It's My Lancer's 10th Birthday!

"Stef Schrader" (stefschrader) 10/01/2020 at 14:25 • Filed to: Extremely Regular Cars, Lancer of Doom, 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS, Lancer GTS, Mitsubishi Lancer GTS, Mitsubishi Lancer

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Ten years ago today, I got the Lancer as a graduation present. Happy Birthday, Lancer!

My garbage !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was so bad that my parents came into Waco one weekend and basically told me that I was getting a new car that weekend or I’d be stuck with the Failtima, a terrible car that ate head gaskets and was the wrong color.

The Lancer, a good car, next to the Failtima, a bad car.

My parents wanted something new so there’d be a warranty and as few issues as possible after the Failtima (again, a bad car) was such a nightmare. Dad wanted something American, but there just wasn’t a new smaller car I liked out then. The Fiesta was the only little American car I really liked, but it had just come out and the only one available near Waco was a black one with that stupid stubby trunk.

Finally, we convinced him that hey, let’s look at Mazda since they have some ties to Ford and their small cars are good. I liked the Mazda3, but the new ones on the lot were loaded up more than they wanted to spend and the used one I liked was a) used and b) black, which is a bit more monochromatic than I prefer.

Eventually, that search ended up at a Mitsubishi/Subaru dealership, where I found the Lancer. I’ve driven the crap out of it ever since. It went on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as soon as it was out of its break-in period. It’s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , rallycrossed, track-day-bro’d (on an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , too), time trialed (1:37.7 on Harris Hill, IIRC), gotten me a job at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! a bunch of my stuff (and my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ), appeared on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and driven !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (Austin to Seattle and back, there over the highest pass over the Continental Divide and back via most of the Pacific Coast Highway).

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

At this point, I’m just seeing what all I can do with it. I would probably have to pay someone to take it on a trade-in given how many times it’s been hit, so I’m not getting rid of it. Can I put a million miles on a CVT car? Haha.

I still need to take it drag racing—I was set to run it in the event with Alanis at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! a few years ago, but my dad passed away right before that weekend. Maybe it should do the Texas Mile? It’s slow time, baby. I’m convinced that the Lancer needs to go up Mt. Washington and get that sticker, although I’m hoping there’s a white vinyl version to fit in with the rest of the stickers. Maybe it should do an east-to-west trip across the U.S., too? (It’s been halfway there going from California to Texas, but like, I should do it in one trip.) Or maybe it could even be the world’s shiniest !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! car if the Volkswagen isn’t ready in time?

Also, it definitely needs to go on the Nürburgring.

My then-new car!

Mine’s prettier.

I should take this car on that track.

More like FUN-DERSTEER!

Update: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

InFierority Complex > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 14:30

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Happy birthday Stef’s Lancer. I honestly think they were one of the better looking sedans of their time. They have a sporty and sleek look(maybe not the right word I’m looking for but whatever) without being overly aggressive. It’s a great red, too.

You’ve probably done more in that thing than a lot Evos at this point.

Longtime Lurker > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 14:36

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You've done a lot in that car.

How the time flies, I'm coming up on 10 years in my Ranger this month as well.

flatisflat > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 14:38

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Congrats to you and the Lancer for the anniversary! Are you going to take it out to a nice dinner? Like a fresh oil change? Spoil it a little and give it a coolant flush?

As to your ‘what next’ plans: I support basically any and all road trips.

Stef Schrader > flatisflat 10/01/2020 at 14:42

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It really needs to go on some alpine passes to moo at the cows. So many cowbells! Such good roads!

In the meantime, it got its presents early: a new tire, a tire rotation for the three that were on there and an alignment.

Stef Schrader > Longtime Lurker 10/01/2020 at 14:43

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Sweet!

Stef Schrader > InFierority Complex 10/01/2020 at 14:44

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...and I’m missing the underbody plastic bits to prove it!

camaroboy68ss > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 14:47

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Welcome to the double digits of owning a car! It can be quite a surprise when you realize how long you have had a car. I just about to the 20th anniversary of owning my 68 Camaro, I didnt think I had owned it that long till I realized I was supposed to have my high school reunion this summer, lol. 

Boxer_4 > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 14:55

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Very cool!

Also, I bet a Mitsubishi/Subaru dealer would have been quite fun in the 2000s. 

jminer > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 15:00

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Sweet! That is a good looking car.

Man in the 10 years you’ve owned that car I’ve owned 5. A 01 ZX3, 83 Diesel Suburban, 93 Ranger, 12 Focus hatch and my current 14 TDI Sportwagen.  These do not count the vehicles my wife has owned.

I need to keep my vehicles longer.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 15:01

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Nice! Congrats on sticking with it for so long!

Next to do: how easy is it to manual swap one of these? Or an Evo drivetrain?

flatisflat > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 15:02

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Oh, speaking of al pine’y passes, while it is on the other side of the border to the great North (thus not quite as easily accessible atm) , the stretch of BC-3 between Cranbrook and Vancouver is absolutely the.most.wonderful. stretch of 10 hours behind the wheel I have ever experienced. So, if you ever find yourself traipsing in that general area, I highly recommend it!

