Just curious, why was one Lancer a great car and the other a piece of crap?

AM surprised anybody read that far!
Long story but here is reader's digest version
2008 GTS had tuned suspension, front and rear stiffing braces, bigger brakes, 2.4 litre engine, touch to open door handles (more on this to come), 18 inch wheels and handled REALY nice for a front FWD car.

Wife was trading her Outlander for an RVR and they had a 12 GT in the showroom. It had the new Evo style grill and leather interior and looked sweet. The salesman said he would give me a good trade (which he did) on my 08. I asked if everything was the same as the 08 and he said yes. We even pulled it up on the computer and sure enough there it all was. They didn't have one to test drive but I figured the same so what would I learn. My 08 already had 400000 kilometers on it and a pile of paint was blasted off the side so I figured why not.
They had to bring one in for me and it took about a week. When I get the I look it over quick and it looked great. Went in signed the papers and it was mine.

Walk out and notice it has 16 inch wheels. Point it out to the sales guy and he says "all the Canadian ones do now". OK not a big deal I spend a lot of time in the car and the improved ride won't hurt (the 18s did beat the crap outta you). Got the fob in my pocket and grab the door handle and it doesn't unlock. Again ask the sales guy and he tells me "oh they dropped that on all the cars". OK again not a big deal.
Jump in drive away. Something just doesn't feel right but not sure what. Drive around in town for a week and still not sure what feels off. Think it is just because it is a bit heavier.

THEN went on the highway! Started on the ramp headed up to my usual 80 kph entry speed and thought I was gonna die!!!! Body roll, whole car twisting, all four tires sliding out!!!! WHAT THE HELL. Pull over at service center and start looking close. There is NONE of the GTS suspension.
Go home look it up. The GT in the US has all the GTS parts but in Canada the "GT" is just a regular SE sedan with some cosmetic add ons.

Went back to dealer and wanted to talk to sales guy and manager (only a week later remember) sales guys no longer there. Tell manager the story, admitting that I screwed up by not doing more home work but hope they will make it good. His response was just sorrta "sorry about your luck".


They did offer to trade me for a 2010 Ralliart with 60000 kilometers on it for only $8000 more on my financing. I told them that after owning 7 Mitsubishis between my wife and I if that was the best they could do they could shove it.

Drove that thing and hated it more every day for 2 years! The sad part is that it actually was a perfectly fine car for an entry level economy sedan it just did not compare in any way to my 2008!


So when I went to buy the FRS I put in about 40 hours of research (about 25 of them on here) before signing a THING!

So how was the 86 compared to your crap lancer? And how did it feel when you drove it the first time after 2 years of driving that turd?

Well it is really, REALLY nice to not feel like you are going to lose control every time you go on a ramp, pass on the highway, turn a corner or do anything else that does not involve going in a straight line! The Lancer even with the 2 ltr could have kicked my FRS but from a dead stop but again you have to turn sometime!
Don't miss the reduction in space and I am pretty much the only person that ever goes in my car.
Do miss the auto climate and keyless entry/ignition and that could have been taken care of if I had got a Monogram but I didn't want to have to shop around and got a great deal on my FRS.
Like I said before the SE/GT (Canadian) Lancer is a very nice little econ sedan if that is what you need but does not come close to the FRS (although the GTS or Ralliart does start to approach it).

I see. Well auto climate is something you can easily live without anyway. Same with keyless entry.
Like you I also plan to have this car as long as possible. Hopefully Subaru created a reliable boxer engine on this car.

Can live without and did for 40 years but DAMN I got to like them!

@Tcoat - That is an amazing list. I am only 7 years younger, but my BRZ is car #4 for me lifetime. First one was 85 Honda CRX with the louvers in the back.

Some of them didn't last long and some overlapped other by years (had the Impala for about10 years and it would come out to play every once in a while). As you can tell from the list many were dirt cheap, drive till dead, I am poor cars!
All of those were year round daily drivers not just projects or "weekend" vehicles. Which really makes the ones like the 58 Ford bought in 94 and driven till 96 a weird choice!

Age 71 here ..... let's see:

1937 Chevrolet PU
1948 Chevrolet coupe
1956 Ford PU.......

........uhhhhhh ....... what were we talking about .....?? http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...mages/sigh.gif



humfrz

Like the name says geezer 40 I wish.
Feel like I've had my fair share
Turbo Carrera, Hemi charger, GTO 911s 912s 944 MGB, Spitfire ,240z, Boxster ( the short list)
Love my twin (FR-S) it does all I want it to and cost relatively little.
A willing daily driver with none of the exotic car issues or stigma.
Now I just look like I borrowed my kids car.
I see mostly 40+ drivers in these until I get into urban areas.
This car is a big hit with those of us that know what a sports car is all about.
Watch out old timers are lurking.

40? Geeez you are still a youngster!

Wish I wuz fordy.
Way past that

40ish? I wish. I'm 58. :-)

I'm 56.

50 next month.

Sorry misread your post!


All you other old dudes if you haven't already done so make sure you do the poll for age! The 16 to 20 year olds are catching up to us since used cars have hit the market!


http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11431

Had alot of good memories with the TSI, also the 97 eclipse....to me that was mitsubishi at their best. Sold mine to a friends brother for a grand. It was on its last leg though...it was his first car. Still love the turbo boost. A bit worried to add one on the FRS.

