No, they just blow up their trannies

You can drive the Evo hard and the clutch will hold up fine. It's when you start dropping the clutch at the dragstrip, slamming home upshifts too quickly, etc. that the clutch falls apart. The WRX loses it's tranny in these circumstances.

The clutch on the Evo 8 might be weak, but I'd rather lose the clutch than toast the rest of the drivetrain. You can't treat an AWD drivetrain with the same aggressiveness as a RWD muscle car.

Basically, you never really need to feather the clutch on the Evo: there's so much torque you can engage the clutch with the engine running at idle and it won't stall. I hear people complaining of smelling clutch material when they're driving up a steep hill or in stop and go traffic. I've never experienced that since I don't ever slip the clutch...there's no need to.

I just don't buy that the Evo drivetrain is weak. I have friends who have been beating on Evo 5's, 6's, and 7's for years with nothing but routine maintenence. Of course, all these guys are accomplished road and rallye racers. So, they might drive hard, but they don't abuse the drivetrain. The Evo 8 is not fundamentally different from what it was 11 years ago, so I don't see why the drivetrain should suddenly be weak.

Emre

 

In my defense, I don't have a desire to go to the drag strip, and I don't street race either, so dropping the clutch would be a rare thing to do, I just like having a quick car that I can spiritly drive to take the monotomy out of life.

From what everyone says, it sounds like the EVO is what I wish I got out of my MSP. I guess I just have to decide if I want to go with the x-factor car, or back to a boring but nice ride like a Lexus.

 

It sounds like you are going through the same thought processes that I have for the past year. I looked very hard at near-luxury sports sedans like the IS300, TSX, new TL, 6s, and RX-8. At my age (45), the path most followed by my peers is the one that leads to luxury and status. Around here, it is hard to swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting a 325i or A4. It's almost like it is expected of a person of a certain age and economic status.

The Evo is none of the that. It's a crazy veer towards the dark side. Compared to the Mazda 6s, it's interior is decidedly low budget. Nothing terrible (other than the mouse fur on the door panels), but not even close to Mazda and light years away from the Acuras. The action of the cubby hole door on the dash makes you wonder if it will last another week. The climate control knobs are stiff, imprecise, and mechanically linked to dampers behind the dash that impart a jerky tactile feedback to the operator. A friend of mine once said

"Every step up in performance is a step down in convenience".

This car has performance in spades. You see that in the automobilie magazine reviews. You see that in the posts on this board. It is indisputable. In this (important) category, the car will not disappoint.

In regards to the everyday driving experience, the car isn't a bad as some people would have you believe. Is it noisy inside? Yes, it is not a Lincoln or Lexus with their hushed cocoons. But it's not unacceptably loud, in fact most people who have ridden in my Evo have said that it was much better than they had expected. The ride is busy and choppy. The suspension is about as stiff as a **** star's member after taking a Viagra the size of a hockey puck. But again, so are almost all performance cars. Get in an E46 M3 and compare. It is nearly as firm as the Evo. Will your parents like it? No, but then they won't throw down and refuse to be driven in it either. The Evo is not a dune buggy. I've personally noticed that the driver doesn't feel as tossed around on bumpy roads as the passenger (especially those in the back). It really isn't that bad driving it on our typically poor roads. One plus for the Evo is the remarkably large and spacious cabin (for a small sedan). The back seat can hold six footers comfortably, with headroom to spare. They may be sitting on cheap fabric, but nothing as tortuous as my friend's G35 Coupe.

Despite what you read, the stock stereo isn't as awful as reported. It's missing deep base and the midrange is kind of "honky", but the sound is pleasant enough and of decent volume, all of which can be readily fixed through aftermarket equipment. I've heard much worse from Hondas, BMWs, and Nissans, all of which I've personally owned.

Reliability is an issue. There seems to be a disturbing number of clutches that are being burned out, whether through abuse or not. Figure that you'll need to part with 1 G sometime in your ownership to replace the clutch with a robust unit from an aftermarket company. Other than that, the initial reports of people getting to 15 and 20K miles have been of cars that have been relatively trouble-free. Will that continue as the mileage rolls up? We don't know, and when we do, chances are the car won't be offered for sale anymore.

Resale on these cars is going to be terrible. Residuals after three years are down to 40%, which is miserable compared to your typical Lexus or BMW (60-65%). The same is true for almost all pure performance cars. Do not get this car if this is going to hurt you financially.

The Evo can best be described as a Driver's Car. It rewards those who appreciate it for what it provides, and it does that superbly. I finally came to this conclusion and purchased one. Much as my non-automotive friends shrug their shoulders, my gear-head buddies are giddy like little kids around the car. People spy me on the street and stare, often giving me a big thumbs up when they realize what the car is. This car commands respect from anyone who cares about automobiles. The Evo is also a classic cult car. You will belong to a select community of owners that seek each other out, wave and flash their lights when they see you on the street, and arrange get-togethers just to talk about their cars. You don't see that with most TSX owners.

