I'm looking at purchasing an EVO for my everyday work vehicle. the only thing is I drive close to 1000 miles per week! Currently I'm using a 1G DSM GSX as my daily driver, its not a harsh as the evo and not nearly as powerful, but I take care of it and its treated me well in the short time I've owned it.

What I want to know is how are people's impressions of the EVO on long drives. Mostly i make two 350 mile trips on the weekend with 200-300 miles driven during the week. All the miles are highway with very little stop and go traffic unless I am caught in a accident.

Let me hear your opinions please...

 

A few of my friends drive around 160 miles a day 5 days a week so that turns out to be 800 miles a week and so far they has no problems and all freeway.

 

If the road is not too bumpy and there's not too much traffic, the Evo is fine for long distance driving.

 

I drove in NJ traffic, 110 miles a day for 6 days a week. It wasn't bad, especially after you get all pi$$ed in traffic, then make a run for it when the traffic breaks. Rewarding.

 

I drove to Texas and back (1500 miles each way) and it was great. Never got bored. I was kind of suprised how much support the seats have for long drives. It would have been nice to have a cruise control though.

 

When I had my EVO I put 32K miles on it in 10 months. I would say that 90% of my driving was on the highway. I drove weekly from Southern New Hampshire to Central Maine and on the weekends was always driving long distances. In case you're not familiar with the highways and interstates in New England, not to mention the back roads, they are riddled with frost heaves, so there is not such thing as a smooth road. I never had a complaint in the EVO, it does fine as a long distance driver. Those awesome seats are extremely supportive and drive off fatigue unlike any other seat I've ever sat in. Yes the ride is stiff and you feel every bump and rut in the road, that most drivers would find annoying, but if you enjoy the speed and love to drive, I don't think it's anything you won't be able to live with. The quick steering does demand constant attention, because the high performance tires will track any rut in the road. The longest trip I took in the EVO was from Lebanon, NH to NYC with my partner and his siberian husky. Both fell asleep on the trip down going. The one thing I did do to the EVO that I never regretted, was installing cruise control because I knew I would be driving it long distances all the time. I would suggest the same to anyone who will be in the same position.

I only got rid of the EVO to help put my partner through law school. I would buy one again in a second.

 

I drive a 100 miles a day from N. Hollywood to Thousand Oaks here in CA and have put 5,000 miles in 2 months ... *shrug* no problems here ...

 

The Evo is fine except for a few minor items:

- Lack of cruise control makes it tough to keep speeding tickets in check. In 5th gear, the engine seems to naturally want to run around 80mph.
- Smallish gas tank requires more frequent stops. Good for stretching the legs, but bad if you like long non-stop trips.
- Seat cushion is great! My seat back, though, seems to be a bit out of sync with my own spinal contours. It only becomes apparent after an hour or 2 in the seat. Try it out first.

 

dont even ask bro... i got about 20-25miles one way to work, sucks! but on the other hand its fun i dont care its a car i drive it everyday...everywhere i want. 23k in 10mo. - stock clutch, did you guys know that we need to replace drive belts at 30K? (water pump belt, drive, etc) 3 belts i belive was wondering how much would that cost at the dealer (iam not gonna touch that)

 

I have put about 22k miles on my car in 11months. 340+whp except for warped rotors which will be changed under warranty no problems

 

Damn, if you drive 1000 miles per week, then your advans will wear out in 12-15 weeks (12-15k miles)! I would definitely get a set of slower wearing tires for the commute and save those advans for the canyon carving days!

 

Wow. I love my evo and all but, If I drove a 1000 miles a week, I'd get a VW Jetta TDI. 50+ mpg. Or some other vehicle that takes cheap gas and insane gas mileage.

If you can afford it, get both! I drive about 400 miles a week for work and I love driving my evo every minute of my drive!

 

I have 53K miles on my car and it's been about a year since I bought it. Here are my impressions:

1) Don't get a turboback exhaust (if you do, dynomat the hell out of your trunk). I have one and even though it is quiet, on long drives it can be annoying.
2) Your advans will wear out fairly quickly, I had to get some all-seasons (continentals from tirerack) due to the weather in the northeast, plus the wear is much better than the stockers too. Unfortunately this will mean a significant decrease in performance, I am actually depressed by the performance loss. AS soon as summer comes again next year, i am gonna get some summer rims with advans.
3) Change your brake pads asap, otherwise you will risk pad material transfer onto your rotors (i got the ferodo 2500 pads), highway braking, and coming to a stop from offramps seems to produce this phenomenon.
4) The lack of cruise absolutely sux, but I believe there is/was a member here that added an aftermarket one.
5) The suspension is stiff as heck so you will feel every rock and crack in the road. Also, there is ALOT of feedback from the steering wheel, so dont expect a lexus like driving experience. The seats are a God send, I dont know of any seat out there that is as supportive and comfortable as ours. you will not get tired in them! The only down side is that inorder to pull the seat back down (for an occasional nap) reaching behind you and turning a knob is annoying!
6) The gas mileage sux, especially if you travel at high speeds (80+mph) and get on the gas, awd + terrible CD + turbo = bad mpg.
7) On the flipside, the car is incredibly stable at high speeds!!! Especially with the evos with the high wing.
8) My Rally red seems to draw ALOT of police attention, you may want to consider the color choice, especially if you do interstate driving and speed
9) You can buy an aem ems to improve mpg, I am not sure if the utec or xede can control closed loop a/f's, I defenetly know that the S-afc 2 does NOT.
10) The awd with the conti's are incredible in the snow/rain.
11) GET THE 3M CLEAR BRA!!!! The paint on this car is very, very thin, your front end will look like garbage after a couple of months. In fact make this your 1st priority!
12) Be prepared to pay out the wazzooo for maintenance costs: synthetic oil changes, front/rear diff and tranny oil changes, tires, brake pads, gas, ect are so much more expensive than your average pocket rocket (I used to own miata, integra, s2000, del sol).
13) Be prepared to pay out the wazzooo for upgrades: Clearbra, headunit, speakers, cams, engine management, exhaust, coilovers, bigger fmic, bigger turbo, fuel pump, ect
14) and lets not forget mitsu's policy on voiding warrentees!

This car is like a pretty girl: high maintenance, will cost you alot of time and money, and fun as hell to ride! if you can deal with all of this do it! I know that if I had the opportunity to do it all over again, I would.

Hope this helps,
Bobby

 

I have had my car for 30,000 miles. First of all there is no need to dynomat your trunk for a turboback exhaust 2nd I have driven this car straight for 1900 miles and no problems at all and I had approx. 300whp with a turbo back exhaust. This car can handle it all if you buy a good clutch.

 

I guess it all depends on which turboback exhaust you get. I'm willing to sacrifice a few hp for less noise. I have an HKS dp and cat-back and it does not drone on the freeway.