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The driving experience was much like a day-old Chicken McNuggets. From the moment I started the engine to the moment I drove the car out to the public road, I knew I was in for something…dry. The engine unit, a SOHC 1.6-liter 16-valve inline-4 engine sounded more like any other 4-pots that I knew. In fact, at idle, the Mitsu's engine could be easily mistaken for as the Honda Civic's. However, unlike the Honda, the Mitsu engine doesn't have the sudden rush of power (and a change of engine note) provided by a VTEC transition point. The engine is rev-happy and responsive, but lacks any dynamic characteristics. It's as swift as the Ford Lynx or the Nissan Sentra. Thank God that he engine note is more accented at high revs thanks to the sport-tuned exhaust system. Handling is like a line at a fast food place: ordinary. It felt every bit like a sedan trapped in a coupe shell. It's pointable, stable and predictable. It's great in sweeping bends and long corners, the only weakness being the lack of support from the GSR's seats (and yes, you'd feel being thrown about in the car). At tight bends, the GSR shows its limitations. It cannot really provide the same agility that you'd expect from a coupe. In fact, you can liken the feeling of wanting to be a 'Minime' instead of a 'Doctor Evil'. This so-called sports coupe felt as big as a Honda Accord! The softer riding Honda Civic still reigns supreme in the handling category (the Lancer is not even a prince). Outward vision is excellent, the low-slung nose helped front vision, while the coupe's large frameless glass made the side equally excellent. Perhaps, the weakest vision is the rear-three quarters because of the GSR's thick C-pillar construction. Parking is a breeze, thanks to the GSR's standard trunk spoiler which, in my opinion, it's only what that darn thing is useful for! Mechanically, the car is very stable and solid. The steering and gear change are as smooth as a caramel sundae. Moreover, I have to say that the saving grace of the GSR is the transmission. Although our test unit wasn't equip with the INVECS-II automatic, the manual was still precise and worked with tick-tock accuracy, beating even the Galant Super Saloon. However, at 17,000 on the odometer, the GSR already had loud creaks from the dash and harsh road noise (probably from the tires). |
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