as for my opinion, what i look for in a car are quality brakes. In local manufactured cars, u get Honda's brakes as the leader in its class whereas among the imported makes i.e. Chevy, Nissan, Mitsu...i would say either Nissan which i would rule out because of the price factor and Optra, whose brakes are also good. The difference between 4 discs and 2 discs-drums(what you get in lancer) is a lot plus the drive is great.
I myself hv a exi p/t, and the brakes are awesome, whereas when i test drove the 1.6 a/t lancer, the brakes were below the mark of my car. Do go it a thought.