Omega - I am guessing you are a young guy/gal?

Your argument is worthless. Everyone and anyone can get in an accident; no amount of experience or skill can prevent that. I don't think anyone will argue against this. What we are trying to say is that young people, with less driving experience, are simply more prone to get into accidents, this is a statitistical fact, not up for debate. If you compare the number of miles driven by the average 18 year old vs. the average 28 year old, and look at the number of accidents per mile driven, you will see a statistical difference, period. Compound this lack of experience with a high performance car, and anyone can see the likely results.

I know teenagers that are great drivers, and I know people who are in there 30s that should have their license taken away from then. But I know now, as I approach 30, that I am far more prepared to deal with road hazards then I was a decade ago. I have been lucky enough to drive performance cars most of my adult life. I have been in one wreck in my cobra when I was 22. I know now, at 28 that this wouldn't have happened. Experience is worth something - not everything, but something. To use your racecar driver against you: what is the average age for professional drivers in F1, WRC, CART, NASCAR, ALMS etc etc etc. They aren't teenagers; in fact very few are even in their early 20s.

I am not attacking your ability to drive, or your deservedness to own an Evo. If you and/or your parents think it is wise, and can afford it, go for it, I sure would have.

 

I'm looking at this from the standpoint of a 21 year-old driver, who has never driven a performance car.

I plan on buying an Evo in approximately May, and I know very well that I'm going to suck at driving it for the first 6 months that I own it. I can't even drive stick yet. I am planning on learning before I get the car, so that I can own one.

By this definition, that makes me an Evo poser to some people on the board.

However, I want to buy a performance automobile because I've always wanted to get into the scene, and couldn't afford to until now. I feel like I've done my time in a 78 GMC Jimmy and 2 Buick LeSabres over the past 6 years, and I'm ready to move on to something that doesn't have so much body roll that I am scared to make turns at 15 mph.

I think the reason why I chose the Evo over other performance cars, is that it has one of the best power to price ratios of any other sport car on the US market, it has electronic systems to adjust for the errors I will certainly be making at first, it's AWD which is practical year-round, and it's not a straight line car, which is perfect for the country roads around where I live.

I think that the Evo is a very good beginner's sports car. It's much better for a youngish driver to start on something like this than a massively high HP RWD car that would be tough to keep on the road.

Any idiot can wreck in any car, not just the EVO, and not just super-performance cars like the EVO.

Sorry for the long wind.

 

Guys really, I can understand all of your points of view. Now in my case, I've never owned a performance car before, but I like cars and would like to learn more. I just recently bought my '03 OZ about 2 months ago and I'm loving it. This is my first new car. I told myself that I would start to learn on my new baby. (Her name's Roxy.) After buying her, I found this forum site and I learned of the Evo. I got my car on Mitsu's Diamond Option Plan which let's me turn my car in after 36 or 48 months and just sign and drive a new one. I'm now 23 and by the time my 36months are up the Evo will be established here in the US and I'll be over 25 (Insurance purposes) and I think I'll be ready for her.

 

I never asked anyone to justify the Evo ownership to me. Don't bother. We are talking population statistics here (see below). They don't apply to the individual. All of you seem like good drivers to me. But some times that is not the issue. As stated before no one thinks it will happen to them. The statistics say that it will to some on this board. Those are the facts and if you don’t like it that really doesn’t matter. Sorry it’s harsh.

This “infant mortality” phenomenon is seen in all areas of life and it really is not an age based either despite the terminology.

• It is much safe to fly with a pilot that has more than 1000 hours of flight time (not related to age)
• The most extreme case I have ever seen documented- In the last two months of WWII new P47 fighter pilots average 8 hours of combat before they were killed or wounded. Yet a majority of the combat vets made it through.
• If you make it through the first two years riding a motorcycle on the street you are much more likely to never have an accident.

Please make the case that young drivers should have an Evo for there first car or what about an Evo makes it a good choice for young drivers

I would want one if I was eighteen also. It's your parents that should know better. There are worse things in life than not getting what you want.

Teen driver population statistics

• 82% of teen accidents are caused by "driver error" according to police reports
  
• 1 out of 3 teens have an accident during their first year of driving
  
• 14% of all deaths due to motor vehicle accidents are teen drivers.
  
• Teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents had a youth passenger in automobile 45% of the time.
  
