I got to drive an Evo today.
I found out a friend of mine was working at a local dealership and they had an Evo, so test drive.
First impressions the handling is unreal.
I was not impressed with the speed, maybe it’s deceiving.

The GM there said they should be seeing the 04's by the end of summer, 3 different models the RS, a model like the current, and the MR.
He said he just ordered a MR (he's so called top end model)

 

Where'd you go? I test drove one at Carmax last night.

Same impressions. Handling was great (point and go), acceleration was good, although once it did slam me pretty hard. But overall, I didn't get the "I must have this car right now" feeling I was hoping for. I think it was deceiving b/c I noticed I got to 60 before I knew it. I guess I was expecting that "spine through the chest" feeling and never got it. Overall I got a favorable impression, but the test drive alone did not seal the deal.

I was amost ready to deal, but there were some cosmetic issues with the car I drove (Yellow one) and it had 126 miles on it, that I knew were not easy ones.

Then they low-balled my trade big time, and since it was carmax, nothing was negotiable, so I walked.

Oh well, still other dealers, and my current car runs so I can always wait for an MR.

ac

 

So the MR is really coming huh? Man..this is getting more and more excited each day. Bring it!!! MR, STI, SPEC C

 

Noticed the same when I test drove one.
Handling amazing, but I was expecting a lot more power. The top end seemed very flat.

Also, there seemed to be a lot of 'clunking' going on in the transmission, which isn't really what your want to be hearing when spending 30K on a car..........

I know people will say that it can be modded to resolve this, but I prefer keeping my cars stock.

Hopefully the MR may increase the power available.......

Anyone take a trip around Mistubishi USA HQ recently. I seem to remember b4 the evo came out, there were lots of great shots coming from there.............

 

Were you guys able to put it in WOT and engage the clutch at high RPM's? That would get you the "spine through the chest" feeling. But I doubt a test drive would allow that.

 

needs to break in as well!!

 

You're both right...the test drive kinda fooled me too. I'd mash it a little in 1st and 2nd til the boost would kick in and thought to myself, WOW THIS THING WILL BE AWESOME FAST! But in reality, in stock form, it takes the car a LOOOOONG time to spool up, the rush is quick then the pull drops off dramatically in 3rd and 4th gear. If you're used to the immediate off-the-line lunge of a normally aspirated high horsepower car, the Evo is just not the same. The tests put the Evo in the low 13's, but you'd have to abuse the clutch so bad to duplicate it...I'm not willing to do that. It hurts to say this, but I lose most heads up races to "slower" vehicles because they just slaughter me off the line & all I can do is play catch up. On the positive side, what you can't duplicate in a test drive is the silky smooth locamotive pull the Evo gives you in top gear when you hammer it. You're at 130 mph in a snap. The power is there, just in an unconventional way - if that makes sense. And anyone here will tell you it's not about quarter mile as much as unreal handling! Spend as much time in one before you plop down your hard earned $$$ to make sure it's what you want.

 

If anyone is going to get pics of the new MR, it is going to be someone from SoCalEvo. You should hop on there and bug those guys about it.

 

There must be some bum evos out there. Cuz I have great power and have since day one. My spool up starts at 3,000 and holds pretty good through 5,000 then creaps down a little, but torque seems to pick up at that point. But you really have to go WOT to experience that. If you just kinda nudge it a little, it will seem laggy. If you step on it, it will come alive!

THKFAST is very correct in one aspect though.. If you're not used to turbo vehicles or come from a N/A with lots of power, it "seems" like the power is slow to come on. But hey, let's remember these two points, 2.0L and 4 banger. Don't expect it to have huge low end torgue followed by a huge turbo spool, because it's not. But, IMO, the AWD makes up for that lack.

I can't complain about mine at all. And once you start modding you will really understand the beauty of this car!

-$0.02

 

The one I drove had 1700 miles on it.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Alacris
[B]Where'd you go? I test drove one at Carmax last night.

Same impressions. Handling was great (point and go), acceleration was good, although once it did slam me pretty hard. But overall, I didn't get the "I must have this car right now" feeling I was hoping for. I think it was deceiving b/c I noticed I got to 60 before I knew it. I guess I was expecting that "spine through the chest" feeling and never got it. Overall I got a favorable impression, but the test drive alone did not seal the deal.

I went to a local mit. dealer in central va.

Dont get me wrong guys this car was damn fast, I guess I expected more.
I think with the AWD the car does not move around much (squat) and the acceleration is so smooth that it just doesn't feel like your going that fast when you are..
I'm not use to turbo cars either so that may explain my reaction.
Anyway the test drive didn't change my mind EVO

 

Wow, what kind of cars are you guys driving? Stage 4 STi? 911 Turbo? 360 Modena?

The Evo has plenty of acceleration if you keep the rev within the power band. If driven properly, the car can out-accelerate S4, Boxster, and can easily keep up with 911s and M3s. In my opinion, the overall performance is sufficient for various occasions: highway, twisties, autocross, etc.

For those of you who finds the Evo to be "not so fast", please consider the other cars within the price range. I have driven RX8, G35, S2000, WRX, and many others, and they are much slower by comparison. With the exception of the STi. That car hauls ***.

 

I dont know what some of you are talking about??? You might not feel the push in yr test drive because the body of the EVO is very very stiff. You can be 100 miles and think that you are 60mph. you can tell just by looking how fast you are passing the cars next you. real sport fast cars are made to not make you feel all the speed. I drove my car from VA to CA on 110mph most of the way though i was on 70 all the time. about tranny noise for god go and buy a Camery. some times I ask myself why did Mitsu screw themselves up and brought this car here when some of us buy it because they think its a camery.

 

Yea Mitsu head Q is 1 mile away from me

 

Evolved1, that's what the aftermarket is for! Out of curiosity, what do you normally drive that makes the Evo seem not that fast? There are few cars which, in stock form, are faster. When I test drove the Evo, I was blown away, but to be honest, my last car was a 97hp Tercel