Modern-day alternatives to Evo 9?
Sep 18, 2021, 05:26 AM
#106
Biggiesacks -- no problem at all, and the trend toward electric (although not part of my original post) is a big part of my musing as well. We just bought a new Land Rover Defender (which I absolutely love) which is filling the current void of "fun, interesting, and not entirely practical vehicle". Part of that decision, though, was that it's possible gas models won't be available a few years from now. The same idea lingers in the back of my head for cars... how much longer will there even be gas "performance" cars? I suspect at some point a few gas models will exist for strategic reasons (police vehicles, people who need them for long-range driving, etc.) but there won't be any character or fun to them -- they'll be appliances. So (not to be too depressing), the next performance car I buy might be the last gas one before everyone flips over to building electric.
Then again... I may have already bought/owned the best/last "performance" car (Evo), and it's time to mentally look forward to the electric wave (my wife has mentioned e-cars many, many times...which is another factor).
The M3P comments are interesting... I wasn't really even aware that car existed. Is there anything non-Tesla that's in that space (and price range?). I do like (on paper) the GR Corolla too though. We'll see...
RedAustinIX
Then again... I may have already bought/owned the best/last "performance" car (Evo), and it's time to mentally look forward to the electric wave (my wife has mentioned e-cars many, many times...which is another factor).
The M3P comments are interesting... I wasn't really even aware that car existed. Is there anything non-Tesla that's in that space (and price range?). I do like (on paper) the GR Corolla too though. We'll see...
RedAustinIX
Sep 19, 2021, 07:16 PM
#107
Talking about alternatives to the Evo, I finally got the Tesla out to an event for testing before I start modding and making parts.
In the wet it does do some really odd things with its open diffs. I think it tends to spin the inside rear then brake bias which snaps the rear loose. It really required smooth inputs on exit to keep the car happy. In dryer (not fully dry tho) weather it just seemed to be quite a bit happier but entry understeer was creeping up pretty hard. Its definitely not an SS car and really needs shocks to compete at all. But it does have potential. It just REALLY needs stiffer springs and more rebound to control the 4000lbs.
Saturdays run. Good run, tried to keep as tidy as possible in the wet.
Sundays run, also solid. Pushing a bit harder as course dried out.
In the wet it does do some really odd things with its open diffs. I think it tends to spin the inside rear then brake bias which snaps the rear loose. It really required smooth inputs on exit to keep the car happy. In dryer (not fully dry tho) weather it just seemed to be quite a bit happier but entry understeer was creeping up pretty hard. Its definitely not an SS car and really needs shocks to compete at all. But it does have potential. It just REALLY needs stiffer springs and more rebound to control the 4000lbs.
Saturdays run. Good run, tried to keep as tidy as possible in the wet.
Sundays run, also solid. Pushing a bit harder as course dried out.
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osetsky (Sep 20, 2021)
Mar 24, 2024, 03:53 PM
#108
I know this thread is old, but I'm in the same boat! I actually went looking for my IX MR I sold and found out it was totaled a year after I sold her. Crushed, I am looking for a replacement of some kind. Corolla GR or TTRS seem to be repeated often. If only we can get an Evo XI. Hell, if she was a hybrid that'd be OK.
Mar 24, 2024, 04:29 PM
#109
I know this thread is old, but I'm in the same boat! I actually went looking for my IX MR I sold and found out it was totaled a year after I sold her. Crushed, I am looking for a replacement of some kind. Corolla GR or TTRS seem to be repeated often. If only we can get an Evo XI. Hell, if she was a hybrid that'd be OK.
Mar 25, 2024, 08:26 AM
#110
Evolving Member
The gr is a nerd Mobile. It looks like a 16 years old girls high school grad present. Audi is a cool choice but just cant beat the down to business aggressive but not overdone styling of older 8/9 chassis imo. Not to mention unbeatable weight reducion characteristics.
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ViciousLSD (Mar 25, 2024)
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schuhie (Mar 26, 2024)
Mar 26, 2024, 05:21 AM
#112
Evolving Member
Gotcha. Yea, looks are pretty subjective. I don't hate how it looks but it doesn't look as good as the 8/9 for sure. I think for a modern car, it is styled decent so that doesn't bother me. My thing right now is the price lol. I need Toyota to keep making them for a few more years so when I go to buy one in a couple years the used ones aren't still $35k+ lol.
Mar 26, 2024, 05:49 AM
#113
I owned a GR and it’s fun for what it is. They have potential but going to be a while before that platform is sorted out. Good to at least see shops like Boostin and Speed lab Inc pick them up.
