Here's a quick review. I'll start by saying that in person the EVO looks much better. I have to agree that the pictures I've seen does not do it justice.

Handling: Wow. This thing has 0 body roll. I just kept going faster and faster into a corner and there was no limit. The tires are awesome. I used to have a Prelude and this thing runs circles around it. I would definately agree with the 0.97g I been reading in the mags.

Brakes: The brakes were not very good but I've heard that they need a 200 mile break in. I believe it, because big brembo brakes like it has should break much better. It braked like my Chevy Z71 4x4.

Acceleration: Wow! this thing is crazy fast. The turbo spools really quick. The sales guy had me keep it under 5k (redline is 7k) but from 3k-5k the acceleration is amazing. I would put it on par with a Pontiac TransAm LS1. I've read on evolutionm.net that above 5k the acceleration drops off like the 350z but I can't comment on that. On the highway in 5th it would go from 60-80 as fast as my Prelude would go from 20-40. It was fast and smooth and you really didn't realize how fast you were going. We got it up to 100 and it felt like we were doing 70.

Interior: Again, I was very suprized. The interior quality was much better in person than in the pictures. The fabric on the doors was soft like suade(sp?). The seats were awesome. My wife has the Mazda 6 and the rx8 looks like it's going to get the same seats...not sure though. But the EVO's seats were much tighter than the 6's. The stereo is ok...but it's a standard size so plenty of aftermarket. I'm 6'2" 210lbs. I was able to position the drivers seat where I wanted and still have enough room in the back seat for me to sit (knees to the side of the chair) and plenty of headroom.

Shifter: It was a bit notchy. The throws were short but were not smooth. When I say smooth...I'm thinking of the BMW and VW sticks. It definately wasn't terrible though.

 

Were you friends with the dealer or something? I thought that the Evos were all spoken for already...

 

You either drove a black or yellow one, most likley a yellow one from gillman mitsu off S I-35 in austin right ? I drove the black one and the yellow one, the black one had more miles on it and the brakes worked fine. lots of lag till 3k rpm... major pain in the *** with this car is you have to give it 2 inches of throttle off the line or it will attempt to stall, once the rpm's go past 3k you better give it only 1/2 inch of throttle, because you will see redline in 1 second... The car is very quick, and handles great... it's got alot to do with the tires also... The Sti will be a better car, wont be out till julyish and expect MSRP over $31k with at least a $5k markup. And an EVO can be had for MSRP which is $29,582 + TT&L. Yes that includes the dealer installed radio, cd changer, wheel locks, pin stripe, 3M goodies, pit pass, etc... Don't be a fool and pay the markuped price which is around $38k. It's a MITSUBISHI, it's not gold.... I'll cant wait to pull up to the EVO owners in my Rx-8... sure their car is faster, but they Rx-8 is all about class.... it's styling bay-bee!

 

that's what i'm talking about:D

 

I think it is great that they finally brought the EVO to the US. The EVO has lots of things going for it. It is powerful, handles well, look "ok", and if history is any indicator, it can be tuned relatively easily for even more performance.

However, I take issue with it on certain things as well. The interior leaves a lot to be desired as does the over "fit and finish" of the car. It makes no attempt to hide the fact that it is anything but a "beefed up" economy car and I think that's what bothers me the most. Mind you, I'm not the type of person that looks to project an "image" because of the car I drive, but I do like my cars to be an expression of my passion for cars and my personality. I also like cars that offer an overall desireable package of performance, styling, a user friendly accomodating interior, and even some practicality thrown in. I think this is why the whole RX-8 concept "fits" me so well. Being a technical person by trade, I also like playing with new and different technologies which the rotary very well is for me.

IMHO the EVO has a number of merits, but it is really hard to justify the price of the car, especially with the markups that most dealers are trying to get for them right now (can you say majorly "upside down" in the car with a markup you'll never recover???) . There are two groups that are buying the EVO right now, the small but distinct "boy/girl racer" crowd that either are going into debt up to their eyeballs or getting their parents to buy one for them, and the few people that have the money to throw away on the newest toy on the block.

Bottom line IMHO the EVO is GOOD, but it's not THAT GOOD.

 

Some dealers here in south FLA. are selling the EVO for 10k over MSRP. Thats just crazy. 39k for a mitsubishi. Thats just nucking futs

 

Well I bought the EVO 8 yesterday. I came to the conclusion that this was the right car for me. I struggled with the choice of RX8 or EVO8 and decided that for me, I prefer the performance of the EVO8 over the beautiful interior of the RX8. The RX8 is so classy but for me...I'm married so I don't care about impressing other people...I want a car that's just fun. And fun for me is a crazy fast, AWD, racing springs, brembo brakes, and super sticky tires on a rally car with a helicopter wing attached (yeah the wing is huge...last night it was cracken me up to look at how big it is)

For me the RX8 has a lot of work that would need to be done to get it to the level of performance I wanted. The EV0 came stock with all of this. (better tires, performance springs, and turbo). I have not doubt that the RX-8 can be modified to be way better than the EVO. The problem I saw with that was voiding warrenties and having to do it myself.

