Well, everyone has different reasons for being in the market so you should see some diversity in lists. I loved my 2000 Celica GT-S but was forced to go 4-door that seats 5 because of a 3rd kid on the way. I really wanted something I could still autocross however, and that driving at 9 tenths was a blast. So, I considered the following:

STI (too ugly, I couldn't go for it let alone how much my wife hated the looks)
Maxima (yes, I know, but same price as EVO but just... too... NOT cool! *laugh*)
RX-8 (before I actually saw it - won't seat 5 because of the console in the middle of the back seat *grrrrr*)
Sentra SE-R Spec V (they changed it for '03 and wasn't quite over the top enough for me in performance)
SRT-4 (nice w/new LSD, but not a big enough back seat, wife said it was ugly - AND said 'you want a NEON???')
GTO (well, I THOUGHT about it, anyway, but fit and finish issues in reviews told me to stay away)
IS300 (not enough performance, too small, overpriced?)

I think that about does it... my wife finally said that I better get what I want because she didn't want to have to hear about it for years! God, how I love her!

Peace!

 

350z track package
G35c sport package
330i zhp (had a 330i SP from '01)
used M3 (e46; I _WILL_ have one of these one day, my dream car)
STi (never got to test drive one)
RX8 (never drove it)
Mini Cooper S (lol; I love that car though!)

The Evo blew me away, plus I had been wanting one ever since I heard of Evolution Imports. I looked into importing an RSX-R also but the costs were wayyyyy too much. Overall I'm ridiculously pleased with my choice!

 

G35..(This is a cool car)
SAAB 9/3 VECTOR..(BOOORING)

 

Seriously considered:
Infiniti G35 Coupe 6MT
Nissan 350Z Track (2 Seater, nuff said)

Contemplated:
Lexus IS330 (Too ... Lexus for me.
Mini Cooper Works S (Nice car, but too little for the money)
RSX Type S (Used to own a Prelude, too similar.)

I was almost about to call up a few local dealers for the G35 Coupe 6MT and then I found out that the Evo VIII was in the states. Less than a week later I bought mine.

 

It was a hard decision for me. The criteria was to have a fast 4-door daily driver. Enough room for a car seat. I'm listing them best to least. This is just my own opinion.

Test drove:

*RX-8 - the looks hooked me! the design is truely unique. great car, but didn't have much pull (torque) and not that roomy over all

*STi - great power over all. i felt like the it was not roomy in the drivers seat. everything was close together.

*Mustang Cobra 03 - i traded my 02 GT Stang for my Evo. this cobra kicks a$$. lots of power and torque for the supercharger. i loved it. but it was the reason that i traded my old Stang. not very safe in the winter months and a little on the heavy side. also not a 4 door

Checked out:

*Nissan 350z - i had my eyes on this before it came out. i was pleased to see it in person. by far the smallest of them all and only a 2 seater. wanted a 4 door
*Honda S2000 - same reason for the 350z

As you all know, I went with the Evo. It had all that I was looking for. Its not quite a looker. But it makes up in performance.

 

I waited over 2 years for the RX8, but ended up buying the EVO the month the RX8 hit the US! I ruled out the RX8 a few months before as it seemed to be too compromised for appeal to the masses. I test drove the S2K, the 350Z and the EVO (twice) and never looked back....the EVO was THAT good (thought the S2K...was a close second).

 

G35
350Z
STi

Haven't driven an STi. But I like the EVO better than the G or Z to drive. The Z or G look good like the EVO, but the STi was ugly to me before, until I saw a white one.

I am still wondering sometimes what if I got an STi instead, I would have loved to have a 6 speed tranny and DCCD. But after all the reviews and the fact that 300BHP and 300TQ can easily be achieved by the EVO with only a few mods, I CHOOSE THE EVO.

 

LOL, seems like everyone wanted the same cars and ended up with the EVO. Here are the car's I considered.

SRT-4...Test drove it, it was fast but already had some rattles and really couldnt convince myself to buy a "Neon"

STI...Actually liked it before the Evo, but the more I looked at the 2 the more I started liking the Evo and not liking the STI, plus a $5K markup and they wouldnt budge.

350Z...Like the look and had pretty good power, but I see a few everyday, kinda want to be different for now (not many Evo's around) and came down to we didnt want another 2 seater.

04 S2000...Like the changes for 04, but another 2 seater and still not enogh torque.

Vette...Same as previous 2, 2 seater and $20K more than the Evo.

Well there were a few others but those were the serious ones. Once I drove the Evo I had pretty much made up my mind. You cant beat it, boost, room, potential and the price isnt that bad.

 

350Z

Good thing those Nissan dealers in LA pissed me off well. Evo is the way to go.

 

STi or used fbody. I choose the evo because the subaru dealer didnt have an sti in stock and would take more than a month to get one in. I didnt really care about the 6spd, DCCD, 2.5l, 300hp/tq (although now I kinda do). The my evo seems to be having problems with shifting while running hard, and it seems like everyone else is too. If the car keeps breaking I think I may check out the 03 cobra......

 

MKIV Supra TT or a T/A WS-6

 

After many test drives I considered:

Lexus IS300
BMW 330xi
Infiniti G35 Sedan
Nissan 350Z
Mitsubishi Evolution - after one test drive, I was sold.

 

S4, STi, 911Turbo, RX330

AWD was what I needed but Evo was the cheapest and was new and looks fun...

karljay.com/cars

 

Pretty much same cars, Sold my NSX and got the evo, now my fried with the supercharged NSX can not keep up. He may get the RS for a track car and sell the NSX. Too funny, and he was giving me **** when I told him I was going to sell it.

 

The M3 is nice just can not make it that fast. Wife want's one when she's done with med school.