I also really like the agressive, "don't tread on me" styling. There are more than a few elements of Boy Racer in it, but aside from the big wing, the car's lines are just purposeful and more than a little mean. The more luxurious cars certainly have more creature comforts, but they trade that off for something that I value most: driving pleasure. If this describes you, then you will not regret getting an Evo.

Lee K

 

Bottom line I had almost 12k on my first Evo and had no clutch problems but then again I did not do a bunch of clutch drops either.

 

Great info Lee, I know the feeling about the cult car, the MSP is that way.

I'll keep things in mind and make a decision eventually.

 

You sound a bit too high maintenance for an Evo or STI, and I don't mean that as a slam.

I just picked up my Evo on Saturday and I think it's a great car and I could use it as a daily driver if I wanted to0 but I have my c32 for that. I will say that the c32 feels like a cushy cadilac in comparison and it has coilovers

The Evo is just a wicked little ride, but it's not going to coddle you... no grey poupon here

 

Yes, but the Evo cult goes all the way back to 1992! And the Evo has been very successful in winning races. I've been trying to get an Evo ever since I first saw a JDM Evo 5 on the streets of Istanbul around 1996-97. I still see Evo 4's on the amateur rally circuit and love them!

Outside of North America, the Evo is an icon. As much of an icon as the E30 M3, Porsche 911 RS, or R34 Skyline GT-R. My friends in Europe would laugh if they saw all the hand-wringing on this board with respect to "should I get an Evo or a 350Z/RX-8/Neon SRT-4?" No contest! It's practically an insult to the Evo to compare it to such mundane machinery. The Evo is in a league of it's own.

Emre

 

DAAAAAAAAMN!

I just read Lee's reply and I can't help but ask:

Are you a writer?

Your "article" just about sums up my thoughts on the EVO.

I'll just add that the EVO is a street legal race car. If you would consider buying a race car with a few more amenities than a Ferrari F40 has, then this is the car for you.

The top end is a bit disappointing depending on what you're used to but a few mods can fix that.

 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but you need to decide what you want out of your car. If you want even modest luxury, the Evo ain't it. If you want a sports car, the Evo is probably unbeatable for the money. It is loud, fast and easily upgradable.

It's also damn addictive, take the test drive with care.

 

No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I think I understand the mental gymnastics that BrianV is going through. When one purchases a new car, it requires quite a bit of thought. Sometimes, one can easily go overboard and analyze the decision to death, or worse, into no decision at all. I had just about talked myself into an RX-8, but in the end, I just didn't love it. I had to go with the one car on the market that really grabs me, and that is the Evo. And boy and I happy with it so far (five days).

Lee K

 

yeah lee really sums it up. its fun to read consumer reports december 2003 reviews of the evo and sti.

mike

 

Since u liked ur maxima just go for the g35c and add stillen supercharger and u'll do fine.

The evo has a bumpy ride, no luxury line, and it'll give ur 60 yr old parents some neck injuries.

 

i dont think it could be stated any better then Lee's reply. i have 550 miles on my evo and i love it. i went from a 93 diamante as my extremely boring winter car, and a heavily modified 94 mustang as a summer car, that kept up with my friends gsx-r750. i basically traded both of those for the evo, and i dont regret it. its an amazing car, and extremely fun to drive.

 

I'm not an owner (yet), but I'll be coming from a Lexus LS400, followed by a modified A4. I'm closing the sale on my A4 this week, and hope to be driving an evo home late next week.

I considered the g35 sedan, especially since they started offering the 6 spd, not to mention a slightly used s4. I do enjoy a bit of luxury, but in the end, I've decided the sacrifice is more than made up by the driving pleasure of the evo. When you hit some twisties, or gather with friends for a local auto-x, you won't remember what you were missing with the lex.

Bottom line, what's higher on your priority list, unparalled performance or amenities? If you're not willing to drop the amenities for the extra performance, I'd say cars that offer more of a mix (sacrificing some performance for luxury) are a better fit.

Like I said, I decided the evo is for me. I fully expect to end up buying a clutch within the first 30k, hopefully closer to the 30 side. However, I do hope the paint holds up better than I've seen with friends evo's. First items for the car, clear bra treatment and touch up paint.

In the end, forget luxury, besides, who makes the car payment, the driver or the passengers?

 

1) The EVO is for a Hard-Core Enthusiast. I repeat "HARD-CORE"
2) Hard-Core Enthusiasts DO NOT make a big fuss about minor interior squeaks (for us, ALL squeaks are MINOR)
3) You make a big deal about minor interior squeaks

Therefore, the EVO is not for you!

If you want a new $30k car that combines QUALITY with GREAT handling, good performance and good practicality, check out the VW R32. It has...

240 bhp / 236 lb-ft
3300 lbs
AWD
3.2 V6 - Normally aspirated
Taut, Track-ready suspension
Huge, Track-ready brakes in 18in wheels
Quality Interior and Exterior with grippy leather seats
Practicality of a hatchback