I’m not the first to notice the unpleasant noises our long-term Mitusbishi Lancer makes at higher engine speeds. But after spending a weekend putting up with the Mitsu’s uncivilized under-hood racket, I think this topic deserves its own post. Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton has opined that the Lancer’s 2.0-liter, 152 hp four sounds “janitorial” -- but I think that’s too kind. What this frumpy four-banger really sounds like at full-tilt is your standard-issue $40 blender...
Part of the problem here is probably inadequate sound insulation at the firewall, but if the engine's done right, it should be pleasing to the ear no matter what the decibel level. And our spoiler-bedecked Lancer is clearly aimed at people who care about this sort of thing.
The aural competition in this segment is stiff. For roughly the same price as our long-termer, you could get a nicely optioned Mazda3 s with its sewing-machine-smooth 2.3-liter mill, or even a Honda Civic Si, which plays a downright inspiring melody north of 6,000 rpm. Shoppers who test-drive those cars and return to the Mitsubishi dealership in the end will be buying the Lancer GTS in spite of its engine note -- not because of it.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 12,115 miles
The aural competition in this segment is stiff. For roughly the same price as our long-termer, you could get a nicely optioned Mazda3 s with its sewing-machine-smooth 2.3-liter mill, or even a Honda Civic Si, which plays a downright inspiring melody north of 6,000 rpm. Shoppers who test-drive those cars and return to the Mitsubishi dealership in the end will be buying the Lancer GTS in spite of its engine note -- not because of it.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 12,115 miles
smortensen says:
01:09 PM, 03/ 3/08
I'd be hard pressed to believe anyone buys a sub-twenty grand car based ont he engine note...
opfreak says:
01:41 PM, 03/ 3/08
those 18 year olds that will put a coffe can on that back will.
then again, if this engine is loud, with a coffe can it migth be even louder, perfect for their application: All show and no go.
sabastian says:
01:58 PM, 03/ 3/08
Interesting comment about the Mazda 3's 2.3. When I drove the car, I was disappointed to find that I could hardly hear the engine at all! I like a car to be quiet on the highway and such, but a proper engine note is something that is almost imperative to driving a manual. We live in a Camry world, I guess. Any noise is bad noise.
suzxl7 says:
02:05 PM, 03/ 3/08
It's funny, when i rented a base Lancer a few weeks ago I didn't notice anything wrong with the sound or the power. In fact I was whipping around town on and off freeways without seeing much more than 3500 rpms so I'm not sure where the gripe for power comes from. It certainly had way more pep than an auto Corolla or Pt Cruiser. Now if only the CVT hadn't packed it in in the -40 C weather...
siblur says:
02:30 PM, 03/ 3/08
The engine sound wasn't what got me to test drive my Civic Si, but when I did drive it, it was the engine sound that convinced me beyond any doubt to go through with the purchase. It was fantastic. No exhaust or intake mods. In the long run, the engine sound and the phenomenal gearshift/clutch became as significant to me as the extra hp and handling. It was a little noisy in the cabin, but it was a sweet noise that made me feel I was driving something special. What a package!
ahightower says:
03:20 PM, 03/ 3/08
Ditto. I didn't have any complaints about the Lancer until I took another test drive in my new Mazda3 and fell in love with the sweet steering, handling, shifter, perfect driving position, and ample power at lower revs. Nothing terribly wrong with the Lancer. The engine is adequate, lots of features for the money, looks great. But there are more engaging competitors. Give me a Ralliart turbo (with a telescoping steering wheel), and we'll talk.
I was afraid to test a Civic SI for fear of falling in love and blowing my $16K budget!
redliner says:
04:42 PM, 03/ 3/08
It's nice to find a well tuned 4cyl engine, but the sounds they make will never compare to larger engines.
zoomzoom22 says:
07:50 PM, 03/ 3/08
I'm sure that there is a way to stop all the engine noise that Mitsubishi simply didn't care about this time around. The 2.3 mill in the Mazda6 sounds pretty good for a 4 cylinder (like it wants to be pushed), but it gets loud above 4000 RPM. The same mill in the Mazda3 is virtually silent...probably because it can be had in the upper level 3, but the lower level 6. The 2.0 4 banger in the 3i is loud as well. I wonder if they did that on purpose?
orangutan says:
08:03 PM, 03/ 3/08
The engine sounds like crap because it's a piece of crap, co-designed by Chrysler, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi.
redliner says:
08:17 PM, 03/ 3/08
orangutan
LOL
stingray454 says:
10:31 AM, 03/ 4/08
Ooooh, it's got MIVEC though! That's cool! The engine cover says so!
