In the past 9 years I went from a Z06 to an Evo, back to a Z06 then back to an Evo. I've had quite a few exotics and some would call "super cars" but there's something about the Evo. I had to come back. You will NOT be dissapointed with this car.

 

Haha, exactly my point. I put a scratch in it I'm toast!

Look, the main reason I'm looking at an Evo is the handling. I've read all the reviews and seen all the videos. I was duly impressed with a review I read on Motortrend? or Car & Driver? Where the Evo X supposedly out-handled an MX-5.

I don't have much track experience. Time on the track is a goal of mine. But I want one heck of a fun, good-handling car. If a Corvette with a little suspension work can give me the handling of an Evo, then that's a great option and I'll save some cash and get a truck too. Yes, I will always feel like, "what would have been" if I had bought an Evo and will always want one, but one can't have it all, right?!!

Styling is very important to me, that's why I'm aiming for an X. I like it 10x more than the styling on the 9's and prior. Just my opinion of course, with all due respect to IX and prior guys.

Of course, there are other factors in the Evo Vs Corvette debate. My wife is a car enthusiast too. We have kids. The kids ride in the Mustang and all is fine with the world. If I get a truck, they'll ride in there too for the snow and beach trips. But when it comes to Evo vs Corvette, even though my wife drives a cool car (Mustang) she feels left out given that she can't ride in the Vette with me and the kids. (2 seats). So, of course she's pushing for the Evo. But deep inside she respect my decision either way. It's not like we don't have a car for the entire family. BTW, the Stang is actually VERY comfortable for the entire family. She tells me that putting the baby in the Recaro baby seat in the back is a lot easier in the Mustang than in is on some 4 door cars!

 

I run 2 sets of wheels due to the fact that we have 6 months of winter and 6 months of in-between winter to contend with where I live. You'll need to buy 18s, however, as 16s or 17s won't clear the stock brake calipers (edit: Haha post above beat me to it). For me, an Evo or an STi is the perfect type of car to buy, due to where I live. The Evo is very capable and very fun on asphalt, but it's right at home in the snow. I find the wintertime to be my favorite time of year to drive my Evo. I can't comment on track time, since tracks are few and far between out here, we only have a few drag races each year. FWIW, I'd rather be sideways in the snow or gravel than driving in a straight line for a few seconds.

 

This. Stock wheels + snow tires or A/S for winter. Aftermarket wheels + stock tires (i like them too) for summer. Best setup in my opinion if you're willing to dish out for wheels or were planning on it anyways.

 

Right! I forgot about that!

Absolutely. I understand the image thing. Thanks you guys for respecting that instead of flaming me. I could care less about people, but when it comes to clients, that's a whole other story. They help pay the bills. My wife and I have talked about this before... Comparing the image towards a client of me showing up in a new serious Tacoma, Corvette, Evo, or even an F-150. Of course there are many other options.


Well put! I'm going to need to talk to you further! You're the perfect guy to talk to about both these cars then!

I gotta say... Wow! You guys are great. Thanks so much. This is a great forum. I'm a member of a lot of forums, and a lot of them are not as friendly as this one!

 

Honestly after that article with the Evo beating the MX-5 I was scratching my head a little bit. Yes the Evo is a great handling car, but it is also 3500 pounds and burdened by AWD components.

If you look at the details of the comparison, they used some pretty advanced equipment to 'measure' things objectively, and I question the methodology involved since it seems pretty far removed from the usual 'fun to drive subjective' factors:

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...andling-page-8

I don't think you can escape the used Corvette value equation. It is the best bang for the buck, depreciation on used Corvette's is generally quite good, and I've heard maintenance on them is fairly cheap outside of tires. There is something special about Evos though but they are definitely not for everyone.

Seems like what you really need to do is take a test drive of both.

 

My goal was that I wanted a car that I could drive all year round and not sacrifice performance. I swap my tires in the summer though.

Z06 is an awesome car don't get me wrong but when I was in Columbus Ohio and we had a little snow, maybe an 1/8th inch, coming home from work I had to drive 20MPH on the highway on the burm while Hondas were flying past me. Get to my house and my driveway has a slight incline and I couldn't even get in my garage. But I'm sure you all already know that a Z06 aint no winter car.

I modded the snot outta my 2003 Evo when I first got it. Drove it like I stole it and never had a problem. Sure you have to replace parts that wear but that's a given. Got an MR Touring now with just a Perrin Stage1 and it's hella fun to drive. I will be adding more in the near future that's fer sure.

 

I wouldn't say a Corvette handles better than an Evo or vice versa, they are just different. They both capable of insane grip right out of the box, both test at around .97-.99g stock. They just go about it in totally different ways - Corvette maximizing the mechanical grip potential with super wide tires (but also read this as, expensive QUICK if you track the car), light weight and low CG, while the Evo makes do with less contact patch, but the amazing torque vectoring AWD. Evo is definitely less of a handful to drive at the limit though.

 

I'm wondering... Why'd you sell the 2011 5.0?

 

if you're interested in the "vete" take a look and try to find the special on the tony stewart vette they did for a give away for armor all. they took a stock "vette" not a Z06. they put a turbo back exhaust on it (takes place of your stock exhaust and sounds great), then they put a suspension package on it and it was just as fast as the ZR1 and handled just as great. the best part is they took the regular vette and put around the difference in money from it to the Z06 and made it as sweet as the ZR1.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsWc74EJEVA

 

I love Evos because they can make an average driver look great on a track, or mountain road. Vettes have a high performance potential, but the driver needs to be at an even higher level of skill. I have seen a lot of pro drivers pretty nervous while driving Vettes full on. It's scary driving at 9/10s into an apex and suddenly experience snap oversteer into a 360 at high speed. On paper, a Z06 may have all the right numbers. Driving a Vette at its limit, is not as fun as you might think.

N

 

I love the Z06 however the Evo is more of what I was looking for. I've had fiberglass cars and hate how fragile the body is if you hit anything, which since you live in socal like me, it's only a matter of time until you run something over on the 5. The evo is a great car and I love mine. I too have had some excotic stuff and the usual BMW culprits but nothing gives me the raw joy of the evo. Get the evo, throw some stiffer springs on it and drive down to West End in Gardena. Afterwards, enjoy the awesome handling. If you ever want to see the miniscule limit of these cars, you are welcome to take a ride with me

 

Awesome thanks! Hey, even if I buy the vette over the Evo, I won't stay far from here. Goal number 1 is track time, goal number two is rally in a few years. Which means that I'll keep and eye out for dropping prices on used X's in the next couple of years. God willing, my businesses keep growing as they are now and I'll be able to do it. Otherwise, I'll be happy anyway. All God willing.

Haha. I've lived in some pretty rough driving places. I've always thought SoCal to be a bit of a walk in the park for driving!

 

The 5 and 405 freeways are like playin frogger with the various ladders, tires, and other things.