We don't just talk cars ... we teach you how to buy them.

"Used Mitsubishi Lancer Overview
And Best Price Strategies!"

Wow, talk about a car with a few choices! The extremely versatile Mitsubishi Lancer can be purchased as anything from a fairly standard family sedan on out to a turbocharged, pimped up, zooming headturner.

Most carmakers leave the upgrades to individual car buyers in the performance aftermarket. Not so for Mitsubishi. They take it on themselves so their customers can simply turn the key and head off to enjoy.

The much acclaimed Lancer Evolution (or EVO) offers the type of performance usually found in European sports cars with much higher price tags. All three trims, the IX, RS and MR, are powered by a dynamic 286-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The IX and RS come with a 5-speed manual transmission. The MR gets a six-speed.

There is no automatic transmission option with this car. With its precision handling and turbo acceleration, it just wouldn't be right. Remember, this vehicle was originally designed for the World Rally Championship (WRC).

Edmunds.com pretty much sums it up: "Through road and comparison tests, our editors found the Evolution to exhibit nearly perfect driving dynamics. With virtually no turbo lag, acceleration is seriously quick with a mid-5-second 0-60 time. Steering is pinpoint precise and predictable."

Toning things down a bit are the ES, SE and O-Z Rally Lancer trims. Pre-2008, each was powered by a 120-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. There's also a sport-tuned Ralliart model with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that's good for 162 horsepower. While a five-speed manual transmission is standard for all models, there is a four-speed automatic as an option.

The Lancer was redesigned for the 2008 model year. DE, ES and GTS trims were offered, all powered with a 152-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The current GTS engine (2.4-liter 168-hp four-cylinder) was introduced in 2009 and the GTS also features a firmer suspension and 18-inch wheels. The Ralliart's engine was also beefed up in 2009 to 237-horsepower.

The Lancer Evolution also got a redesign in 2008 and is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's good for 291 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. The Evo X model was also introduced in 2008. Production of the Evolution was skipped for the 2009 model year and restarted for 2010.

The Lancer has come a long way since replacing the Mirage in 2002 and we think it makes a solid choice as a used car purchase, especially for those looking for superior performance as well as uniqueness.

How To Get The Best Price On A Pre-Owned Mitsubishi Lancer

There are actually several different ways to buy a used Lancer at the lowest price, even at wholesale.

ONE - Car Auctions:

To save the most, you can go to wholesale Public Auto Auctions in your own geographic area. While this will take some additional time and effort on your part, there are indeed outstanding buys (often even below wholesale) for those who shop these events.

Here's some additional information on locating these auctions and the key issues in using them to your advantage: Find Mitsubishi Lancers At Public Car Auctions In Your Area.


TWO - Spot Wholesale Opportunities On Dealer Lots:

The technique explained here is incredibly effective and involves learning how to identify high quality but potentially "price-distressed" used Lancer candidates for sale right on dealer lots, ones they are extemely desperate to sell and ready to unload.


THREE - Set Up A Dealer Competition:

Another excellent method involves getting several used car dealers to compete for your business. See the details in this Used Car Buying Guide. It's just amazing what happens to prices when you force dealers to fight among each other for your sale.


Also ...

If you're interested in a "Brand New" Mitsubishi Lancer, there are some great deals to be had right now if you know how.

People swear by the excellent method detailed in this article for the best way to get the lowest price on any new car.

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX Road Test