The sell was when my wife pointed out my huge smile on the highway. This thing is just so fast it's funny. Once you hit 3500 and that turbo spools the rest of the RPMs come so quick you're almost not ready to shift. I haven't even taken it to 7k yet. It's just like EVO in playstation 2.

For those that want to see pictures here ya go:
http://community.webshots.com/user/drock512

MarkRx - I didn't have any problem with the EVO trying to stall when starting. I can't wait for the comparison of the EVO to the STi. I've heard that the Japanese spec EVO has around 320 hp but Mitsu states 278 hp because of the gentleman's aggreement there. Also I've heard an engineer in Japan said that the US engine has all the same components so that with a simple chip you can obtain that extra 50 hp.

DTECH-RX - I agree the EVO at MSRP + 5-8k mark up is not worth it. I got the EVO at sub dealer cost (fully loaded at $27000 and change). They were making the money on my trade which was a one year old Chevy Z71 4x4 that had $3600 in damage (you got to hate it when you hit a deer). Basically the deal I worked allowed me to move from the 4x4 to the EVO and my payments only went up by $40. Hell I save $20 per month in gas alone. So it was pretty easy: One side you have 4x4 with $3600 in damage and everyone and their grandma has one here in Texas or.... new EVO8 which will be much easier to sell 3-4 years down the line.

 

wow congrats =) the car looks real nice actually... got a question for you though... no boost gauge?

 

Congrats Wombat! You've got a neat little "beast" there! Hey, if it makes you smile and you enjoy it, that's all that matters.

Like I said, the EVO has a lot going for it and if you were able to get it for such a great deal considering the damage to your truck, you made out like a bandit. I'm surprised they didn't try and price gouge you on the EVO, but fortunately there are some reasonable dealers out there. We don't have much of a deer problem down here in South Florida (actually we have NO deer problem LOL), but I can imagine what your truck looks like after making some venison!

Good luck with the EVO and enjoy!

 

Yeah, no boost gauge. Don't know why...I guess it's just too easy to feel when you've got full boost.

I guess the reason I didn't get gouged was I was very willing to walk. The truck was covered under my insurance, so it was just a matter of me paying the deductable to get it fixed.

 

AbusiveWombat: What factors made you decide against the STi? From everything I've heard it's a better car than the Evo8.

 

Excellent car at an excellent price - if it fits your wallet and puts that big a smile on your face then its the right thing to do. Your pics make the car look a lot better than most press photos I've seen IMO - suitably menacing. Congrats.

 

Wow man, congrats... I really like the front of the Evo. Looks to be alot of fun to drive. I hope you have tons of fun with it but be careful and remember: "With great power comes great responsibility."

LOL...

 

Not trying to start a flame here, but.....

1) Is Mazda a better car company than Mistubishi?
They seem to be similar in terms of quality, service, owners satisfaction and reliability. Mitsubishi and Mazda are equals, not better or worse.

2) Is the RX-8 more classy than the Evo8?
I am warming up to the styling of the new Evo. I don't know about those Altezza tail lights, but I think the front bumper is much better looking than the Evo7. The Evo8 front end looks like a Orca whale, aggressive yet smooth. The Evo is not like a luxury car, but for a hardcore performance hot rod, the Evo8 looks very good. Compared to the RX-8, the Evo is a car that looks slower than its actual performance. That is a good thing. :D

 

I'll keep that in mind next time i pull beside a 53 beetle... he could have a 427 back there. :p The Rx-8 isn't for everyone, but it's practical for me. It will be a sharp looking daily driven car that is quick enough to get me in and out of traffic. If i want serious speed, i'll take out the big block. Sure your car is fast from 0-60 but what do you think you can do from 60-120?

 

*Tim Allen-esque grunting sounds*

wow, that is one BAD *** car in black... everything i said about the front of that car, i take back. it's really really hot.
...the *** however could use some work

 

I posted more pics:
- intercooler spay button
- headlight adjuster
- pictures of the stick
- backseat
- rear


Ok now that I've been driving the car. The interior feel is like the "molded leather" (I think that's the term) of the Honda Prelude or Mazda 6. Very nice....much better than the pictures I first saw in the mags. Before I sat in it, I too thought that the interior was very cheap. It just has a basic dash layout but not cheap materials.

This car is crazy fast. I can't say it enough. Ride quality is very stiff. If you've ever ridden in a car with performance springs, it's the same feel. Very tight.

The grip in the corners is amazing. Thanks to the stiff springs and stiff chasis. I still haven't found the limits. I'll wait until the first autocross.

Ok here are my reasons for not waiting for the STi:
1.) cost. I was able to get the EVO for $27xxx (don't even expect $27xxx...more likely is $30217 which is MSRP). The STi is closer to $32000. Plus, no way could I have turned in a truck and walked away with the STi with payments close to the same.

