Really, hardly anything:

1) 6-speed transmission
2) Bilstein struts front/rear
3) Aluminum roof - lowers the center of gravity of the car
4) Forged BBS wheels

I guess those components are "hardly anything". You couldn't add the roof at any cost. The other components at some expensive. Heck the BBS wheels alone would retail for over two grand.

The whiners on this board want it all, but they also don't want to pay for it. Base price for 2004 was $29,999 so I'd logically say that base price for '05 Evo' s will be north of 30k with the new front helical diff and ACD.

Based on that I'd say that a 32k MR doesn't make sense by my calculator. it'll have to be more.

Is it the BEST edition here in the U.S. where we happen to live? Yes! We don't live in Europe or Japan and the only mechanical difference is the S-AYC. Big deal. Ours also won't cost us 40K or more, which is what they go for overseas.

 

The 6 speed isn't exactly a plus in my opinion, so really, the only thing that it has that I'd want is the aluminum roof. How exciting.

A fully loaded MR, with everything everyone else gets (and a modest power increase), and priced a little under $40k would do a lot more to serve as the Mitsu's flagship model.

I think this would have been the MR we'd have gotten if Mitsu wasn't in such dire financial trouble.

Seriously, I really don't care, it's kind of a relief to know that I won't be (very) jealous when I start seeing them. But I would like Mitsu to answer a little more convincingly to the US STI.

 

Dude, you have no idea the cost in time, hours and parts it take to modify a suspension right. And buying a bunch of Cusco parts just doesn't cut it.

And the 6sp is an evolution over the 5sp... taking advantage of the engines new power curve.

And the MR's MSRP with be about the USDM STi price.

Don't worry thought, all us boys with MRs will be happy to smoke all .

 

i got an issue..and it's with you guys who look down on the people who wanted the cosmetic items. who are you to tell them they shouldn't buy or like whatever it is that they like? mit. should be takin it to the heart. if your company is in the hole and you can't even meet that small percentage to satisfied your potential customers what profit will you make? mit. can't say screw them. without us mit. your nothing, remeber that! you guys shouldn't look at it from your view but from mit's view..they need money and that's what we got ..why not please us and get it? just please your potential buyers for god sake...maybe god himself with save your company from you hole you dug up

 

Remeber, there's more to making money than satisfying the customer... unfortunately.

I would not be surprised that Mitsu is making only minimal profit with the MR seeing the cost of the vehicle abroad.

They are trying to salvage their image as well as bring in a reliable product that people will be willing to pay for, without diluting out what make the MR so special.

At the end of the day, the cost of manufacturing and providing the mechanical enhancements, including the wheels, probably reached a point that most people would not want to pay above.

At the end of the day, it's the cost of money. And in the US, if given the choice of an MR, cost is an issue since their is no WRC following here.

 

It's really simple:

MAKE LEATHER AN AVAILABLE OPTION ON THE MR

Geez. is that too much to ask? Why is this so hard? I can choose leather for a base Evo (and sunroof for that matter, although I understand that not being available with the aluminum roof). Since there is NOTHING special about the seats, door panels, etc. there is absolutely no logical reason why this can't be an option on the MR.

 

If I was going to do it over I would buy an 05 RS, I never use my AC and would love to take as much weight out as possible.

 

I know i drive a Non-evo lancer... but in the future i want an EVO.... If they really want to help push sales.... Drop the nice interior (STi's have no radio.... the RS doesnt either) The packages should start witht the RS... Then make more avaible upgrades off of that... bigger turbo (maybe a MR upgrade). Blacked out house Housing (head and tail lamps) make the rs a 5 spd, and an upgrade to 6spd (a MR upgrade) Do the SCION thing.... You get a base model car... but then get to upgrade it from there. (maybe take a new approach and make a bigger engine (litre wise)) what it comes down to is individuallity... No one wants another car like thiers...

 

Sorry to get off topic of headlights, but did anyone else see the article in the August 2004 Car magazine showing the new Evo VFQ available only in the UK. The article says it will have around 400 hp and 380 lb/ft of torque, and be able to hit 60 in under 4 seconds. I want to know when we'll get this one. Why does the UK get better evos than Japan anyway?

