Thats a lot of bikes and cars...

I wish I could still mess around with some toys like those myself..

Oh well. The newest toy is the wife's 04 Sienna w/Rear Entertainment..

And my "old" 03 Evo of course..

Thats what kids and career do to ya!

 

I used to have much better stuff and can't afford good stuff anymore. Its because I am married and have crazy mortgage payment too. =(

Thats why I shift my interest to less expensive car and focus more on bikes. MR will be my very first japanese car. And bikes is just so much cheaper to buy and upgrade. My sister just bought a 04 sienna XLE limited. Its one kick a$$ van. I really want to get one, but I have no kids to justify getting a van yet. =)

 

Do you really think people at Mitsu read this stuff? I find that hard to believe.

 

It's really interesting how worked up people get criticizing and defending a car that they haven't yet driven, or even seen in person. Do we know for a fact that the Bilsteins will make a significant improvement? No...we only hope so. Do we know for a fact how much lighter the MR Edition will be? No...we can only approximate. Do we know for a fact that the 6-speed will be a robust component? No...we can only assume. Think about that while you read over all the "it will be teh b3st evar!" and "sucks b1g time" posts.

 

Best motoring May and June video talks about the MR and shows what it does.

Here is the link if people are interested:

http://www.bestmotoring.jp/magazine/0405/index.html

The video talks about how much the Bilstein in the MR is much better in high speed stability than the old evo 8. Keiichi Tsuchiya also tested the 6 speed is alot more efficient than the std 5 speed gearbox. Its also alot faster around track than the 5 speeds. We don't need to assume, they did a race in tsukuba, and here are the best lap:

1. Spec C 1.05.01
2. MR RS 6spd 1.04.50
3. NSX type R 1.04.89
4. MR RS 5spd 1.05.33
5. Imprezza V limited 1.06.55
6. MR GSR 6spd 1.05.45

For comparison, Gymkhana time for the old evo 8 is 51"022, MR GSR is 50"322, Skyline R34GTR is 50"454.

Past video shows the same NSX-R beats the M3 CSL, 911 turbo, and modena by a big margin. Wondering why Mitsubishi won't release the MR RS 6 spd version here, instead of giving us the std 5 spd RS? The MR RS 6 spd is awesome.

Result is here so no need to see it in person and drive it to know. Don't need to drive the Hummer to know it's a 5 mpg truck.

 

I've seen it, smelled it and driven it and in two more weeks I can tell you about it, but until then driving impressions are under embargo. Look for Motor Trend's October issue on sale around the first week of September for a telling review of '05 Evo MR versus improved '05 STi. Head to head on the dyno, on a racetrack (with extensive, comprehensive, number crunching data), and at the test facility for instrumented testing of acceleration, braking, slalom, skidpad, and figure-eight. No other magazine will give as extensive a test and there is even a bonus.

 

Well hell, nobody is gonna want to read that. You mean those guys didn't do a headlight bling factor test? What a bunch of crap.


Ahh yes, there will be a day of reckoning...

 

you my friend, have lost your mind...

 

Hey EVO Neal,

Are you an editor /writer for MotorTrend? Just wonderig how one gets hooked up with such a sweet job... can one do it part time? Kind of don't quit your day job, but give real world driving input?

An MR RS would be it... my weapon de jour.

But as is, I think I'll stick with the MR edition (I know I waffle more than Kerry on this issue)... upgrade to the right kit to make a FQ340 or perhaps FQ400 (anyone interested in making a built motor?...) enjoy and wait to see the next EVO evolution...

And save a little a day to finally get my project car off the ground... I think I got it finalized and am totally ready... '05 RS (bought in a yr), Tomei 2.2L crate motor, MoTec tuned by Norwood (great guy) or XEDE tuned by Shiv (seems like a great guy) with all the necessary engine back-up parts (fuel, spark, intake, exhaust, etc)... Motons, and likely MR/TME turbo. Should be sweet... oh yeah and 6pots.

... Sorry, I finalized most of the parts list yesterday and got the go ahead from my girl, so I need to get it out...

Oh, at the end of the day... as long as what your driving, be it MR, RS, GSR makes you happy and you feel like you got what you wanted, then that's all that counts... either way guys, the EVO in any iteration is a great car and thank the car g-ds Mitsu finally blessed us with it.

g

 

Are Motons available for the Evo VIII yet?

 

Good to know, but that's not my point. You, Neil, are the only here who's actually driven it, yet you can't tell us what you think about it. Everyone else here who is so eager to tell us what they think about it -- what an awesome (or not) car it is and how it compares to the RS, etc. -- has NOT yet driven it. Oh, the irony.

Personally, I can't wait until some brave magazine compares the USDM Evo MR Edition with the USDM 2005 STi on the dragstrip, on a road course, and for everyday use. That would be an issue I'd actually buy rather than just reading it at the airport newsstand.

 

Good self control Neil.

 

Those are JDM cars, not USDM. I mean, c'mon, the blacked out headlights and unicolor seats have to be cutting at least half a second off those lap times.

 

As far as I know it's still special order... still considering Zeals for cost reasons.

 

Well, since it's a uniform fabric, there's a uniform friction coefficient t/o the seat, as well as the alcantra fabric has a higher coefficient then our USDM material thus there's less sliding with lateral changes in the car and no need to readjust... allowing the driver to focus on driving, not keeping himself positioned...

I think that the seats alone are worth at least a second...

Now the lights themselves being blacked out with basically a low resistent material decreases the aerodynamic coefficient of the car allowing for higher top speeds on the straights of at least 5mph. Chrome is big time drag man...

g