Mitsubishi Lancer CG/CH (2002-2008)

Lancer 2004 vrx sedan – Have replaced brakes as they were screeching when reversing but only had new ones in for 2 months and the same is happening is this a regular thing with these lancers Show details

Very expensive part for older Mitsubishi Lancers – To fix the ABS on my 2008 Lancer Sedan, as per warning on my dashboard lights, I was recently quoted over $2 800 by my usual service centre but as it’s too far away to be towed for free under my NRMA policy. My car is 14 years old and I have been very happy with it until this happened. A few years ago, all Lancers were discontinued in Australia.… Read more

Apparently having to replace the ABS system is a common problem of the older Lancers after reaching 100 000 km. Mine had below 90 000km. I travel below the average 20 000 km a year, drive conservatively and have annual car services. To find out about this common problem of old Lancers and the huge expense and that Mitsubishi did not recall these Lancers to have the ABS replaced was very disappointing…. I contacted a local Mitsubishi service parts salesman, not a mechanic, and he quoted me $3500 for the part he ‘thought’ I was describing. He said that he would only supply the part to me if my car was tested and the ABS was replaced by them. The test was also over priced. Luckily I found a fair priced and competent mechanic near my suburb, who a friend goes to. He replaced the system and serviced my car. It has been running smoothly since. The sales manager at Mitsubishi where I purchased my car did not ring me back despite the receptionist speaking to him and telling me he would. Nor did he reply to my email.

Most reliable car i have owned – I originally bought this car in 2004 brand new for use in Sales to service customer inquires, at the time i narrowed it down to just 2 manufacturers cars, i was deciding between a 04 4cyl Camry Sportivo and the Lancer CH VRX wagon, but the deciding factors was the space inside/ versatility and the 10 yr warranty that Mitsubishi Motors offered at… Read more

the time.

I used this car in sales for the first 10 yrs of its life, stopping and starting the car aprox 12-15 times a day continuously for 10 yrs. (50,000 to 60,000 starts!) the orig plan was to trade it in after 5 yrs worth of depreciation, at the five year mark i couldn't bring myself to do it as it was so reliable and great fun to drive, almost part of the family. So coming up to 14 yrs old now and i still have it in the garage, used about 3 days a week now as i have just retired.

Over the 14 years i have had it, repair costs have been nothing virtually, apart from the usual timing belt replacements, only problems in this time have been:

# 1 x tail light bulb

# 1 x battery up to current 9/2018

# 1 x radiator at 159,000 kls, and it only failed because thermostat seized up causing it to overheat, no damage at all to car from this.

Air conditioner still has original gas, still cold and have never touched it since new..

Handling is excellent, the 2lt engine has adequate power for what it is, uses less fuel than the 2.4lt version, but 2.4lt is stronger motor if you feel the need for speed.

The only thing i have done is to run 98 fuel, and religiously service the car at home every 4000 klms with mitsubishi oil/filter (cost $48) change gearbox oil every 40,000 klms, it never uses oil, no leaks anywhere, i could have left it longer, but for the cost its cheap insurance.

Like i said most reliable car i have ever owned, im 66 yrs old now and have owned over 83 cars since the early 70's, If Mitsubishi made a more reliable trouble free car in the past, i have never seen one, all i can say is if you can find a good one, buy it, as you can do a lot worse for your money in secondhand market.

Seriously, i would give it 6 stars if i could.

My first car in Australia, Not bad but reliable – I bought this car as a used car which was used for 3 years. This car has a good enough engine 2.4 liters and can be controlled four windows and side mirrors by a driver. Also, it has a little bigger legroom comparing similar cars. I have been using this car for 8 years and recording all history of repairing and maintenances. As a result, this… Read more

car's average fuel efficiency is 9.3 L/ 100Km. No big issues until now and timing belt was changed about 110,000 Km. Michelin tyres are very helpful to improve this car's driving performance and cornering which is felt very comfortable.