I’ve pretty much owned everything at this point, and come to the realization that modern cars are almost TOO good and you lose what makes driving cars like the the evo, special.
Everything is just so fast now, but at the same time so tame, refined and easy to drive they become boring pretty quickly. IMO.
I’ve pretty much owned everything at this point, and come to the realization that modern cars are almost TOO good and you lose what makes driving cars like the the evo, special.
Everything is just so fast now, but at the same time so tame, refined and easy to drive they become boring pretty quickly. IMO.
Mar 26, 2024, 06:08 AM
#114
Evolving Member
I owned a GR and it’s fun for what it is. They have potential but going to be a while before that platform is sorted out. Good to at least see shops like Boostin and Speed lab Inc pick them up.
I’ve pretty much owned everything at this point, and come to the realization that modern cars are almost TOO good and you lose what makes driving cars like the the evo, special.
Everything is just so fast now, but at the same time so tame, refined and easy to drive they become boring pretty quickly. IMO.
I’ve pretty much owned everything at this point, and come to the realization that modern cars are almost TOO good and you lose what makes driving cars like the the evo, special.
Everything is just so fast now, but at the same time so tame, refined and easy to drive they become boring pretty quickly. IMO.
The evo isn't going anywhere for me so I'll always have that raw experience in the evo.
I too am super excited to see Buscher and other main DSM/EVO players pick up the platform. Hopefully it leads to good results in the next few years while I wait out buying one.
Mar 26, 2024, 06:36 AM
#115
That's good feedback. I haven't gotten a chance to drive one yet but that's basically what I figured. A refined, quick car that doesn't have a ton of personality like the evo does.
The evo isn't going anywhere for me so I'll always have that raw experience in the evo.
I too am super excited to see Buscher and other main DSM/EVO players pick up the platform. Hopefully it leads to good results in the next few years while I wait out buying one.
The evo isn't going anywhere for me so I'll always have that raw experience in the evo.
I too am super excited to see Buscher and other main DSM/EVO players pick up the platform. Hopefully it leads to good results in the next few years while I wait out buying one.
It felt kinda quirky and unrefined and I could see it being a lot of fun with more time.
I actually only sold it because at the time there were no serious shops buying them and just complete lack of development. I didn’t want to wait around. Now with boostin, buschur, speed lab etc. it’s actually fairly interesting to see.
my post was more to all the “auto” cars. Ie. I had a built rs3. Could rip off a deep 9 sec 1/4 mile on the street, with the ac on holding the wheel with 1 finger. It drove like a stock rs3(or a3) when you wanted. Quiet, soft, etc.
It was super impressive, good for a daily, but the novelty wears off quick and what you’re left with is a kinda boring, really ****ing fast car lol. And that’s most modern cars. Impressive in the sense we’ve come so far that you can have a 8-9sec car that’s refined, and streetable, but it removes a ton of the “drama” from driving a car like the evo.
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schuhie (Mar 26, 2024)
Mar 26, 2024, 07:09 AM
#116
Evolving Member
to be fair the gr has a ton of personality. The evo or gd wrx was the first cars I thought of when I got it. It is THE reason I’m getting back into an evo right now lol It reminded me how much I missed it.
It felt kinda quirky and unrefined and I could see it being a lot of fun with more time.
I actually only sold it because at the time there were no serious shops buying them and just complete lack of development. I didn’t want to wait around. Now with boostin, buschur, speed lab etc. it’s actually fairly interesting to see.
my post was more to all the “auto” cars. Ie. I had a built rs3. Could rip off a deep 9 sec 1/4 mile on the street, with the ac on holding the wheel with 1 finger. It drove like a stock rs3(or a3) when you wanted. Quiet, soft, etc.
It was super impressive, good for a daily, but the novelty wears off quick and what you’re left with is a kinda boring, really ****ing fast car lol. And that’s most modern cars. Impressive in the sense we’ve come so far that you can have a 8-9sec car that’s refined, and streetable, but it removes a ton of the “drama” from driving a car like the evo.
It felt kinda quirky and unrefined and I could see it being a lot of fun with more time.
I actually only sold it because at the time there were no serious shops buying them and just complete lack of development. I didn’t want to wait around. Now with boostin, buschur, speed lab etc. it’s actually fairly interesting to see.
my post was more to all the “auto” cars. Ie. I had a built rs3. Could rip off a deep 9 sec 1/4 mile on the street, with the ac on holding the wheel with 1 finger. It drove like a stock rs3(or a3) when you wanted. Quiet, soft, etc.
