Lancer is safe on Indian roads. Review on Mitsubishi Lancer SLX

24-5-05

I had a Mitsubishi Lancer till a fortnight ago.

For nearly three years I drove it.

I had three accidents on the highway in the three year period.

The vehicle protected me and all its occupants. Not even a scratch to the occupants when a mini bus rammed into the left side of the car during Sep.2001.

The first accident was during Sep.2001. I was driving the vehicle at 100 kmph on the NH near Madurai (Tamilnadu). The NH was empty except a stationary mini bus that was parked outside the berm of the road. When I was at 40 feet behind the bus driving at 100 kmph, the bus driver took an L turn to proceed toward a branch road. There was no time even for pressing the horn. I continued to accelerate and got hit by the bus in the front and all the left portion of the car. After getting the hit I managed to halt the car within the next 30 feet. It was a miracle that neither of the occupants was injured. Both the left side doors were gone and replaced. The front wind screen and both window glasses got broken. A hefty bill came. But then the occupants were saved. We managed to drive back the Vehicle to Chennai!

But for the fantastic maneuverability (a beauty of power steering) this could have resulted in a fatal accident.

The second one was last November when a motor cyclist with a pillion rider rammed head on into the car as he was not able to control his motorcycle. This happened on an NH only. It was a head on collision. The pillion rider flew and fell on the windscreen. The windscreen caved in like a bucket. My wife who was sitting in the front seat, my mother in law and the two children escaped unhurt. The two motor cyclist got only a few bruises. The blunt shape of Lancer protected them fully. Judging by the impact I thought the two riders would perish, but a miracle again they both stood up and walked away!

The third one happened on April 10th this year when I was proceeding to Krishnagiri on an official tour. The NH guys have constructed toll plaza ramps without any building nearby or warning or lighting or reflector assistance. It was raining and there was a blaring oncoming high beam light. I had no chance. The vehicle ran over the one foot tall ramp at 90 kmph! Just a jerk was felt. Neither my wife nor my daughter was on seat belt support. But they did not bang at anything. The vehicle’s underbelly got twisted (driving shaft etc). It had to be towed to Chennai.

The spare part price had ensured that I had to sell it for scrap though the rest of the vehicle remained intact.

Lancer is a safe vehicle on Indian roads. I intend to buy Lancer again!