One of my car-loving co-workers came up to me the other day with a question: Do you know what car teenage boys are currently drooling over?
He gave me a hint. It’s not a Mustang.
Not being a teenage boy or knowing any teenage boys, I threw out a couple of answers like, don’t laugh, the Scion xB or the Dodge Challenger.
As you may have guessed, I was nowhere near the mark. According to my co-worker, his son and friends are currently drooling over the Mitsubishi Lancer.
That actually explains a lot.
The aggressive trapezoidal front grille and bold styling are attractive, and when you figure in the optional rear wing spoiler ($150), you’ve got a hotrod rallye car that looks like it came from a video game.
When you look at the starting price for a new 2009 Lancer, it gets even more attractive. The base DE model with the 2.0-liter, 152-horsepower, four-cylinder engine mated to the five-speed manual transmission has a base price of $14,640. That makes this one of the few cars that are still available for under $15K in 2009.
Of course, because most of those teenage boys are probably aspiring more toward the performance-oriented Lancer Evolution with a base price of $32,990 but can’t afford it, it’s nice to know there are some nice options in the plain old Lancer lineup that land you somewhere in between.
The mid-level ES model with the five-speed manual transmission starts at $16,840 and adds important features like an auxiliary input jack, 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning with micron air filtration, alarm system, steering wheel audio controls and power door locks.
The top-of-the-line GTS starts at $19,115 and upgrades to the 2.4-liter, 168 horsepower aluminum DOHC MIVEC four-cylinder engine. It adds smokin’ hot standards such as 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, chrome exhaust finisher, fog lights, front and side air dams, hands-free Bluetooth phone connectivity, sport bucket seats and Sportronic magnesium steering wheel shifter paddles with the optional CVT transmission.
Plus, each of these models is infinitely customizable with factory-installed accessories and the myriad of aftermarket items designed specifically for the Lancer. A quick Google search revealed everything from specialized shift knobs and pedal sets to air intake systems and turbochargers. Of course, all this will take a $15K car and add $10K -- or more -- quickly. But the point is: A lot of customization is possible if desired.
While teenagers will be looking at what’s cool and can be customized to the hilt, here’s something the parents will appreciate: standard safety features. All Lancers come with dual front airbags with occupant sensors, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver’s knee airbag and tire pressure monitor system. The ES and GTS models add standard anti-lock brakes and electronic brake-force distribution.
Even though I am clearly not the target market for this car -- and got more than a few funny looks when I stepped out of it -- I enjoyed my time in the Lancer GTS test car. It’s compact and peppy, and sans the optional rear wing spoiler, I really liked the exterior styling.
The test vehicle was well optioned with the Sun and Sound Package ($1,750), Navigation Package ($1,800) and the rear wing spoiler ($150). So, the as-tested price of the car was $23,665, which I thought was spot-on for everything that’s included.
Mitsubishi is going for “class-up” value with the Lancer, and I really think they succeeded. Especially since I could see a little bit of the Lexus IS-F in the exterior styling. Considering that the IS-F has a base price of $56,610, I’d call that class up.
The interior was simple and understated, and all the dials and gauges were intuitive to use and intuitively placed. The black cloth interior was comfortable, durable, and not completely unattractive, but I have to admit I was surprised that leather seating surfaces weren’t even a factory-installed option on the up-level GTS model.
I liked the Rockford-Fosgate Punch premium sound system that came as a part of the optional Sun and Sound Package. Sound quality was thumping with the nine speakers and 10-inch subwoofer, and cranking the sound really helped wake me up on my way to early morning runs. The package also includes Sirius Satellite Radio with six months of service, six-disc CD changer, power glass sunroof and fast-key entry system.
The sport-tuned suspension gave the test vehicle a suitably stiff ride, and handling was decent if not slightly underwhelming. The 168-horsepower four-cylinder engine definitely had pep, but if you’re expecting hotrod performance to go with the hotrod looks, you might be a bit disappointed.
My main quibble with this car centers around something that you rarely see and will only occasionally come into contact with: the trunk rug. I had some out-of-town guests during the test week who had a total of four bags that needed to fit in the trunk -- two of them large. And with 12.3 cubic-feet of cargo volume, they fit. But while sliding them in, the trunk rug kept flopping around and bunching. I’d almost prefer the ugly metal to the trunk rug that wouldn’t stay in place.
Overall, I thought the Lancer GTS was attractive and fun to drive. With customization potential and standard safety features, the Lancer is a car both parents and teenage boys can appreciate.
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