It's beyond stupid to think that this was Mitsu's intent in the first place..(award contention wasn't the reason it was introduced as a 2003 model..)

Mister2zx3, do you know why it was??

 

Sorry, that read harsher to you than I meant..

Sorry.

 

No I have no clue as to why MItsu would be so dumb as to but a 2003 badge on the car in the US market. Especially having been in the game here for so long and they know how it works.

So tell me, who made the decision and their reasoning, please.

 

Why??

They wanted to be the first to hit the market!!



Thats like saying a movie shouldn't be released until it is near Oscar time otherwise they won't win..
(Passion by Mel Gibson is an example) This movie will no doubt sweep the Oscars next year and may beat the 11 Oscar record!!

The manufacturer looks at a lot of reasons..
remeber, the EVO was late in arrival!! (delayed due to production issues)

And they wanted to beat Subaru to the market becuase they figured they would have a head start!! Marketshare!! Visibilty!! All that stuff!!

So the REAL question here isn't why they released it early as an 03..

The question is...Has the Evo outsold the STi???!!

 

The Evo was not eligible because this contest was for 2004 new models or models that had a major redesign. The Evo new model was 2003.

Play nice kids.......the vast majority of us STi guys love the Evo. I have never really understood the Evo guys bashing STis or STi guys bashing Evos. I would like to assume it is "ahem" friendly competition but some people really look foolish. These two cars are so close to each other that you could call them twins{compared to any other cars out there}. It is like looking at 2 beautiful twin supermodels and then saying that you would have sex with the one standing on the left. However, the one standing on the right makes you want to vomit and harm small animals.

As a side note.........I had a dream/nightmare the other night and in it my STi was stolen. I was REALLY bummed{in the dream} but then I thought that when I got the insurance check that I would go buy an Evo next. I even had the mods picked out in my dream.....TBE, cams, Xede. I was stoked until I woke up. Don't get me wrong.....I love the STi, but I love new toys and modifying them.

Have fun out there!

 

Designating a model year does mean they hit the market first. and any marketing lackey will know you want a model to have the newest model year at the earliest possible time to get the most out of folks. Selling a 2006 model car right now would be a marketers dream, becuase it's "new" for a year and half! Subaru knows the game as well as Mitsu and that's why in February of 2003 were selling there 2004 STi.. So what does Mitsu do, sells a 2003 Evo in March of 2003. Mitsu made a BIG mistake. It's cost them lots of press and chance for accolades.

The 2006 C6 Corvette will be available on dealer lots in about a year.. Why, they've been playing the game for as long as it's been a game..

Also The Evo trying to hit the market first is backwards. THe market is the pretty much the AWD 4 door Turbo Sedan.. The WRX open it first. That is what got to market first and paved the way for the STi and Evo. and hpoefully some Focus RS and AWD SRT4s or such in the future. competition is best for consumers! not what businesses want. But back to designating the year for a model car.

Mitsu screwed up. Even for resale value for indivduals who don't keep up with every detail of a car, they look at a 2003 and assume it's like any other 2003.. But the Evo loses a year in second owners eyes right away.. The only reason, I can conceive, to designate a model later instead of earlier is to get it closer to being a 25 year old classic. which in my opinoin would be quite absurd.. But that's all I can come up with..

 

I think a lot of people on this board are missing the point. Yes R&T picked the STi as the "Readers Choice Award". And yes the EVO was not eligible. BUT, R&T did choose the EVO over the STi in their comparo of road test digests now on newstands.

The point everyone is missing here is that a little over 2 years ago we had squat when it came to affordable AWD turbo, WRC based cars. S4's don't count. Finally after much crying it was SUBARU that made the first venture by bringing the WRX to the states and it more than doubled their sales predictions. Mitsubishi woke up and took notice and announced the EVO. Subaru counter punched by announcing the STi (which it previously stated it would not bring to our shores).

The bottom line is we have a great rivalry going on here and it ends up benefitting all enthusiasts of small displacement AWD turbo cars, whether you like one make or the other.