If this car is used only for commuting and city life, it is very efficient and economic but not recommended for traveling especially if you have a lot of luggage due to a small trunk. On a highway, you can enjoy driving without worrying power of the engine and also you can feel this car is controlled well. On a newly paved road, this car is quiet, but general road and highway driving are not good to listen to music.

I think this car is better as the first car for a novice, not enough as a family car. Especially, rear seats don't have headrests. This car has many disadvantages, but a cheap price can compensate for all its disadvantages. Also, it is very reliable because there are no issues.

Almost 10 years - 190,000ks - no regrets! – I bought a CH Velocity new after shopping the small/med sized car market at the time. I test drove and compared pretty much everything at the time. The euro contenders - golf, astra, 307, focus were varying degrees of unreliable, under-powered or way too expensive buy and maintain. The Koreans were still just on the end of their cheap and nasty… Read more

phase, and the Japanese - Mazda3, corolla, Tiida, Civic, SX4 and Impreza while all reliable cars, couldn't match the lancer on equipment, performance, or warranty for the money (note: this lancer was the run-out model with all the fruit but still). The Mazda3 equivalent for performance and standard equipment (SP23) was 10 grand more! and noisier on the highway.

Likes:

It's cheap on servicing, insurance, and rego which balances the 7.8L/100k combined fuel economy (best 6.5 on highway). It's never broken down or had a warning light, handles Australian roads well, has good visibility, has a smooth and powerful 2.4L engine, and only weighs 1100kgs - so it's well quick enough to lose demerit points, trust me. It still doesn't rattle, still has the original clutch, still has a precise gearbox, still has super cold A/C, and it's handled road-trips, city-commuting, mountain twisties, gravel/dirt roads, national parks, highway and country back-roads with ease.

Dislikes:

Ugly front-end, Rear seats don't fold on my model to increase boot space (had to put on roof racks), the seats are a bit flat, and No Bluetooth - but I've replaced the stereo so all good. There was a recall for the indicator stalk (most 07/08 models) but Mitsubishi paid for it. No deal breakers.

Sure, the design is a bit dated but these car's are mechanically exactly what you want and I actually like not having buzzers, toys or gimmicks telling me how to not crash! I'll just keep paying attention. I've driven dozens of newer and much more expensive cars for work and travel but very few give me the same sense of longevity and bang-for-buck that the lancer does. Lancer's are so underrated and are absolute secondhand bargains. If it's got a full service history, go for it.

So far great medium size car – Just bought lancer ch 2007 sedan 5 speed manual with 137200 km for $3800. Was looking to get either golf or astra lm glad I bought the lancer. Few days into getting car took it for full service mechanic said car is in great condition the only thing apart from full service had to change was timing belt and top gasket cause was leaking oil to spark… Read more

plugs. Mechanic said just keep serving the car and should last a long time. Thought cause of age of car would have to fix a lot of things but no just service gasket and timing belt. Glad I bought the lancer.

15 years old and never let me down – That's right folks, this car is pushing on 15 years old and has NEVER broken down (except for a few times when I accidentally left the lights on). I don't know what they made this thing out of, because it is RESILIENT. It's been used to transport a 2.5 person kayak on the motorway. It's traveled from one side of Australia to the other. It's… Read more

helped me move the entire contents of my house in one go - twice. It's gone off road (despite not being designed for it) and had no problems. It's been in 2 accidents. It's hit a large kangaroo. Still running fine.

The radio has now finally started to give out and the aircon is broken, plus it doesn't look so sleek anymore, but my god is it reliable. I keep preparing myself to have to replace it because it's getting old and has been through so much, and it never fails to surprise me with how much life it still has left in it.

I can only hope my next car will be this good.

