Test drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII 2003 - 2005 sedan

On the cosmodrome

Behind a few more months of life of editorial Toyota-Corollah and Mitsubishi-Lenser. Destronized readers rush - when will there be new publications? On the odometers of the Japanese, a little over 30,000 km, the last ones have just been made, and we, leaning over the atlas of roads, are discussing where to droite the skis.
The fact that we are going to the north is decided. But in what direction? And then an unusual invitation comes to the editor: to visit the Plesetsk cosmodrome, they say, get to know each other, see how we live. And what? Lempting! Although there are doubts, of course. What will you see there? A small town, taiga, scattered for many kilometers Starting platforms and simple soldier’s life. Nevertheless, curiosity overpowers. It was decided: on the eve of the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland, we are going to get acquainted with the country's main space harbor. The route is not complicated: from the Arkhangelsk highway behind Velsky it is necessary to turn on the nyandom and Kargopol, and then according to the pointer Plesetsk 176 km. Locals, however, warn of a naughty grader in the final part of the path, but in winter it should be quite suitable for delicate foreign cars. Well, let's see, such surprises are not the first to us.
But before the start, a small exam provided by the editorial test program.
 
In the freezer
Yes, yes, do not be surprised. North North, but thirty -degree frost is a rarity even there. Since weather forecasters do not promise in the planned deadlines, we drive cars into the Aeroclimatic camera of Cairo AMO ZIL already familiar to readers.
And now a couple hung with thermocaras blows an ice breeze. On the monitor screen, the columns of the numbers: air temperature, antifreeze, oils in engines and electrolyte in batteries. The first stage is minus 25s. I feel that I am worried, although the machine is checked. Yes, and the whole colleague got out - on the last, the candles on Toyota did not change, they say, they are efficient.
The starter of the Corolla cheerfully shuffled: a second, two, three, finally, the first flashes and on the fifth motor confidently earned. Now the turn of Lancer. The starter somehow lazily frightens the flywheel, but the motor responds almost instantly.
Before the next experiment is a small meeting. The fact is that the Corolla has a SAE 5W40 motor oil, and in Lanser - 0W40. And this, of course, will affect the starting properties of cars. We decide to freeze Toyota to -28C, Mitsubishi misses this point, risking immediately going on -30s.
For another day, the Corolla tests this torture by the Corolla as a critical one. The motor still started up, but the starter worked for 9 seconds, and the voltage in the on -board network at the time of starting fell to 8.7 V. Of course, you can experiment further, but it is advisable to replace oil and candles. Then the engine is likely to overcome the 30-degree line. Our test program is not provided for, because the machine should be operated on what the official dealer offers.
Mitsubishi remains alone. And here is the long -awaited minus 30s. We feel that the starter is difficult to incredibly. A second passes, the third, fifth well! The first outbreaks appeared on the seventh, and finally rumbled on the tenth motor. Victory?! It is extracted from the last forces: a voltage of 7.8 V, and the engine speed at the time of starting only 90, instead of the desired 100-130. And then the ubiquitous photographer pays attention to the puddle of oil, which suddenly appeared under the engine. What's this? A runaway examination showed - the oil filter flowed. Where exactly, it is not clear, so we go to the nearest branded service. There, according to the warranty, they change the details that gave the slack. Let's hit the road!
 
Space forces
Behind more than a thousand kilometers, of which half are ice polished to a mirror shine, sprinkled with sand in places. The cars withstood them, although they were a little and patted the hundred -kilometer grader near Plesetsk. Here, the driver of Lancer again had to dodge the pardon, knocking down the pace specified by the king. Nevertheless, we get without loss and, especially important, on time. Despite the frost and a piercing breeze, they are waiting for us. It turns out that Plesetsk is not the main thing, the territory of the cosmodrome begins further, after a strict gearbox and steles with an ingenuous name peaceful. Light, clean, comfortable. People who surrounded cars look with genuine interest. And questions, questions, questions. After a few minutes of road fatigue, as it had not, communication turned out to be so interesting.
The next day, their turn is to share the secrets of the profession, and we, having opened their mouths, delightedly shake our heads at the sight of the scale of the created. They thought something - poked a finger into the forest, they say, from here we conquer the cosmos. In fact, everything turned out to be much more serious, with an unexpected scope and developed infrastructure. We saw how enthusiastic people do difficult, painstaking, but very interesting work. Any story begins with the words: what is wonderful, modern, huge. I did not want to leave, this town turned out to be so hospitable.
But the ribbon of the road is spinning in the opposite direction, it is time about cars.
 
Thirty - not age
But without losses, we do not do. Toyota Corolla, upon returning from Yekaterinburg (2004, No. 9), did not please impeccable for long. Some time ago, a clanging sound was heard in the front suspension. At first they sinned on the elastic bands of the stabilizer, but the knock progressed. I had to go to diagnostics. The left shock absorber rack at 70% lost damping abilities. On the Toyota service, the diagnosis did not surprise anyone. A similar defect is found. The rack was changed under warranty; The rest is without comments.
Mitsubishi Lancer overcame this line according to the standard scheme: filters, butter and mandatory replacement of brake fluid. Additionally, the suspensions, the angles of the installation of the wheels and the engine system on the motor tester were checked. The last procedure was considered necessary before the freezer - you never know what.
In addition to the spark plugs, everything turned out to be efficient. Even shock absorbers, which, according to the sensations, have already partially grunting the former elasticity, demonstrated 62-64% of the residual energy intensity of the front and 63-67% in the back. So Lancer also holds well.
Interesting, but at first glance this Japanese is more expensive in maintenance. However, a scrupulous calculation of costs for that shows: as if having conspired, cars spend the editorial money of the nostril in the nostril, not allowing them to be allocated.
But for the average consumption of Corolla fuel, a small, but still a leader. In our winter mileage, she ate 7.8 l/100 km against Lanceric 8.0 l/100 km.
So, the friendly visit of the Japanese on the cosmodrome is successfully completed. Cars do not deliver special troubles. So it would be further!
Happy Defender of the Fatherland Day, dear friends!
 
Toyota Corolla
Manufacturer: Toyota, Turkey
Year of release: 2003
In operation at the wheel: since March 2004
Mileage at the time of the report: 35 thousand km
Previous publications in the journal: 2004, No. 5, 6, 9
 
Mitsubishi Lancer
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi, Japan
Year of release: 2003
In operation at the wheel: since March 2004
Mileage at the time of the report: 33 thousand km
Previous publications in the journal: 2004, No. 5, 6, 9
  
 
 
Authors: Sergey Voskresensky, Anatoly Karpenkov. Photo: Konstantin Yakubov
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"