 

OK, from someone who is actually waiting for their MR... I'm not bitter.

The BBS wheels alone are $850/pop in the parts catalog. I get 20% off all parts at my dealership, but that's still $2700 a set! Those aren't exactly cruddy wheels, either. The 6-speed is nice too. A little less gas consumed on the highway, and when the car is a dedicated track beast, it'll be easier to climb past 120mph. The Bilsteins? I won't complain about getting a bit more street comfort and something decent to start with for a base. Sure, down the line they are getting ripped out for coilovers, but I'll thoroughly enjoy them while they're still installed in the car.

-----

The cosmetic stuff would've been nice though. I ordered the car in Graphite Gray for a reason -- so it would stand out as an MR. The dark colored spoiler and black-bezeled lights simply reinforced that fact. There's not many Evo's around here -- I've spotted 3 within 50 miles -- and I would've liked standing out in a big way. As for the seats -- the blue never grabbed me in the GSR. Black simply looked better. I don't mind the fact they are larger, but if they were black it would've been great.

In the end, little will matter as the car is going to be gutted and made into a dedicated road racer, but for the here and now while it will see civic duty, I would've liked it to be closer to JDM. Hey, I'll just end up spending a few hundred dollars to get it the way I want. No sweat, really.

Now I'm back to the problem that it still won't be here for 5-6 weeks or so.

 

Because, as I understand it, all the special editions we see in the UK are kinda like dealer installed options. Mitsubishi UK is able to change ECU etc. and still sell it as a new car, because of VERY different car regulations. Kinda like a Saleen etc.

 

What are you talking about??? Just when are JDM and UK evo have leather & Navi as standard equipments. I don't see carrera gt, mclaren, enzo having navi as standard. And you can't compare leather seats in exotic car to the type in the Evo either. In case you don't understand, its the shape of the seat in those exotics that matter. They are freaking one piece BUCKET. Even if that thing is made out of ice, it will still hold you in while doing 1.0g cornering manuver. Wide leather sports seat is just a bad idea.

I don't know how many times I have to say this, options are not optional alot of time and especially limited production vehicles. So for people who don't want to buy options are forced by the dealers to buy useless options. Its because the number of vehicles is limited and stealership will tag on as much useless crap as they can to make extra bucks. There are simply no "optionless" Porsches and "moonroofless" Mercedes.

A perfect rally replica should not be plush and luxurious. Do you know how messed up the E46 BMW is. I guess you won't know until you drive the E30 M3 that was released to comply to the Group A homologation rule. Yes, evo is not a race car because it doesn't have roll cage, fuel cell, and it has carpet and A/C. But its not a std road car either, thats the job for std Lancer. The evo is based on the long line of rally race replica. Evo is suppose to be an "almost" ready to race car. Putting plush leather seat, navigation system in Lancer is just as dumb as putting huge spolier, turbo, recaro seat in a burgundy colored Camry with gold emblems package and chrome wheels.

I say basic amenities like A/C (espeically in So Cal), carpet, and radio are essentially for street use. But leave the leather seat, navigation system, wood trims out for Galant and Endeavor, etc... If you like luxurious tourer, buy the M3, becase BMW already messed it up for people just like you.

The Elise concept is fabulous, its light, simple, direct, and purposeful. If I didn't already have a 2 seater convertible, I would pick the elise over the evo as my Sunday car.

 

Ever since I can remember, the US market always get the watered down version. Check out what the countries are when it comes to the MR.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/gallery...mr-fq-340.html

 

What's wrong with wanting Leather seats? Why can't I have a performance car with some luxury? Why must I sacrafice luxury when I'm willing to spend the money? Honestly, I wouldn't buy ANY new car without a 6spd and leather interior. The whole reason that I waited on getting an EVO was for the 6spd...now they're telling me that I can't have leather? They can always swap out the leather from the 5spd models and switch them with the MR.

And yes I know that the EVOs are supposed to be all about performance blah blah blah but why not both? And no I don't want another car dammit I want an EVO with 6spd and leather!!!

Maybe I should just wait for the EVO IX....

 

If you really want leather, I am pretty sure the dealership will work with you. Like they always say, "money talks"