Evo X vs. Evo VIII and IX
come drive mine...ive owned 2 IX MR's and would NEVER trade my X for an IX.
Different animal.
Both are good cars...but it's hard to see that in stock form.
Let me explain a little...
IX vs X
In the IX you sit fairly high in the car, which takes away from the sports car feeling a little. You also have a feeling of sitting far from the mirrors and the car is very bland and boxey...which also takes away from the sports feel. BUT, the IX makes up for any of that in stock form with the fact that it is more raw, weighs less and has a better tune from the factory. It also is lacking some of the random **** they toss in the X that for some is not needed...like tons of safety features, traction control, cruise control, better stereos, etc etc. But the X chassis is 67% stiffer than the IX and it is VERY VERY noticable.
Stock for stock, the IX feels faster and in the hands of most drivers...is faster. This is due to a few reasons.
The IX has fewer gimmicks really. Its more to the point. It weighs an easy 200lbs less, and actually makes more power over a larger band, because the X has a horrid stock tune. The IX feels more predicatable and more tossable, even though the X has better handling and can be pushed harder with more grip. Braking is similar stock, due to the X's larger brakes, but more weight...it evens out.
So far, the IX seems like the better car...and for some...it is.
If you want a car that you can leave stock, take to the track, and beat on it and drive home and it is going to be your excuse for a sports car...the IX is perfect.
If you want a daily driver and dont care about features or creature comforts and want something you can mod over time, either lightly or even moderately and have a fast car that feels raw and competes with higher priced cars and still remains pretty reliable and drivable...the IX still edges the X out IMO. Simply because...its easier to make an IX fast when its 200-300lbs less and has less gimmicks and it has proven performance and parts and people who understand them. The IX is to the point and probably the best evo ever made in STOCK form or lightly/moderately modded form if you dont mind something like the IX everyday.
The X is much more livable and a better car for someone with a family or someone who drives the car to work and wants the better features or cruise control or ASC or all the crap the X has...It is not as raw, not as loud, not as hard...stock. BUT!! With that said... I DONT PERSONALLY CARE about ALL the creature comforts of the X.
So some of you are wondering, where the hell am im going with this...why wouldnt i trade my X for an IX if i dont care about the extra crap that the X comes with...why would i ditch my 2 IX's with over 10k in mods on each one for an X...
Well, ill tell you...
The Nitty-Gritty (X vs IX...Moderately Heavy to Heavy Mods)
Once you begin to mod the X and really start to disect the car and get past the typical Exhaust and Intake and retune mods...You really start to bring out the X and see the EVO trapped inside. Once you get past all the bull****...And once you get past all the fluff...not only do you have an equally fast car as an IX...or even faster in some cases...cough ryan gates, cough ams, cough...but you get some of the upgrades that the X has...without the drawbacks of the IX...
But, very important thing to say first...the X, from my experience...is not comparable in price to an IX. The X costs much more to mod properly and needs more changes, more labor and more time and testing and tweaking than an earlier evo does.
Let me explain:
1. The interior on the X is better...there is no arguing this...its fact. If you don't agree..well...sorry, your blind.
2. You sit lower in the car and FEEL like you are in a sportier car. Things wrap around you a little more, the seats are better, you feel like you are in a car...not a box with components.
3. The X has a stiffer chassis, which in turn, makes for a better handling car, more stability and more grip...not to mention safer.
4. The X has a LOT of heavy **** that can be removed from the car to get the weight down or even replaced for lighter parts. Example: My X is currently 3350lbs with full tank of gas and i still havent replaced any body panels or crash beams or serious major parts. My car will be under 3200lbs by end of summer, still with stock body panels. Which makes it comparable in weight to a full bolt-on IX with no spare tire/tools. My IX MR was 3300lbs stock. My X GSR with SSS/AERO was a little over 3600lbs stock. Yes, that's right.
5. Exterior of the car is debatable in terms of looks. Personally...i like the simple shorter aggressive looks of the IX...but i think the X is overall a meaner, and more stunning car to look at. A lowered X on nice wheels looks incredible and i get WAYYY more attention than i ever got in my lowered IX's. The X is wider and can accept wider and lower offset wheels, with its huge fenders. The brake calipers are also bigger and compliment the look. The X has better lines and a more expensive look that the average person, who doesnt know these cars pick up on. My IX looked like a boxey 4 door sedan on steroids. Even though WE as evo owners like the look and see the hotness...a lot dont and poke fun at the older evos. Now, to be fair...i do occasionally have car enthusiasts tell me that the X is ugly...so...i guess its preference and you get it both ways...whatever.
6. My X at 3350lbs with 285 tires...yes they fit under stock fenders...outhandles my IX without question.
7. The X comes alive with mods and weight reduction...and soon the gap between the IX and X is no longer there. The X already had better steering response and handling over the IX, but lacked in acceleration and rawness and tossability. My X doesnt suffer from any of that anymore, but still retains that stiffer chassis and upgrades, like cruise control, AYC, ASC, fast key, DUAL high/low HIDS, wider tires, bigger brakes, better seats, better looks IMO, much more aggresive stance, better weight distribution, more safety, better mivec, stock rear diffuser and better aerodynamics, more respect and attention from average people, and...you get to be the underdog...people still doubt the X and when you wipe that smirk off their face...then all of a sudden...they are asking you about your car and are suddenly all kinds of interested and before you know it...your friends want one...i have 2 friends that converted from IX to X...
8. Get the X tuned...that alone makes it comparable in lap times to a tuned IX...stock tune sucks ***.
Now, some people will try to make arguments like this:
4G63 over 4B11T. Well...now that the engine has been out for a while...you can no longer make your claims...because the 4B11T has been proven to be a solid motor. It has its minor issues just like the 4G63 has its own minor issues...but all and all...look at Ryan Gates...550whp...still stock. Racing away... The 4B11T if tuned right, is very capable. Forged Internals...who cares if its not cast iron. Technology evolves...get over it. The 4B11T makes more power, mod for mod than the 4G63 does and more torque. Sorry if the truth hurts. Ill be honest...i trust the 4G63 more at the 500-600whp range than the 4B11T...but..at that point..might as well build either motor.
For the people who still argue the weight thing...the X will ALWAYS weigh more...even with equal weight reduction, even if you remove the airbags and all the extra ****...because the chassis is stiffer, wider, taller, longer...size equal weight...stiffer usually equals weight as well. The lightest i see an X getting down to on a race car is probably in the 2500 range...IMO. But time will tell. The IX can realistically see the 2300 range. But im only basing that off what ive seen.
Ryan Gate's Modified class X is 2750lbs last time i checked...not bad if you ask me. It also doesnt lose to EVO 8/9's
The X doesnt look as racey or extreme in some cases as an 8 or 9 Race car, but its all preference.
I could go on forever...but im sick of typing.
My Conclusion is this:
The IX is better for some and the X is better for some. I personally didnt like the interior or overall look/seating postition or boxiness of the IX. I liked the IX for its performance, stock and modded it was a blast...but its wasnt for me.
The X is better for me, because i like the interior and exterior more. I also like how i dont need serious body work to fit the wheel/tire setup i wanted. Some of the upgrades are nice bonuses and some i removed in add rawness and remove weight.
The X has more overall grip and really rockets out of corners with the mods and doesnt fall short anywhere now that the weight is at a more respectable area.
I think the X, at the extreme or heavier side of modding...actually has equal performance to an IX at the extreme side of modding for Time Attack...maybe even more.
The IX is cheaper to mod overall than the X...because its less gimicky. If you dont have deep wallets...dont even bother getting an X and expect it to be competitive to an IX with mods...it wont be. You can argue this...but its true. It's no so much that the X's mods are more costly...it's more because the X seems to have more time consuming things that you encounter or more little parts/labor that you dont run into with the IX. It also needs more attention to detail, more knowledgable tunes and mechanics and the car is newer and harder to find solutions for. I have probably spent an extra 3-4k on my X, than i would of had to spend on an IX to do the same mods. That figure isnt the same for everyone...some spend more or less. I ran into some snags that cost me money. The X also needs a lot of weight reduction and fab work to bring out the inner beast.
Im getting pretty deep into the X...and im confident in the cars ability, but its not for everyone. I like it more...but when i first bought the X...i didnt like it as much.
