well, after much ranting & raving both here & at my dealer, my Evo finally showed up today. I received a phone call about 11 that it was in and would be ready to roll in 90 min. I show up at 3 and it hasn't been cleaned yet.... typical...

anyway, my first impression is very positive, it's more then I expected despite all of the glowing reviews I have read here & elsewhere


highs:
turn in - damn... that's about all I can say.
steering - better then anything I have driven (Z06, fd, supra, M3, Cobra etc) - absolutly 100% confidence inspiring right away. I can't wait to get the brakes broken in and see what she will do on on/off ramps!
headlights - the Evo is my first car with HIDs, and all I can say is that I will never own a car without them again.
seats - they are the best seats in any car I have ever driven. I would like a little more room at the shoulders, but I am not complaining.

lows:
stereo - it sucks rocks. Why even include one that is this **** poor? (I already have the gear to do my swap)
rear visibility - between the b-pillar, seats, wing, & windshield wiper thingie it is tough to see over my left shoulder without an effort.
it's not broken in! - it is going to kill me to ***** around in this car for the next couple of weeks! I have already been reved on my at least a half dozen cars and it has 100 miles on it! gah!

final thought:
I am wondering why you guys are complaining about the apparent low end punch? The Evo (for the very little I have driven it) feels much stronger then many FI cars that I have experience in down low. I think you guys have spent too much time in heavily modded WRX & DSM cars to appreciate how powerful the Evo is from the factory....

 

Congradulations you dog you! Hopefully I'll be able to pick mine up sometimes after october if things go right.... Break it in .. then have some fun!! Just don't break anything


Jay

 

Congrats trigeek37!

It's probably just a "first batch" thing, cause mine does feel a little weak in the power department too Good things come to those who wait.

Let us know when you start hearing the tranny noise on deceleration.

 

thats awesome man. i would love to feel how the evo drives... i didn't think it could get any better than my FD.

 

congrats and I know the feeling about the HIDS.

 

Congrats... told ya to chill.

 

I don't know my friend.... I sold my 1993 R1 in December, and one of my boys is building up his 2nd fd as we speak, so I will have a chance to do some friendly testing at the track (auto-x & drag) as well as some back road fun.

my former fd:
VR R1
46k miles
Apexi PFC & Blitz SDCID @ 15 psi
PFS intake & SMIC
PFS DP & Racing Beat cat-back
Mazda j-spec y-pipe & hardened intake piping
H&R Springs with Koni Yellows
plus a few other reliability mods...

it's hard to judge them as the Evo isn't broken in, and I haven't driven a fd in 5 months, but so far I am very impressed. To be frank, the Evo is a compromise car for me. Sure, it is fast and nimble, but I simply prefer rwd cars. The communication between the driver & car is unbeatable and I despise understeer. (my awd experience has been in a Stealth, WRX, Outback, & a couple of DSMs) My first impressions have been overwhelmingly positive, but I haven't explored the limits at all yet.

I was doubtful that the Evo would do things that my fd would, or at least it would do them with as much poise & finesse. (A Mustang can handle well, it just isn't fun getting to that point) The fd is simply a special car - Mazda got is so right. (except for the reliability of the powerplant - but that's for another topic) My buddy is painting his now, and I just stare at the suspension of the fd - it is so perfect (forged alum unequal length A-arms) and it is still the best looking car on the road. Only time will tell. I will make some vids of Don (friend with the fd being built right now) & I running around later this summer.