Ok, I’ve read through pretty much everything posted on this forum and can really only come to one conclusion. Everyone on here thinks one thing… the numbers are the end of the line. If it can’t mean some imaginary number, then the car must suck. That is some of the biggest load of crap I’ve read for a long time. For this simple reason, I’m posting this soapbox tirade to give you my opinions on some of the hot topics on here. You don’t have to believe my opinions, or even listen to them, they are my ideas and don’t need to be yours.

First off, the biggest thing lately is the weight issue. So far the numbers coming out have shown that the car does weigh a little more than was expected. Yes, I did say a little more. 300lbs when dealing with a 3000lb car is not that much at all. Take out a spare tire, with the jacks and a little more and you’re getting pretty close. The point I want to make with this is that the cars will vary between –150 to +200 lbs depending on the person who buys it. The “curb weight” is only a reference point. Your average consumer will throw or take out stuff out of the car which will change the weight drastically. Also, the weight of the driver will strongly influence it as well. Besides all of that, who is anyone (except Mitsubishi engineers) to say where the extra weight went. The extra weight may have been used to enhance the suspension, strengthen the frame or what not. Personally, if they want to add that extra 150lbs for frame strengthening or suspension enhancements, go right ahead. I’m 100% positive they didn’t put in the extra weight just to **** everyone off. Has anyone ever heard of unsprung vs sprung weight? Could that possibly have an effect on this as well? What if the extra weight was put on the car so it could be sprung weight, vs having it on a part of the car that is unsprung. This is just a small example of how many variables can come into play here and taking just a raw number and using that for a comparison is plain and simply dumb. The other ludicrous idea I read was that someone is going to drop the Evolution in favor of the Scooby just due to the weight. If that is indeed the case, please go get the Scooby because you obviously have too much money and not a whole lot of smarts in your head if that is what made your mind up.

Major point #2, THIS CAR IS NOT A DRAGSTER! Just incase you didn’t hear me the first time, THIS CAR IS NOT A DRAGSTER! If you want it to simply to a ¼ mile, then you’re looking at the wrong car. This car is a road racing/rally racing car and not a dragster. (3rd time incase you didn’t hear the other 2) Who cares what the ¼ time is, or pretty much, even what the 0-60 time is. I want to know what the slalom time is more than anything else, because that’s what matters most out of the simple tests that auto-testers do. I’ve heard that the slalom times that the Evo8 has is incredible. What makes the drag numbers (0-60 and ¼ mile) even less important is that it is 100% dependant on what the driver is doing. If the Scooby STI does it in 13.5 and the Evo does it in 13.6, who cares? Reaction time off the line, missing a gear for a split second or whatnot can account for ALL of this time.

Major point #3… No ACD/AYC. Personally, I would have liked to see that on the car, but the fact that it’s not on there is not going to change my mind that the car is one of the most advanced AWD cars on the road today. The Evolution’s have always been years ahead of their time with their drivelines and how stable they’ve been. Do you really think that this will be any different? Do you think that they’re going to put something that is not as advanced or as stable as even what was in the 7 in the 8? My guess is that they took the 6.5 driveline and found to do with it mechanically what the 7 does electronically. Again, sure it would have been nice to have a little button that I could push on the dash to choose what type of AWD mapping I was using, but to most people (and yes, most people will not even notice the change) it will not matter. Again, if this is one of the only things that is making your decision on the car, then you have too much money and should donate it to me. If you really want something like that, then there is a car for you… import a JDM version. Personally, I’d like to have a car that has a warranty, street legal in the US, complies with US emissions and has a clear title, over the lack of ACD/AYC.

This isn’t all the issues I have strong feelings about, but I figure that you’ve read more than enough to get the idea I’m trying to make right now. The idea is simply, wait till the actual car arrives, and go drive it, and its competitive cars and see for yourself. Each person’s driving style is 100% different and there might be a better/faster/nicer car, but to each their own. I’m pretty confident that if you have the chance to drive an Evo8, you’ll notice that the car different in many ways to other cars like it. If it isn’t better, then guess what, go buy the more superior car. Mitsubishi knows that you have this ability to buy the best car for you and is making a car that they feel is superior to prevent that from happening. Give them that chance at least to prove it to you, without making judgments based on numbers which aren’t even confirmed yet.

