I'm in Annandale. How's your car in the traffic around here?

 

so I think I loosened a strut or maybe bent it on one of the umpteen million potholes around the DC area... My rear wheel street combat machine is really wearing on me as far as comfort goes.

As I continue to soak up Evo info, I see that the ride in these cars aren't really boasted about being comfy. Is this going to be another rigid chassis with stiff springs I'll have to soak up most of the impacts with my rear in order to accept its pure performance bread mission statement? Or can I just assume that my 1999 SS is just beat up and I'll feel upgraded to cadillacish ride feel since the evo will be new?

 

It'll ride a lot nicer, but you certainly need to go drive one.

 

I daily drove a 1968 Red/Black Camaro SS after highschool for over 2 years (im 23 now, and its being restored 100%). Rain, Shine, light snow, 100 degrees, 10 degrees, no heat, no a/c, no shoulder-belt, no bull****. The evo is great for comfort, and zinging around the mountain roads we have here in the blue ridge mtns. However the evo doesnt hold anything to getting in that bad boy and cranking it over. It was nasty fast and nasty unsafe. The Camaro was a ton cooler than the Evo and I'm a domestic muscle guy at heart, but obviously it was lacking in necessary things in todays automotive world. Theres nothing like screaming at damn near a G of grip up a mountain road. However on the same token I don't feel like I'm really doing anything in the Evo. Its so tuned in for the road it makes me feel like I'm on rails. Thats good and bad, I personally like to have to work the throttle a bit tho. Keep em both if you can. I love having the top-tier of both worlds. Nasty, loud, fast, gas-chugging American Muscle and computer-controlled, epic handling extreme turbo import.

Oh, and for what its worth, the evo is hell on my knees getting in and out of those damn seats. Hockey and a bad mechanical bull experience have busted mine all to hell. Sorry for the long winded post too. Good luck!

 

An Evo will never ride like a Caddy over bumps. You get a good bit of noise, vibration, harshness and rattling over expansion joints and repair prone high speed roads at least in my GSR. I used to drive an 03 S2k and this car is far better in that respect but if I had to DD on those type roads, I would drive something else. Take an MR out on your usual commute roads to compare with your SS if possible.

If you want AWD and a compliant ride, check out a Legacy GT. With a few mods, they can be a beast. It won't have the precision handling of an Evo of course.

However, I love my Evo on mountain roads. I try to get up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding roads a few times a year. Good luck with your decision.

 

I like how evo owners aren't afraid to point at other cars and show the pro's and con's I'll scope a few Legacys out and see how they'll fit with me.

This Saturday I'm going out to test drive a 2008 GSR that has 13k miles on it. I'll get a good feel for the car then. I'm very excited. Next up is a 2007 Corvette 6speed

 

Not true. With SST mods, you can get there. It's just EXPENSIVE! lol

 

I went from a Supra to an Evo (so not quite V8 to Evo), but I am really happy that I did. Sure, the Supra was sexy, but RWD blows on anything but dry roads. The evo may not have quite the looks, but the overall driving experience cant be matched for the price

 

My last car was a Cadillac CTS-V. Things I miss about it-NOTHING. Things I like about my 3rd Evo-EVERYTHING!!!

 

It will drive a whole lot nice that a 99 camaro. You need to go test drive one. You will fall in love. I know I did.

 

it will def ride better than the camaro, but still the evo doesnt have a great DD ride. if youre looking for performance, handling, and easily mod-able go with the evo. if youre looking for less perf and handling but softer and smoother ride go with a sti.

 

GSR for speed!

 

Is it possible for you to have multiple cars? The Camaro, quite frankly, isn't worth damn near anything to anyone, but might be fun to keep around, if only for that V8 rumble. There's times when I miss it from my old Camaro.

 

Great thread. I like the way you described the down sides. If people don't own a car, they can't imagine why you'd ever want to get rid of it. Like the E55 I had. There were down sides. I had a couple Vettes. Same situation with the doors as you have. Always an issue getting in and out, finding a good place to park. I think you have to start with the styling of a car. I think the X really holds up in that department. I always get a smile when I walk toward it, always gets looks and compliments as my wife and I travel around. The interior isn't luxurious, but it fits the car. Seats don't adjust much so you'd really have to check that out. Not a compliant suspension, but I think you'd find it a bit better than you're used to. Great winter car. Four doors. Especially if you get the GSR you can mod the crap out of it. I think you'd like the car. One thing is for sure. You'd have a blast through the twisties.

 

Yes, I can keep the Camaro and get another car. It's something I've been thinking about pretty seriously. I could lightly mod the Evo for daily fun, and set the Camaro aside for some real serious work in the future for a fun track car.