Stock...its meh...the IX is more fun stock.
sorry this reply is long as fawk and rambling on...its hard to explain the differences until you own a pretty extensively modded IX and X.
So...the X is a track beast...if you have the cash and the patience. If you don't...stick with your IX.
**Please note...there is a lot of opinion in my post. IM SURE I HAVE LEFT THINGS OUT. I have owned both IX and X, both stock and modded, from brand new to modded. Not EVERYTHING i said applies to ALL and i try to give an unbiased review. I still like the IX...just enjoy my X more. Feel free to ask questions or comment, if it is intelligent.**
LOTS of opinions on here. You either like it or you don't. I've driven MANY cars and test driven even MORE cars. (for fun of course). I would NEVER trade my IX for anything. IMHO, the X sucks in all forms. But again, thats all opinion. I'd never buy one because I think its ugly anyways. Since they got rid of the 8/9 body style, I've had no interest in buying one. I truly wish they spent more years making the IX though.
Evolved Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 900
Likes: 1
From: Ashburn, VA
LOTS of opinions on here. You either like it or you don't. I've driven MANY cars and test driven even MORE cars. (for fun of course). I would NEVER trade my IX for anything. IMHO, the X sucks in all forms. But again, thats all opinion. I'd never buy one because I think its ugly anyways. Since they got rid of the 8/9 body style, I've had no interest in buying one. I truly wish they spent more years making the IX though.
Did you just not read the whole post before your's? If you're gonna bash it, at least post the specific details.
I would NEVER trade my IX for anything.
IMHO, the X sucks in all forms.
that's because the stock X sucks ***
come drive mine...ive owned 2 IX MR's and would NEVER trade my X for an IX.
Different animal.
Both are good cars...but it's hard to see that in stock form.
Let me explain a little...
IX vs X
In the IX you sit fairly high in the car, which takes away from the sports car feeling a little. You also have a feeling of sitting far from the mirrors and the car is very bland and boxey...which also takes away from the sports feel. BUT, the IX makes up for any of that in stock form with the fact that it is more raw, weighs less and has a better tune from the factory. It also is lacking some of the random **** they toss in the X that for some is not needed...like tons of safety features, traction control, cruise control, better stereos, etc etc. But the X chassis is 67% stiffer than the IX and it is VERY VERY noticable.
Stock for stock, the IX feels faster and in the hands of most drivers...is faster. This is due to a few reasons.
The IX has fewer gimmicks really. Its more to the point. It weighs an easy 200lbs less, and actually makes more power over a larger band, because the X has a horrid stock tune. The IX feels more predicatable and more tossable, even though the X has better handling and can be pushed harder with more grip. Braking is similar stock, due to the X's larger brakes, but more weight...it evens out.
So far, the IX seems like the better car...and for some...it is.
If you want a car that you can leave stock, take to the track, and beat on it and drive home and it is going to be your excuse for a sports car...the IX is perfect.
If you want a daily driver and dont care about features or creature comforts and want something you can mod over time, either lightly or even moderately and have a fast car that feels raw and competes with higher priced cars and still remains pretty reliable and drivable...the IX still edges the X out IMO. Simply because...its easier to make an IX fast when its 200-300lbs less and has less gimmicks and it has proven performance and parts and people who understand them. The IX is to the point and probably the best evo ever made in STOCK form or lightly/moderately modded form if you dont mind something like the IX everyday.
The X is much more livable and a better car for someone with a family or someone who drives the car to work and wants the better features or cruise control or ASC or all the crap the X has...It is not as raw, not as loud, not as hard...stock. BUT!! With that said... I DONT PERSONALLY CARE about ALL the creature comforts of the X.
So some of you are wondering, where the hell am im going with this...why wouldnt i trade my X for an IX if i dont care about the extra crap that the X comes with...why would i ditch my 2 IX's with over 10k in mods on each one for an X...
Well, ill tell you...
The Nitty-Gritty (X vs IX...Moderately Heavy to Heavy Mods)
Once you begin to mod the X and really start to disect the car and get past the typical Exhaust and Intake and retune mods...You really start to bring out the X and see the EVO trapped inside. Once you get past all the bull****...And once you get past all the fluff...not only do you have an equally fast car as an IX...or even faster in some cases...cough ryan gates, cough ams, cough...but you get some of the upgrades that the X has...without the drawbacks of the IX...
But, very important thing to say first...the X, from my experience...is not comparable in price to an IX. The X costs much more to mod properly and needs more changes, more labor and more time and testing and tweaking than an earlier evo does.
Let me explain:
1. The interior on the X is better...there is no arguing this...its fact. If you don't agree..well...sorry, your blind.
2. You sit lower in the car and FEEL like you are in a sportier car. Things wrap around you a little more, the seats are better, you feel like you are in a car...not a box with components.
3. The X has a stiffer chassis, which in turn, makes for a better handling car, more stability and more grip...not to mention safer.
4. The X has a LOT of heavy **** that can be removed from the car to get the weight down or even replaced for lighter parts. Example: My X is currently 3350lbs with full tank of gas and i still havent replaced any body panels or crash beams or serious major parts. My car will be under 3200lbs by end of summer, still with stock body panels. Which makes it comparable in weight to a full bolt-on IX with no spare tire/tools. My IX MR was 3300lbs stock. My X GSR with SSS/AERO was a little over 3600lbs stock. Yes, that's right.
5. Exterior of the car is debatable in terms of looks. Personally...i like the simple shorter aggressive looks of the IX...but i think the X is overall a meaner, and more stunning car to look at. A lowered X on nice wheels looks incredible and i get WAYYY more attention than i ever got in my lowered IX's. The X is wider and can accept wider and lower offset wheels, with its huge fenders. The brake calipers are also bigger and compliment the look. The X has better lines and a more expensive look that the average person, who doesnt know these cars pick up on. My IX looked like a boxey 4 door sedan on steroids. Even though WE as evo owners like the look and see the hotness...a lot dont and poke fun at the older evos. Now, to be fair...i do occasionally have car enthusiasts tell me that the X is ugly...so...i guess its preference and you get it both ways...whatever.
6. My X at 3350lbs with 285 tires...yes they fit under stock fenders...outhandles my IX without question.
7. The X comes alive with mods and weight reduction...and soon the gap between the IX and X is no longer there. The X already had better steering response and handling over the IX, but lacked in acceleration and rawness and tossability. My X doesnt suffer from any of that anymore, but still retains that stiffer chassis and upgrades, like cruise control, AYC, ASC, fast key, DUAL high/low HIDS, wider tires, bigger brakes, better seats, better looks IMO, much more aggresive stance, better weight distribution, more safety, better mivec, stock rear diffuser and better aerodynamics, more respect and attention from average people, and...you get to be the underdog...people still doubt the X and when you wipe that smirk off their face...then all of a sudden...they are asking you about your car and are suddenly all kinds of interested and before you know it...your friends want one...i have 2 friends that converted from IX to X...
8. Get the X tuned...that alone makes it comparable in lap times to a tuned IX...stock tune sucks ***.
Now, some people will try to make arguments like this:
4G63 over 4B11T. Well...now that the engine has been out for a while...you can no longer make your claims...because the 4B11T has been proven to be a solid motor. It has its minor issues just like the 4G63 has its own minor issues...but all and all...look at Ryan Gates...550whp...still stock. Racing away... The 4B11T if tuned right, is very capable. Forged Internals...who cares if its not cast iron. Technology evolves...get over it. The 4B11T makes more power, mod for mod than the 4G63 does and more torque. Sorry if the truth hurts. Ill be honest...i trust the 4G63 more at the 500-600whp range than the 4B11T...but..at that point..might as well build either motor.
For the people who still argue the weight thing...the X will ALWAYS weigh more...even with equal weight reduction, even if you remove the airbags and all the extra ****...because the chassis is stiffer, wider, taller, longer...size equal weight...stiffer usually equals weight as well. The lightest i see an X getting down to on a race car is probably in the 2500 range...IMO. But time will tell. The IX can realistically see the 2300 range. But im only basing that off what ive seen.
Ryan Gate's Modified class X is 2750lbs last time i checked...not bad if you ask me. It also doesnt lose to EVO 8/9's
The X doesnt look as racey or extreme in some cases as an 8 or 9 Race car, but its all preference.
I could go on forever...but im sick of typing.
