased my car in October of 2002 and the water had been accumulating the whole time I owned the car. It was only after there had been a torrential rain and I heard what sounded like a wave pool in my dash that I knew something was wrong. The water started seeping onto the floor of the passenger's side of the car because there was so much water in the dash.

Pros for Lancer

I traded my 2002 Lancer OZ for the Ralliart Sedan. Excellent ride and reliability. Would have preferred the Sportback but diddn't come with Manual Transmission. My other car is a BMW 323i, Love the Ralliart for it's nimbleness and fast take offs. Not great at high speeds but bests 90% of Mid size cars

Ergonomically Perfect

My 1983 Lancer LS has all the most important features I was looking for. Very pretty interior with all controls at my fingertips; 15" alloy wheels; cruise control; power mirrors; remote entry with 4-door locking from driver's and front passenger's controls; front and rear stabilizers and front disc brakes. The car is exceptionally tight and quiet. The engine compartment is well laid out and very tidy. The Lancer LS is an excellent long trip car for it's size and has plenty of legroom for rear seat passengers.

Fun to drive is an understatement!

Well I have owned my car a week shy of a year and have put about 19K miles on it bringing it to around 73,500 today. I am 20 years old and in college so I need a reliable, economic, fun, inexpensive car to drive and my OZ Rally Lancer is just that! I bought the car from a dealer and it was a one owner with a clean history and had great service records. I have only had one issue with it and that was with the A/C and my warranty took care of that. This car is a blast to drive and I get around 30 MPG with my spirited Driving. I have taken it out of state, to the beach, and to the mountains and it never lets me down! It will be with me a long time!

Needed a Used Car

I have owned over 40 cars in my lifetime. The current economy forced sale of a newer, nicer car for this one. Not a bad car; quick, fun, excellent handling...not bad. I enjoy the very linear "go-kart" handling. Kinda slow off the line and plug ugly. Very plain interior. Nice shifter, outstanding midrange punch for a NA engine, and decent mileage. MIVEC engine provides MUCH more torque than Honda VTECH. Low production numbers make this an exclusive car; but parts and upgrades are hard to find. Evo owners think you're a poser for driving one...until you compare gas and insurance costs. I like this little car - it's a fun, solid everyday driver. Resale stinks, so plan to keep it.

lancer driving experience

I found my lancer to be a very fast driving car, it kind of handles like a sports car. It turns corners quickly, you only need a soft touch on the steering wheel...these points I like,however there is alot of noise that's seemingly coming from the inside of the dashboard, a rattatling(just as if, the car has a bad chest cold)of sorts. The sound really drives me crazy, I took it back, 2 weeks after I got it, I thought something was wrong, however the repair clerks said something about the cooling system or something makes a shaking sound. Anyway,that's the only problem as of yet I have to say.

Sporty Economy Ralliart

I just bought the car and it has been a blast. I wait to reach that 2,500 mile mark so I can really start having fun with it. If I'm going 70 on the freeway, and it's time to pass someone, a touch of the gas and it lets me know it's moving. That's some hefty torque.

good car

I have had my car for 1.5 years so far and it starts every morning.Its good on gas and it is fairly comfortable.it can merge on the interstate,but you have to push the gas pedal hard to get it into overdrive.But all in all its a good little car for going back and forth to work and to run errands.

Great Car!

This car is actually used as an all- rounder and it must be said that it's an Australian version of the CH Lancer LS, it's our family car come weekend & the commuter during the week. Each day of the working week the car travels at least 130 km or around 82 miles each way to work and back, over 800 miles a week! The car is flawless in its reliability, performance and features. It's great to look at & has plenty of personality like its predecessor (a CE Lancer which we traded after a problem free 5 years and 200,000 miles / 320,000 km). We travel fairly large distances every year and appreciate the equipment, reliability & refinement that is found in these vehicles!

