Despite little maintenance, this Mitsubishi just keeps doing what it’s supposed to do: get Dennis from point A to point B repeatedly and reliably.
“My First New Car”
When Dennis Lindroos purchased his first brand-new car in 2003, he hoped to drive it for 100,000 miles. His plan was to trade it in on a new car at that point. What caught his eye was a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer ES that was advertised by Serramonte Mitsubishi. When he went to take a look at it, he located it at the far corner of the lot, along the back wall. What he liked most was the fact that it was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission. His 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer ES now has 551,238 miles on it.
Mitsubishi Reliability Is Legendary
If you’ve ever asked, “Is Mitsubishi a reliable brand,” this Lancer answers your question. For the first 100,000 miles Dennis had the oil changed regularly by a dealer or lube & oil service. Afterwards he did most of the oil changes himself. When it comes to routine maintenance, Dennis did very little. When he did service it, he performed all of the work himself and says his biggest issue thus far has been a broken timing belt. “I let it go too long before replacing it,” he told us. Despite this, Mr. Lindroos is now a proud member of the half-million-mile club!
This Car Hasn’t Been Babied
When we asked Dennis if we could write about his Lancer, we intended to have it washed before taking photos of it. We didn’t do that. As you can see by the photos of the odometer and the pine needles on the back bumper, Dennis doesn’t go out of his way to baby this incredibly reliable Mitsubishi Lancer. The car takes whatever Dennis throws its way.
Is A Mitsubishi Right For You?
It may come as a surprise to find out that JD Power and Associates named Mitsubishi the top-rated Japanese vehicle in their 2020 Initial Quality Survey. Mitsubishi beat out both Honda and Toyota for this award. The United States seems to be slow in catching on to something the rest of the world has known for decades: Mitsubishi builds great vehicles! Confidence in the quality and reliability of Mitsubishi automobiles is reflected in the 10-year/100,000 mile warranty each new vehicle receives. Mitsubishi provides 5-years/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance as well. It’s hard to find a more dependable car.
These photos were taken at West Mitsubishi in Orland. Click here to see new inventory.