Well it grows closer and closer when I'll be trading in my 3G Eclipse in (actually it will still be a while but I like planning ahead), and I have to say I have been very happy with my 3G Eclipse. After 28k and two+ years of moderate driving, no problems. Even my girlfiends Eclipse that is nearing 3 years and about the same miles have had little problems (ABS light, wipers). So I might stay in th e fold and get and Evo when the time comes.

But by then I'll be way over 30, and I have to start looking at the praticality of my next purchase. The 3G Eclipse is a great 2+2, but very impratical.

So how pratical is the Evo? I am talking specifically about grocery getting, luggage packing (I am a consultant so need to bring a few things along my travels). How pratical is the cockpit overall. Is there things that lack that you wish Mitsu would include?

 

I use this car as my daily driver and to be honest I don't think theres any other choice for a fun practicle car. It has amazing feel to it, tons of room, all the passing power you'll ever need and then some. I couldnt imagine my daily commute in any other car. The car really lacks none of the common amenities your'e used to and the recaros are possibly the most comfortable seats I've ever sat in.

 

the only thing the Evo is lacking in terms of utility & comfort is cruise control. But, any dealer can add that for you...

 

As others have stated, the EVO is a great solution for those who want a sports car but also need to be practical. I drive my EVO to work everyday and couldn't be happier with my choice from both a WOW to a practicallity perspective. There is plenty of interior room for 4 Adults to ride comfortably and the trunk is large enough for a healthy trip to the grocery store. My only complaint is the lack of a pass through in the rear seats for long items.

Hope that helps!

Josh Riedmiller
'03 Apex Silver EVO VIII w/ DIY Grounding Kit, Blitz DTT, and misc Audio stuff.

 

If you want it to, the EVO can play the role of a Saturn much better than a real Saturn. I guess 95% of the driving I do in the EVO is just regular stuff in normal traffic. Shift at 3,000, etc. It does really well. The only downside is the firm ride and I don't even consider that a problem.

 

These guys pretty much hit the nail on the head.

I use my car as a daily driver and can only really say that I wish it had cruise control (for longer drives and to stay below radar, it's easy to go fast in this car).

Only other thing I'd throw out there is that it's really not a car for long highway drives. My recent trip to MD pretty much left me numb from the aggressiveness of the suspension. I'd say as long as your trips are within a 2 hour duration you won't be happier with anything but an EVO.

 

If you're going to travel with the car I would say that cruise would be a necessity. It is sooo easy to speed in the car that I wish that I had cruise. Other than that, I think that If I were an on the road sales person I would still have the EVO. What's cooler than picking up a client in the EVO. And I don't think that it's excessive like it would be if you rolled up in an E36 or Lexus or something. Who wants to give someone money when they are sitting in 60 G's. The EVO would just be a good ice breaker and conversation piece. Anyway, go for it. you'll love it. BTW, I've got about 9000 miles and modded and drive it hard and no clutch problems

 

This is the only point I don't agree with, and it's completely subjective. I drove my Evo from Cali to VA in 2 1/2 days (more than 900 miles a day), and it was beautiful. My only gripe was the lack of padding on the door armrest left my elbow hurting...

I packed the car full of stuff during that trip, and then I hauled all 4 snow tires in the back seat to the shop to get mounted. How's that for practical? It's a great car - except for certain aesthetic things (quality materials, etc.) it's very hard to find improvement.

Hope you come into the fold!

 

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "practical". The Evo is a great car with wonderful seats, and I enjoy my work commute quite a bit. I do occasionally miss having cruise control, but not enough to go to the effort and expense of getting one installed (yet). It doesn't have a plush interior or a quiet ride, but those things aren't why I bought the car.

I bought it because, for the price, it's damn hard to beat the performance. There are cars that are faster in a straight line but the Evo isn't slow. There are a few that handle better, but nothing at the price. The Evo comes with features that many other car enthusiasts spend additional money to get: HIDs, Recaros, CF Wing, FMIC, etc. Finally, because of the history of the car overseas and the shared heritage with DSMs in the US, the tuning potential is high. If those are the things that you want out of a new car then yes, the Evo is a very "practical" choice.

 

It's pretty much the only option for a practical sportscar that you can live with day-to-day. (Note: I don't consider the STi a sportscar since the handling isn't in the sportscar league, IMNSHO!)

There's plenty of interior room. Backseat passengers can put their feet under the front seats, so there's enough legroom to get comfy. The trunk is huge and easy to load. Visibility is terrific, even with the huge wing, so city and highway driving is no problem.

The car is very stable at high speeds, so highway driving is a breeze. I find the Recaros very comfortable on long trips, but I'm 6'1" and pretty slim, so they fit me well. It's true that cruise would make highway driving easier. I suppose it can be installed by the dealer without too much hassle.

In terms of safety, once you put snows on the car, you can pretty much drive it anywhere. The ground clearance is surprisingly good. I've never had trouble with speedbumps, steep driveways, etc.

All in all, it's perfect as an only car. It's not any less practical than, say, an E46 330Xi. My Evo 8 has replaced two cars. I used to have a tricked out 318is track car and a 325iX daily driver. I don't really miss either one (though I have to admit the iX was better in the snow).

Emre

 

One of my other choices would be a used 325xi or 330xi, or possibly a used A4. I wouldn't buy a used Evo specifically because of the turbo, and would be worried that someone before abused it.

It's nice to hear all the praticalities, but it's weird that cruise is not an option (something I didn't know). I don't use it a ton because many times I am city driving, or if I set the cruise on I will get tired of driving because I am "doing less", but there are occasaions where I need it.

So why isn't this an option, and is the dealer able to put it on as an aftermarket item.

 

I'm 6'1" 245 lbs... my 11 year old is the size of most of the readers here. The wife, two boys and I take the car on trips all of the time. The only down side is the lack of cruise for long trips...

 

It depends what you're looking for. The Audi and E46 are a lot more plush than the Evo, but both have very crappy handling (this is coming from a former dyed-in-the-wool BMW guy). Once you test drive the Evo, you'll have a hard time settling for the Bimmer or Audi.

Don't know why it wasn't an option. I don't really care since I never used cruise on my other cars. There's no reason why the dealer shouldn't be able to install it.

Emre

 

I think the EVO is the MOST PRACTICAL car in the market for ANYONE who is looking for performance , price, comfort, and stlye!

- 4 door, so the GF or wifey can't complain (you get to take friends around for a ride a lot tho)
- Recaro and Brembos (practocal means performance for a low price as well)
- can be modded and gain 50WHP easy without chnaging the turbocharger.
-spacious interior and trunk.
-already looks agressive stock.
-a LOT Cheaper than the WRX STi.
-takes turns and corners like it was on rails (practicality also means safety).
-turbocharged engine technology! (getting this for a car thats rally bred is VERY PRACTICAL).

Well, that pretty much sums up why I chose the EVO!!!

 

Up:
4 doors,
more room in the back than my Jag xj8,
huge boot.

Down:
It slowly kills your back.


AndyJ.