It's not an Evo, but...
Thread Starter
Evolving Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: Western North Carolina
It's not an Evo, but...
My 2003 Lightning Yellow Evo is at the dealer for warranty work (leaking sunroof, door ajar computer having seizures) and will be there for a few days; they have to take the headliner out and a part has to be ordered.
In the meantime the dealer rented me a 2004 Mazda 3. I live in the mountains and there is a great curvy road I drive up all the time in my Evo with switchbacks, serpentine curves, and both banked and off-camber curves.
I went up it in the Mazda just out of curiosity, and I was pleasantly suprised. It has 17" wheels with Goodyear rubber, and did not understeer at all (at the speeds I was willing to go in someone else's car). I has an automatic, but comes with the option of manually shifting the 4-speed. It up and downshifts briskly.
I was surprised to note that it uses wheel position to decide when to downshift. It has an indicator on the dash that tells what gear you're in- if you're in 4th and take a sharp turn, it goes down to 2nd; slow the same amount but don't turn, it goes to 3rd.
It doesn't have the scoot of a Evo (only 160 BHP), but I'd buy one if and when the kids are old enough to drive; I can't have them out in the Evo now, can I?
In the meantime the dealer rented me a 2004 Mazda 3. I live in the mountains and there is a great curvy road I drive up all the time in my Evo with switchbacks, serpentine curves, and both banked and off-camber curves.
I went up it in the Mazda just out of curiosity, and I was pleasantly suprised. It has 17" wheels with Goodyear rubber, and did not understeer at all (at the speeds I was willing to go in someone else's car). I has an automatic, but comes with the option of manually shifting the 4-speed. It up and downshifts briskly.
I was surprised to note that it uses wheel position to decide when to downshift. It has an indicator on the dash that tells what gear you're in- if you're in 4th and take a sharp turn, it goes down to 2nd; slow the same amount but don't turn, it goes to 3rd.
It doesn't have the scoot of a Evo (only 160 BHP), but I'd buy one if and when the kids are old enough to drive; I can't have them out in the Evo now, can I?
