Great write-up Ike. You should go test drive a new STI now while the experience is fresh in your mind.

BTW...did the steering rack still feel as quick your VIII?

 

Great write up Ike.

After test driving it, would you say that the "nimbleness" of the evoX is a result of a better weight distribution than the previous iterations of the evolution? If I am not mistaken, the X is closer to a 50/50 weight distribution while the previous ones were closer to a 60/40.

 

It was a Mitsubishi/Subaru dealer. They would have let me test drive both if I had really wanted to. I gave the new STI a good looking over and sat in it for a while. Just sitting in the STI made me realize that the Evo was the one for me of the two. The pedal placement didn't feel right, the seats paled in comparison, and I felt very out of place. The fit and finish also didn't seem up to par with the X. I will drive one eventually, but it was sitting right there and I didn't feel the need to spend another 30 min. to do so. Being a Suby fan I think that speaks volumes.

The rack and ratio felt very close. The turning radius still sucks but the on the road feel is quick and the reaction to input is immediate.

 

I consider the 8 and 9 nimble cars and I wouldn't say the 10 is better or worse in comparison. The biggest difference is the previous models can feel unsettled on pavement that's bumpy, while the new one soaks up the bumps better and inspires a little more confidence when things get rough. The salesman that was with me was trying to find a parking lot where I could really test the handling limits but every one we turned into was more an icerink than a parking lot. Just driving aggressively around town you're not going to be able to tell the X's handling limits are a little higher than the 8 and 9. I would attribute those higher limits to the electronic wizardry rather than any weight distribution changes.

On the way home I picked up the new R&T and the handling numbers are quite remarkable for the X. They were damn impressive on the previous car but the X is certainly on a slightly higher level. Compared to other road tests here's how it stacks up in the slalom... Pretty damn impressive!

Audi R8 71.1
Bugatti Veyron 68.0
Audi RS4 68.9
350Z 69.4
Ford GT 69.5
SLR McLaren 69.6
New STI 69.8
Saleen 69.9
Muchielago Roadster 70.5
CLK63 Black 70.6
Cayman S 70.6
911 Turbo 70.7
Carrera GT 71.1
Vette Z06 71.2
599 GTB 71.2
Lexus IS F 71.2
Gallardo Superleggera 71.3
new M3 71.4
Carrera 4S 71.5
S2000CR 71.7
Evo X 71.7
F430 71.9
Enzo 73.0
911 GT3 RS 73.2

 

Isn't it funny how the Evo X looks more like a Skyline GT-R than the actual GT-R does? Case in point:

 

wow that body kit looks amazing. but yeah you are right. it does look like the old gtr

 

Doesn't look anything like a Skyline IMO, and if anything that old kit makes it look a little Evo 6ish to me.

 

Here's what I'm getting at... I think there's more than a passing resemblance here, no?

 

It looks like an RX-8.

 

I didn't think the X was available for sale yet. You can't even configure one on Mitsu's website. I'll have to go have a look then.

 

i think they are far and few between. but i do believe they are available.

 

I would suspect that you may well be right. It seems as though the new engine in the Evo X is responding well to simple mods. It may not be able to handle 900hp, but you may get 100 more hp fairly easily.

Speaking of which, what mods do you have on your Evo? I recall you saying that you were around 300whp. How does that work the warranty?

 

Did a search on the nearest 5 dealers and found one with a GSR asking over 40k. Odd that you can buy the car but can't do a configuraton on the website. If it's a live model it shouldn't give you the impression it's coming soon. If I didn't know much about it I'd think it would be coming at the end of this year by the text on Mitsu's site.

 

You can spec out or configure an 08 Lancer Evo GSR or MR on the Canadian Mitsu website. http://www.mitsubishi-motors.ca

 

For power mods all I really have is a TBE, a custom tune by AMS, and a lightened flywheel and intake (if you want to consider those power mods).

 

Thanks. Not a bad configurator too. Guess they will get around to it sometime for the US.

Once they have been out for a while I'll have to take one for a spin.