My Conclusion is this:
The IX is better for some and the X is better for some. I personally didnt like the interior or overall look/seating postition or boxiness of the IX. I liked the IX for its performance, stock and modded it was a blast...but its wasnt for me.
The X is better for me, because i like the interior and exterior more. I also like how i dont need serious body work to fit the wheel/tire setup i wanted. Some of the upgrades are nice bonuses and some i removed in add rawness and remove weight.
The X has more overall grip and really rockets out of corners with the mods and doesnt fall short anywhere now that the weight is at a more respectable area.
I think the X, at the extreme or heavier side of modding...actually has equal performance to an IX at the extreme side of modding for Time Attack...maybe even more.
The IX is cheaper to mod overall than the X...because its less gimicky. If you dont have deep wallets...dont even bother getting an X and expect it to be competitive to an IX with mods...it wont be. You can argue this...but its true. It's no so much that the X's mods are more costly...it's more because the X seems to have more time consuming things that you encounter or more little parts/labor that you dont run into with the IX. It also needs more attention to detail, more knowledgable tunes and mechanics and the car is newer and harder to find solutions for. I have probably spent an extra 3-4k on my X, than i would of had to spend on an IX to do the same mods. That figure isnt the same for everyone...some spend more or less. I ran into some snags that cost me money. The X also needs a lot of weight reduction and fab work to bring out the inner beast.
Im getting pretty deep into the X...and im confident in the cars ability, but its not for everyone. I like it more...but when i first bought the X...i didnt like it as much.
Stock...its meh...the IX is more fun stock.
sorry this reply is long as fawk and rambling on...its hard to explain the differences until you own a pretty extensively modded IX and X.
So...the X is a track beast...if you have the cash and the patience. If you don't...stick with your IX.
**Please note...there is a lot of opinion in my post. IM SURE I HAVE LEFT THINGS OUT. I have owned both IX and X, both stock and modded, from brand new to modded. Not EVERYTHING i said applies to ALL and i try to give an unbiased review. I still like the IX...just enjoy my X more. Feel free to ask questions or comment, if it is intelligent.**
come drive mine...ive owned 2 IX MR's and would NEVER trade my X for an IX.
Different animal.
Both are good cars...but it's hard to see that in stock form.
Let me explain a little...
IX vs X
In the IX you sit fairly high in the car, which takes away from the sports car feeling a little. You also have a feeling of sitting far from the mirrors and the car is very bland and boxey...which also takes away from the sports feel. BUT, the IX makes up for any of that in stock form with the fact that it is more raw, weighs less and has a better tune from the factory. It also is lacking some of the random **** they toss in the X that for some is not needed...like tons of safety features, traction control, cruise control, better stereos, etc etc. But the X chassis is 67% stiffer than the IX and it is VERY VERY noticable.
Stock for stock, the IX feels faster and in the hands of most drivers...is faster. This is due to a few reasons.
The IX has fewer gimmicks really. Its more to the point. It weighs an easy 200lbs less, and actually makes more power over a larger band, because the X has a horrid stock tune. The IX feels more predicatable and more tossable, even though the X has better handling and can be pushed harder with more grip. Braking is similar stock, due to the X's larger brakes, but more weight...it evens out.
So far, the IX seems like the better car...and for some...it is.
If you want a car that you can leave stock, take to the track, and beat on it and drive home and it is going to be your excuse for a sports car...the IX is perfect.
If you want a daily driver and dont care about features or creature comforts and want something you can mod over time, either lightly or even moderately and have a fast car that feels raw and competes with higher priced cars and still remains pretty reliable and drivable...the IX still edges the X out IMO. Simply because...its easier to make an IX fast when its 200-300lbs less and has less gimmicks and it has proven performance and parts and people who understand them. The IX is to the point and probably the best evo ever made in STOCK form or lightly/moderately modded form if you dont mind something like the IX everyday.
The X is much more livable and a better car for someone with a family or someone who drives the car to work and wants the better features or cruise control or ASC or all the crap the X has...It is not as raw, not as loud, not as hard...stock. BUT!! With that said... I DONT PERSONALLY CARE about ALL the creature comforts of the X.
So some of you are wondering, where the hell am im going with this...why wouldnt i trade my X for an IX if i dont care about the extra crap that the X comes with...why would i ditch my 2 IX's with over 10k in mods on each one for an X...
Well, ill tell you...
The Nitty-Gritty (X vs IX...Moderately Heavy to Heavy Mods)
Once you begin to mod the X and really start to disect the car and get past the typical Exhaust and Intake and retune mods...You really start to bring out the X and see the EVO trapped inside. Once you get past all the bull****...And once you get past all the fluff...not only do you have an equally fast car as an IX...or even faster in some cases...cough ryan gates, cough ams, cough...but you get some of the upgrades that the X has...without the drawbacks of the IX...
But, very important thing to say first...the X, from my experience...is not comparable in price to an IX. The X costs much more to mod properly and needs more changes, more labor and more time and testing and tweaking than an earlier evo does.
Let me explain:
1. The interior on the X is better...there is no arguing this...its fact. If you don't agree..well...sorry, your blind.
2. You sit lower in the car and FEEL like you are in a sportier car. Things wrap around you a little more, the seats are better, you feel like you are in a car...not a box with components.
3. The X has a stiffer chassis, which in turn, makes for a better handling car, more stability and more grip...not to mention safer.
4. The X has a LOT of heavy **** that can be removed from the car to get the weight down or even replaced for lighter parts. Example: My X is currently 3350lbs with full tank of gas and i still havent replaced any body panels or crash beams or serious major parts. My car will be under 3200lbs by end of summer, still with stock body panels. Which makes it comparable in weight to a full bolt-on IX with no spare tire/tools. My IX MR was 3300lbs stock. My X GSR with SSS/AERO was a little over 3600lbs stock. Yes, that's right.
5. Exterior of the car is debatable in terms of looks. Personally...i like the simple shorter aggressive looks of the IX...but i think the X is overall a meaner, and more stunning car to look at. A lowered X on nice wheels looks incredible and i get WAYYY more attention than i ever got in my lowered IX's. The X is wider and can accept wider and lower offset wheels, with its huge fenders. The brake calipers are also bigger and compliment the look. The X has better lines and a more expensive look that the average person, who doesnt know these cars pick up on. My IX looked like a boxey 4 door sedan on steroids. Even though WE as evo owners like the look and see the hotness...a lot dont and poke fun at the older evos. Now, to be fair...i do occasionally have car enthusiasts tell me that the X is ugly...so...i guess its preference and you get it both ways...whatever.
6. My X at 3350lbs with 285 tires...yes they fit under stock fenders...outhandles my IX without question.
7. The X comes alive with mods and weight reduction...and soon the gap between the IX and X is no longer there. The X already had better steering response and handling over the IX, but lacked in acceleration and rawness and tossability. My X doesnt suffer from any of that anymore, but still retains that stiffer chassis and upgrades, like cruise control, AYC, ASC, fast key, DUAL high/low HIDS, wider tires, bigger brakes, better seats, better looks IMO, much more aggresive stance, better weight distribution, more safety, better mivec, stock rear diffuser and better aerodynamics, more respect and attention from average people, and...you get to be the underdog...people still doubt the X and when you wipe that smirk off their face...then all of a sudden...they are asking you about your car and are suddenly all kinds of interested and before you know it...your friends want one...i have 2 friends that converted from IX to X...
8. Get the X tuned...that alone makes it comparable in lap times to a tuned IX...stock tune sucks ***.
Now, some people will try to make arguments like this:
4G63 over 4B11T. Well...now that the engine has been out for a while...you can no longer make your claims...because the 4B11T has been proven to be a solid motor. It has its minor issues just like the 4G63 has its own minor issues...but all and all...look at Ryan Gates...550whp...still stock. Racing away... The 4B11T if tuned right, is very capable. Forged Internals...who cares if its not cast iron. Technology evolves...get over it. The 4B11T makes more power, mod for mod than the 4G63 does and more torque. Sorry if the truth hurts. Ill be honest...i trust the 4G63 more at the 500-600whp range than the 4B11T...but..at that point..might as well build either motor.