Great car with plenty of power – I got my car with 200k on the clock I had it for a year and All I can say about car is only positive. Plenty of power to get up and go. Thirsty engine that's because it was my first car and loved to rev. I had 15l/100km in city Show details

Unusual vibrations when switch on the ac – When I on the ac it start to vibrate like usual.when I put on gears d it's like mill please help me to fixed it and running condition is like little hard than other cars it's like little vibration and not getting idala up properly what to do please email me  Show details

2004 Mitsubishi Lancer – Bought this car second hand 2013 had only done 50,000 ks. Great motor can't complain about the engine but the car is a noisy car can hear all the out side noises sounds like a door is open it's that loud. Feel like your driving a tin can. Don't feel safe in it if I was in a accident. Cheap to service. Wouldn't buy another one. Engine is great. Noisy feels like you don't have a strong car around you. Show details

Lancer LE 2005 - Economic but – Ok, this is actually my missus' car but I have been driving it lately because it's cheaper to run than my Audi A4 V6 Wagon. I know I can't possibly compare both cars but having had previously driven manual Subarus I feel that the Lancer is just way too clunky to drive. The gear box is not consistent and it has a lot of trouble handling speed… Read more

changes, specially between 2nd and 3rd gear. The clutch takes a lot of getting used to because it's really hard to find the biting point. You can't go past 20 to 30km/h on 1st gear without the engine revving really high making it feel like the car hasn't even started to move before it begs for a gear change.

I really don't like driving it and I would never buy a Lancer because I find it too uncomfortable to drive, specially in peak hour traffic, but it is cheap on petrol though for a 2.4 and the kids have heaps of room in the back seats. Cheap to run, Spacious back seats. Gear box, clutch, lack of power for a 2.4, clunky driving

Love it! – Beautiful looking car, in Gunmetal grey with suede / leather interior, electric windows all round, mag low profile tyres and spoiler, it’s a stylish car for any age group. With its zippy 2.4L engine it’s perfect for city or country driving. It’s a roomy small vehicle with plenty of boot space and leg room.  Show details

Headlight switch problem – Has anyone had a problem headlight switch with the Mitsubishi Lancer ch 2007 model,owned car from brand new and one day the head lights just did not come on, Checked the usual fuels and bulbs, but found out it was to do with the whole switch mechanism. Apart from this problem great car.  Show details

Evo 8 - no regrets (except after I sold it; wish I never sold it) – Purchased a clean example with ~50k on the clock. I did my own oil changes every 3000km with fully synthetic oil. Some mods. Handles well. Great value and performance. Reliable. Drinks petrol if you drive it like it's stolen. But definitely worth the thrill. No regrets. Will definitely get another one.  Show details

Great and reliable little car – I bought this as my first car for around $1800 at 180,000km. I took it to the mechanic, expecting all kinds of problems with that many km's on the speedo, and he said it was in perfect condition and praised what a great little car it is! I had to write a review as reading the great reviews was the only reason I decided to purchase it. It is… Read more

very fuel efficient, but does not have much power which has been the only downfall. It also has winding windows which makes it look older than 2003. But very cheap to repair and highly recommend it for anyone on a tight budget looking for an older reliable car. I have heard it can go to above 300,000kms on the speedo, definitely believe that.

Great fuel economy and reliable – I bought this 10yr old car, 2004 model, Lancer ES, manual, 100,000kms, 6 months ago and it is a real gem. Keep it serviced regularly and runs really well. Maybe I am blessed with the previous owner being a pensioner and taking good care of it. Running around it uses 6.5 litres per 100kms and on the highway uses less than this. It is a sedan that… Read more ·  1

you sit in quite low compared to most sedans but you get use to it. Very zippy and responsive to acceleration. Very quiet engine and on the road.

