The Mustang is basically built as a drag car. That's why it has a live axle. RWD loses a lot less power than AWD, so if dragging is your thing, the Mustang GT is a better starting point than the Evo is.

Want to put a bet on that?

 

That'd be very sweet. I really like the looks of the 3.

 

This thread is probably not going to be 'freshened' up much with some good ideas, but I wonder if the heiritage of the EVO is going to 'play' into what could come down the road and 'compete' with the EVO.

FWIW I feel the EVO is:
1.) A rally-based car = AWD
2.) Built from a common chassis = Lancer
3.) Does more than race = 4-doors and good trunk.
4.) Easy to modify = Inline4 with a pretty big turbo, stock.

Comparos of the EVO against other cars really haven't done the EVO overall justice. Most of the time the 'tunerz' magazines (you know, the ones with 'skinny' "hot-chicks" all over in them) rate the EVO against the 350Z, and in this thread, the Toyota Supra, revamped RX-7, and Ford Mustang...most RWD.

However...one of the most defining qualities is that the EVO has a 'utilitarian' feel built into it. It does sooooooo many things, including ripping it up in the winter, on demand. Most of the RWD based cars just don't cut it in winter, and yes ... a lot of Americans live in winter states.

Personally the next 'cars' that 'can' think about competing would be AWD versions of the SRT-4, an AWD version of the Mazda 6, and/or a turboed and revamped version of the Toyota Matrix, or Ford Focus. Probably the Ford is the closest being they already have a successful rally version in Europe as the Focus RS. Basically any cars would be smaller'ish' sedans with good suspension.

0.02

jcnel.

 

This probably won't fall into the '05-'07 time frame, but I really feel that AWD/4WD drivetrains are going to become increasingly more common on vehicles, due to the fact that winter states have a higher population density than most states without winter. I'm thinking the future lies in a gas/eletric hydrid with a small combustion engine which basically functions as a generator and four electric engines, one for each wheel. Think about it, the eletric engine in the Toyota Prius produces something like 74 HP. Strap four of those onto a car, and you've got 296HP total. Sure, there'd definitely be problems with even distribution from the combustion engine, but think of the gas mileage and traction that sort of design offers. I don't care what people say, if I could get a hybrid with nearly 300 horses and 60 miles to the gallon, I'd leap at the opportunity. Anyway, that might be wishful thinking.

I think the GT-R won't really compete with the Evo, it'll probably cost more. However, I think the sales of the Evo and STi and similar cars will influence whether or not the AWD will be standard or be offered as a more expensive trim. The way I see it, They might release a stripped down GT-R (think like the Evo RS) with AWD with Nissan badges, and model with Infiniti badges with more ammenities and either RWD or AWD. It all depends on how the market is going.

Ford desperately needs to improve its image. All they really have left are Mustangs, which are nice, but they still can't turn. Yes, I know they're essentially made for drag racing, but they could offer a model (probably a turbo V6 or whatever engine they use in the RS) with AWD and four-wheel independent suspension. But that seems kind of silly when they have the perfectly good Focus RS in production overseas.

There are tons of things I'd like to see, but I don't think most of them will happen. It'd be nice if Mitsubishi brought back the 3000GT and the VR-4 platform, but that'd draw sales away from the Evo...however, it might be a smart move for them to bring back the 3000GT VR-4 and beef it up to compete with the GT-R and the Corvette, up the price, the horsepower, all that sort of stuff. I don't know if that'd fit in with Mitsu's business practices, though, as they mostly sell fairly inexpensive cars.

Toyota doesn't have a single real sports car, I think they should either bring back the Supra as a higher tier car, possibly with Lexus badges, price it about like a Corvette, and make it nice and fast. A real mean machine, RWD, not all soft lines. Toyota NEEDS an aggressive looking car. Or they should bring back/over the Celica GT-4 platform (I don't know if it's been discontinued in Japan or not.)

That's all I've got to say for now.

 

In order for it to be an official competitor of the Evo...Wouldnt it be required to have atleast 4 doors to start? It seems most of the cars named are all 2 door coupes. The lotus, the mustang, the new GTR, the old GTR, 350z...I guess this thread has evolved from possible competitors to our current equals or close to equals in performance yes? I havent read every page in here yet so if im wrong, forgive me :P.


I would like to see a AWD SRT4 myself...I think that would make some interesting competition.

 

Ford put a lot of cars on the road and imports still have a long way to go in volume sales.
When I say most likely to compete I factor who you most likely to see on the road. Price is important in that respect. And also 300 hp is close to the Evo 270-275.

 

STi is and will continue to be the Evo's biggest competitor.

 

maxda cannot meet emission regs with a renensis with a turbo. why the fusnuck do you think they dont turbo charge the rx-8. it has been thought through, and is impossible to meet california code. the RX-7 at least as we know it is a gonner.

 

The RX-7 was a / is hard car to pass emissions because it burns crankcase oil to lube their rotor apex seals. I've known of plenty of old rx-7 owners that put on a 'kit' that they burn 100:1 two-cycle oil instead of the crankcase oil, and they pass emissions any day of the week.

Summary: Crankcase oil is *not* meant to be burnt, 2-cycle oil is.

0.02

jcnel.

 

STi....


It's always been STi vs. Evo.... (just thinking in the box here).

I want an Evo AND a GT-R.... two different cars for different purposes.

 

backroads traction is nothing like a track.my buddy has a 250hp miata,supercharged,bilstein coil overs,blue printed and dialed in 2,200 pounds at the limit sliding the car at up to 80mph,same road same speed,my evo is calm and composed

 

So if the lower mustangs aren't a competitor, how about the Cobra. I know its faster in the straights overall, but only barely in the quarter (comparing stock times here of course). Also, the Cobra is really easy to mod, at least as easy as the evo.

But then again, the Cobra sucks at virtually everything else, and it doesn't have 4 doors...

 

The SRT4 needs a complete new frontend for me to consider it as well...

 

07' SKYLINE GT-R sorry if repost didint read the whole thing

 

Yeah, that's actually at the top of my list now. Except for the fact it will be way too expensive for me. From what I've read they are going after the 911, and it'll be something like $75k.

Hey, it's the G35 plus lots more. The G35 can push near $40k by itself....