For the people who still argue the weight thing...the X will ALWAYS weigh more...even with equal weight reduction, even if you remove the airbags and all the extra ****...because the chassis is stiffer, wider, taller, longer...size equal weight...stiffer usually equals weight as well. The lightest i see an X getting down to on a race car is probably in the 2500 range...IMO. But time will tell. The IX can realistically see the 2300 range. But im only basing that off what ive seen.
Ryan Gate's Modified class X is 2750lbs last time i checked...not bad if you ask me. It also doesnt lose to EVO 8/9's
The X doesnt look as racey or extreme in some cases as an 8 or 9 Race car, but its all preference.
I could go on forever...but im sick of typing.
My Conclusion is this:
The IX is better for some and the X is better for some. I personally didnt like the interior or overall look/seating postition or boxiness of the IX. I liked the IX for its performance, stock and modded it was a blast...but its wasnt for me.
The X is better for me, because i like the interior and exterior more. I also like how i dont need serious body work to fit the wheel/tire setup i wanted. Some of the upgrades are nice bonuses and some i removed in add rawness and remove weight.
The X has more overall grip and really rockets out of corners with the mods and doesnt fall short anywhere now that the weight is at a more respectable area.
I think the X, at the extreme or heavier side of modding...actually has equal performance to an IX at the extreme side of modding for Time Attack...maybe even more.
The IX is cheaper to mod overall than the X...because its less gimicky. If you dont have deep wallets...dont even bother getting an X and expect it to be competitive to an IX with mods...it wont be. You can argue this...but its true. It's no so much that the X's mods are more costly...it's more because the X seems to have more time consuming things that you encounter or more little parts/labor that you dont run into with the IX. It also needs more attention to detail, more knowledgable tunes and mechanics and the car is newer and harder to find solutions for. I have probably spent an extra 3-4k on my X, than i would of had to spend on an IX to do the same mods. That figure isnt the same for everyone...some spend more or less. I ran into some snags that cost me money. The X also needs a lot of weight reduction and fab work to bring out the inner beast.
Im getting pretty deep into the X...and im confident in the cars ability, but its not for everyone. I like it more...but when i first bought the X...i didnt like it as much.
Stock...its meh...the IX is more fun stock.
sorry this reply is long as fawk and rambling on...its hard to explain the differences until you own a pretty extensively modded IX and X.
So...the X is a track beast...if you have the cash and the patience. If you don't...stick with your IX.
**Please note...there is a lot of opinion in my post. IM SURE I HAVE LEFT THINGS OUT. I have owned both IX and X, both stock and modded, from brand new to modded. Not EVERYTHING i said applies to ALL and i try to give an unbiased review. I still like the IX...just enjoy my X more. Feel free to ask questions or comment, if it is intelligent.**
Very well written, Im at the very same situation, I still have an 8 and drove both the GSR and MR and still debating, but im 35 yrs old and 3 kids, the X has the + the IX cant have of comfort and has the power that the IX can have.
that's because the stock X sucks ***
come drive mine...ive owned 2 IX MR's and would NEVER trade my X for an IX.
Different animal.
Both are good cars...but it's hard to see that in stock form.
Let me explain a little...
IX vs X
In the IX you sit fairly high in the car, which takes away from the sports car feeling a little. You also have a feeling of sitting far from the mirrors and the car is very bland and boxey...which also takes away from the sports feel. BUT, the IX makes up for any of that in stock form with the fact that it is more raw, weighs less and has a better tune from the factory. It also is lacking some of the random **** they toss in the X that for some is not needed...like tons of safety features, traction control, cruise control, better stereos, etc etc. But the X chassis is 67% stiffer than the IX and it is VERY VERY noticable.
Stock for stock, the IX feels faster and in the hands of most drivers...is faster. This is due to a few reasons.
The IX has fewer gimmicks really. Its more to the point. It weighs an easy 200lbs less, and actually makes more power over a larger band, because the X has a horrid stock tune. The IX feels more predicatable and more tossable, even though the X has better handling and can be pushed harder with more grip. Braking is similar stock, due to the X's larger brakes, but more weight...it evens out.
So far, the IX seems like the better car...and for some...it is.
If you want a car that you can leave stock, take to the track, and beat on it and drive home and it is going to be your excuse for a sports car...the IX is perfect.
If you want a daily driver and dont care about features or creature comforts and want something you can mod over time, either lightly or even moderately and have a fast car that feels raw and competes with higher priced cars and still remains pretty reliable and drivable...the IX still edges the X out IMO. Simply because...its easier to make an IX fast when its 200-300lbs less and has less gimmicks and it has proven performance and parts and people who understand them. The IX is to the point and probably the best evo ever made in STOCK form or lightly/moderately modded form if you dont mind something like the IX everyday.
The X is much more livable and a better car for someone with a family or someone who drives the car to work and wants the better features or cruise control or ASC or all the crap the X has...It is not as raw, not as loud, not as hard...stock. BUT!! With that said... I DONT PERSONALLY CARE about ALL the creature comforts of the X.
So some of you are wondering, where the hell am im going with this...why wouldnt i trade my X for an IX if i dont care about the extra crap that the X comes with...why would i ditch my 2 IX's with over 10k in mods on each one for an X...
Well, ill tell you...
The Nitty-Gritty (X vs IX...Moderately Heavy to Heavy Mods)
Once you begin to mod the X and really start to disect the car and get past the typical Exhaust and Intake and retune mods...You really start to bring out the X and see the EVO trapped inside. Once you get past all the bull****...And once you get past all the fluff...not only do you have an equally fast car as an IX...or even faster in some cases...cough ryan gates, cough ams, cough...but you get some of the upgrades that the X has...without the drawbacks of the IX...
But, very important thing to say first...the X, from my experience...is not comparable in price to an IX. The X costs much more to mod properly and needs more changes, more labor and more time and testing and tweaking than an earlier evo does.
Let me explain:
1. The interior on the X is better...there is no arguing this...its fact. If you don't agree..well...sorry, your blind.
2. You sit lower in the car and FEEL like you are in a sportier car. Things wrap around you a little more, the seats are better, you feel like you are in a car...not a box with components.
3. The X has a stiffer chassis, which in turn, makes for a better handling car, more stability and more grip...not to mention safer.
4. The X has a LOT of heavy **** that can be removed from the car to get the weight down or even replaced for lighter parts. Example: My X is currently 3350lbs with full tank of gas and i still havent replaced any body panels or crash beams or serious major parts. My car will be under 3200lbs by end of summer, still with stock body panels. Which makes it comparable in weight to a full bolt-on IX with no spare tire/tools. My IX MR was 3300lbs stock. My X GSR with SSS/AERO was a little over 3600lbs stock. Yes, that's right.
5. Exterior of the car is debatable in terms of looks. Personally...i like the simple shorter aggressive looks of the IX...but i think the X is overall a meaner, and more stunning car to look at. A lowered X on nice wheels looks incredible and i get WAYYY more attention than i ever got in my lowered IX's. The X is wider and can accept wider and lower offset wheels, with its huge fenders. The brake calipers are also bigger and compliment the look. The X has better lines and a more expensive look that the average person, who doesnt know these cars pick up on. My IX looked like a boxey 4 door sedan on steroids. Even though WE as evo owners like the look and see the hotness...a lot dont and poke fun at the older evos. Now, to be fair...i do occasionally have car enthusiasts tell me that the X is ugly...so...i guess its preference and you get it both ways...whatever.
6. My X at 3350lbs with 285 tires...yes they fit under stock fenders...outhandles my IX without question.
7. The X comes alive with mods and weight reduction...and soon the gap between the IX and X is no longer there. The X already had better steering response and handling over the IX, but lacked in acceleration and rawness and tossability. My X doesnt suffer from any of that anymore, but still retains that stiffer chassis and upgrades, like cruise control, AYC, ASC, fast key, DUAL high/low HIDS, wider tires, bigger brakes, better seats, better looks IMO, much more aggresive stance, better weight distribution, more safety, better mivec, stock rear diffuser and better aerodynamics, more respect and attention from average people, and...you get to be the underdog...people still doubt the X and when you wipe that smirk off their face...then all of a sudden...they are asking you about your car and are suddenly all kinds of interested and before you know it...your friends want one...i have 2 friends that converted from IX to X...