BETTER THAN JAPAN AMER MANUFURED CARS

WHILE BLISTERING ACCELERATION IS NOT EVIDENT, THE 5-SP WITH DEFT USE OF CLUTCH AND 4.11-1 REAR WILL HOLD ITS OWN THROUGH ALL LEGAL LIMITS AND BEYOND AS REQUIRED TO KEEP UP W/ TRAFFIC IN NJ. THIS IS ESP EVIDENT ON RT 80 EARLY AM WEST BOUND TOWARDS PA. CONTROLS ARE WELL DESIGNED. REMEMBER; DURING WORLD WAR II, BELIEVE MITSHUBISHI MADE AIRPLANE ENGINES OF NOTE. I TRUST THE 2.0 LITER SOHC, 9.5- 1 COMPRESSION. FACT IS, I TREAT IT TO SUPER-UNLEADED IN WINTER TO PREVENT GAS LINE-FREEZE-UPS IN OUR UNIQUE CLIMATE. PITY WE DO NOT HAVE AGIP PRODUCTS HERE TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

Value and Quality

I have been out in the market lookin for a compact sedan for 4 weeks.Although there are a number of nice cars out there but I think lancer offers the best value for money.Toyotas and honda get pretty heavy on the pocket if u go for better options.

Great Transportation And Style

This vehiclepick up speed easily and the car interior design is superb. It has everuthing that i wanted.

Compact FUN!

I totally love my Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. The power is sweet (162 HP). The suspension huges each turn. It doesn't have a lot of tunk space, however the rear seat is larger than other compacts I've been in. At first sight of the dash you think that its plain, but it works well and is easy to read (no hunting through 50+ buttoms). The seats look great and also are very comfortable. The ratings I have seen on gas mileage have been 23 (city) and 28 (highway) yet I have been recording between 25-28 (city); I even like to race to every once in a while and still get these results.

Great small car for it's money

Had Mitsubishi Mirage for 3 years, nice small car that never failed. Stoped at Mitsubishi to check new Lancer and liked the value - price/performans/quality. Toyota or Honda or even Ford with same options will cost much more!

Awesome Car

The reason I purchased a Mitsubishi was because everyone I know has one. Best decision I have made. My car, brand new, came out to 10,000 flat. I am the worst person to take care of a car and considering that, my car is still in excellent condition. I will buy Mitsubishi's until I die.

2004 Lancer Raliart 5-speed manual

I have had this car for over a year, I'm the third owner, this is my first car and i love it. for me there is nothing else to trust than a Mitsubishi. This type of car has to be keep forever. Sometimes they give problems but they are worth it. I replaced the clutch after a good time taking the hell out it. I also had change starter, clutch slave cylinder but those are things that get old, no worries.

Not Too Pleased

The absolute WORST thing about this car is that both front doors make an awful rattling noise when you shut them. I'm told that it'll cost me $100 just to look at them...then the price keeps going up from there. Also, the paint job is HORRIBLE! I've never seen so many little scratches on a car of mine. (Guess that's because I always had a Toyota).My bottom line is ...I can't see what all my teen's friends see in it. I guess they like the commercials.

Falling A-part

Since I purchased my car I've had things just break off or fall apart. Gas tank latch is broken, It takes 2 people to fill up/open gas latch. Passenger front window motor has cable tangled up and same with rear driver side door. I have only 2 functioning windows out of the 4. Heater control knob has broken off "Plastic part" cigarette lighter has no power. My car is a dream to drive in the winter with no heat & windows down with rain coming in on you. The trunk can only be open by latch, key is useless in the winter trunk will not open. WOW what a car!

Wonderful Wheels

Traded in a Ford van. Heaven replaced the hell we were driving. We could not be more pleased. This is a wonderful ride. We also have a Hyundai Elantra which is okay, but the Lancer is a quantum leap above the Hyundai. I know of no other car that gives you this fine a car for the price. We paid $4,500 under the sticker price.

Best Car

Not one bad thing. Got me through college, several million bad nights and its been Driven XC two times from AZ to NH. It is like a child to me, 75,678 miles to this date. Next this thing will be on blocks, waiting for bubble rap. Ralliart made it up to the Car Driver est top speed as well. I am impressed. This is the best car I have ever had and I will NEVER get rid of this car.