It was super impressive, good for a daily, but the novelty wears off quick and what you’re left with is a kinda boring, really ****ing fast car lol. And that’s most modern cars. Impressive in the sense we’ve come so far that you can have a 8-9sec car that’s refined, and streetable, but it removes a ton of the “drama” from driving a car like the evo.
I understand the not wanting to wait thing lol. That's one of the main drivers in me waiting a few years to pick one up, I wanted to see where the platform went before I commit to it.
It is crazy how fast modern cars are, even stock. I can definitely see where that gets boring quickly. It has a really cool trick but at the end of the day, its still 1 trick lol. That's how I felt when I drove a Tesla for the first time, 10 minutes in the coolness wore off and it was just blah.
Mar 26, 2024, 12:05 PM
#118
GR Corolla looks like a fun car by all accounts but I can't get myself too into the idea of building it up. A lot of things like the 1.6L 3-cylinder or the cooling system that overheats on track feels like a step back from a platform like the Evo. I think it would be a fun drive around town car if you want something that's the opposite of boring to drive.
Unfortunately I don't think we're getting another performance-first AWD boost car any time soon. The new Supra platform is turning out to be great for modding, once you get past the locked ECU challenges. It's RWD and the non-DCT auto isn't my favorite, but it performs extremely well.
Mar 26, 2024, 06:11 PM
#119
The Evo is also a major nerd mobile.
GR Corolla looks like a fun car by all accounts but I can't get myself too into the idea of building it up. A lot of things like the 1.6L 3-cylinder or the cooling system that overheats on track feels like a step back from a platform like the Evo. I think it would be a fun drive around town car if you want something that's the opposite of boring to drive.
Unfortunately I don't think we're getting another performance-first AWD boost car any time soon. The new Supra platform is turning out to be great for modding, once you get past the locked ECU challenges. It's RWD and the non-DCT auto isn't my favorite, but it performs extremely well.
GR Corolla looks like a fun car by all accounts but I can't get myself too into the idea of building it up. A lot of things like the 1.6L 3-cylinder or the cooling system that overheats on track feels like a step back from a platform like the Evo. I think it would be a fun drive around town car if you want something that's the opposite of boring to drive.
Unfortunately I don't think we're getting another performance-first AWD boost car any time soon. The new Supra platform is turning out to be great for modding, once you get past the locked ECU challenges. It's RWD and the non-DCT auto isn't my favorite, but it performs extremely well.
Mar 27, 2024, 08:31 AM
#120
Greetings! I haven't been on this forum in a while (sold my Evo a few years ago), but have been getting the itch to have a fast car again. I bought my Evo 9 new back in '06, and enjoyed the 10+ years of ownership, mods/upgrades and driving. When parts supplies started drying up and more major issues were on the horizon, I decided to sell (at a great price, I should add...). I'm not super mechanical, not a track racer, and don't hit the drag strip every weekend. But... I enjoyed having a fast car that I could daily drive, and very infrequently go to autocross events or the drag strip. I really enjoyed doing simple bolt-on upgrades, the research process, and working on stuff like A-pillar gauges, audio (I had a Orbital designs 2-DIN!), etc.
Knowing that nothing can really replace the Evo 9, I'm wondering if any of you have ideas about what new cars might be a decent replacement? For example, it would seem that the WRX STI might be the closest -- is it going to provide a similar fun, performance, upgrade experience that I had with the Evo? I was considering the BMW M2 also, but parts (and the car) are a lot pricier -- I'm not sure the bang-for-the-buck is there. Important to me is something that has a dealer network (to back up my mechanical mistakes), and also something that I can customize a bit to make it special. Also, it's nice if it's fast. I bought a Miata for a year or two after selling my Evo, and I realized that in addition to the slowness, the lack of usability and space were things I didn't care for.
Or... will there never be another Evo, and I should just consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to enjoy such a fine automobile as long as I did?
Thanks!
RedAustinIX
Knowing that nothing can really replace the Evo 9, I'm wondering if any of you have ideas about what new cars might be a decent replacement? For example, it would seem that the WRX STI might be the closest -- is it going to provide a similar fun, performance, upgrade experience that I had with the Evo? I was considering the BMW M2 also, but parts (and the car) are a lot pricier -- I'm not sure the bang-for-the-buck is there. Important to me is something that has a dealer network (to back up my mechanical mistakes), and also something that I can customize a bit to make it special. Also, it's nice if it's fast. I bought a Miata for a year or two after selling my Evo, and I realized that in addition to the slowness, the lack of usability and space were things I didn't care for.
Or... will there never be another Evo, and I should just consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to enjoy such a fine automobile as long as I did?
Thanks!
RedAustinIX
Last edited by vtec fever; Apr 3, 2024 at 01:41 PM.