 

Finally someone who makes some damn sense and valid strong points! Who the hell cares about racing from stop light to stop light. Can your car make it over the river and through the woods to Gandmothers house with easeand damn quick? That's what I give a **** about!

 

Agreed! Great post even if it may invite a few flames. Covered most of the major points that people seem to be nitpicking about.

 

Yes i'm complaining about the issues above and yes i'm buying one to test myself. As of we speak the evo is #1 and most advance awd car in the as of now!

If the Scooby becomes more advance "first time ever" with the active center of course i'll go with the more superior car. (active diff and proven 6-speed even if it's 261hp) With all that over MSRP stuff and if the sti comes during the summer i doubt i'll look much or any money.

 

I'm with you on that one, Fireball. With all the pics you provide and now seeing your true feelings on all of this, you earned all of my respect.

 

Amen!!
wish i had your diction or even the guts to have said something like that earlier, but like Hobie said, attracting flaming is not something i d wanna do either but i totally aggree with you on everything Fireball

 

All the above is so true. The lancer is not a drag car. Who cares about 0-60? or 1/4 mile? Why is everone so obsessed w/ these numbers? Sounds like teenagers talkin But hey if you peeps don't like the car because of one little thing then don't buy it. Better chance for me to get one

 

Well said (although poorly spelled, heh)!!! I've always intended on getting the Evo VIII as my daily driver plus it will be my stock SCCA autocross car. I have no delusions as to what the car is and how it will perform and nothing so far has changed my mind about buying this car. I think with Hoosiers its going to be an awesome autocross car and a fantastic track days ride. And after its a year or two old I can rallycross it as well and it will do great again.

I've been waiting for two years for this car. I started to get discouraged but once I saw the recent pictures posted by Fireball I've become VERY excited again. I'll take it with mechanical LSDs as long as there are three and they give it a neutral to slight oversteer at the limit handling characteristic.

And its so sad that people forget just how fast a five second 0-60 is... you know even five years ago 5 seconds was a no-mans land for production cars under $100k. I think this is going to be great.

 

I guess we have a 6.5 rs? Not bad but could be better

I just want to add everyone love the ACD .
Sorry Fireball, i'm just upset about ours not matching the JDM specs.

 

I wrote that in Word... only 2 words spelled incorrectly were "unsprung"... not sure if it knows what that is.

 

Not at all. The only reference I made in there was the 6.5 driveline. If all you think a car is, is a driveline... problem #1. The engine in there is a HEAVILY modified version of what was in the 7. The engine itself is rumored to be around 20lbs lighter. (including rotational mass too) which right there can make the car TONS quicker. Again, nit-picking on things that really don't matter too much in the big picture when you add in everything else that does count.

 

Yeah ok, a 6.5 drivetrain, 7 engine and chassis. Didn't get into details but that's what i meant.

Ok perhaps the engine and chassis is an 8. Improved over a 7. But, you have to understand ppl like me ordered the evo for it's technology. And yes i'll be getting the technology in the engine but, i really want it in the drivetran which is most important for road racing.

 

If the drivetrain was heavily modified like I mentioned and so was the engine and chassis, wouldn't that make everything an 8? This is the whole point here... this car can't be compared to previous versions, because it is drastically different.

So, in your words... an 8 drivetrain, 8 engine, and 8 chassis.

 

I am very happy with the way the car looks. MMC did a good job in that department.

I am very pleased we are getting recaro seats, brembo brakes, nice 17" wheels, and HID lights. These are upgrades I probably would have spent thousands on in the near future, and now I don't have to.

AYC/ACD isn't a big deal to me. I will take a reliable car over a cutting edge tech car every day of the week. And I don't know if AYC/ACD would make a big difference to me.

the whole weight thing... this is bothering me. I know 200 to 300 lbs of additional mass isn't a big problem in acceleration - you can add as much HP as you want to. I know guys with 10 second Supras and Mustangs that weigh 3500+ lbs. What weight does do is hurt your handling ability - and this is important to me. The main reason I don't own a WRX now is because it is set up way to soft & spongey from the factory. $1500 on coilovers and $2000 on wheels are needed to get that car to be even sorta close to the road car that I want it to be. I hope the inital estimates of 3250 lbs are high, I really do. I prefer light, less hp cars to heavy high hp cars, which is the main reason I had a rx7 r1... 2700 lbs, 350 hp...

 

Thanks again fireball. Not only great pics but a lot of common sense too. Can someone give this guy an honorary title!!??