The best car made by Mitsubishi – I bought this car when it was 5 year old in 2004 with 193.000 km on the clock and have since doubled that. The car never let me down and still has lots of power, does not smoke or use extra oil. The only thing I spend on it are tyres, brake pads and timing belts. Very reliable and cheap to run.  Show details

Beast – I bought my Evolution 8 MR just about 2 months ago and that Evo that I got is a beast. I love the spoiler, the suspension height is perfect, it's 250hp, hits 100km in less than 6 sec. I just love the exhaust, it's tuned perfect. I bought that about $29,999.  Show details

Great car for singles and small families – I purchased my CE manual Lancer coupe in April 2001 and has been a great car. Parts and car services were very reasonable and economic. Handling is great and parking in almost any spot. Performance is satisfactory but mine has a sports air filter, sports exhaust and short shifter kit. Cheap to fill petrol up but would never put e10 in it. Build… Read more

quality is also satisfactory and has adequate instrumentation (being the updated model with tacho on dash)

Even tho the back seats does have limited space some other cars like my mates 318is 98 model had very bad room issues,heads hitting rear glass panel but lancer coupe has adequate room

Silver paint still good after 12.5 years

Overall a great first or second car to own for city and suburban driving Good handling, Economic, reliable, simple - cost effective by not having over complicated electronics, easy to park, good vision, cheap parts and servicing costs Power issues but being a sohc 1.5 litre still performs well, back seat can be uncomfortable for adults of 4-5 people.

I really do "Love that Car" – I bought this vehicle second hand in 2011 and drove it numerous times between Adelaide and the eastern outskirts of Melbourne (probably about 15 times). I drive the vehicle daily and to this date, it has never let me down. It has plenty of power and is really easy to drive. I have never had any mishaps in the vehicle as the placement of rear view… Read more

mirrors and the design is brilliant (unlike some other cars I've owned, I've gone to change lanes and ended up a bit red faced as I could not see very well).

Parts and servicing are cheap, and easy to replace. It's also great on fuel.

Unfortunately my lifestyle has changed and I need a different vehicle. The day I have to let it go will be a very sad day. Great value for money all round Nothing really... Honestly I can't think of anything

I love this car – I bought this car back in 2007 for $24990 brand new. The car has 77,000km on the clock. From outside, it would look like yet another boring Japanese sedan. The inside layout is simple and low tech compared to what we see in cars today. But I bought this baby, because of her 4G69 engine! This version has Mitsubishi's SOHC 2.4L engine producing… Read more

115KW @5400 rpm and 220Nm of torque @4000 rpm. (In Australia we actually received the slightly detuned version because of the poor quality fuel we have). @3500 rpm, the powertrain control module fully opens the valves resulting in awesome power output.

Car has ABS with EBD, two air bags. I get the local mechanic to change the oil at every 7500km.

Mitsubishi Dealers once asked me $120 to replace the brake oil. So I stay away from them!

Every 2 years, I replace brake fluid and change the coolant. Every 15,000km, I clean the throttle body and fuel injectors. Last month I installed Bendix Ultimate brake pads. (Little bit dusty but very happy with the performance).

My sister's Lancer has done almost 150,000kms with no problems what so ever. Awesome Engine Seats are not very comfortable. Boring interior layout.

Great little car – I had this car for my first car, it's an awesome little car cheap to run, easy to look after and a fun cute car that looks nice. I never had any problems with my 2003 Lancer Exceed. It ran really well and was very spacious on the inside also the wooden look in the interior made it a luxury car more than a first car. It's a very reliable car, inexpensive and a great first car.  Show details

Star of a by-gone era – With the rise of the SUV and an overload of hatchbacks has come the demise of a much loved all purpose vehicle, the wagon, $40,000 subarus notwithstanding. Okay, $30,000 was still a lot of money for a new wagon (now about $12-15,000) but the CH VRX 2.4 is so far in front of its mid 2000 peers its not funny. Head turning looks, the best suspension… Read more

