Oz-rally brand new - first step to best performance, keep warranty

[ozlancernut]

Hi guys.

I just bought brand new OZ-RALLY, What should I do to improve car performance and still be eligible to use manufactured warranty?

[HobieKopek]

First off you warranty is federally protected. sema.org has all sorts of information on it if you're willing to take the time to look. Your dealer can refuse to work on any aftermarket part, but they are legally responsible for fixing any OEM part so long as your mod does not cause it. i.e. turboing your car will not cause your paint to chip and a body kit will not cause your car to stall. I'd suggest doing a bit of reading on your rights, but there are mods most dealerships won't look twice at if you're squeamish.

The basic beginning mods are intake, exhaust and possibly header. Don't expect any huge increases in performance, but you'll feel a bit of a change with each mod. The most important thing to do though (in my eyes) is to make a plan before you buy anything. Don't waste time dicking around buying things when you could get straight to the point if you catch my drift. Don't buy a header if you plan on turbocharging because it's most likely going to have to go. The same goes for a CAI. Knowing what parts are available, will be available, what you want to do to the car and how much money you're willing to spend will make the process a lot easier for you. Good luck and congrats on the ride.

[ozlancernut]

Hi HobieKopek.

Thanks for quick replay. I make pretty good list of changes, desirable most of them. I want to start from AI filter, will see what to do later. Do you have any idea how to do it properly?

[HobieKopek]

I think you'd find it a lot more beneficial to remove the stock air box and put a short ram intake in its place. There are several reputable companies making them and also dozens who are less so. Basically you can DIY if you buy a MAS adapter plate and a matching cone filter of your choice. Honestly it's the cheapest route and the difference in gains will be minimal.

[ozlancernut]

Changed engine oil to syntetic, also tried to change transmition oil to syntetic in dealership's garage. After that my shifting became tight compare to what it was before. I complained, they changed oil back to manufacture's 75W85, Now I still have tight shifting, when car is cold. We have -20C now in Toronto. Is it supposed to be that way? tight - when car is cold? I don't really know.

[phatdex]

Can someone please fill me in on what an OZ RALLY is?
Pics, specs etc?

[ozlancernut]

Hi phatdex,

OZ-RALLY is nice looking model of Mitsubishi lancer with some suspension improvement. It has all body spoilers and real spoiler, 15" OZ rims, air condition, power windows and power lock, two air bags and it looks like modified import car. Now if you take yellow color, add tinted windows, and drive in a city like Toronto, you will see how another driver twists neck, following you.

It has nice smooth short shifting and beautiful engine sound on 4000 rpm. People says it has not enough power( only 120HP, 130T ), but it is more than enough for street, and if you would like to go to racing track, you definitely have to modify this car, but no other car for this money can go to track strait ahead.

So I can recommend OZ to every one with young sporty spirit, and limited budget. If your budget is not limited - wait for lancer evolution.

[Trijenji]

I am sorry but the OZ Rally is absolute garbage. It is an embarrasment to the Lancer Evolution and Ralliart. Sure, if you want a nice family car to get groceries or whatever, it's not so bad. But performance wise, it is a 120 hp piece of shit. I know Civic EX's and Cavaliers that will shit on it.

You should have waited for an Evoluton, or even better, a WRX STi which will have 30 more hp and a larger engine.

[ozlancernut]

Hey Trijenji, you forgot Ferrari in your wish list! Why not Spider? This car will shit on any cavalier, wrx, civicex or other lovely biuty. Think big!

[Trijenji]

Originally posted by ozlancernut
Hey Trijenji, you forgot Ferrari in your wish list! Why not Spider? This car will shit on any cavalier, wrx, civicex or other lovely biuty. Think big!

I'm sorry but your car doesn't even have the potential to shit on any of those cars!

The OZ Rally Lancer does 0-60 in 9.1 seconds, and the quarter mile in 17+ seconds. That is pathetically slow.

A sock WRX does 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, and the quarter mile in 14.4 seconds.

Sorry but you have to admit, you got ripped off...for a piece of shit. Your car gives OZ Wheels a bad name. Get a real car loser. Even an Eclipse would have been a better choice, only God knows why you didn't get one.

[ozlancernut]

Trijenji, you must have so mach fun to seek all those forums, where car owners like me helps each other with ideas how to enjoy their cars, this is "Lancer forum", and if you have WRX - why don't you go selebrate your lacky buy with your own friends - WRX owners? Why you compare your twise a price car with mine? And who the hell are you to call me looser? That is exactly the point - you just don't have enough fun with your WRX, do you? But try to find good forum where WRX lovers are. It will help you to find yourself, it will inspire you, it will give you another look on your car, WRX is great car for rally, chiks don't like this car, but you can close your eyes on it and go 5.7 every f.. day.

[Twist]

Originally posted by Trijenji
I am sorry but the OZ Rally is absolute garbage. It is an embarrasment to the Lancer Evolution and Ralliart. Sure, if you want a nice family car to get groceries or whatever, it's not so bad. But performance wise, it is a 120 hp piece of shit. I know Civic EX's and Cavaliers that will shit on it.

The non-Evolution Lancer currently in America is not designed to be the be-all end-all performance car. And it's not something cooked up specifically for the US market. It's a car that's in Japan as well. It's called the Lancer Cedia. Here's a link to the Japanese Mitsubishi website for the Cedia. Mitsubishi classifies the Cedia like this: FOR LIFE - Passenger Cars. In the same category as Civic's and Cavalier's. The Lancer Evolution is classifed like this: FOR PLEASURE - High Performance Cars. Hope that helps clarify some things.

That said, the car can be lots of fun and a great drive. You have a solid base and can build it up. Try to keep things balanced. Don't beef up the engine and forget about the handling (suspension and the like). Intake and exhaust are solid upgrades.

DEFINITELY read the warranties and small print on EVERY product you buy. To show you why: Subaru's official performance parts void warranties. Mitsubishi in Europe has said that if any of their products are driven on a circuit, the manufacturer warranty will be invalid. [source = EVO magazine]. I'm not sure if that applies to America or Japan. Have fun with your car and be careful!

[ozlancernut]

Hi Twist,

I agree - this is nice looking family car, and from my 20 years of driving expirience, I can say - it is fun to drive. I am not sure about solid base for upgrates, because I did not find any upgrated lancer OZ-Rally, except of RRM car, and I doubt that upgrates can improve performance to be close to Evolution and still give run for money, but I would like to have 14 second car for another 4k. Warranty would be voided on turbo. The only convinience performance parts are Air Intake system and exhaust. But what about suspension? I know I can change springs, shocks, bushlings, add antiroll bars and change rims/tires legaly, and still have warranty on all other parts, I spoke with dealer, he can do any of this changes in his garage. But you said to forget about handling, why? Do you think it is impossible to get really good hanling on OZ? Or it is just question of how much money to spend.

[Twist]

Sorry, I meant this:

Don't beef up the engine and DON'T forget about the handling (suspension and the like).

As in work on everything evenly.

I agree that you probably can't make the car compete with the Evolution, but that doesn't mean it can't be a lot of fun. I've seen lots of highly tuned Lancer Cedia's, many putting up respectable times. Just have fun with your car, that's what it's for!

[Trijenji]

Originally posted by ozlancernut
Why you compare your twise a price car with mine?

Wrong buddy. Brand new WRX will cost around $22k, and a Lancer OZ Rally is around $17k. That's not twice the price guy, someone obviously failed math in school...

And Twist, I see you own an Impreza. Do you own an RS or WRX? What mods have you done to your car so far?