Good second car or starter car

04 Lancer RA

I bought this car on Aug. 2008 at 74,000 mi, now 86,000 mi at Ultimate Rides in Appleton, WI. 1 owner vehicle. Worst service ever. A salesman tells me to get out after testing two cars, had a argument with him and their manager and will never buy another car from there again, period. I love the power in this car but after a while the car starts squeaking. Replaced front sway links and tie end rods then later, rear sway links, struts, and bushings. Parts that were used to replace were practically junk. Just recently replaced brake pads and now the car starts rattling by wheels. Brakes were bled and installed correctly though.

poor parts availability

What good is the warranty if you can't get the parts. The air flow sensor went on my car 2000 km out of warranty and the co. refused to assist with cost. To make matters worse I have now been 8 days with no car while we wait for the part to be shipped from the States. Mitsubishi would be the last car I would ever buy. Warranty is all smoke and mirrors. The fact that they have no parts warehouse in Canada shows they can't back there vehicles and care very little about Canadian consumers. This car was a blast to drive but will be for sale if I ever get it back.

FUN CAR

THIS CAR HANDLES REALLY TIGHT ON TURNS AND PICKS UP FAST FOR AN AUTOMATIC HAS 162HP. GAS IS GOOD IF YOU DONT PUNCH IT A LOT. HAS AN AWESOME STEREO 315 WATTS. GETS A LOT OF LOOKS.

demossx

The lancer oz rally that I have gotten from them is the one of the best cars that I have ever owned don't cost much on gas, very comfortabile ride, sleek design inside/out, and affordable. It is one car you can count on. Even great for first car or college. Good performance for a 4 cylinder. Just think if it had a v6 or a v8! Cool!

Ralliart Power!!

I have been in the market for a new car, and I came across the Ralliart. The performance from the variable timing MIVEC engine is great, and the handling is first rate. Combine that with a simple yet tasteful interior, a firm yet quiet and smooth ride and the reliability of a Japanese built car, and Mitsu has definitely delivered their "Baby Evo." This car stands right up to the SE-R and Mazdaspeed models in every aspect.

lancer, lance away

The car is great all around. It is compact, therefore parallel parking is a breeze! The gas mileage is economic as well. The seats are comfortable even on long trips. Overall it is a great car to get around for being a college student

GREAT CAR

THIS IS MY FIRST NEW CAR EVER. I WAS LOOKING FOR A WHILE AND I JUST LOVE THIS CAR MY HUSBAND HAS A LX LANCER WE PURCHASED 1 MONTH AGO AND I LIKED IT SO MUCH THAT I BOUGHT MY OWN LANCER AND THEIR TWINS SAME COLOR BUT I HAVE THE ES AND HE HAS THE LS

it's tight

i just got 2 weeks ago at leith mitsubitshi. its worth buying

IF YOU LIKE DRIVE

IF YOU LIKE TO DRIVE YOU WILL LOVE THIS CAR ITS FAST EASY TO HANDLE AND JUST A PURE PLEASURE TO OWN.I HAVE HAD MANY NEW CAR'S AND MOST COST A LOT MORE THEN THIS ONE BUT NONE OF THEM EVEN COME CLOSE TO THIS CAR AS FAR JUST BEING EASY TO KEEP UP AND A LOT OF FUN TO DRIVE

value

style and power for a low price

Lancer Ralliart vs. Civic Si

Mitsubishi gets a perfect 10 for upgrading its econo/sport car. O-Z model didn't have enough adrenaline rush under its hood or suspension skills. The '04 Lancer Ralliart has enough guts to crush a puny v-tech civic. V-Tech or MIVEC? Well on paper and on the track it shows Mitsu has a better variable valve timing system.

Impressed With Lancer

I spent 3-4hrs a day to and from work in Chicagoland traffic and weather. I was very impressed with how it handled all of these situations. Its now 4yrs old with 121000 miles and still have not had any trouble except for tire issues which is expected with distance and weather issues. It still has same back brakes and suspension is near perfect. Very happy and will probably buy a new lancer soon.