Almost got an 08 Spyder last year but was fighting with the dealer over my Lancer so didn't trust them anymore.
Worked out well anyway because I got my FRS!

Good choice! It was between a 370, 350 or G35, then I saw the FRS parked on the street....and then it was over....FRS became an obsession!

Great thread. 41 here. Not much for mods thus far: Opti-coat, armrest, weather tech floormats, after market mudguards. Planned: 18" wheels + Pilot Super Sports, OFT + OFH, Phantom ESC, 35% tint, TRD catback exhaust. I've owned the car 6 months and I still enjoy the twisty backroads just as much as I did in the beginning.
:burnrubber:

39 in november... :)

43 here. So far replaced the side marker lenses with the clear and amber LED bulbs. Replaced all external filament bulbs with LED's. Changed all interior panel/switch LED's from red to blue to go with the Series.Blue interior. Installed the rear diffuser to finish off the rear look. This weekend I am getting cQuartz done. Waiting for my OEM Audio + system to arrive to get that installed and debating if I want to do a cat back exhaust or just do larger tips to fill out the opening.

This car is fun. I would say it is as fun if not more than the miata I used to own.

Mid 40s that grew up on John Hughes, Martial Arts and cheesy Monster movies, Michael Jackson’s music and Bill Cosby’s TV show.

Been through VW MK1 & MK2 GTIs, Honda EFs & EP3s, VW Corrado G60 and VR6s, and a Subaru GR STi. Some cars were stock and others modified over the years! Also have a highly modified ‘09 Kawi ZX6R motorcycle.

Last month, I traded the STi bought a 2015 Aozora (Blue) Edition as a summer ride, so far it is tinted. Just bought some XXR535 17s and will probably add some Hankook RS3s. I will be picking up some Fortune Auto 500 coilovers later this week. I also bought a stock 2002 Subaru Bugeye Wagon to get me thru the winter. I look forward to improving both cars over time.

Just entered the 40 club on the 5th this month. Loving the BRZ, taking my time through modifications. Berk dual tip muffler delete in the mail to me as I write this, winter tires and wheels due in from Tire Rack next week and in love with the gold O.Z. Alleggerita HLT's in 18"X8". Will snag those after old man winter leaves us and wrap them in Michelin Pilots. Fantastic forum, great folks here.

I'm in this experienced and highly knowledgable segment.

Just for 3 more weeks, then I graduate to the next class.

Soon to be owner here. Turning 40 the 24th :)

49....anybody got viagra hook up?

40? Pffft, buncha kids. I recently retired from a Fortune Global 10 multinational.

Too many cars, trucks, SUV's and motorcycles to list, mostly Toyotas but a fair amount of other brands.

Mine is nearly stock except TRD CAI, Perrin unres catback, Michelin PSS, Motul and Carbotechs for track days and an 8-ball TRD shift knob.

I was going to sell the car but couldn't come to terms with potential buyers and that's fine by me so it's in storage again until next Mar/Apr.

Possibly more minor mods to come but I'd rather save the cash for my first love, flying sport aircraft.

Stay thirsty, my friends.

42 years old. Phantom Electric Supercharger with 1.5 dump pack. Sound dampening insulation in the trunk and under rear seats. 10" sub in the trunk. About to purchase either Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 or Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric A/S.

52 in a couple of months. Wife tells me I act like a child ... which I think is good. My FR-S is stock except for tint.

I've driven and owned alot of high powered sportscars. They are fun, but somewhat scary at speed. I DD the 86 and it provides some "safe" fun during my commute. Power is nice, but light weight trumps all.

Ha! 63 here!

Just turned 50 this year. First sports car for me. Married young, bought house, had kid, bigger house, raised kid, kid thru college. Now kid has job - Dad gets paid! Buys sports car...

I test drove a Gen Coupe before buying my BRZ - I realized then how easy it would be to get into trouble with more power. You need to push it just to get the rush from the turbo. Lightweight BRZ was the better choice!

62.

42

This car is tons more fun than the G35 coupe I used to drive.

I am 49 and drive it like it's supposed to be driven.

Over 50 here. Here is a picture from 1977 of my first car. I'd like to have a small, lightweight Italian car again, but Japanese have outdone the Italians in that respect.
I currently have other Italian cars, but none of them is 'small' or 'lightweight.'
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...2013/fiat2.jpg

I had been looking for a suitable daily driver to replace my 1997 BMW M3. I traded in the M3 on the Scion on the spot as soon as I drove the Scion.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...015/photo3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...015/file_4.jpg

I think Scion needs to increase their demographic to 21-50 year old drivers. :party0030:

Hey Theurge, i'm 65. As my generation says, if you remember the sixties, you weren't really there. I can't remember the seventies or eighties either. I've modified my FR-S, aka "Bad Grandpa," with steel wheels, snow tires and a sixty inch flat screen tv. Oh, yeah, and i removed the sound tube. Just another radical FT86 driving extremist here. Cheers!

You are pretty dead on there...

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1424178166