• Of teen drivers fatally injured in automobiles, more than 1/3 were speed related accidents.
  
• Teen lifestyle of staying up late make teen drivers a high risk to have an automobile accident due to drowsiness.
  
• More than any age group, teens are likely to be involved in a single vehicle crash.
  
• This age group makes up 7% of licensed drivers, but suffers 14% of fatalities and 20% of all reported accidents.
  
• Most teen driver deaths due to motor vehicle accidents occur on weekends 53% of the time.

erik

 

All age groups will wreck Evos that is a guarantee. But what is also a certainty is that more people in the 18-25 groups will wreck them than another (experience) group.

Out here in Orange County, ca $40K car for teenagers is common. So the price will not be a barrier for all.

Erik

 

suave3747 take some advice from an old man. (You can start ignoring me here)

Don't get the Evo as your first performance car. The Evo is a top rung supercar it does not compare to any of the Japanese $30K sporty cars. You can’t look at the Evo price to make any judgment about its performance. It compares more to 911 and Z06 and up. You will likely not get near the enjoyment out of it anyway without some previous performance car experience.

My advice get a used

Miata to learn on if size is not a consideration.
Integra (any of the performance models except type-r)
Prelude
BMW 325i

Learn to drive on one of these for a while. All of them make pretty good autox cars too. Get some performance driving instruction also. Hell, get a used race kart and a trailer while you’re at it and really hone your skills. You can probably get a car and kart for less than an Evo. Maybe even have more fun. Later, get a used Evo for less money.

(you can start listening again)

Erik

 

This whole thread reminds me so much of my self more than a decade ago. So sure that I new and could do everything, that nobody was able to tell me what I didn't want to hear. The same goes here. For people of that age goes a lot of pride and need to prove them selves to somebody around them. It will take a while, till they figure out that they where trying to prove things just for them selves. We all had a picture of the way we thought we should be and no mater what we where doing we where not able to get there. That makes people angry and they keep torturing them selves more and more (others around them too) and driving is just one of those things.

I thought that I was the best driver in the world when I was a teen. As I am getting older I am finding more and more of the things that I actually don't know and it is also getting easier to leave with that. I guess, we all have to go through those years and those who survive them will have a chance to talk about it later. There is very little we can do about it because there is only so much teens are willing to hear. And they can't be blame for that, since I was the same way and I believe most of us where one way or the other.

So, the fact is the EVO is a fast car. The fact is that most of the teens have a lot of things to prove and if that is the driving they will do it anyway. Honda Civic smashing a the wall at 100 mph is the same thing as an EVO doing the same thing. If it is meant to be for some to get to that point, there in nothing you or I or anybody else can do about it.

A lot of friends of mine that are not that experienced driver, didn't really like my car. It was too fast and to scary. Street trim is close to the stock EVO, so I do believe that a lot of people will not buy that car after the first test drive. A lot of people here never felt a boost kick and feeling of car running away from you. So, it will go down to those responsible for the decision making between the Civic and the EVO. Good luck to all of them!


Mr. AWD

 

By using my racer thing against me, you proved my point. I know many racers are very young, but the point is they didnt just take up racing a yaer before they made it to the circuit. They have been driving for 15 years. Im not saying every youngster should be banned from the Evo, im just simply stating the fact that young people arent the only ones that are going to treat the car like ****, PLENTY of rich people are going to buy the EVO cuz its the new hot thing, and try to treat it like something its not ( and probably worse than the teens, because most teens have SOMEWHAT of an idea what this car does ) and ruin it even quicker. I totally agree, many teens shouldnt be let behind the wheel of the EVO, but the same goes for members of every age class.

 

Hey, even tough it is an EVO, it is still a car and you can treat it any way you want. Remember, just a car, not a goddess!

Mr. AWD

 

If ya haven't already heard, Mikey, it's the land of the free, and the home of the brave, buddy. We got kids flying our fighter jets....and words are cheap, my friend. What was it that bugged you again?

 

Hello all, This thread has been quite an interesting read. First some background. For those of you that have never been to Jamaica, you may be suprised that we have quite a few Evos out here. Due to a special relationship between Japan and the local dealer (mainly fostered by rallying) , every Evo since the "evo 1" has been imported on a limited basis.