8. Get the X tuned...that alone makes it comparable in lap times to a tuned IX...stock tune sucks ***.
Now, some people will try to make arguments like this:
4G63 over 4B11T. Well...now that the engine has been out for a while...you can no longer make your claims...because the 4B11T has been proven to be a solid motor. It has its minor issues just like the 4G63 has its own minor issues...but all and all...look at Ryan Gates...550whp...still stock. Racing away... The 4B11T if tuned right, is very capable. Forged Internals...who cares if its not cast iron. Technology evolves...get over it. The 4B11T makes more power, mod for mod than the 4G63 does and more torque. Sorry if the truth hurts. Ill be honest...i trust the 4G63 more at the 500-600whp range than the 4B11T...but..at that point..might as well build either motor.
For the people who still argue the weight thing...the X will ALWAYS weigh more...even with equal weight reduction, even if you remove the airbags and all the extra ****...because the chassis is stiffer, wider, taller, longer...size equal weight...stiffer usually equals weight as well. The lightest i see an X getting down to on a race car is probably in the 2500 range...IMO. But time will tell. The IX can realistically see the 2300 range. But im only basing that off what ive seen.
Ryan Gate's Modified class X is 2750lbs last time i checked...not bad if you ask me. It also doesnt lose to EVO 8/9's
The X doesnt look as racey or extreme in some cases as an 8 or 9 Race car, but its all preference.
I could go on forever...but im sick of typing.
My Conclusion is this:
The IX is better for some and the X is better for some. I personally didnt like the interior or overall look/seating postition or boxiness of the IX. I liked the IX for its performance, stock and modded it was a blast...but its wasnt for me.
The X is better for me, because i like the interior and exterior more. I also like how i dont need serious body work to fit the wheel/tire setup i wanted. Some of the upgrades are nice bonuses and some i removed in add rawness and remove weight.
The X has more overall grip and really rockets out of corners with the mods and doesnt fall short anywhere now that the weight is at a more respectable area.
I think the X, at the extreme or heavier side of modding...actually has equal performance to an IX at the extreme side of modding for Time Attack...maybe even more.
The IX is cheaper to mod overall than the X...because its less gimicky. If you dont have deep wallets...dont even bother getting an X and expect it to be competitive to an IX with mods...it wont be. You can argue this...but its true. It's no so much that the X's mods are more costly...it's more because the X seems to have more time consuming things that you encounter or more little parts/labor that you dont run into with the IX. It also needs more attention to detail, more knowledgable tunes and mechanics and the car is newer and harder to find solutions for. I have probably spent an extra 3-4k on my X, than i would of had to spend on an IX to do the same mods. That figure isnt the same for everyone...some spend more or less. I ran into some snags that cost me money. The X also needs a lot of weight reduction and fab work to bring out the inner beast.
Im getting pretty deep into the X...and im confident in the cars ability, but its not for everyone. I like it more...but when i first bought the X...i didnt like it as much.
Stock...its meh...the IX is more fun stock.
sorry this reply is long as fawk and rambling on...its hard to explain the differences until you own a pretty extensively modded IX and X.
So...the X is a track beast...if you have the cash and the patience. If you don't...stick with your IX.
**Please note...there is a lot of opinion in my post. IM SURE I HAVE LEFT THINGS OUT. I have owned both IX and X, both stock and modded, from brand new to modded. Not EVERYTHING i said applies to ALL and i try to give an unbiased review. I still like the IX...just enjoy my X more. Feel free to ask questions or comment, if it is intelligent.**
come drive mine...ive owned 2 IX MR's and would NEVER trade my X for an IX.
Different animal.
Both are good cars...but it's hard to see that in stock form.
Let me explain a little...
IX vs X
In the IX you sit fairly high in the car, which takes away from the sports car feeling a little. You also have a feeling of sitting far from the mirrors and the car is very bland and boxey...which also takes away from the sports feel. BUT, the IX makes up for any of that in stock form with the fact that it is more raw, weighs less and has a better tune from the factory. It also is lacking some of the random **** they toss in the X that for some is not needed...like tons of safety features, traction control, cruise control, better stereos, etc etc. But the X chassis is 67% stiffer than the IX and it is VERY VERY noticable.
Stock for stock, the IX feels faster and in the hands of most drivers...is faster. This is due to a few reasons.
The IX has fewer gimmicks really. Its more to the point. It weighs an easy 200lbs less, and actually makes more power over a larger band, because the X has a horrid stock tune. The IX feels more predicatable and more tossable, even though the X has better handling and can be pushed harder with more grip. Braking is similar stock, due to the X's larger brakes, but more weight...it evens out.
So far, the IX seems like the better car...and for some...it is.
If you want a car that you can leave stock, take to the track, and beat on it and drive home and it is going to be your excuse for a sports car...the IX is perfect.
If you want a daily driver and dont care about features or creature comforts and want something you can mod over time, either lightly or even moderately and have a fast car that feels raw and competes with higher priced cars and still remains pretty reliable and drivable...the IX still edges the X out IMO. Simply because...its easier to make an IX fast when its 200-300lbs less and has less gimmicks and it has proven performance and parts and people who understand them. The IX is to the point and probably the best evo ever made in STOCK form or lightly/moderately modded form if you dont mind something like the IX everyday.
The X is much more livable and a better car for someone with a family or someone who drives the car to work and wants the better features or cruise control or ASC or all the crap the X has...It is not as raw, not as loud, not as hard...stock. BUT!! With that said... I DONT PERSONALLY CARE about ALL the creature comforts of the X.
So some of you are wondering, where the hell am im going with this...why wouldnt i trade my X for an IX if i dont care about the extra crap that the X comes with...why would i ditch my 2 IX's with over 10k in mods on each one for an X...
Well, ill tell you...
The Nitty-Gritty (X vs IX...Moderately Heavy to Heavy Mods)
Once you begin to mod the X and really start to disect the car and get past the typical Exhaust and Intake and retune mods...You really start to bring out the X and see the EVO trapped inside. Once you get past all the bull****...And once you get past all the fluff...not only do you have an equally fast car as an IX...or even faster in some cases...cough ryan gates, cough ams, cough...but you get some of the upgrades that the X has...without the drawbacks of the IX...
But, very important thing to say first...the X, from my experience...is not comparable in price to an IX. The X costs much more to mod properly and needs more changes, more labor and more time and testing and tweaking than an earlier evo does.
Let me explain:
1. The interior on the X is better...there is no arguing this...its fact. If you don't agree..well...sorry, your blind.
2. You sit lower in the car and FEEL like you are in a sportier car. Things wrap around you a little more, the seats are better, you feel like you are in a car...not a box with components.
3. The X has a stiffer chassis, which in turn, makes for a better handling car, more stability and more grip...not to mention safer.
4. The X has a LOT of heavy **** that can be removed from the car to get the weight down or even replaced for lighter parts. Example: My X is currently 3350lbs with full tank of gas and i still havent replaced any body panels or crash beams or serious major parts. My car will be under 3200lbs by end of summer, still with stock body panels. Which makes it comparable in weight to a full bolt-on IX with no spare tire/tools. My IX MR was 3300lbs stock. My X GSR with SSS/AERO was a little over 3600lbs stock. Yes, that's right.
5. Exterior of the car is debatable in terms of looks. Personally...i like the simple shorter aggressive looks of the IX...but i think the X is overall a meaner, and more stunning car to look at. A lowered X on nice wheels looks incredible and i get WAYYY more attention than i ever got in my lowered IX's. The X is wider and can accept wider and lower offset wheels, with its huge fenders. The brake calipers are also bigger and compliment the look. The X has better lines and a more expensive look that the average person, who doesnt know these cars pick up on. My IX looked like a boxey 4 door sedan on steroids. Even though WE as evo owners like the look and see the hotness...a lot dont and poke fun at the older evos. Now, to be fair...i do occasionally have car enthusiasts tell me that the X is ugly...so...i guess its preference and you get it both ways...whatever.
6. My X at 3350lbs with 285 tires...yes they fit under stock fenders...outhandles my IX without question.
7. The X comes alive with mods and weight reduction...and soon the gap between the IX and X is no longer there. The X already had better steering response and handling over the IX, but lacked in acceleration and rawness and tossability. My X doesnt suffer from any of that anymore, but still retains that stiffer chassis and upgrades, like cruise control, AYC, ASC, fast key, DUAL high/low HIDS, wider tires, bigger brakes, better seats, better looks IMO, much more aggresive stance, better weight distribution, more safety, better mivec, stock rear diffuser and better aerodynamics, more respect and attention from average people, and...you get to be the underdog...people still doubt the X and when you wipe that smirk off their face...then all of a sudden...they are asking you about your car and are suddenly all kinds of interested and before you know it...your friends want one...i have 2 friends that converted from IX to X...