I have seen from a non- performance 4cyl car, 5 seats and a good boot, and that motor! 100kph in second and 145 kph in 3rd (manual) shows how willing it is. With the factory Yokohama advans it is an awesome package. I would not waste my money on an ES wagon, even with a 2.4, the VRX is worth every extra cent. As an aside, for those boy racers out there on a limited budget, this car can be improved out of sight for not much. If you have the money Yokohama Advan tyres, SAAS seats, Whiteline front/rear sway bars, KYB Excel G struts, short shifter, and slotted front rotors and Bendix pads all round. Dont touch the springs, it will be plenty stiff enough. Although this 4G69 motor can be thirstyish (12L/100kph) when driven hard, it does reward you. I go camping in the beast (800k return) and I regularly get 7.2L/100K sitting in 5th on long runs. I once got 725ks from 48L! Very reliable, great fun to drive hard, excellent factory suspension, great looks, bulletproof 155hp motor Worst front seats I have come across, could not support the cornering forces laterally. Runs on 98 RON

My ES 2007 CH Auto Lancer – New Purchase in May 2007. First time in front wheel drive. The drive is quite good and the 2.4 litre is a good match to the vehicle. At 9.4 and 7.2 I find the fuel economy reasonable for the engine size. The only maintenance, apart from suspension, under warranty, was a replacement radiator at 98,000. Like to have seen it with rear wheel drive. Very reliable. Very expensive dealer service costs. Suspension noise. Show details ·  1

One of the modern collectible cars – Evo IX is one of the meanest, fastest, most capable cars you can buy, with the power and agility to embarrass exotic cars twice (or thrice) its price. It's not for novices; if you light a fire under the Evo's cauldron, you'd better know what to do when it boils. But skilled hands can play it like a Baldwin Grand. I had 07 Liberty STi and 02… Read more

WRX STi before (As I'm a dead fan of Subarus) but this beast will absolutely kill them all. I got 07 Evo IX as a birthday gift from my wife and I have to say it is the best gift ever. Its been close to a month and I love every minute with it. I love corners and roundabouts (especially in Canberra) and with Evo they are my playgrounds.

This is the best car I have ever owned, It was owned by a 40yrs+ old car enthusiast well well well looked after and he had spent a lot of money on it (servicing and maintaining) very very minor mods making just 230kwaw. I use it daily for commuting to work and I feel suspension is not too bad because I came STi so I'm used to it. My wife owns a Civic Type R which is not too bad on handling but its suspension is a bit more stiffer and harder than Evo. But on road Evo shows its full talent.

The Evo has only one real competitor: The Subaru WRX STi. The STi is a bit more civil (Please don't quote me), but I've known it to do some nasty things at its handling limits with little warning. The Evo may be rude, but at least it's predictable. And the Evo's choice of models (versus the STi's one) allows buyers to choose the best ride/handling balance for their needs.

Conclusion:

The Lancer Evolution IX is one of the most talented track cars that can legally roam the streets. S-AYC, Handling, Reliable, Economical (over WRX STi if driven nicely), Solid and Mean look, quality and wider Recaro, Diamond Trac system, Steering wheel, No crusie control, weaker 6 speed transmission(but it does it job),

VR-X 2005 AWESOME – I purchased my VRX Lancer in silver brand new and loved it from day one. I love the sporty gear stick shorter between gears. I loved the interior and most other cars at that stage had greys and I wanted a black slick interior which it has and the room is deceiving that there is plenty of room. As a mum now I can even fit a pram in the boot! Air… Read more

conditioner was great nice and cold or hot easy to use. The engine has never skipped a beat and I have only had to replace the battery. The fuel costs are low I can travel a lot without having to pay a lot in fuel. CD player and speakers are great quality. Things about having the VRX is that insurance, tyres and batteries are extra and it's classified as a sports car but I loved the look of the VRX model as it's sporty and appealed to me. It is a timeless car as it still looks great and hasn't aged as other competitors styles have from 2005. The look and fuel comsumption

Good first car or runabout – This car is easy to drive, compact and sporty looking, which makes it an ideal first car or daily driver. Maintenance, insurance and petrol costs are low, which add to it's appeal for younger drivers. The seats are comfortable enough, and the equipment levels are adequate, if not a little sparse. These cars are common, so finding parts or… Read more

aftermarket modifications are easy.

