Recently I got the opportunity to drive both a standard RWD 911 and an M3 in anger, both were still very new.

Can't say the 911 impressed me terribly speed-wise, but I did like the feel of getting down into it and its overall compactness. It's also rather nicely finished, as you'd expect, but pretty cramped. The "back seats" are about the size of a KFC bucket if the front seats are in a normal driving position. Those brakes though....they're pretty amazing.

The M3 did feel faster in third gear and above 75 mph (my IX is almost stock), but I could feel the traction control stepping in during take-off and when trying to take fast corners that would not even remotely see the evo start to slide. It did feel much lighter and sharper than I expected though.

Overall my opinion is still that the gap in prices can't really be justified and I'd already started thinking about adding some bolt-ons to improve the power on the Evo. Then again, I really dislike the amount of times I've had small stuff break on the car (latest being the right windscreen wiper) and just a bit more luxury would be welcome.

I'm guessing a test drive on a GTR might impress me more, but so far I'm sticking with the Evo.

Anybody felt compelled to swap for something a lot more expensive?

 

I'm sure a lot of us do, but in the end with the price of the larger payment on a stock car, I could spend that money to make the Evo spank em all. Plus have you ever seen the cost of repairing anything European? Its outlandish! Parts alone or ridiculous.

 

ive been pretty notorious about trading in my cars pretty fast, im on my second evo now and sometimes i want to trade it in for something that is more luxorious, better looking, and can handle good etc etc.

but honestly i really cant find a car that beats this. think about it!

 

sometimes, depends on the test drive. it either has to catch me instantly or its not gonna happen.

 

If I get rid of my TT-S I'm either going to get into an X or a GTR, and maybe even the new '12 Exige S. Just keep in mind that you might just be yearning for something new, then think back at how much you've invested in your evo and if its more power you want the sky is pretty much the limit on these cars so look into more mods. I wouldn't trade in your IX for a porsche unless you're going with a carrera GT (which is probably out of almost all of our price ranges haha)

 

I got the chance to drive a 2010 GTR quickly (but only in a straight line). It wasn't as big a step up from the Evo as I expected, but I still wanted it. It has a badass turning radius too, which I didn't expect at all.

 

The e92 M3 is a sweet car. Right now it is the only car that could tempt me away from my IX. That high revving V8 is about as close to an F1 engine you are going to get for the street save buying a Ferrari.
With that said I just put some basic bolt-on's on my IX and I'm back in love. The M can't match the direct rawness the Mitsubishi offers.
Also a few years back I test drove the Elise and was disappointed with it because the EVO steering feels faster and more direct. That was a surprise of sorts considering all the hyped press on the Lotus.

 

You will be hard pressed to find something that will match the cost-performance ratio of an evo. It really depends on what you do with it. Are most of us tempted at times? Most definitely. After thinking it through though, most of us don't take the dive.

If its just a DD or weekend cruiser, a GTR/Porsche/Lotus or something of the like may a better fit (more luxurious, more comfortable, grabs the attention of women instead of other guys etc). If you track or beat on your car at all, its a completely different story though. For ANYTHING that gets close to the performance of even a lightly modded evo your repairs/consumables are astronomically higher. As reference eople in GTR's are going through up to 5000-6000 gbp (not dollars) in a strenuous track day (tires/break pads/cracking rotors).