8. Get the X tuned...that alone makes it comparable in lap times to a tuned IX...stock tune sucks ***.
Now, some people will try to make arguments like this:
4G63 over 4B11T. Well...now that the engine has been out for a while...you can no longer make your claims...because the 4B11T has been proven to be a solid motor. It has its minor issues just like the 4G63 has its own minor issues...but all and all...look at Ryan Gates...550whp...still stock. Racing away... The 4B11T if tuned right, is very capable. Forged Internals...who cares if its not cast iron. Technology evolves...get over it. The 4B11T makes more power, mod for mod than the 4G63 does and more torque. Sorry if the truth hurts. Ill be honest...i trust the 4G63 more at the 500-600whp range than the 4B11T...but..at that point..might as well build either motor.
For the people who still argue the weight thing...the X will ALWAYS weigh more...even with equal weight reduction, even if you remove the airbags and all the extra ****...because the chassis is stiffer, wider, taller, longer...size equal weight...stiffer usually equals weight as well. The lightest i see an X getting down to on a race car is probably in the 2500 range...IMO. But time will tell. The IX can realistically see the 2300 range. But im only basing that off what ive seen.
Ryan Gate's Modified class X is 2750lbs last time i checked...not bad if you ask me. It also doesnt lose to EVO 8/9's
The X doesnt look as racey or extreme in some cases as an 8 or 9 Race car, but its all preference.
I could go on forever...but im sick of typing.
My Conclusion is this:
The IX is better for some and the X is better for some. I personally didnt like the interior or overall look/seating postition or boxiness of the IX. I liked the IX for its performance, stock and modded it was a blast...but its wasnt for me.
The X is better for me, because i like the interior and exterior more. I also like how i dont need serious body work to fit the wheel/tire setup i wanted. Some of the upgrades are nice bonuses and some i removed in add rawness and remove weight.
The X has more overall grip and really rockets out of corners with the mods and doesnt fall short anywhere now that the weight is at a more respectable area.
I think the X, at the extreme or heavier side of modding...actually has equal performance to an IX at the extreme side of modding for Time Attack...maybe even more.
The IX is cheaper to mod overall than the X...because its less gimicky. If you dont have deep wallets...dont even bother getting an X and expect it to be competitive to an IX with mods...it wont be. You can argue this...but its true. It's no so much that the X's mods are more costly...it's more because the X seems to have more time consuming things that you encounter or more little parts/labor that you dont run into with the IX. It also needs more attention to detail, more knowledgable tunes and mechanics and the car is newer and harder to find solutions for. I have probably spent an extra 3-4k on my X, than i would of had to spend on an IX to do the same mods. That figure isnt the same for everyone...some spend more or less. I ran into some snags that cost me money. The X also needs a lot of weight reduction and fab work to bring out the inner beast.
Im getting pretty deep into the X...and im confident in the cars ability, but its not for everyone. I like it more...but when i first bought the X...i didnt like it as much.
Stock...its meh...the IX is more fun stock.
sorry this reply is long as fawk and rambling on...its hard to explain the differences until you own a pretty extensively modded IX and X.
So...the X is a track beast...if you have the cash and the patience. If you don't...stick with your IX.
**Please note...there is a lot of opinion in my post. IM SURE I HAVE LEFT THINGS OUT. I have owned both IX and X, both stock and modded, from brand new to modded. Not EVERYTHING i said applies to ALL and i try to give an unbiased review. I still like the IX...just enjoy my X more. Feel free to ask questions or comment, if it is intelligent.**
I have to agree, the X can be a track beast.. but like you said, some fairly heavy modification is involved..
For someone like me, I enjoy driving the car on the street etc., I really can't do things like remove all the crash beams, sound deadening, gut the car or whatever.. I don't have the resources or the desire to turn my car into something that will qualify to run in Modified class at RTA lol..
Kind of going along with that, I think owners of IXs and Xs ride too much on the success of other cars with their chassis (ie IX owners will mention ct9a track cars that own, X owners mention cz4a cars that own).. but in reality these cars are almost completely irrelevant to our own. ie., the awesome Gates car weighs like 2700 lbs or whatever... but 99% of X owners probably wont ever break 3400 lbs.. No one wants to remove airbags, crash beams, acid dip the chassis etc etc.. otherwise they make the safety point of the X completely moot
So, for a street car.. IX still makes sense to me.. I honestly have a decent interior (though X is better) I hooked up an orbital kit with the JDM panel and a nice dvd/nav system, along with this and that. Got a nice 1.5 way rear diff to fix the stock rear diff that was basically taken out of evo 3, and some suspension work not to mention power.
If I were in the market for a new sports car, I would definitely consider a X though for sure
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: california
LOTS of opinions on here. You either like it or you don't. I've driven MANY cars and test driven even MORE cars. (for fun of course). I would NEVER trade my IX for anything. IMHO, the X sucks in all forms. But again, thats all opinion. I'd never buy one because I think its ugly anyways. Since they got rid of the 8/9 body style, I've had no interest in buying one. I truly wish they spent more years making the IX though.
LOTS of opinions on here. You either like it or you don't. I've driven MANY cars and test driven even MORE cars. (for fun of course). I would NEVER trade my IX for anything. IMHO, the X sucks in all forms. But again, thats all opinion. I'd never buy one because I think its ugly anyways. Since they got rid of the 8/9 body style, I've had no interest in buying one. I truly wish they spent more years making the IX though.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Irving
LOTS of opinions on here. You either like it or you don't. I've driven MANY cars and test driven even MORE cars. (for fun of course). I would NEVER trade my IX for anything. IMHO, the X sucks in all forms. But again, thats all opinion. I'd never buy one because I think its ugly anyways. Since they got rid of the 8/9 body style, I've had no interest in buying one. I truly wish they spent more years making the IX though.
You seriously need to educate yourself on the technology used in the handling on the X. The look is absolutely improved and gets tons of complements from the most random people. read up on the S-AWC system and educate yourself son. Oh yeah and just to let you know I have mad respect for the Evo 8&9.
that's because the stock X sucks ***
come drive mine...ive owned 2 IX MR's and would NEVER trade my X for an IX.
Different animal.
Both are good cars...but it's hard to see that in stock form.
Let me explain a little...
IX vs X
In the IX you sit fairly high in the car, which takes away from the sports car feeling a little. You also have a feeling of sitting far from the mirrors and the car is very bland and boxey...which also takes away from the sports feel. BUT, the IX makes up for any of that in stock form with the fact that it is more raw, weighs less and has a better tune from the factory. It also is lacking some of the random **** they toss in the X that for some is not needed...like tons of safety features, traction control, cruise control, better stereos, etc etc. But the X chassis is 67% stiffer than the IX and it is VERY VERY noticable.
Stock for stock, the IX feels faster and in the hands of most drivers...is faster. This is due to a few reasons.
The IX has fewer gimmicks really. Its more to the point. It weighs an easy 200lbs less, and actually makes more power over a larger band, because the X has a horrid stock tune. The IX feels more predicatable and more tossable, even though the X has better handling and can be pushed harder with more grip. Braking is similar stock, due to the X's larger brakes, but more weight...it evens out.
So far, the IX seems like the better car...and for some...it is.
If you want a car that you can leave stock, take to the track, and beat on it and drive home and it is going to be your excuse for a sports car...the IX is perfect.
If you want a daily driver and dont care about features or creature comforts and want something you can mod over time, either lightly or even moderately and have a fast car that feels raw and competes with higher priced cars and still remains pretty reliable and drivable...the IX still edges the X out IMO. Simply because...its easier to make an IX fast when its 200-300lbs less and has less gimmicks and it has proven performance and parts and people who understand them. The IX is to the point and probably the best evo ever made in STOCK form or lightly/moderately modded form if you dont mind something like the IX everyday.
The X is much more livable and a better car for someone with a family or someone who drives the car to work and wants the better features or cruise control or ASC or all the crap the X has...It is not as raw, not as loud, not as hard...stock. BUT!! With that said... I DONT PERSONALLY CARE about ALL the creature comforts of the X.
