Test drove a GT-A the other day and the car is dam slow in first gear. Slammed the pedal and the car did not kick until around 2,500 RPM. You can shift gears with the steering wheel button located on both sides or the gear shifter by pushing it up or down. When you shift it to drive you have to push it to the left so you can shift it from there. This is a RHD version. Was thinking about getting the car but the dealer jacked up the price and was asking at such a high cost. First of all the car is in Kuala Lumpur, and since the car is so new I was only allow to drive it in the small streets. Did not have the chance to drive it on the highway or biggger roads. I have driven a GSR before and the GT-A is nothing close to it when it comes to acceleration. Even a Honda auto feels like it has more kick in first gear at low rpm. The reason I test drove the GT-A is because my lady wants to drive it in auto mode instead of a manual. But after test driving the GT-A, I dont think it is worth it. The interior is quite nice with silver trims on the gauges and the center console is metallic blue which kinda of matches the seats. But the seats are not as supportive as the GS-R. The asking price of the GT-A is 84,000 US dollars and the GSR is 61,000. Hell no im paying 84K for a GT-A I have two days to wait to see if I can get the last Silver 2001 GSR in Kuala Lumpur. They have a yellow GSR for sale but I hate yellow :/ Someone put a deposit on the silver GSR and is waiting for his loan to be approved. If he doesnt get it by approved by April 10th then the car is mine Lets see what happens in 2 days. I know 61k is alot for a Evo but its alot better than a 2002 BMW 318i. Both cars cost the same but which would you prefer? To me at least ill have fun with the Evo!

 

My friend

I couldn't say I have driven a GTA but from leading Japanese automative magazine which have Road Tested the GTA, have said it actually sprinting faster to 100 then the 7 due to the INVEC-II, which I could understand. Having said that, the GSR and I'm assuming you mean the Evo 7 version you drove actually is slightly slower then its earlier siblings, a mere fractions of a second. I can't understand how you would think the GTA feels nothing close to the GSR, maybe you should have taken it to the open road, as that's how you really test a performance car!

But I agree that I'll take a manual thats just my preference.

61000 US is alot of money for the GSR, but why would a GTA cost more then a GSR?

Lee

 

A GTA cannot be quicker than a GSR taking into account that they have the same power. An auto-box still has more powerloss than a manual.

 

MichaelK:

I understand what you mean and totally agree, but I'm but only quoting what the mag said. But have you driven a INVEC-II transmission? They're pretty good, I have a driven an INVEC-II transmission in a VR4 Legnum weighing 1550kg 6.6s to 100 even though the times may not be impressive. I would disagree with why Derek888 would think the GTA INVEC-II would have such a poor response!

Lee

 

Lee,
That is the reason why he feels the GT-A had a slower response, he "granny" drove it in small streets!

 

The GSR that I drove is a EVO VII. It is true that I only drove it in the small streets. But compared the GT-A and the GSR I can tell you that the GSR is much quicker off the line, especially in 1st gear. I was quite shocked that when i floored it, the pick up was pretty slow. Im not sure how it performs when its moving at higher speeds. Like I said the car just came in and even my friend who works at the dealer who has driven a GSR EVO VII was surprised how slow the GT-A was from stand still. Im not gonna say the GT-A is faster from 0-100 compared to the GSR. But from other sources that I have read, the power is down to 270bhp and the torque has also been reduced to 253lbft from 282. They are saying 0-60 is closer to 6 seconds than 5 seconds. Check out
http://autozine.kyul.net/html/Mitsubishi2.htm#GT-A

http://www.auto-asia.com/viewcontent.asp?pk=6739

The reason the price is so dam high on the GT-A compared to the GSR is because the dealer I went to are the first and only ones importing the GT-A. I know about a few months later it will drop at least 10 to 15k US dollars. They are hoping some idiots will pay premium for it. My dealer friend told me he couldnt believe they are selling it at that price.
The reason the GT-A cost more is because automatic transmission always cost more than manual trans, especially with the INVECS-II sport mode automatic shift. The interior is also more luxury as the dial bezels, door handles and air vent controls are finished in chrome and has blue metallic paint on some of the panels and center console.

 

Derek888

Indeed the GTA has only 270 ponnies to play with so it will be a little slower
then the GSR I won't doubt it. When playing the INVEC-II transmission there
is really no need to shift up or have it in manual mode. Try finding a open
road, have it in auto and flooring it. When your ready to brake or take a corner then change to manual mode to shift down. For me this is how I drive the INVEC-II and I believe is the best way to drive it. It's an auto so why bother with upshifting, more so your not doing justice to the INVEC-II transmission.
As the website puts it, its a gentlemans car, else buy a GSR!

The Malaysian Mitsu dealers certainly out to catch a big fish with that GTA price tag.

So how is your status on the silver GSR?

Lee

 

Lee

I have to wait about 30 hours to wait and see if the other guys loan is approved. If not then its mine

 

Found out today the other guys loan was approved so Im stuck with the yellow 7. But I refuse to get the yellow one! On the way home from work I saw a Black 7 at another dealer today but it was late at night, so hopefully I can go check it out tommorow and see if it is in good condition with low mileage. When you want them they are hard to find but when you dont want them, they are every where!

 

shoot at least you'll end up with an Evo...yellow, pink, brown, doesn't matter to me as long as I own one!

 

Believe me, if you were to spend 60k on a car you would at least want it in a decent color

 

So that's my problem! Maybe if I start not wanting one, I'll wake up one day and there will be one in my driveway. At this point I'll try anything!

 

Derek:

Just remember Evos are rare...if you have the chance to buy one you should. But I remember I did the same when hunting for a Black Evo with sunroof which is even more harder to come by.

Lee