(prologue) So I had picked out this little, black, unmodded EVO 9 from AutoTrader and called the Dealership in GA. I was living in New York at the time with my wife. We were going back and forth between the new Camaro and the EVO. Eventually we decided on Mitsubishi. She flew out to GA and drove it back up to NY.

I called her when she left the lot and I could hear the BOV through the phone. She was all laughing and saying the car dealers are crazy, it sounded like the car's playful spirit possessed her in it's moment of freedom. Later she called me halfway home and heading out of a 7Eleven in Washington DC. Halfway through the call she starting explaining that it was an EVO to somebody outside checking her out. She then said to me somebody was asking about 'midnight'.

So I get the girls back to the house and I take the keys from the one I'm married to and head outside to the EVO. First impression was jesus this thing looks like a shark. Then I opened it up and sat down. The Recaros were squeezing me a bit. It was beautiful. Then I turned her over and reversed out of the driveway. I pulled out into the street hoping neighbors would be out doing something, anything..... Then I hit the gas.

Tried to shift and stalled out. I tried to get my *hit together and realized that I had been shaking since I touched the door handle. I felt how hungry I was too. Wow.

 

i remember when i first got my evo 2 hour ride home got into with a 350z once i got it home i stared at it for 4 hours =]

 

I came from a plain but humble 02 civic. During the first test drive though boost scared the living hell out of me. The whole 5 hour drive back home though I had the biggest grin and my friends faces were priceless to.

 

Bought the EVO IX when I was 18 and right when it just came out. I didn't drive manual so well, but was determined to own it. Had my dad test drive it and of course I bought it regardless. Dad drove it home, then I started to drive it here and there. Finally now, it's my daily driver and I love every moment of it. In the process of getting a full rebuild and widebody soon, to be full track mode. While I'll sport my first "automatic car" in 6-7 years, lol.

 

I got my EVO in pieces. Back half an EVO 8 that was stolwn and driving into a tree. Front half an EVO 9 that rolled down a hill with the nose in the air. Spent the next few weeks cutting and grinding and in the end, I had put all the beat vita from the 8&9 together in a hybrid bit of adrenaline laced genius.

Drove it out of the shop at to the house via the freeway with a buddy close behind as the car had no plates.

It was a well behaved drive with no sudden boosts or high speed silliness. Very boring except that it was the best feeling in the world.

Not only was I in a car that I built but it was like riding a shackled tiger... You could feel the pent up energy. The speed lurking there, begging to be released. Each light pedal press resulted in a surge of power that said: "now? Can we go now?!??"

It was a day later that a temp tag was I'm the back window and insurance was on the car. I released the beast and.. well, my mind went back to when I had my Lotus Esprit Turbo and... This was better!

I've been involved in racing for many years, on and odd road... I have been teaching competitive and tactical driving for over 7 years now as well and in that time, I have driven many, many cars at or past the limit AMS without a doubt, the car that still makes my heart race, that still makes me feel like I'm on my first date, the car that can literally accelerate our of the stress and pull of life itself....

My EVO. Driving it today is not unlike driving it that first day. Pure emotion. Pure joy. Total satisfaction.

S

 

A buddy let me drive his full bolted 03' in 03'. I was driving a SR20'd powered 240sx at the time and was amazed and what just bolt on and cams did to the car! It was ungodly!

I bought mine in 06 (it was an 03) and it just had a tbe, boost controller and springs but it was AMAZING!!! I bought it as a 21st bday present to myself the day before my bday and when I was heading home I got pulled over for not having proper drive out tags (I bought it private sale) and the cop was asking me how fast it was, I heard they don't have air conditioning (refering to the RS model), etc. All I said was "If you pull me over in a month or so I'll let you know." We laughed and he let me on my way with a "Don't get too drunk tomorrow, so I don't have to pull you over before you enjoy it." Great 1st drive! Then my buddy wrecked it in 2010. Not his fault, but it still sucked and I miss it greatly. I'll be back in an X soon enough though

 

My first drive was in a new EVO X on the lot. Overall the experience was great, the throttle response was the most surprising thing about it, it was so sensitive and responsive- stock. The brakes were the next thing I noticed because all i had to do was extend my big toe and the car immediately came to a halt.
Fun test drive, but I really want a IX

 

First time I drove an evo was after my boyfriend bought his VI MR the day after MY birthday in 09, I remember the day we picked it up, we headed straight to show it off to all his friends...
I dont think I have ever had as much fun in a car as I do in both of our cars.

When it came time for me to buy mine 6 months later in May of 2010 I bought it before I ever even saw it, it was on it was from NY with a wrecked front passenger side. I didnt get to have much fun with mine the first day I actually drove it since I had to go straight to work after all the docs were finalized but that weekend I went out and had fun with it.

 

Like it was yesterday. Flew from PHL to BOS to pick it up @ Grava mitsu. Only had 4 miles on the odo when I arrived and looked ohhhhh soo good sitting there in WW with those black leather recaros.

Still remember the first time I drove it in rush hour MA traffic. I was at the drag strip (NED - New England Dragway for you non-m*******s) at just over the 1k mile break-in period.

 

first time i drove mine i got to enjoy it for 15 min until it spun a bearing guess who paid for the motor rebuild. the old owner

 

I remember the first time I drove my friends evo, and ever since then I wanted one.

 

I just remember how nice it felt compared to my 1G DSM. Had good punch for stock and handled like a go-cart out of the box. My 1G had been in a minor fender bender and I was in the middle of fixing it up better than before. After a few days of driving the Evo, I sold the 1G wrecked.

The go-cart feeling changed after a few track days (and better tires). I couldn't believe I felt like it was leaning too much in the turns, but it was. Coilovers were soon to follow.

Excellent platform to start with for a track car.

 

Have always liked Mitsubishi's and when the Evo's first came here, I was down at the dealership drooling over them in the showroom. First Evo I drove was an early production '03 with a poorly done tune. I thought it handled amazingly, but the turbo lag and power was disappointing. My friend bought an '05 STI and I drove his many times. I liked the power (especially after he got a tune) and style of it, but it wasn't like the Evo. Fast forward to Dec. '07 and I was driving a 350Z that I had owned for a year (big mistake). I was ready to trade it for an STI or Evo. Since I had the most experience with STI's I was planning on buying one of those. I test drove an '07 and was very disappointed with how the car drove. Power curve was lousy, steering felt numb and they wouldn't budge on the price. I went to the Mitsu dealer and they had 2 '06's left on the lot. The MR was way too expensive, but the SE after a ton of haggling got in my price range. To seal the deal I said I had to drive the car before I bought it. They told me to keep the RPM below 5K but otherwise I could do whatever. I left the lot and holy crap, it drove nothing like the first one I drove. The turbo boost and power was savage and the handling was just as amazing. Fell in love after less than a mile and took the car home a few hours later. Four years later and I still love it.

 

Hells yeah, driving back from Queens ny with a grin on my face till it started breaking up on full boost. Got it back to my house, pulled the plugs out, oh **** wrong plugs!! Finally found the right plugs, installed, drive, grin back on my face..

 

i thought, oh crap....I'm going to be getting a lot of tickets.

but I haven't