Mitsubishi Lancer Saloon (2005 - 2008) 1.6 Equippe 4d Owner Review

I was looking for a cheap, comfortable car to use as a daily driver to keep the miles off my newer car. I saw this (08) reg Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6 Equippe advertised and didn't know much about them. It was a 1 owner car, with FSH, a long MOT, all Service books, 2 keys, lots of bills, etc, etc for only £650, so I had to have a look. I bought the car within 5 minutes of a test drive, mainly on account of the fact that it literally drove like a new car. These are absolute hidden gems. They are spectacularly reliable, and (despite the poor Parkers review) have wonderful handling, cornering and road holding. Check out the other owner reviews and you'll keep seeing the phrase "corners like it's on rails"... and it does! It is an incredibly settled, sure-footed car that inspired confidence. You may think it's a grandad's car but truly, these cars are really chuckable and a lot of fun to drive. Now, here's the other very surprising shock about these cars - on paper, the 1.6 Equippe has a very uninspiring 97bhp. In the real world however, I honestly think Mitsubishi must have misread their own equipment! Again, check the other owners reviews and you'll repeatedly read "although it's only a 1.6, it definitely doesn't feel slow". Now it's no sports car, however it feels FAR, FAR better than it's performance specs suggest. The engine is relaxed and somewhat docile up to 3500rpm, but leave it in gear beyond this and it is truly surprising how quickly it winds up - it accelerates from 3500-5000rpm very quickly. I've driven and owned many fast cars and honestly, this engine feels more like a decent 1.8 with about 140bhp. There's very little torque but that sweet spot between 3500-5000 is very accessible and the car does not feel strained or harsh whatsoever when driven in this range. Add 42mpg average to the mix and you can see why I see this little cheapie as one of the best cars, pound for pound, I've ever bought. So, what are the negatives? A slightly dull, dated looking interior, and a slightly dull, dated looking exterior! I'm not going to lie, these cars will never win beauty contests. But mine has the quite large(ish) stock spoiler fitted, so looks a little bit sporty. But honestly, with these, it's all about the quality and fun of the drive, the superb reliability and low running costs. And the fact that I am driving a car that feels like it has 10 years of life left in in, for £650.