The gearbox felt quite nice from what I could tell. I have no real complaints about the RS, it seems like a great car all around. At the end of the day the Evo just has that "X" factor.

 

you have no idea what a gearbox should feel like obviously. We own a ST, the RS uses the same gear box and they have the same 4th gear issue. They both feel rubbery as hell with zero feel. The RS gearbox isn't even a manual, the car has anti stall, you can slowly let out the clutch and the car gives it gas and you take off. Don't get me started on the random clutch engagement thanks to the assist spring.

Maybe it's because im a CDL driver but I love the Evo gearbox. My 2005 STi had a great gearbox then with the 2015 they dumbed it down with more rubber feel. The evo just has zero dumbing, when you feel the syncros it's teaching you how to drive.

 

They put that assist spring in the Focus? WTF I test drove a used GT350 and that spring ruined the clutch feel so much I literally drove it about 700 feet, pulled over, and let my wife drive so she could experience the ****iness then she drove another 50 feet and we let the salesman drive us back to the lot so he too could feel the **** that is a clutch assisted spring.

That 'feature' right there negates ever owning an RS imo rofl.

 

I am really confused here, the USA and the EU models are a same, no?

I actually did stall the car once or twice, also to me RS has a real manual transmission. I am not sure why are you saying it is not a manual. Can you clarify what do you mean here?

I drove this car with a 6speed manual, with a clutch pedal. Without pressing clutch pedal you shouldn't change gears.




I don't know what you guys talking about the RS clutch , but we as an Evo owners we shouldn't brag too much about it.. Specially as it comes from the factory, with that stupid clutch pill madness.

I mean really Mitsubishi this in the clutch oil line to help ? ( this doesn't exists in the EU cars as far as I know)

 

Sorry it's a real 6 speed. The car almost drives itself. It's a very easy car to drive but zero feel in the gear box and the ford spring makes the clutch engage at random points. The lancer Evolution has a pill but the clutch is consistent. The ford is just not for me I hate driving my wife's ST and the RS is the exact same. The RS also suffers from the 4th gear issue and other typical ford problems.

 

I can ease my car off the light without applying throttle in first. You can do it in most cars. The ECU is just opening the IACV to get the motor more air to compensate for increased load. In most diesel trucks (2500's and 3500's), you actually don't want to apply throttle to get rolling first, they simply don't need it.

 

Keeping on topic :P, have any of you guys been in the RS/ Evo and raced the other? Stock vs. stock is more what I'm curious about, but I'm still curious about all race encounters!

I'm going to check the RS forums and see what they have to say! I'll post back.

 

Like guys say it's faster from a dig and roll but around a corner the tires will make a huge difference because some have cup 2 and others have junky super sports. The awd system and engine overheat very easy on the RS some guys even overheated them in the winter.

 

Bonehead much?

 

I used to drive truck so I prefer a more transparent transmission that you can feel. I grew up using tractors with straight cut gears. The RS feels like an old 1998 Jetta 5 speed with its numb feel long throw to gate ratio. Supposedly it's a ford-getreg design transmission, a neighbor had an old Ford Fusion 5 speed with the clutch going out and asked me to drive it, it feels a lot like that thing.

To be honest i can't see how somebody could drive an Evolution or STi gearbox then think anything good of the ford. On the forum many people have the 4th gear issue, some are having issues in other gears as well. It's as serious as the 8th gen Si third gear issue but the cars have to get a few more miles before they get so bad you can hardly use 4th. They don't understand how bad it's going to get and almost all of them will get it.

The RS is a parts bin car, many details like the exhaust being too close to other parts under the car, leaks, dash issues. Not to mention the focus design in general. I almost always hit my knee on a that dash corner. Visibility and knee room are a joke too.

 

we differ here. i drove the RS and i think the transmission just good period. I however also think the Evo GSR 5 speed is a stellar transmission too. So go figure.

I think the RS transmission not as obvious as the 5 speed in our cars, but that obviousness, some people call it notchy i guess in the EVo. That doesnt mean the RS MT has a numb feel. Remember these cars are not trucks. lol

Anyhow , i think the RS transmission is just a really good for DD , and even as much as i could drove the **** out of in in 4 days. Never failed . To me its easy to shift, and just as fast as any stock MT i have ever driven.

But for sure doesnt clunk in as the Evo 5 speed does. Which i love in the Evo MT.

 

i absolutely agree. My basically biggest problem with this car.
Europe these cars are just as flashy as any exotic. Mainly because people know rally there, and these cars are rally breeds no matter how we slice it.

I can't drove an Evo one hour in any road in Hungary or Austria without getting noticed at least twice. I drove this RS in White for 4 days. I noticed some one looked at the car maybe 2 - 3 times in the entire time. It is that subtle.

Any RS before looked like any Evo - STI or you name it in this category. This car truly lost the exterior appeal to enthusiast point of view.

RS was always and NEEDS to be looking like the class its belongs. Wide body ****ed up wings , bonet louvers , side skirts etc etc.

i didnt find though any problem with visibility, and the interior i think looks good for what it is. Also i am 6.2 and i have room , but if i wear helmet i probabaly hit the ceiling lol The seats are that high.

 

Thought the Evo FE was as fast as a Focus RS in the straightline if you base it off the numbers from Car and Driver. The Evo FE they drove hit 0-60 in 4.4 vs RS 0-60 4.7 and the 1/4 mile were both the same at 13.2 I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I have seen that number posted for a Evo a couple times now, and I just don't see that being hit on a consistent basis. But yes C&D reported it. 4.9-5.0 is usually the time most drivers end up with stock.

 

There is nothing more horrible than the Mk3 Golf and Jetta shifters. They were truly rubbery and devoid of feel, some of the worst in the industry over the past 25 years.

Have you actually driven an RS? It is nothing remotely like a mid 90s Volkswagen transmission. It seems you have some personal bias against your ST that is clouding your rationality. The fact you used to be a trucker doesn't make you the authority on all things transmission, apparently just a little more crusty than others when it comes to harsh opinions.