However, the engine, even in the range-topping "MR" models, betray it's sporting looks and makes hills a bit of a struggle. Safety is also an issue, as the car is very light and does not have ABS, traction control, or airbags as factory standard. Reliable, inexpensive, fuel efficient, low insurance, good looks Questionable safety, not enough power

Finally got my dream car – I just bought my 2005 Evolution 8. It had 70,000 miles one owner. I love it!!! I put $2000 worth of mods and tune included have 300awhp. I run 12.7 in the 1/4 mile at 104 mph. I'm running on 20 pounds of boost. I love my Evolution 8. Power No cruise control Show details

Excellent – My ES Manual 2006 lancer is still going after I've clocked over 100,000 kms on. No motor issues. Gearbox is still going, clutch is fantastic considering how I drive it (I learned to drive manual in this Lancer, and I have not been the nicest person to the clutch). Nothing has needed replacing in the 4 years of owning the car. Fuel economy is… Read more

great. I have changed the head unit in the car (I put the one in my previous car due to attachment issues) which is so much more better than other cars and their "iPod connectivity". I'm glad I purchased the Lancer of the Mazda 3, Focus or Corolla I was contemplating purchasing.

I don't think I'll replace this car until it dies, and that will probably be once I retire and I'm only 22! Great handling, fits 5 adults in it, great fuel economy

Excellent – We own the 2005 ES model, it's our family car and we have had it for almost 2 years and couldn't be happier. It is a really reliable car and runs really well. I was advised by a mechanic that Lancers are one of the most reliable cars on the market and we have never regretted making this purchase, it's also really comfortable and easy to drive.… Read more

Would highly recommend this car to anyone especially as a family car. Reliable. Runs well. Fuel efficient. Comfortable.

Excellent – We have had 6 years of trouble free motoring with this car. We love the convenience of a station wagon. We are a family of five with three boys in ages from 14 to 6 and we all fit into this car comfortable. The back seats are just as comfortable as the front seats. I would recommend this car to others. My husband is tall and I am quite short and… Read more

it suits both of us. I love how the blind for the back part has it is own compartment when it is not in use. It was also one of the very few cars that had lap/sash belts throughout the car. We have own this since new and only replaced the clutch after it had done over 170,000km. Other than that it has only being the run of the mill tyres and light globes.

Excellent – Car would be great for a sensible driver 25yo and over but not for racing! The looks are great and has plenty of power car averaged 8.1L/100kms easy driving and 37.8L/100kms hard driving I Race Cars In The Adelaide Hills and found this car really really stable, esp was awesome and responsive brakes were faultless and looks are amazing. None if you… Read more

drive it easy... But for you guys out there like me do not buy 1... After 12 hours of hard driving it was hard to find reverse and esp finally gave up and things got scary I mean 120kws at the front wheels coming into a hairpin downhill just does not work and the car is now reduced to 100kmh average speed around the stage. And finally the body is very weak I lost control into a tree stump and wrote it off at a speed of 16kmh and no airbags deployed and severe whiplash.

Good – Fantastic car. Was looking for a wagon that would be able to fit the dogs in the back as well as two baby seats, and it does this with ease. I find that the engine is a real little ripper, handles mild gravel/dirt no probs when going out for a ride, and a full suspension MTB fits in the back no probs. Cruise control and 2x airbags a bonus. Chuck… Read more

on a towbar and it pulls a trailer no probs, and takes as many bikes as you can fit!!! Great not so little wagon (2006 ES)... Good power from the engine, handles the road with ease, soaks up the long trips and fits the wife, kids, dog, mtb... Uses a bit more fuel than I thought it would, but you have to admire power of 2.4L, nothing special about the seats, paint scratches pretty easy (gunmetal grey)