2.) I loved the aggressive look. Not sure if I like the look of the STi...I wasn't sure about the EVO until I saw it in person. I read a review about the US STi and the reviewer said the hood scoop is so large that it's easy to run over curbs because you don't see them. Also, some info leaked that the STi is faster but the EVO handles better. On a track the EVO wins. Not sure if that is true but the article comes out next month according to the message. I read it over at http://www.evolutionm.net.

3.) This car is plenty fast...the STi is faster but I don't really care. This is the first car that out of the box doesn't need anything (IMHO). And with a chip can be as fast as the STi. I have friends with the old eclipse that got into the 12s 1/4 mile, and this engine has the same block but better valves and other stuff (not familiar with all the differences)

It has all the cool aftermarket goodies:
- turbo with huge front mount intercooler
- intercooler sprayer
- headlight height adjuster...not that useful but a cool toy anyways
- momo steering wheel
- recaro seats
- performance exhaust
- performance springs
- super grippy tires
- light weight rims that fill up the wheel wells. No big gaps here.
- brembo brakes (4 piston up front, single piston rear)


Skyline Maniac -
I think my one hesitation with the EVO is the fact that it's built by Mitsubishi. Mazda is definitely better at making a quality car. I'll have to see how the EVO turns out. Right now it's great and the build quality looks much better than the old turbo eclipse. My friends that had the old eclipse never had drivetrain problems...they were just cosmetic. A fog light would fall out, the passenger seat wouldn't lock into place after being folded forward to put something in the backseat. But my first impression is that this car has much better quality throughout. The materials are a much better grade...not that cheap hard plastic like the current mustangs (no offense to mustang owners). One thing I did notice is that in the latest consumer reports the new eclipse's are rated pretty well along with the lancer. So that gave me some comfort.

The RX8 is much classier than the EVO. If you're looking for a classy fun to drive car then look at the 350z, G35, and RX8. If you're looking for a street racecar then consider the STi and the EVO. No question about it...this is not a plush interior and it's not elegant from the outside. It's very aggressive and the interior is very basic but the performance is at the highest level. Not many cars can do a 4.9 0-60mph.

Also, not many people think it's as fast as it is. My neighbor asked me which was faster, my wife's Mazda 6 or the EVO. When I told him that the EVO can do 4.9 0-60 his jaw dropped. Someone referred to top end power. The top end is just as good. In 5th on the highway it pulls so hard from 3k to 5k you would think you're in 4th gear. I can't wait till break in is over and I can go to 7k.

I highly recommend test driving this car before you buy the RX8. It's not for everyone but don't count it out from the pictures in the mags.

wakeech - I agree the *** could use a bit of work.

 

I admit I haven't kept up on the EVO, mostly because the STi has more horse, two limited slips and a bias control. I agree that horse isn't as important as handling but the limited slip and bias sold me on the STi. Yes chipping will up the EVO's output but you could probably say the same about the STi, neh?

Regardless, have fun on the autocrosses and let us know how it compares to other cars in your class.
________
Wendie 99

 

lucky you... I went to a mitsu dealer but they want to do a credit check on me... so i said nevermind. The price tag was 34k in my neighborhood with the racing spoiler.

 

that's pretty standard fare when a dealer is going to entrust a VERY hefty investment to one as young as you or i... i don't think it'll be any different when you go to buy an RX-8 (you ordered, didn't you?? can't keep up with all that ... :D)

 

Perhaps I'm reading it wrong, but I think he meant that they wanted a credit check before they'd even let him test drive.

I agree that there's no way you can expect to actually purchase anything in the region of thirty grand without a credit check, unless you're paying cash.

 

That's still pretty crappy to ask to ask for a credit check BEFORE they let you test drive a car. If my dealer pulled that, I'd walk too.

Moogle- my suggestion: go check your credit yourself, print out a copy of your score, and take that with you as proof. Then they don't have any reason to run one on you, you won't have any dings on your credit because of them, AND you can test drive the car. Yes, so the checks only bring it down a few points- but get enough of those and you're looking at no one financing you for 6 months.

 

I can see why they want a credit check before a test drive. I'm sure there are a lot of people that just want to take it for a spin but can't afford it. And no one wants to pay $30000 for the test drive vehicle that's been abused before proper break in.

 

Credit checks are just used to weed out the lookers and find the serious buyers. They don't want to waste their time on you if your just going to take it for a spin. If you truly are interested in the car, then a credit check shouldn't matter.

 

....
wakee wakee tsk tsk J/k
Ofcourse I ordered the rx-8, I wouldn't hesitate on another car.
Just yesterday I told this hefer that I am getting an rx8, next thing she quote "whAT!!! yah a ballah Now!!!, let me roll with u"
I was laughing my *** off. One of my hobby is to test drive new cars, I test drove alot of new cars... and the evo was next on my test drive list.

this are the cars I have test drove this year.
mazda 6,
rsx - s,
tiburon,
is300,
celica gt-s,
altima 3.5 se,
se-r spec v sentra,
subaru wrx.