So some of you are wondering, where the hell am im going with this...why wouldnt i trade my X for an IX if i dont care about the extra crap that the X comes with...why would i ditch my 2 IX's with over 10k in mods on each one for an X...
Well, ill tell you...
The Nitty-Gritty (X vs IX...Moderately Heavy to Heavy Mods)
Once you begin to mod the X and really start to disect the car and get past the typical Exhaust and Intake and retune mods...You really start to bring out the X and see the EVO trapped inside. Once you get past all the bull****...And once you get past all the fluff...not only do you have an equally fast car as an IX...or even faster in some cases...cough ryan gates, cough ams, cough...but you get some of the upgrades that the X has...without the drawbacks of the IX...
But, very important thing to say first...the X, from my experience...is not comparable in price to an IX. The X costs much more to mod properly and needs more changes, more labor and more time and testing and tweaking than an earlier evo does.
Let me explain:
1. The interior on the X is better...there is no arguing this...its fact. If you don't agree..well...sorry, your blind.
2. You sit lower in the car and FEEL like you are in a sportier car. Things wrap around you a little more, the seats are better, you feel like you are in a car...not a box with components.
3. The X has a stiffer chassis, which in turn, makes for a better handling car, more stability and more grip...not to mention safer.
4. The X has a LOT of heavy **** that can be removed from the car to get the weight down or even replaced for lighter parts. Example: My X is currently 3350lbs with full tank of gas and i still havent replaced any body panels or crash beams or serious major parts. My car will be under 3200lbs by end of summer, still with stock body panels. Which makes it comparable in weight to a full bolt-on IX with no spare tire/tools. My IX MR was 3300lbs stock. My X GSR with SSS/AERO was a little over 3600lbs stock. Yes, that's right.
5. Exterior of the car is debatable in terms of looks. Personally...i like the simple shorter aggressive looks of the IX...but i think the X is overall a meaner, and more stunning car to look at. A lowered X on nice wheels looks incredible and i get WAYYY more attention than i ever got in my lowered IX's. The X is wider and can accept wider and lower offset wheels, with its huge fenders. The brake calipers are also bigger and compliment the look. The X has better lines and a more expensive look that the average person, who doesnt know these cars pick up on. My IX looked like a boxey 4 door sedan on steroids. Even though WE as evo owners like the look and see the hotness...a lot dont and poke fun at the older evos. Now, to be fair...i do occasionally have car enthusiasts tell me that the X is ugly...so...i guess its preference and you get it both ways...whatever.
6. My X at 3350lbs with 285 tires...yes they fit under stock fenders...outhandles my IX without question.
7. The X comes alive with mods and weight reduction...and soon the gap between the IX and X is no longer there. The X already had better steering response and handling over the IX, but lacked in acceleration and rawness and tossability. My X doesnt suffer from any of that anymore, but still retains that stiffer chassis and upgrades, like cruise control, AYC, ASC, fast key, DUAL high/low HIDS, wider tires, bigger brakes, better seats, better looks IMO, much more aggresive stance, better weight distribution, more safety, better mivec, stock rear diffuser and better aerodynamics, more respect and attention from average people, and...you get to be the underdog...people still doubt the X and when you wipe that smirk off their face...then all of a sudden...they are asking you about your car and are suddenly all kinds of interested and before you know it...your friends want one...i have 2 friends that converted from IX to X...
8. Get the X tuned...that alone makes it comparable in lap times to a tuned IX...stock tune sucks ***.
Now, some people will try to make arguments like this:
4G63 over 4B11T. Well...now that the engine has been out for a while...you can no longer make your claims...because the 4B11T has been proven to be a solid motor. It has its minor issues just like the 4G63 has its own minor issues...but all and all...look at Ryan Gates...550whp...still stock. Racing away... The 4B11T if tuned right, is very capable. Forged Internals...who cares if its not cast iron. Technology evolves...get over it. The 4B11T makes more power, mod for mod than the 4G63 does and more torque. Sorry if the truth hurts. Ill be honest...i trust the 4G63 more at the 500-600whp range than the 4B11T...but..at that point..might as well build either motor.
For the people who still argue the weight thing...the X will ALWAYS weigh more...even with equal weight reduction, even if you remove the airbags and all the extra ****...because the chassis is stiffer, wider, taller, longer...size equal weight...stiffer usually equals weight as well. The lightest i see an X getting down to on a race car is probably in the 2500 range...IMO. But time will tell. The IX can realistically see the 2300 range. But im only basing that off what ive seen.
Ryan Gate's Modified class X is 2750lbs last time i checked...not bad if you ask me. It also doesnt lose to EVO 8/9's
The X doesnt look as racey or extreme in some cases as an 8 or 9 Race car, but its all preference.
I could go on forever...but im sick of typing.
My Conclusion is this:
The IX is better for some and the X is better for some. I personally didnt like the interior or overall look/seating postition or boxiness of the IX. I liked the IX for its performance, stock and modded it was a blast...but its wasnt for me.
The X is better for me, because i like the interior and exterior more. I also like how i dont need serious body work to fit the wheel/tire setup i wanted. Some of the upgrades are nice bonuses and some i removed in add rawness and remove weight.
The X has more overall grip and really rockets out of corners with the mods and doesnt fall short anywhere now that the weight is at a more respectable area.
I think the X, at the extreme or heavier side of modding...actually has equal performance to an IX at the extreme side of modding for Time Attack...maybe even more.
The IX is cheaper to mod overall than the X...because its less gimicky. If you dont have deep wallets...dont even bother getting an X and expect it to be competitive to an IX with mods...it wont be. You can argue this...but its true. It's no so much that the X's mods are more costly...it's more because the X seems to have more time consuming things that you encounter or more little parts/labor that you dont run into with the IX. It also needs more attention to detail, more knowledgable tunes and mechanics and the car is newer and harder to find solutions for. I have probably spent an extra 3-4k on my X, than i would of had to spend on an IX to do the same mods. That figure isnt the same for everyone...some spend more or less. I ran into some snags that cost me money. The X also needs a lot of weight reduction and fab work to bring out the inner beast.
Im getting pretty deep into the X...and im confident in the cars ability, but its not for everyone. I like it more...but when i first bought the X...i didnt like it as much.
Stock...its meh...the IX is more fun stock.
sorry this reply is long as fawk and rambling on...its hard to explain the differences until you own a pretty extensively modded IX and X.
So...the X is a track beast...if you have the cash and the patience. If you don't...stick with your IX.
**Please note...there is a lot of opinion in my post. IM SURE I HAVE LEFT THINGS OUT. I have owned both IX and X, both stock and modded, from brand new to modded. Not EVERYTHING i said applies to ALL and i try to give an unbiased review. I still like the IX...just enjoy my X more. Feel free to ask questions or comment, if it is intelligent.**
come drive mine...ive owned 2 IX MR's and would NEVER trade my X for an IX.
Different animal.
Both are good cars...but it's hard to see that in stock form.
Let me explain a little...
IX vs X
In the IX you sit fairly high in the car, which takes away from the sports car feeling a little. You also have a feeling of sitting far from the mirrors and the car is very bland and boxey...which also takes away from the sports feel. BUT, the IX makes up for any of that in stock form with the fact that it is more raw, weighs less and has a better tune from the factory. It also is lacking some of the random **** they toss in the X that for some is not needed...like tons of safety features, traction control, cruise control, better stereos, etc etc. But the X chassis is 67% stiffer than the IX and it is VERY VERY noticable.
Stock for stock, the IX feels faster and in the hands of most drivers...is faster. This is due to a few reasons.
The IX has fewer gimmicks really. Its more to the point. It weighs an easy 200lbs less, and actually makes more power over a larger band, because the X has a horrid stock tune. The IX feels more predicatable and more tossable, even though the X has better handling and can be pushed harder with more grip. Braking is similar stock, due to the X's larger brakes, but more weight...it evens out.
So far, the IX seems like the better car...and for some...it is.
If you want a car that you can leave stock, take to the track, and beat on it and drive home and it is going to be your excuse for a sports car...the IX is perfect.