I agree with the STi owner who posted above, the EVO tends to market a younger demographic with it's harsher ride and slightly more aggressive looks. At the same token the STi is slightly more refined and less edgy, has a much higher quality of fit and finish AND reliability. Before anyone starts flaming I have owned both a WRX and now own an EVO. Subaru quality control is inherently better than mitsubishi, so is their reliability. Check any rating by JDpower or consumer union and they will agree. The STi attracts a more mature owner than the EVO and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why. You also pay a price premium for the quality. But it all boils down to preferences and whether anyone likes it or not, these two cars are remarkable similar. I own an EVO because I prefer the raw sense of driving over refinement and sophistication. I'm also a young alpha male in the military and yes, I fall right into the marketing demographics of the EVO. But I am also man enough to say "congratulations to the STi on winning Reader's Choice Car of the Year" I look forward to some one-upsmanship my both Mitsu and Subaru that will give us better and more exciting cars to come!

As a sidenote: I notice that the maturity level of the user boards mirrors the owners almost too a tee. I am a member of both, but find much more articulated and useful posts on NASIOC and much more uninformed flaming and ignorance on EVOm. I hope this will change over time as WE ALL grow up.

<flame suit on>

 

Hummer: Hilarious - and perfect - analogy. Supermodel A may have longer legs, which some men desire, and Supermodel B may have larger breasts, but when the lights are out (or when you're behind the wheel) the pleasure will be the same. That said... the Evo is the hotter of the 2, and the STi would be the one I'd let my friend have!

 

Right on Dude!

I just had to do that!

 

I have noticed this also. Strange that such similar cars attract such a visibly different demographic.

However, while I agree that Mitsu blew it with the model year thing, the Evo and Sti are ALL of the rage in the automotive press. I was reading an article in C&D that referred to the ride and hadling of the Evo as if it was the benchmark of all things handling. It simply makes R&T look stupid that the Evo wasn't there for the show, when EVERYONE knows that the 2 cars are neck and neck in ratings.

 

Uh, yeah. I think that was determined like 6 posts ago..

Play nice kids??!! Okay dad...
And where in this thread do you see anyone bashing the STi??! It's a lot more bashing for the model year intro than anything else??!!

I disagree. The EVO and STi enjoy the same aged buyer demographic. We have posted an age poll here and found most owners of the EVO to be like 30 years old..granted that isn't a national stat ,but it gives you a feel for the age group that hangs here..(see below)

Well. This explains why you assume EVO owners and this board to be compiled of young punks..Your predisposed opinion, not fact. Ever visit the Bentley boards or Jaguer forum??! "Right good show and articulation is mighty over there chap.."

This thread and these boards really try to have good topics started and yes, they may be heated but for the most part have great info! Every board has it's share of questionable and unintelligent posters , NASOIC included.

Nobody on a board likes to be talked down to like you are talking down to the evom members..referring to a board you are not on regularly as being full of ignorance and flamers is kind of crude...

This board is not what you percieve and I feel you are mistaken!

The STi is a cool car! Sat in one at the auto show and I was like..Hmmmm, feels good. Should I drive it and see how it compares to my Evo??!!

 

Scientifically proven and unbiased! I stand corected.

Um, No. Have not owned one nor do I plan on it. Spelled Jaguar by the way.

True, but more so on Evom.

You forget I included myself in that statement and said as "WE ALL" grow up. Details.

You have a constitutional right to think so, but others agree with me...and 'i' before 'e' except AFTER 'c'You absolutely should! That would make your statement a QUALIFIED and OBJECTIVE opinion as opposed to the all too common "STI sucks, EVO rulz" comments posted by people who have never owned, driven or even rode in a STi. That my friend would be much more "articulated and useful" than a mere thought at an auto show.

 

One of the best spoken posts...ever. This man deserves appluase for how intelligently and sincerely he has replied to "daddy".

 

Dude: correcting spelling while spelling corected <sic> in your first line... me likee!

 

Dude!