What I dont understand is Subaru allows people to post the new Impreza body style even before It came out in Aus/JP. Yet even though its roughly 30 days away from the unvailing of the Evolution 8 Debut, why doesnt Mitsubishi just post up pictures of it already?

 

The new subaru design was introduced at the Frankford auto show or something? I dont' remmeber and after that debute the specs and pictures were released.

As for my soon to come car isn't really a rally car anymore. Mitsubishi basically admit that the Cedia platform sucks as a rally car and the real question is why leave it 2L?? If no active diffs anywhere the STI is the superior car on and off the road! If the mechanical diffs on the evo is true i dont' why wouldn't subaru just make the sti offical and promise a full blown setup? If that was the case i'd give up my car especially it's going to be 2nd rated from the STI. If we do get the ACD at least we could take the STI on the road and call it even and now we're probably looking at an inferior car.

 

Subaru debuted the new-faced Impreza at the Paris Auto Show and is being sold in other markets as we speak. So it's not to hard to figure out why we have pictures for the Impreza and not the Evo VIII. The world launch of the Evo VIII will probably be at the LA Auto Show, hence you won't see any real press photos till that time.

 

The Cedia platform does not suck. entered the WRC development 2 years behind most manufacturers.
Those guys, including Subaru had time to work out the kinks over those 2 years.
Give RalliArt the respect they deserve before making statements like that.

 

I'm with RaX on this one. I don't think the car can compete with the hatches at this point i.e. 206, Focus etc. I don't see why you took that to heart, but to each his own I suppose.

 

take out the driver factor before jumping to conclusion. the peugeot drivers are definitely superior than the mitsu ones, remember they are just leftovers since tommi's sudden exit. so, what do you expect?

 

Just sensitive, I guess.
I totally agree that the Lancer WRC was not competetive against the hot hatches. This is mainly due to the late switch on 's behalf. In addition, they may have been a little too cocky thinking they could do it quickly and be immediately competetive against the more nimble hatchbacks.
What irks me is the immediate unfounded criticism of R&D. Agreed, the Lancer is not perfect, but the platform is very flexible and proof of excellent R&D. makes no less than 5 different models from it.
OK, I'll go to therapy now

 

I agree with you about the drivers making a difference...a huge one, but it just seems to me the gap is too wide to be that alone. I rarely find that there's only one reason for a losing team in any sport.

EDIT: How many 1st place finishes does an Evo have this year? How many second?

 

Didn't Tommi in fact start out driving the the new EVO before becoming frustrated enough with its performance before making the switch? Just because Mitsu has been in the mix for a long time, setting records, winning trophies doesn't they are infallible. Manufactures pull out, switch sanctioning bodies and reengineer their vehicles all the time. I like the fact that their ego and pride are hurting them so much that they are pulling out to make sure that when they return they dominate. It is just unfortunate that it is happening right when we're about to get the car, but the pain won't last long - I promise, five minutes behind the wheel is all it will take.

 

I'm sorry but it does suck. Marlboro and Makinen knew it and left. Mitsu even said that losing Makinen over an uncompetitive car was not an option. But Makinen was no fool. Mitsu went from top 3 to bottom in six months. It's the car. Subaru won the drivers championship with the bug eyes it's first year out with Richard Burns. And yes Subaru did come out with a WRC type car before Mitsu who stuck with their Group A Evo VI but Subaru was never in LAST place. Mitsu is tied with Skoda for last! Sheesh! Subaru's WRC Impreza was always competitive. Mitsu messed up. The Cedia platform was a disaster, and they are doing the right thing by reevaluationg the situation and looking at another car.

Forgive me for venting. I had a Celica GT-4, then Toyota quit and went with a Corolla. Now I'm looking to buy an Evo and now Mitsu quit and are looking at a Colt. Arrgghhh.

 

I guess people are feeling the same way as i am. And the car and driver article is saying the true enthusicts get screwed out of ACD/AYC which make it great road cars.

 

I would have to disagree. The Cedia platform is actually pretty good. But drivers are what Mitsu needed this year. Francois may be pretty good, but when was the last time you have seen him win any WRC event? And the other good Mitsu driver was basically a rookie in comparison. If you had Tommi, Burns, Colin, and/or Gronholm, then Mitsu would have made manufacturing and drivers champion. Ex: Peugout has Burns and Gronholm, who basically won everything if they didnt crash out or have one of those Peugout hydraulic probs. Not to dis the 206 or anything, but it was mainly the amazing driving abilities of those two drivers that allowed for Peugots domination. But thats just my $0.02

 

Dude, we had Tommi. If the car didn't suck Tommi would have stayed. That's the part that so sad.

 

I agree with you that needs to change their WRC car to stay competetive. However, I still strongly taek issue with your statement that the Cedia platform sucks.
Tommi would have stayed had paid him the ridiculous salary he demanded. Makinen was already planning to leave in September 2001, before was testing their WRC car.
In addition, Subaru too had some teething problems, but they had much better drivers (Burns) than did this year to test out their car.

 

definitely needs a new car and drivers for the WRC.

BUT, the Evo VII is one hell of a rally car in Group N which is what you should be comparing the street legal Evo with. Period. The WRC cars have hardly anything in common with the road going versions other than the basic shape of the body shell. So it really isn't a big deal that Mitsu dropped out of the WRC, other than not being able to cheer for them anymore.