I believe the full name is (takes deep breath):
Mitusbishi Lancer Evolution IX MR

In my continuing quest to find a car that I can take to the track AND drive every day, I stopped by a Mitsu dealer to check out Evo's. They had four on the lot, one of which was a beautiful platinum-colored MR. Dangit, why couldn't it have been yellow or something so I wouldn't be tempted to buy it?

Start talking to a salesguy who was exceptionally knowledgeable about the car and we took it for a spin.

Now, let me clarify: I showed up in a ~400hp corvette and this was really my first experience with a turbocharged car. Prior to this, the only other turbo car I've driven was a WRX, but I never got on it.

The salesguy pull the car out onto the street and lays into it. My first thought: GD'ed this thing takes off. We were going nearly 100 MPH down the street in no time flat.



He finally pulls off and we swap places. My first impression is that the seats rock- a little narrow across the shoulders for me (6', 170 lbs), but very supportive. Clutch is nice and light and all the pedals seem to fit my feet nicely. Glance up into the rearview to adjust it and I'm greeted by a wing.

Grrrr... Strike one- that thing definately gets in the way.

Pull out onto the road and start to figure out the clutch... Suspension feels harder than my Z06 + Koni equipped C5. That's not so great- I was hoping for a little more comfort. It's pretty harsh. Strike two.
Rolling along at half throttle in first gear, getting myself settled when the tach clears about 3500 rpm and the car surges forward.



Oh, fook me! That IS an odd sensation!

Of course, after my initial suprise, I realize I have this huge grin on my face.

Screw it- I stand on it.....

And wait....

Nothing....

Until it hits 3500 rpm or so.... and the steering gets light and the car explodes forward like it was catapulted off an aircraft carrier.



Grab second gear, the car shudders a bit as I figure out how hard I can drop the clutch, and explodes forward once again.

Snick third and let off the gas. Grab fourth and cruise a bit.

Come up to a stoplight to get onto the freeway and I make the right turn at about 20 MPH. Mash the gas.

Nada. It absolutely falls on its face.

Downshift a gear as I relaize the car will NEVER accelerate in this gear. Mash the gas and it still ain't going anywhere. Down another gear. Floor it.

Catapult city. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Now, I find myself frustrated with the lack of low-end power until I look into the rearview mirror.

I'm grinning like the Joker.

Chit.

I need to get out of this car. Now. Before I buy it.

Back onto the brakes and they're rock solid. But the car ain't stopping. The pedal is firm, but the pads just don't have much bite at all. That's really odd, considering the Brembo brakes and all...

We finally get back to the dealer and run some numbers... Dang, this puppy ain't cheap. $36.9 I beleive is the sticker which comes out to nearly $760 a month. Call the insurance company- tack on another $122 a month for the insurance. More than a brand new C6.

I took a brochure and a card, but I don't think I'm going to buy it... Just too expensive and too many "quirks" that I don't know that I like. Off to test drive a GTO and see if N/A really is my destiny.

 

Nice write up...i like the EVO from a performance standpoint but not something I'd want to live with as my daily driver especially considering the price.

 

i work at a local mitsy dealer, in fact the number 1 evo dealer in the the country. we have 13-14 new evos on our lot. they are a awesome car! very nice review. it would be hard for a vette owner to get used to 2.0 inline 4 low end, but when boost hits, its addictive! its a great all around car, for fun and the family. much better than a STI!!!

 

i drove a friends in a snow storm and goosed the gas in 1st at about 10mph the damn thing was accelerating faster than my s2k could on dry pavement. can't beat that damn awd.

 

Are they selling for sticker or are there discounts available?

 

i can get you a deal! hahahaha! we have a used evo8 on the lot now....its bad. 330awhp, evo7 tailights, vinshu FMIC, all the goodies. they want like 24k for it.....i am tempted!

 

Are you planning on tracking this car a lot or a little? I wouldn't recommend teh GTO for that, but your mileage may vary. I think the GTO is a pretty cool car, but the weight would worry me about being a track car. I can imagine that getting it to handle as well as car like the evo or S2000 would be hard if not impossible. Also, I can imagine it is very hard on brakes: big HP and lots of weight. But, I personally don't have much experience driving the GTO on a track.

 

The weight is definately a concern for the GTO, but I don't know that 10% more weight than an MR is going to be a dealbreaker. The GTO will need some suspension work and probably brake work, but I've spoken with many people who attest that it's a better platform than the Gen-4 F-bodies and there are TONS of those out racing...
At this point, I don't have too many options. There aren't many cars that can carry four people but are capable on the track. The EVO/STI and the GTO/Mustang are the prime candidates....

 

nice write up, always wanted to go for a test drive in one!

 

I did go out for a 30 minute hot lap session at MSR riding shotgun in a modded Evo 8. That thing really is a track monster. With a few small mods, it's genuinely fast (110+mph trap speed). You'll be tinkering with it, like you'll need a new clutch with higher power levels, but it really is an awesome platform.

Add in the 4 door aspect and I would choose it over a GTO, as much as I like that beautiful LS2 and great sound out of the GTO pipes.

Definitely a car you could drive daily and stay out of boost and just putz around, but when on the track or wanting to have some fun spool it above 3,500rpm and it's party time.

Another friend had an '03 Evo that he sold for a C6 after putting a ton of mods on it, it was running about a car slower than my 115+mph C5 on the highway from a 40 punch to 115mph or so. It sounded awesome with the cat-back, blow-off valve, etc.