Don't forget to look at the final gear ration (FGR) also, that is also different in the six-speed box. Here are the ratios per the MR press kit:

1st 2.909 2.928
2nd 1.944 1.950
3rd 1.434 1.407
4th 1.100 1.031
5th 0.868 0.720
6th 0.693

FGR 4.583 4.529

You can see from the above that the five-speed fifth gear ratio in the five-speed box is widely different than the fifth gear in the six-speed box. So, as I said previously the six-speed box really just tightens up the gears and keeps the turbo more on the whistle.

Don't fret it seems many people just don't understand what that roof is doing, center-of-gravity-wise. To take another quote from the MR press kit, "The Evolution MR Edition's center of gravity was lowered by 3mm. By comparison, to achieve the equivalent center of gravity, a conventional steel roof (like an Evo VIII) would have to be lowered by 50 mm." That my friends IS HUGE. If you don't see the importance in this after that explanation, then you never will. And for the record I bought a non-sunroof car on purpose because the sunroof puts weight exactly where you don't want or need it, which is why a sunroof is not offered with the aluminum roof Evo MR or RS.

Given Mitsubishi's current financial situation, I'm just glad they even bothered to offer the U.S. market an MR. Seriously, would the lights have been worth it if they would have cost another $500 (dollar figure used was for example purposes only, I have no knowledge of the true costs) to amortize it over the 1000 vehicle run? I think, not. People then would have complained about the price of an MR and some already are. The same could be said for the missing S-AYC, which is more of a packaging issue.

I drive cars for a living, believe me I could tell the difference in five feet. Drive an MR and I guarantee you will too.

My Evo is stock, but I personally have heard from several owners that have been denied warranty coverage based on either racing or mods. Almost every manufacturer denies warranty coverage for vehicles that are modified from stock or raced, it's not just a Mitsubishi thing. Check out the Subaru or Ford SVT boards and you'll hear a lot of the same.

The difference is more like $4500, but they do have some equipement differences, like HID is no longer standard on the VIII, but is on the MR. The MR also gets the aluminum sport pedals, carbon-fiber/aluminum brake grip, Vortex roof spoiler, wheel locks, sport gauge kit, as well as the six-speed transmission, aluminum roof, Bilstein shocks, and BBS wheels over the VIII. You couldn't buy and install all of those items for less than $4500 difference in price. If you buy a Sun, Sound and Leather equipped VIII, the difference is less than a thousand dollars. It's all in what you want and what you can pay.

 

Wow, ten to twenty extra pounds (between the VIII and the MR) made the difference between you buying one and not buying one? The RS only weighs 66 pounds less than the others. Unless you are racing I seriously don't think you notice the difference in any of them.

 

The MR press kit lists the split at 50:50.

 

Since your big on differences, the final drive ratio on the 5-speed Evo is actually 4.529 (not 4.429).

 

Yup, you're right, my bad. Typo error. I corrected it on the original post.

 

I know exactly what the new roof is doing. Read my statements above again and you'll see that I covered all of this. My point is this: I don't believe the average Evo driver can feel the difference that the lower CG makes. You restated some info from the presskit you were handed, but you failed to explain how that made a difference during your test drive. At least, a difference that could be backed up objectively.

I will agree that better shocks can have a significant difference in a car's handling, so maybe the Bilsteins are worth their price, but again, the overall MR package as a whole just doesn't seem worth $5,000+ more than the GSR....which is exactly the point I've been making this entire time. It is really cool and looks great, but for that amount, I would have stepped up to the Elise S2.

Also, I did mis-read the gear ratios. 5th in the MR is in fact lower than in the GSR/RS 5-speed.

Yeah, but don't you work for MT?

Joe
www.joe250.com

 

How can you think a 1.96850393701" drop wouldn't make a difference? If that was all you did to any car don't you think you'd be able to tell? Since my test drives of the MR involved the complete transformation, how can I quantify how much the roof had to do with the improvements? I am looking at it from a logical viewpoint. Keep in mind that the MR was 2 seconds a lap faster then the '03. Some of that comes from better handling (shocks and roof), some from better traction out of the corners(front helical), and some thanks to the additional power and six-speeds ability to keep you in that power. They all contributed to the better number. Why do you think that in WRC the driver and navigator sit so low? Lower center of gravity.


