Test Drive - 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer MX (Part Deux)
As I've mentioned in part one, this particular Lancer was lame performance-wise. After breaking it in properly (e.g. "behaving" for the first 1000 km), I gave it a little ripping up earlier this morning.
I left home at 6:55 a.m., and since it was coding for the day (end plate #5 on a Wednesday), I had to get to work in five minutes. Normally, home to work takes ten or so minutes, but today, I had to get to work pronto. Enter test drive.
I shifted to manual mode, and let it rip to 5000 revs at first gear. As expected, there's no I'm-sucked-into-my-seat feeling here. That's what you get for having 1,150 kilos on your car. Pushing the stick up to engage the second "gear" setting (reminder: this car has CVT -- no gears, but belts), there's barely a shock as the revs drop by 1000 revs. From two to three, another 1000 revs drop (from 5000 to 4000 revs). It's nice that I'm staying in a nice powerband, but again, no I'm-sucked-into-my-seat feeling.
If you want a brand-new sportscar, you have three choices: 1. Don't buy this car, 2. buy the MX Limited version (which has 18 more ponies, thanks to the 4G93), but plan an engine upgrade -- swap the head for a DOHC one or bolt on a turbo, or 3. stop sucking and get an Evo VIII.
I left home at 6:55 a.m., and since it was coding for the day (end plate #5 on a Wednesday), I had to get to work in five minutes. Normally, home to work takes ten or so minutes, but today, I had to get to work pronto. Enter test drive.
I shifted to manual mode, and let it rip to 5000 revs at first gear. As expected, there's no I'm-sucked-into-my-seat feeling here. That's what you get for having 1,150 kilos on your car. Pushing the stick up to engage the second "gear" setting (reminder: this car has CVT -- no gears, but belts), there's barely a shock as the revs drop by 1000 revs. From two to three, another 1000 revs drop (from 5000 to 4000 revs). It's nice that I'm staying in a nice powerband, but again, no I'm-sucked-into-my-seat feeling.
If you want a brand-new sportscar, you have three choices: 1. Don't buy this car, 2. buy the MX Limited version (which has 18 more ponies, thanks to the 4G93), but plan an engine upgrade -- swap the head for a DOHC one or bolt on a turbo, or 3. stop sucking and get an Evo VIII.
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