Chariotoflove > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 15:10

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Maybe we should pass the hat around to get it to the ‘Ring. Then again, that would cost a pretty penny.

Stef Schrader > camaroboy68ss 10/01/2020 at 15:13

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Heh, that’s a great car to keep, though.

Maybe I should drive the Lancer to my 20th high school reunion, too, in four years. 

Stef Schrader > Chariotoflove 10/01/2020 at 15:15

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I’ve priced it out before—gosh, one or two thousand depending on how secluded you want it to be from other cars ? It’d be worth it if it could stay a while and road trip around Europe , I think.

Stef Schrader > flatisflat 10/01/2020 at 15:15

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Ooh, yes. It does need to fart around the PNW a bit more!

Stef Schrader > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 10/01/2020 at 15:16

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1. Hard

2. Even harder.

I like it as it is. If I’m going to drop big money into anything, it’ll be the race cars, a tow Cayenne or more dumb things to do with the Lancer. 

Stef Schrader > jminer 10/01/2020 at 15:16

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Heh, it’s whatever makes you happy. 

Stef Schrader > Boxer_4 10/01/2020 at 15:17

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{ INTERNAL STRIFE INTENSIFIES }

$kaycog > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 15:28

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Have some cake!

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 15:33

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More autocross?

MrSnrub > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 15:48

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Why Mitsubishi abandoned that design language I’ll never understand.

I’d like to keep a car for 10 years someday. Best I’ve managed so far is 5. Right now I’ve got a VW, and unless I get to keep working from home and only drive 350 miles per month forever, I doubt I’m keeping it more than 5 or 6 tops before the VW reliability anxiety gets to be too much.

Zaphod's Heart of Gold > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 16:13

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I recently passed 5 years in my car and it’s the longest I’ve owned one. Debated selling it but it’s too much fun. If I washed it more often maybe the clear would be in better shape....

guess I need to race it.

boredalways > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 16:19

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Happy Birthday, Lancer! I think it deserves a party weekend.

I assume that at one point, it will veer off to something similar to this:

Urambo Tauro > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 16:21

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Holy crap I just now realized that your old Failtama is a dead ringer for wha t my sister’s driving now. Same color and engine too!

Chariotoflove > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 16:48

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Yes, and now is a good time to do it, too. I think the Europeans are especially friendly toward the idea of an American touring nomadically around their countryside and across borders  right now!

Stef Schrader > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 10/01/2020 at 17:12

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sure

Stef Schrader > Chariotoflove 10/01/2020 at 17:13

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hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

(just let me move to the Nürburgring and stay there already )

Stef Schrader > $kaycog 10/01/2020 at 17:13

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<3 I love the cake!

Stef Schrader > Urambo Tauro 10/01/2020 at 17:15

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Oh no. I hope she has better luck with it. 

Stef Schrader > boredalways 10/01/2020 at 17:16

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hahahaha, the most early ‘00s commercial of all time

Stef Schrader > Zaphod's Heart of Gold 10/01/2020 at 17:17

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Of course you should race it!

Chariotoflove > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 17:18

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You could be our permanent correspondent-on-scene.

Stef Schrader > MrSnrub 10/01/2020 at 17:18

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Folks seem to dump on Mitsu’s reliability, too, but honestly, I think you’re fine with most cars as long as you maintain them well. We’re past the era of true lemons for the most part. 

shop-teacher > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 19:32

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Excellent! There is something wonderful about a regular old vehicle, that just works.

Urambo Tauro > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 19:36

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Well, no headgasket issues as of yet... She did have to replace the valve cover gasket though on account of leaking spark tube seals, which -surprise, surprise- means replacing the whole damn plastic valve cover since they’re non-serviceable.

notsomethingstructural > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 19:39

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Holy crap, senior week was FOUR years ago?!?!

bmil128 > Stef Schrader 10/01/2020 at 21:28

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Happy birth/driven-off-the-lot day!

FWIW the Friday night drags at Houston Raceway Park let you run on a real prepped NHRA track. Just have to go when it’s not 85% humidity.

Stef Schrader > notsomethingstructural 10/02/2020 at 00:42

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Apparently!

Time flies when you’re in acquisition hell, I guess.

Stef Schrader > Urambo Tauro 10/02/2020 at 00:43

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Oof.

Stef Schrader > bmil128 10/02/2020 at 00:45

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Oooooooh. I may need to look into somewhere. A friend works at Mo-Kan Dragway up in MO, too, so I should probably road trip up there and fart around anyway.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Stef Schrader 10/02/2020 at 03:53

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as my old Lancer recently died with 728k km, i reckon you’ll give it a damn good shot to get it to a million miles.

S65 > Stef Schrader 10/20/2020 at 20:19

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Those Lancers still look modern today, Mitsubishi did a good job on styling those