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2002 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Rally

Date: 05 April 2002	Miles: 6,226
No matter where you park it, it's easy to find our Lightning Yellow 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Rally. It stands out everywhere. That's good since making a mark in the compact segment is the order of the day for Mitsubishi's best small car yet. After 3 months, and with 6,226 miles on the odometer, we like just about everything about the Lancer, especially its oversized interior, but we also want more. More performance, that is, to go with the road rally inspired exterior and interior trim. The 2.0-liter, 120-horsepower inline-4 is fine for commuting, and it does deliver a reasonable 25.0 miles to a gallon of gas. But we think Mitsubishi needs to borrow a page from the Subaru WRX and add some guts to the OZ's glory. Otherwise the seats are supportive, the white face gauges easy to read, and the 100-watt stereo comes on loud and clear. The OZ Rally may be a fairly frugal poser, but it cuts a fine figure anyway.
Date: 07 June 2002	Miles: 8,200
Some of our staff actually think the bright yellow hue of this 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer O-Z Rally is a bit annoying. Annoying to law enforcement officers, that is. It certainly makes this comfortable, compact sedan look a lot more robust and threatening than it really is. The current O-Z Rally package is a poser since the 2.0-liter inline-4 powertrain generates the same 120-horsepower as less flashy Lancers. But we can say that after 8,200 miles and 4 months in our hands, the powertrain has loosened up nicely. And we do appreciate the 27.0 mile per gallon fuel economy. Plus, we have to say that unlike so many sport packages, the O-Z Rally is modestly priced. Only $1500 more than a base Lancer buys full accessories, plus great sport seats, as well as the expected trick wheels and body trim. So, you might say that in a shallow, superficial world, the Lancer is something of a breakout vehicle. It affordably delivers more than meets the eye.
Date: 30 August 2002	Miles: 11,788
Marketing a new small sedan in America's ''keep on truckin'' climate may seem like risky business. But, the rest of the world is still car oriented, and many of the newest designs are intended for global buyers. That's why the all-new, imported 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer is such a fine piece of small car engineering. While an entry level sedan here, Lancer is accepted as highly mainstream most everywhere else. Accepted also everywhere but here is Mitsubishi's world class road rally experience and reputation, the motivator behind the flashy yellow O-Z Rally edition that we have parked at our office. After 7 months and 11,788 miles of use, we have to say that despite the ticket-me paint job, we've managed to stay under the local radar. You see, the O-Z Rally package packs mostly visual punch since it's powered by the same 120-horsepower 2.0-liter as other Lancers. The upside to this, besides no points, is great practicality and frankly, given how roomy this car is, outstanding economy of 28.5 miles per gallon, up a gallon and a half since last report. We also have a hard time remembering when we last complained about mechanical woes from any Mitsubishi vehicle. They have come a long way from being sophisticated but temperamental, to today's rock solid durability. Our car has no wants or worries. The Lancer is also one of the first small cars that we think is totally acceptable for long trips. It has a decent sized trunk, wide seats, and front and rear legroom that is comparable to the much longer Nissan Altima. So, while it may not pack nearly as much go as show, the O-Z Rally Lancer is practical enough to be on the go everywhere.
Date: 01 November 2002	Miles: 14,500
You've heard us say it before. We get a kick out of peoples' reactions when they're passed by our Lightning Yellow 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer O-Z Rally. While the O-Z is a poser , all trim, wheels, and body parts, and no extra go , it still invokes smiles, and is spot on with the current economy car customizing craze. But, we long for the high performance Lancer Evolution VII due in February, with more than twice the power of our O-Z Rally's 120-horsepower 2.0-liter four. While capable, it still makes us timid when passing, even with the solid shifting 5-speed manual that's standard. No complaints on interior room, reliability, or economy, however. They are all high points of the new Lancer. Mileage is 29.7 per gallon so far after 14,500 miles and 10 months with us. We just wish that when the light turns green, you had something more than show.
Date: 25 January 2003	Miles: 15,600
We always seem to have a Mitsubishi in our long term test fleet, and for good reasons. This scrappy import brand makes such interesting vehicles. It's been 14 months since this 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer joined our crew. Being gear heads we asked for and got the flashy OZ-Rally package of trim, body parts, and wheels. While it has no more power than any other Lancer, our OZ sets the stage nicely for a real performance Lancer, the Evolution, due here later this year. Still, we found this OZ fits perfectly with the current economy car customizing craze. And its front drive 120-horsepower 2.0-liter four was quite adequate for daily duty. In fact, after 15,600 mostly urban miles it has loosened up nicely for quick bursts like passing, yet still passed most gas pumps with a great 29.8 miles per gallon fuel economy. That's superior to many other compact sedans we've tried, and the Lancer has one of the largest interiors among small cars. We had no mechanical problems either, another norm for Mitsubishi, although the cloth seat fabrics picked up dirt like a magnet. Besides that it's a nice, if utilitarian, place to spend commuting miles. And, while our bright yellow bird invited a lot of passing glances from local constables, we will miss it.