Over the years, there have been quite a few crashes involving novice drivers of all ages. It was one of our forum members that said it best : 'these cars demand a lot of responsibilty'. As a result only 2 insurance companies will insure the car period. A lot of today's teenagers simply do not have the sense of responsibilty to drive a car like this, but we must be careful how we generalize, as I am sure quite a few >28yr olds don't either.

To all future Evo owners : take the time to get to know your car. And remember : drive in a manner that protects others on the road, as well as yourself!

just my 2¢

 

My first ride was a 1985 tan Nissan Sentra hatchback. . Although it was fun, you can imagine the respect I had for the car seing as though I did only pay a dollar for it. So I did what most beginning drivers would do I took it down the fire lanes in upper michigan, from that point on cars have had my full attention. I just recently picked up my OZ i agree it doesn't have the speed, yet the thing it is best for is the way it can catch a glance no matter where you are. In the years to come I hope to grasp a EVO in the palm of my hand but I believe rather then crashing it due to poor driving, I will waste it by being too afraid to give it what it has to offer. I mean I don't even beat on my OZ why would I want to wreck something I put so much work into? I leave that to my occassional beaters

 

My 2¢ would be to ANYONE (regardless of age / gender / creed / color / etc) that has not owned a high performance car, or done some sort of high performance driving, for them to take a driving school at a race track once they have the almighty Evo.
I did this when I got my S2000 (eventhough I have raced karts for 5 years) and did I learn a lot! as an added bonus - most accredited driving schools are tax deductable - imagine - 2 days of beating on your car at a track and it's a tax write off!

 

haha.. really a tax write off..How so. Yeah I'm going to tell my insurance that I've been taking alot fo courses and test throughout my life. It all started from working ym way up to getting my FIA liceense, I dont know i did it... but i serously did it.
My favorite courses have been Test Course and Leguna Seca. And my trophy cars run from anywhere from a civic ferio... to the almighty Aeyrton Senna Formula car. MY life has treated me well. I also have some top speed capabilities, as Ive been to several Wangan meets in Japan. If you guys want to know how I did it, just respond back ok.

 

No. My god, no. That is a fundamental error that keeps cropping up.

It is *not* much better for a youngish driver to start with an Evo. As a matter of fact, a high hp RWD *is* better.

In a high hp RWD, you will get bitten very fast. It's almost impossible not to get bitten, and there is a good chance you will get bitten at low speeds. That's because they will oversteer under throttle *easily* and will do it at *low* speeds too. Because of that, you may write the car off, but you have a good chance that you will learn to respect the car *before* you write it off, or at least before you write *yourself* off.

In a Lancer Evolution, a WRX STi, a Legacy B4, a Skyline GT-R, you won't get bitten at first. It'll hold you on the road when you miss the apex. It will make you look like a hero even when you are not. And that's the problem.

It will allow you to fudge apexs, to turn in too late, to get on the braking when you shouldn't. It won't spin out on a dime. You can put the gas down and the rear tyres won't break loose easily.

Sounds good, eh? Except I've driven all of those vehicles, some on a track, and I've learned the truth - what will happen is that since it doesn't bite you easily, you'll start driving faster and faster into those corners. You won't even notice it, because you don't get the feedback that you would in a RWD or FWD. And then, before you know it, you went in too fast. And unlike a RWD, that too fast will truly be *too* fast. A corner that would have felt exciting at 40mph in the RWD didn't feel exciting for the AWD till you were doing 60mph. And then you find out when it lets go at 70mph, there is no recovery, and you are in the trees.

Check the crash reports on wrx forums - there is a lot. There will be a lot for the Evolution in the States.

If you really want to learn how to drive, to really drive, and not simply be a passenger that happens to be holding the steering wheel and pushing the pedals, then you are much better off buying a Miata and getting some actual driver training, or use it to participate in some gymkhana/autocross. Even learning to drive it at 8/10's on a twisty mountain road will do, because even at 8/10's, it will be going much faster than you can believe. If you can learn to drive a Miata at 10/10's properly for 10 minutes at a time, then you'd be halfway prepared to drive a real Evolution at 8/10's some of the time.

Does that sound harsh? I hope so, I could be harsher. My life has entered a phase where I have to drive cars professionally, and I've got a looong way to go. And I have been driving longer and better than most of you. At least I've got professionals around to point out my (many) errors, and give me an idea how to at least crash with a minimal amount of damage...

Cheers,

Paul Hansen