Mitsubishi Lancer 2 Door – Ask a group of young, first-time car buyers to name their first choice of tires and you’ll likely find that a large percentage of them will name a specific make and model.
And that car will be the Mitsubishi Lancer Coupe. While the appeal of the Lancer Coupe may be hard to recognize at first, the car meets the needs of many small car owners.
Mitsubishi Lancer 2 Door
First, the two-door Lancer has a look that many buyers like. It may not be the same as standard hatchbacks but it’s better than some of them (conservatively speaking).
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Second, the car has a good reputation for reliability and its performance doesn’t scare parents or insurance companies too much.
Equally important, the Lancer Coupe in its basic form is cheaper than other Lancers. Another good news is that the Lancer Coupe is 10 years old, it doesn’t really differ from the younger model, so the price for the first purchase is scattered.
The most important of the Lancer Coupes of the last decade was the GLi in CE form (the CE replaced the CC in 1996).
The GLi specification introduced a 1.5-liter engine that used an overhead camshaft, three valves per cylinder and a less efficient 69 kW of power.
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A four-speed automatic is optional but the standard five-speed manual is better because it makes less power. Standard equipment runs to cut fabric, basic stereo and not much else. You actually had to roll up your windows and air-conditioning didn’t become standard until May 1999. Central locking became standard in 2001 and r airbags the same year.
Other good news for 2001 is a bigger, more powerful engine option. The 1.8-liter motor used the same overhead camshaft but four valves per cylinder and it produced a useful 86 kW (not to mention more torque).
This means that the automatic option suddenly becomes more practical and since it is not very expensive these days (usually a few hundred dollars more), it is worth looking into, especially if you like automatic transmissions.
The GLXi was the next step up the ladder and had a bigger motor as standard, air-conditioning, electric mirrors and a tachometer. While the GLi continued until the current model, the GLXi came out in 2001.
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It all happened because Mitsubishi realized that the cheapest coupe it could sell, would increase sales, so the base model continued.
The counterpoint for those with a little more to spend is the MR Coupe which commanded a $7000 premium when new. Even in the late 1990s, when the GLi was removed from the poverty-pack, the MR had a body kit, body-tinted mirrors, alloy wheels, air-conditioning and a CD player.
Dual front airbags became standard on the MR in late 2001 and there were even nicer touches like fog lights.
A big engine is common but it is not a leap forward. Certainly, it’s no better than the Lancer Coupes with the 1.8-liter motor, so it remains to be seen whether the extra money is worth it for most buyers.
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And, of course, even in MR trim, the MR isn’t a luxury or well-equipped car, so if those things are important, you might want to look elsewhere.
Actually, this is a real theme when it comes to Lancer Coupes and they can feel a bit spartan inside, with lots of plain, gray plastic and cheap carpets and trim.
Build quality also seems to be quite different, and while one car may be solid and rattle-free, another of the same model and mileage may be more comfortable. With that in mind, you need to reach out to each potential buyer with their specific fans.
To be brutally honest, there are better cars out there for the same money and the source of its popularity among the youth is hard to pin down. But as anyone who has tried to understand a teenager will tell you, that in itself is nothing new.
Archie Concon Did What Mitsubishi Wouldn’t, Transforming A Mirage Into A 2 Door Evo
Morley is a long time specialist, and our specialist is a used car specialist. As a car enthusiast, he knows what to look for – and expect – when buying a new car. During Dino’s recent look at the Umbrella Auto Design twin turbo Audi R8, he mentioned the dream of owning a road car. it has a racing look and motorsport-grade configuration. I couldn’t agree more with him; but he is quick to point out that this is just a fantasy for most of us. But should it? Maybe not…
I decided to challenge myself by walking the aisles of SEMA’s Central Hall – where the LM-style R8 was on display – to see if I could find a build with the same characteristics, but affordable for the Average Joe. Most SEMA cars are built by companies that want to break the bank, and that usually means dialing things back with new models when they’re too late and need bags of money thrown at them, so it wasn’t easy. But finally, after some time on the ground, I found exactly what I was looking for in the Mitsubishi Mirage.
In an experience most of us can relate to, Mirage owner Archie Concon, uses the car every day. He started with the basics – tires and suspension – but instead of stopping there he just went. Then another thought…
Why not use the Mirage base to build a 2-door Lancer Evolution coupe? Well, that’s what he did, and I’m sure you’ll agree, the results are amazing.
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Not only did Archie want the full Evolution look for his Mirage coupe, he decided to take things to the next level with the kind of exterior upgrades you’d normally see on a Lancer attacking the Tsukuba Circuit. Above the Evo V/VI conversion, there’s a Varis bumper with carbon fiber splitter and canards, and a Varis carbon hood.
At the rear, larger integrated fenders have been added to match the front width, and a large 1700mm Voltex wing is attached to the carbon trunk. Then the carbon diffuser brings the whole look together, the dark splashes wrapping around the car provide a nice contrast against the traditional Kandy Oak Burgundy paint, really highlighting the aggressive new lines of the Mirage .
To respond to the length and enhance the car’s handling, Öhlins DFV coilovers keep the Mitsubishi mash-up planted on the most popular all-terrain wheels – the RAYS Volk Racing TE37SLs in an 18-inch fitment.
Nothing is left untouched, and moving from the exterior to the interior you’ll find a 4-point roll cage from Merrill Performance and Evo VI.5 Tommi Mäkinen Edition Recaro seats with Takata Racing belts.
Mitsubishi Lancer Coupe
Although this car has the look of a stripped down Evo coupe, don’t be fooled into thinking that everything is fine. Because not only does the Mirage have an Evo IV gearbox, an Evo VIII rear subframe and suspension, and an Evo VII rear LSD stuck under it, but up front is an Evo VII 4G63 engine that runs on ethanol and puts out 700hp.
Obviously this conversion won’t be cheap, but going back to my first street racing cars, I think Archie’s Mirage shows that you don’t have to start with a modern car. and threw crazy money at it to create something beautiful. In the late ’90s, Mitsubishi would be good.