It's not $5000+ difference, it's about $4500 than a GSR. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts as I explained the last time. As far as the Elise, I've spent a good deal of time in them and I wouldn't trade my '03 Evo for one, yet alone an MR. It's a nice track toy, but I wouldn't want to live with one day in and day out.

Nope, not me.

 

Having a MR and a 03 in my garage right now, i can tell the difference right away.
EvoNeil knows what he's talking about, whether he works for MT or not!
I think it gets blown all out of proportion cuz the MR is more exclusive and people try to verify that it's really not worth it's extra cost over the GSR. That's why Mitsubishi has 3 different evo models to suit different tastes.

 

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! Please listen to me now and think about it later - the MR IS better than the '03!!!!! DUH. I'm not saying otherwise. Jesus. I knew that well before Neil said jack. And what makes the MR faster than the '03 Evo? In order of (my perceived) significance:

1. Bigger turbo w/ revised wastegate
2. FLSD
3. ACD
4. Improved shocks
5. Lighter wheels
6. SportABS
7. Lower CG
8. Better gearing.

And guess what? (This is where I bore most of you to tears because I'm going to make the same point I have been trying to make all damn day.) The GSR (and the RS) shares the top 3 things this with the MR! - the things I'm saying make the biggest difference in the hands of real people in the real world.

And why do I think the WRC drivers sit so low? Because dropping 400lbs down 4 inches makes a significant change to the CG of the car, thus improving handling. Do I think dropping 8lbs off the roof is going to blow Joe Evo Buyer's mind??? If you didn't tell him, he wouldn't know it was there. So I'm not going to make a big deal out of the aluminum roof. But then I'm not paid to promote the hell out of products. I'm trying to be as objective, accurate, and realistic as possible.

Why do I keep saying a $5,000+ difference? Because I know GSR's are going for close to invoice. I have yet to hear of an MR going for less than MSRP. The increased sales price of the MR combined with the additional sales taxes paid on that sales price equals......????

And don't worry. I wouldn't admit to working for MotorTrend either.

Joe
www.joe250.com

 

Why not purchase a 2005 Evolution GSR, that way you get all the power equipment, the alluminum roof and leave out the differentials. Then you can add a Quaife LSD and your ahead of the game. You can then use the money you saved to purchase either power modifications or suspension modifications that are far better than the options the MR provides. As for the warranty, if you can notice the difference the MR provides at the stock level chances are you're racing the vehicle which voids the entire powertrain warranty.

 

The 05 Normal EVO (GSR) doesnt come with a Alum Roof, but it *does* come with the ACD and FLSD.

So I don't quite understand what you are trying to say.

 

Okay fine, I'll agree with that point, but it took you long enough to say it. You could've said that five posts ago.


You think I'm paid "to promote the hell out of products"? I'm paid to test vehicles and give an un-biased, opinionated, thorough evaluation of them. I am not currently, nor have I ever been paid to promote Mitsubishi Evos on this site or in any story I have ever done. I share my love and opinion of the MR out of love for the vehicles, standard Evo and RS included. And to help people understand that their are two sides to the many of the choices Mitsubishi has made, when many on this site (I'm not saying you are among them) only look at it through the consumer-sided eyes, i.e. the MR light situation. Or to correct technical errors or assumptions people make that haven't even driven the car yet, when I have and can share an opinion from someone that has. Then again, you know what they say about opinions, and mine are no better than any one elses. I just spend more time giving them.


Sorry, but I'm sticking to the facts of the list price, not some possible dealer mark-up that may or may not be charged. Just that facts, man!

 

Neil - you're killing me. Well I guess I've made my point and I understand yours. Thanks for chiming in - you're one of the few who actually has driven the MR, so that's certainly worth something.

Joe
www.joe250.com

 

I'd really like to own one of the '05 models, however, it's too much of a hit in depreciation (7-10k?), money that I'd rather just use on my current one to beef up and destroy any of those models.

 

You guys know what this means????

Any 05 EVO can be dynoed on a 2WD dyno by putting on the parking brake!

This will be a huge advantage for anyone wanting to dyno tune their car who dosn't live in an area with easy access to an AWD dyno.

Keith