LOL
siblur says:
11:15 AM, 03/ 4/08
MIVEC sounds like something you spray on the seats to make them waterproof, or maybe a non-skid coating for the floor. Do all those acronyms really mean anything to us as buyers any more? Eh.
stingray454 says:
11:46 AM, 03/ 4/08
Most buyers are clueless when it comes to the mechanicals of their cars when shopping for a new car. So the automakers try to come up with as many cool sounding acronyms as possible to make it sound like they have something they're competition doesn't. I'm willing to bet 99% of Mitsubishi buyers have no idea what MIVEC is, but they're aware their car has it.
It's sad (pathetic, really), but true.
redliner says:
12:13 PM, 03/ 4/08
Honda: i-vtech
Toyota: VVTL-i
BMW: VANOS/Double VANOS/Valvetronic
Volvo: CVVT
Porsche: VarioCam Plus
Lexus: VVT-iE
I'm sure there are many more, but these are the names that most easily come to mind.
smortensen says:
03:23 PM, 03/ 4/08
MIVEC is variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust. It used to be only on the intake, but on this 4B11 and the ralliart/Evo 4B11T, it's both. Same with the forthcoming 4B12 in the Lancer GTS/Outlander.
and a lot of people who don't know what it is, honestly don't care so it doesn't matter. You'd be surprised to see how many people just don't care how much of THE POWER!!! they can get out of their car.
06scooby says:
05:09 PM, 03/ 4/08
Sorry the best 4 cylinder sound has to be the subie boxer... I love the sound of that thing. that is what pushed me over the edge when I was shopping. I don't even have the turbo so my Legacy isn't blazing fast but I don't mind because the motor sounds fantastic!
Best 6 Cyl goes to infinity g35 by the way and best 8 cyl has to the be the Titan 5.6 V8 :) let the debate begin....
estreka says:
10:22 PM, 03/ 4/08
No way.
Best 4 is the F20C used in the Honda S2000. Despite a lack of torque, no car can touch it above 5,000RPM.
Best 6 is the RB26DETT used in the R33 Skyline.
Best 8 would be the eternal Chevy 350. To this day, that is one of the best engines ever built.
06scooby says:
08:39 AM, 03/ 5/08
I was more talking about just sound... I wasn't talking about power, reliability or anything like that! hahaha... just sound.
SubyTrojan says:
08:57 AM, 03/ 5/08
I love the sound of my four-banger. :o)
http://www.carspace.com/videos/play!id=.5bc1662a
estreka says:
05:06 PM, 03/ 5/08
Meh, I'll stick with my answers. ;-)
F20C
http://www.carspace.com/videos/play!id=.5bb1b5a0
RB26DETT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsGsico-xTI
Chevy 350
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_019tmWYWB8
firstwagon says:
05:33 PM, 03/ 5/08
For a 4 cyl, I like the original 1.6L Miata and for a 6 cyl, I like the old TR6...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qt2CKzS8HE&NR=1
With V8's, I find they all can sound great with the right exhaust.
SubyTrojan says:
08:11 PM, 03/ 5/08
"F20C
http://www.carspace.com/videos/play!id=.5bb1b5a0"
estreka, that exhaust note needs more cowbell, I mean, bass like the Subaru boxer rumble! :o)
That road looks familiar! Video after the jump:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=120027
eldaino says:
10:39 AM, 03/ 7/08
i-vetch? ha ha that was rich! it matters to those who care, and obviously we see which group you fall into...
the real sad thing is how many people assume that even the large amount of kids they see with coffe cans are a true represantative of what the 18-25 year old crowd is into.
honda makes the best 4cyl period. i think you'd be hard pressed to find one that sounded better. the f22 in the s2k is phenomenal, and only torqueless compared to what the v-6's it competes with put out.
its funny, i don't think that moving up to a ralliart or evo would fix the sound, as edumunds has commented that for f.i. they could sound better, a la gti or subaru.
(subytrojan: gotta love that boxer sound! but for n/a, i think the big H has got it down. ;))
robert100270 says:
11:15 PM, 05/ 3/08
The exhaust on the Lancer is on the back of the engine (between engine and driver), that's the reason it's louder. Typically it's towards the front.
I've driven many of the cars most compare this car to, and it was an easy decision to buy this car (roomy, turns great, looks good, feul economy good, not too big, simple controls, nice interior design).
Plus it just reminds me of a seventies car. I grew up in a Spitfire.
I really didn't like the Mazda3. I've rented it three times (logged about 2000 miles). While a good car, that War of the Worlds, three knobbed stereo with the Knightrider light really bugged me to use and to look at. Every time I looked at it I wanted to smash it.
The Sentra with the tree stump shifter, also a poor design, yuck (logged 200 miles). I felt like I was in an empty room, not a car.
The real joy in the Lancer is the highway (straight as an arrow), and just hitting the gas while in a turn (it stays)
and feeling that sideways force get bigger and bigger.
I got the car airborne today! I hit about sixty, there was something of a dip in the road and up we went. That was nuts.