any new car advice Options

[Taxiwardance]

Need some advice or just opinions on buying a new car. I’m getting ready at the end of this month to buy a new car but every car I have ever bought has been outright. Right now I’m looking at a Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart 5 speed with “sun and sound” package right on the 20k mark. What other models should I be looking at? 16K is around where i need to be. A couple of the main reasons I’m looking at Mitsubishi is because of the 10yr 100k miles warranty, and because of the rebates and employee discount (know a guy who already has me set up) so after 2k off from rebate and about 2k from Emp discount It will be around 16,000.00. I take it there’s no bargaining room when using an employee Discount hu? Also what should I look out for and check out before I buy? Just looking for some opinions on anyone who has owned or knows someone with a lancer or suggestions on other cars I should be looking at.

P.S. Insurance is a big deal so that kind of pushes a few of the cars I would like out of my range.
Thanks

[Taxiwardance]

I took a few cars out for a test drive today.

First up Lancer O-Z Rally 5 speed. the car is nice and solid, feels good in the turns, and comfortable interior. I kind of like the exterior would probably grow on me. The clutch feels like I could blow on the pedal and it would go to the floor, maybe this is a good thing but daily driving a 2600 makes the really annoying to me. Also clutch engages almost at the very top of travel as to where I’m used to engaging about 1/3 to ½ way up. Acceleration really sucks but that can be expected for a 120hp 4cyl. All in all not to bad but not worth 17,000k

2nd ride Lancer Ralliart 5 speed. This car felt a lot better sitting in the driver seat. I like the interior a little better. The car I drove had a rattle to the exhaust and a squeaky suspension, but you could tell a difference coming off of route 6 in the off ramp in the suspension and feel. Top end starts to pick up and gets moving a little faster than the 2.0 non MIVEC. Besides that pretty much the same. Clutch feels a little heaver not much. And for 162hp not to bad. Still not to sure though

They wouldn’t let me take the EVO!!!!!!

3rd ride Neon SXT. Not sure why I even bothered. For a neon its more than I expected but I felt peoples eyes staring at me and laughing while I was driving. Not a chance. I did drive the srt4 last year and really liked it. I may try and see if there’s any way I can work that car into this years plans. Looks are a little better than a neon but its roots are undeniable.

4th ride 04 Impala LS. don’t like the feel in the turns it feels a lot bigger than it really is. Not to bad for pickup. But everyone on the planet owns 2 of these things. Kind of like it more than I thought I would though. Ran out of time for rides after this one.

This week I’m still going to take out a 2.5 RS, and WRX, cobalt, and cobalt SS, Scion Tc, and a Jeep Liberty. And just for fun I’m going to try and get my hands on a new Mustang GT, GTO, and I doubt I have any chance of someone letting me behind the wheel of a new M3 but I will give it a shot.