I (finaly) Drove an EVO

"404usernotfound" (404usernotfound)
07/21/2014 at 21:11 • Filed to: evo x, mitsubishi

My process of learning how to drive manual started when I was about 16, on my dads 1993 Miata. It also stopped there, for a while, at least. He sold the car shortly after and I had only gotten a few lessons in. I still didn't really know how to drive a manual, only how to stall one.

It looked almost exatly like this, except the chrome was peeling from the wheels

My access to a car with a manual gearbox was severely limited (read nonexistent) till my brother purchased a used Posher Boxter. He was understandably reluctant, in letting me drive it, but after a fair amount nagging, he did. I was able to get to the point where I was able to drive it around pretty competently, but my hill starts still weren't perfect. He then moved out of the house, and I didn't drive anything manual for about a year. By this point my brother has also bought a brand new Evo X. I SOOOO wanted to drive that car.

Look at it, It's mocking me.

I got my chance a few months ago, but after stalling it out a few times in a row, my drive was cut to just up and down the neighborhood. I didn't get much out of that drive other than 1. Its fast (in 1st gear) and 2. The seats are pretty awesome. Today though. I finally got to drive it for real. I now know the reason people worship this car.

These seats were not built for fat people.

It actually surprised me about how good it was, and I was expecting it to be good. The seats (as mentioned above) were actually perfect for my thin frame. Being as thin as I am, most seats are just to big. The seats in my I35 for example, seem like they were made to fit someone more than twice my size. Now on to the steering and handling. Everything is just super tight, it responds to even the slightest inputs. There is absolutely no body roll either. I'm just not used to inputs that direct. With my Infiniti, vigorously turning the wheel results in as much lean as as it does actual steering.

And the BOOST. With my Infiniti, there is a lag between hitting the gas and actual going (usually not that quickly). Most of that is probably due to the 4 speed slushbox. In the Evo, you hit the gas and you go, and a second after that you GO . Boy, I love boost. (and a manual transmission) I learned to love it in my old Volvo s40, and this drive today has just reinforced that a thousand times.

Mitsubishi has just announced that they will only be building these cars for another year. Buy one, lease one, or steal one borrow one, before they are all taken, beaten up, modified, or crashed. Because you don't want to miss your chance to drive one of these things.

DISCUSSION (8)

OPPOsaurus WRX > 404usernotfound
07/21/2014 at 21:21

Is be interested to see how it compares to a WRX. Bit just 0-60 but comfort and all that. I was shocked at how comfortablethe WRX seats are. I was fine on a hire drive even with my messed up back.

WRXforScience > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/21/2014 at 21:44

Depends on the WRX, the Evo has a $10k premium over a WRX (really you should compare it with the STi). In a straight line without instruments or a side by side drag, there is almost no difference. A WRX with a down pipe and a time (referred to as stage 2) will keep up or outrun both in a drag race.

The Evo has an excellent awd system that can really disguise a driver's shortcomings (seriously it is like magic) the STi uses mechanical differentials to accomplish the same, but the open diff's in the WRX require more work to keep up.

The Evo X hasn't changed since 2008, so there isn't too much need to get a 2014 (except all the abuse it will have suffered, so just make sure the clutch is still working out had been recently replaced).

f86sabre > 404usernotfound
07/21/2014 at 22:01

The seats in my VIII are one of my favorite bits. Very nice over a long run. We took it on the Power Tour and the family spent 6-8 hours a day riding in it, for four days, with no complaints.

Glad to hear you liked it. I've been in love with mine since 2003. 150k miles on it now and it still looks and runs great. What is amazing is how easy it makes things. I get into other cars and wonder why people would want to drive cars that would you work so hard to do things. Want to change lanes? Just think about it and it happens. Want to pass? Ok, done.

OPPOsaurus WRX > WRXforScience
07/22/2014 at 08:11

I didn't expect a response nearly as thorough as that. I wish I could have grabbed an STI but maybe next time. +10k was too much. Given your name I was going to say you also have a WRX but you dont drive manual.....?

404usernotfound > WRXforScience
07/22/2014 at 09:17

I can say that it is very easy to get this car up to speeds that endanger your liscence and your freedom. But of course I would never do that.

WRXforScience > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/22/2014 at 10:53

I drive a 2010 WRX (they only come with a manual). I autocross mine in the STU class with both Evos and STis, so I am familiar with all three (I've driven and/or instructed nearly all the generations of both).

This is my WRX.

OPPOsaurus WRX > WRXforScience
07/22/2014 at 10:59

O nice. I want to autocross. How much wear does it put on the car? I dont really have it in the budget to be fixing and replacing stuff so I can;t do it if i'll need a new set of tires after each race.

WRXforScience > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/22/2014 at 11:17

Autocross isn't too hard on the car, the main west items are tires but most racers only use one set per season.

Typically the costs look like this: entrance fee $30-$45 per event, gas $10-$50 (depending on how far away the event is), tires $10-$80 of wear per event (this can vary greatly depending on the car and tires, I did almost 30 events on my last set of $600 tires). I average around $100 per event including all my expenses and consumables and I am probably close to the median cost.