Hi guys, I am considering moving to an EVOX soon. I've been an E46 M3 (SMG) owner for 5 years. My car's getting a little tired, so it's time to move on. The track is a pretty serious hobby of mine, but I am still not in a position to deal with the logistics of a dedicated track car or the expense of club racing, so I'm looking for another car that can perform the double duty like my M3 has. I usually go once a month (skipping July/Aug in Texas).

I don't see much discussion on the EVOX at the track. I'd like to understand everyone's expectations on the durability of the new EVO. There also do not seem to any race pad options for it (rear) yet? It's now a little heavier than my E46, any thoughts on tire usage? 275 Hoosiers last about 3 days, NT01s about 4 days, on my E46.

Anyone here a track junkie in Texas? I typically hang out at TWS with lonestar PCA or MSC. I'll be at the June 28-29 MSC event at TWS.

 

It just came out and has a brand new engine that has never been used. It's 300lbs heavier than the previous VIIIs and IXs, and the MR has a crazy new automatic that no one has even messed with yet. The original 03 USDM Evo VIIIs had plenty of issues that had to be resolved, but they were still awesome double-duty cars - track and DD. I think it's way, way too early to ask if the X MR is good for this, because they just started showing up at dealerships, and we don't know anything about them. It could be a year or two before we know how it holds up.

For those of us who got the 05 VIII MR - first MR in the US - we thought the 6spd was awesome for a while until we started finding out how weak gears 4-6 were. It happened enough that it is now considered a deterrent when people are deciding on which model to get.

 

I track an 06 IX. I've test driven a X on the street, and gotta say it feels very solid. I think it would be very at home on the track - with a feel of a rear-biased AWD system. I've also drove an e46 M3 w/SMG on the street and it felt very slow. It had the shark software and x-pipes; so it wasn't stock. The Evo is much more responsive and at home on the track. With the sedan format; it makes for a better hauler for the DD option as you noted. FWIW; the e36 M3 is damn potent as well.

There's blacktrack that runs his X in the midwest. Hopefully he'll probably post up. I've seen him out at the track and it's a pretty potent machine. He's got full robispec suspension, tune, 275 NT01's - it's basically a TTA spec car fwiw - and a damn good driver!

As for the engine, not sure how it'll hold up. Signs are positive thus far, but too early as warr noted.

Btw, consistently burning through NT01's in 4 days - damn dude.

 

Thanks for the input guys. How is Mitsubishi on the warranty? I don't plan to make any mods (made that mistake with the E46).

The E46 is not exactly stock They need a lot of help to go fast, but once you get it right, they are very, very fast track cars. Maybe a little too fast for the duty cycle the engineers were shooting for.

 

I think if the car is stock, the car should hold up fine. When I drove the X MR on track it never had any issues and everything was working pretty well (Streets of Willow Race Track). The transmission is the only questionable thing on the car when it comes to longevity because it is sensitive to excessive heat. Drag racers may run into more issues with the transmissions, simply because they have to launch the car from a stand still. But as the other two mentioned, it's too early to tell.

 

If you plan to stay stock, like you said above, I think the car/trans should last fairly well. There's no way to know until someone get out on the track a ton with an MR, but the fact that its a Mitsu and the trans is so complicated makes me skeptical.

I have a GSR and have already done 19 events with it, in just over 4 months. Everything has held up great, my car is modded too. Couldn't be happier with it, the X carries it's weight very well. As for tire usage, I got 8 events out of my last set of Neova's and I used my NT-01's for 3 events, until one corded randomly. The car uses tires really well, its all a matter on how you drive it though.

As for rear race pads, I am testing out the prototype's of these: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=349819 I am running Raybestos ST43's all around along with all four prototype rotors from Girodisc, braking is incredible. You may want to call them and ask when the pad adaptors are going to be for sale, I think they'll be instock later this week!

Hope that helped a little

Ryan

 

Talk to Robi Fuller of RobiSpec. He has been preparing at least one track day Evo X, and I have seen him running it at the track as well. (760) 912-4337. He's located in California, but he travels all over the country setting up Evos.

 

Great feedback guys. I really appreciate it.

Curious to see if that pad adapter holds up to the heat. I've been running the Hawk DTC70 and Performance Friction 01s. What's the favored pad over here?

 

The Girodisc rear pad adapter has help up perfect so far, I'll get more testing this weekend at Miller for sure! I personally run Raybestos ST43's, get em from Girodisc. They are great, last forever! They are easy on rotors but are still serious race pads, hold up to heat great as well.

 

I'm a TWS junkie, although I drive an old Honda at the track now.

I may come out sunday to drive, not sure yet.

I agree with the others on it being new and there not being data on its durability. Not sure how your local Mitsu dealer is about warranty work. anecdotally they try to deny warranty for just about anything.

 

I've ran the PFC01's and the DTC60's. All three are pretty similar in bite, feel and lifespan I believe. The initial bite is the biggest difference I believe (see below). The Hawk's are cheaper this year; so I went that direction.

Initial Bite (high to low):
DTC70
PFC01
DTC60