As far as steering feel and balance the Evo is among the best car with the absolute best turn in in the business. the X would be able to hold a better turn in line and the 8-9 able to transition better, you choice but the XMR would be an excellent daily driver.

 

Because I think he should test drive one of each before deciding and I wanted to get a real review up for this fellow to read since the thread is lacking.

 

Lafayette...not too many dealers in la have evos

 

WHITJCT, I'm in Baton Rouge and the first recommendation I'd give you is if you want an Evo, expand your search to Houston and Dallas. Competition is fierce in moving Evos and better deals and plentiful cars are available. The dealers in Louisiana can't compete, or won't, in my experience. Don't settle for anything above invoice because you can get that with ease in Houston.

I highly recommend Gillman, and got the best treatment there from Danny (manager) and Walter (sales guy) than any other Mitsu dealership I've ever been to. I've been to ALOT of dealers, every Mitsu dealer in South LA when I bought my first 2003 Evo (ended up with the now defunct dealer in Baton Rouge). I managed to get invoice eventually from them but that was only because 2003 was the first model year for the Evo here and the Louisiana dealers had so many and couldn't move them... it was a bit of effort, but worked out. That's not the case now, they know what the car is and they know, at least in Louisiana, it's a hard sale. So they don't keep them on the lots and those that do will likely not let you test drive them in my experience. Hampton in Lafayette had a fully loaded GSR when I bought my X that they wouldn't let me test drive, even though I arrived in my 2012 Audi S4 and was serious to buy. YMMV, good luck!

On to the car...

I got my 2012 Evo X MR in July and love it. I AutoX regularly with every chance I get, and you will be hard pressed to find a car with better feedback in the steering and agility departments. My car is bone stock with only some RPF1s and Dunlop star specs running in a street tire class, and I've been second fastest time of the day every time out in it. Other than it's portly weight, which oddly, I don't really even feel (maybe it's the computers and the AWD), I don't regret it at all from the main requirement your looking for, as that was mine too.

I autoxed my 2003 Evo 8 a lot too, and didn't realize how spoiled I was by the steering feedback and driving sensation that my S4 cannot match. Right now, that Evo was still faster in a straight line due to mods and was like a savage beast that would kick you in the face. I think the 8/9s, right now with my short experience with the X (with no mods) are the more pure driver's car, with not as many computers in between you and the road (the American 8s had almost none) and I think had even better steering feel in my experience. However....

Those computers, the stiffness of the chassis over the 8/9, the superior AWD and diffs, and whatever other voodoo Mitsu baked into the X, my stock MR will run circles around my 8 on any AutoX course. Maybe its also because I'm a "weenie" and bought the MR and now I'm always in the perfect gear all the time, whatever it is, it has worked for me. I'm definitely not the best driver, not even close, and a much better driver may be able to extract more out of an 8/9 than an X (and many do). But for me, it works, and I've enjoyed it so far.

I only have one quibble and it's quick transitions like in a slalom where the computers think I am in a steady state corner and send to much power to the outside rear wheel making the X a handful in a slalom at times if you don't approach the element with the right mindset. It's a borderline compromise because I can't attack the slalom how I have in the past with my 8. This is probably more to do with bad habits on my part then the X and is just learning curve for me, but it's something to be aware of.

While I've not driven a C6 and have no doubt that its an awesome machine (there are quite a few that AutoX in my region), for the thing you're looking for the Evo X MR will fit the bill. You'll have to decide if some of the other tradeoffs of buying the car are worth it for you. Small trunk, even smaller gas tank , questionable interior quality, etc. I feel like I made some tradeoffs, but I got one of the best handling cars on the road that satisfied my needs in one package. You drive a C6 that already has some of these comfort/convenience tradeoffs so you are probably ok with all of that already .

If you plan to do severe moding, you may want to consider the GSR as a cheaper canvas for that sort of thing. For me, I love the tech in a DSG/twin clutch, my wife can't drive a stick and I don't have plans to do anything short of a few bolt-ons and tune, so it worked out for me.

Anyway, good luck with your decision, PM me if you're ever in Baton Rouge.

 

Just do both like I did.



Overall, I find that both are fun to drive. While my vette has cam/head/exhaust it sometimes does get tiring to deal with (I have an aggressive cam and a full Billy Boat exhaust with no cats or muffles).

As others have mentioned, the Evo feels tighter and more planted to the ground. It feels more of a drivers car than the Corvette does and the steering is really that good. However, when it boils down to it I find the Corvette much more fun to drive, but it isn't an apples to apples comparison. Maybe that will change if I ever upgrade the turbo and run e85 on the Evo.

If you cannot swing both cars however, the Corvette will be horrible in the snow on anything but Blizzaks. The Evo is more of a friendlier DD and is the better all-year car in these parts.

 

Thanks for the great posts guys. Just sold the vette so i am absolutely in the market for a used MR now

 

good luck on your search

 

The only c6 I'd ever get would be a z06. I wouldn't get a zr1 because at that price point there's a lot of cars I'd rather get. The Evo is a great car but without mods it's really slow in a straight line compared to a c6. I'd say tune fmic upic and high flow cats is a must

 

Well guys I want to thank you for all your responses...I decided to pass up the MR and just put a deposit on a 2008 GSR SSS with 10k miles.

Very excited and want to thank all of you who had some input in my decision. I Appreciate it.

 

Congrats! Make sure you post up some pics when you get her

 

Wow good find man!! very low miles...anything done to it?

 

Good cause i was not gonna recommend a 08 MR with 40k miles cause that tranny might be beggin to brick, but since you went GSR kodos, i will eventually make a final decision on either a 10 MR with everything but navi and 12K miles or a 11 MR with nothing and 2k miles

 

I think you'll be happier with 4 doors and a compact car platform for a daily over the Vette, however, I wouldn't be surprised if the Vette has better fuel economy (on average, especially highway). The V8 torque and longer gears makes pure highway a lot more friendly.

My friend dailies an MR though, and has nothing bad to say about it. I daily a GSR, I like shifting and traffic, so meh.

 

Yea big down side of the evo is the fuel econmy. You would think from a 2.0L they could squeeze at least 27mpg out of it.

I am not kidding when I say the vette would get 29-30mpg on highway all day long.

oh well...I guess the saying goes, "gotta pay to play"

 

Its gonna feel like an upgrade in grip, power and DD performance. The C6 is a beast, no doubt but the EVO X MR is like a soulless assassin. Completely under control and ready to slay motherf**kers.