If you want a daily driver and dont care about features or creature comforts and want something you can mod over time, either lightly or even moderately and have a fast car that feels raw and competes with higher priced cars and still remains pretty reliable and drivable...the IX still edges the X out IMO. Simply because...its easier to make an IX fast when its 200-300lbs less and has less gimmicks and it has proven performance and parts and people who understand them. The IX is to the point and probably the best evo ever made in STOCK form or lightly/moderately modded form if you dont mind something like the IX everyday.
The X is much more livable and a better car for someone with a family or someone who drives the car to work and wants the better features or cruise control or ASC or all the crap the X has...It is not as raw, not as loud, not as hard...stock. BUT!! With that said... I DONT PERSONALLY CARE about ALL the creature comforts of the X.
So some of you are wondering, where the hell am im going with this...why wouldnt i trade my X for an IX if i dont care about the extra crap that the X comes with...why would i ditch my 2 IX's with over 10k in mods on each one for an X...
Well, ill tell you...
The Nitty-Gritty (X vs IX...Moderately Heavy to Heavy Mods)
Once you begin to mod the X and really start to disect the car and get past the typical Exhaust and Intake and retune mods...You really start to bring out the X and see the EVO trapped inside. Once you get past all the bull****...And once you get past all the fluff...not only do you have an equally fast car as an IX...or even faster in some cases...cough ryan gates, cough ams, cough...but you get some of the upgrades that the X has...without the drawbacks of the IX...
But, very important thing to say first...the X, from my experience...is not comparable in price to an IX. The X costs much more to mod properly and needs more changes, more labor and more time and testing and tweaking than an earlier evo does.
Let me explain:
1. The interior on the X is better...there is no arguing this...its fact. If you don't agree..well...sorry, your blind.
2. You sit lower in the car and FEEL like you are in a sportier car. Things wrap around you a little more, the seats are better, you feel like you are in a car...not a box with components.
3. The X has a stiffer chassis, which in turn, makes for a better handling car, more stability and more grip...not to mention safer.
4. The X has a LOT of heavy **** that can be removed from the car to get the weight down or even replaced for lighter parts. Example: My X is currently 3350lbs with full tank of gas and i still havent replaced any body panels or crash beams or serious major parts. My car will be under 3200lbs by end of summer, still with stock body panels. Which makes it comparable in weight to a full bolt-on IX with no spare tire/tools. My IX MR was 3300lbs stock. My X GSR with SSS/AERO was a little over 3600lbs stock. Yes, that's right.
5. Exterior of the car is debatable in terms of looks. Personally...i like the simple shorter aggressive looks of the IX...but i think the X is overall a meaner, and more stunning car to look at. A lowered X on nice wheels looks incredible and i get WAYYY more attention than i ever got in my lowered IX's. The X is wider and can accept wider and lower offset wheels, with its huge fenders. The brake calipers are also bigger and compliment the look. The X has better lines and a more expensive look that the average person, who doesnt know these cars pick up on. My IX looked like a boxey 4 door sedan on steroids. Even though WE as evo owners like the look and see the hotness...a lot dont and poke fun at the older evos. Now, to be fair...i do occasionally have car enthusiasts tell me that the X is ugly...so...i guess its preference and you get it both ways...whatever.
6. My X at 3350lbs with 285 tires...yes they fit under stock fenders...outhandles my IX without question.
7. The X comes alive with mods and weight reduction...and soon the gap between the IX and X is no longer there. The X already had better steering response and handling over the IX, but lacked in acceleration and rawness and tossability. My X doesnt suffer from any of that anymore, but still retains that stiffer chassis and upgrades, like cruise control, AYC, ASC, fast key, DUAL high/low HIDS, wider tires, bigger brakes, better seats, better looks IMO, much more aggresive stance, better weight distribution, more safety, better mivec, stock rear diffuser and better aerodynamics, more respect and attention from average people, and...you get to be the underdog...people still doubt the X and when you wipe that smirk off their face...then all of a sudden...they are asking you about your car and are suddenly all kinds of interested and before you know it...your friends want one...i have 2 friends that converted from IX to X...
8. Get the X tuned...that alone makes it comparable in lap times to a tuned IX...stock tune sucks ***.
Now, some people will try to make arguments like this:
4G63 over 4B11T. Well...now that the engine has been out for a while...you can no longer make your claims...because the 4B11T has been proven to be a solid motor. It has its minor issues just like the 4G63 has its own minor issues...but all and all...look at Ryan Gates...550whp...still stock. Racing away... The 4B11T if tuned right, is very capable. Forged Internals...who cares if its not cast iron. Technology evolves...get over it. The 4B11T makes more power, mod for mod than the 4G63 does and more torque. Sorry if the truth hurts. Ill be honest...i trust the 4G63 more at the 500-600whp range than the 4B11T...but..at that point..might as well build either motor.
For the people who still argue the weight thing...the X will ALWAYS weigh more...even with equal weight reduction, even if you remove the airbags and all the extra ****...because the chassis is stiffer, wider, taller, longer...size equal weight...stiffer usually equals weight as well. The lightest i see an X getting down to on a race car is probably in the 2500 range...IMO. But time will tell. The IX can realistically see the 2300 range. But im only basing that off what ive seen.
Ryan Gate's Modified class X is 2750lbs last time i checked...not bad if you ask me. It also doesnt lose to EVO 8/9's
The X doesnt look as racey or extreme in some cases as an 8 or 9 Race car, but its all preference.
I could go on forever...but im sick of typing.
My Conclusion is this:
The IX is better for some and the X is better for some. I personally didnt like the interior or overall look/seating postition or boxiness of the IX. I liked the IX for its performance, stock and modded it was a blast...but its wasnt for me.
The X is better for me, because i like the interior and exterior more. I also like how i dont need serious body work to fit the wheel/tire setup i wanted. Some of the upgrades are nice bonuses and some i removed in add rawness and remove weight.
The X has more overall grip and really rockets out of corners with the mods and doesnt fall short anywhere now that the weight is at a more respectable area.
I think the X, at the extreme or heavier side of modding...actually has equal performance to an IX at the extreme side of modding for Time Attack...maybe even more.
The IX is cheaper to mod overall than the X...because its less gimicky. If you dont have deep wallets...dont even bother getting an X and expect it to be competitive to an IX with mods...it wont be. You can argue this...but its true. It's no so much that the X's mods are more costly...it's more because the X seems to have more time consuming things that you encounter or more little parts/labor that you dont run into with the IX. It also needs more attention to detail, more knowledgable tunes and mechanics and the car is newer and harder to find solutions for. I have probably spent an extra 3-4k on my X, than i would of had to spend on an IX to do the same mods. That figure isnt the same for everyone...some spend more or less. I ran into some snags that cost me money. The X also needs a lot of weight reduction and fab work to bring out the inner beast.
Im getting pretty deep into the X...and im confident in the cars ability, but its not for everyone. I like it more...but when i first bought the X...i didnt like it as much.
Stock...its meh...the IX is more fun stock.
sorry this reply is long as fawk and rambling on...its hard to explain the differences until you own a pretty extensively modded IX and X.
So...the X is a track beast...if you have the cash and the patience. If you don't...stick with your IX.
**Please note...there is a lot of opinion in my post. IM SURE I HAVE LEFT THINGS OUT. I have owned both IX and X, both stock and modded, from brand new to modded. Not EVERYTHING i said applies to ALL and i try to give an unbiased review. I still like the IX...just enjoy my X more. Feel free to ask questions or comment, if it is intelligent.**
i do like the effort and many things i completely agree with in this post , but some places i would go differently. anyway. just one little fix.
The X is not longer, in fact shorter as a CT9A chassis. Also for light tuning the X is cheaper to get a same whp level and so on.
But in overall is a great post.
Rob
^ it's been that way for a while - in terms of completely crazy all out track cars evo has been no 1 for some time now. plus the new gt-r isn't exactly ideal.. big, heavy, no manual, etc.. r34 > r35 for an all out track car
i do like the effort and many things i completely agree with in this post , but some places i would go differently. anyway. just one little fix.
The X is not longer, in fact shorter as a CT9A chassis. Also for light tuning the X is cheaper to get a same whp level and so on.
But in overall is a great post.
Rob
The X is not longer, in fact shorter as a CT9A chassis. Also for light tuning the X is cheaper to get a same whp level and so on.
But in overall is a great post.
Rob
