AbusiveWombat

rabinado -

One thing to consider if you are planning on taking your new car to an autox is headroom for the helmet. The EVO has lots of headroom as compared with RX8 which is a bit tighter. Just something to consider.

Also, someone brought up clutch issues with the EVO. I've got 9k with no problems. The reason for the problems is that Mitsu designed the clutch as the weak point. The clutch actually has a restrictor that keeps the clutch from fully engaging for a split second. This keeps drivetrain shock down when doing a 6k clutch drop but at the expense of eating your clutch. If you drive the car normally, your clutch will last plenty long.

The biggest problem is the paint. By far the worst paint I've ever had. It's because of the paint that I have a hard time recommending the car. My wife has a Mazda 6 that we bought 2 months before the EVO, both are black, and her paint is awesome while mine was swirl city. I stress WAS because I've now learned how to wash and detail my car with the right products and techniques. This has helped but regardless the paint is terrible. Nothing hurts your pride in your car more than when it looks like crap.

AbusiveWombat

I'm not making any excuses. On a real track the cars get to stretch their legs. They hit the corners faster and they exit faster. Take for example a Viper and Miata. On an autox the Miata will have a really good chance to beat the Viper due to it's low weight and great handling...take it to a real track where the viper can open it up and it's all over.

rabinabo

I'm not worried about headroom, because I'm not that tall (5'7"). I also managed to fit into my zx2 even with a helmet for auto-x (although barely), and the rx-8 should be a little better (I don't want the sunroof).

I can understand the point about having the weak clutch. I've read all about the clutch restrictor before. What are typical mileages for other stock clutches anyways, as I've never owned a manual? My guess is that we'll have to wait some time to see if the evo clutch can last as long without being abused.

When I was checking out the Subaru forums, the complaints they had there about the evo was Mitsubishi's reputation for low build quality and unreliability. I thought maybe with the evo would be different, but the paint issues convince me otherwise.

The thing about the rx-8 that you can really measure is the amount of head-turning it generates along with the joy of revving an engine up to 9k rpm, which I haven't even mentioned yet.

renotse

Cody Clark is Tim Pryor's co-driver he is a tall man six two I would say. I fits in th RX8 with a helmet fine. My son Jason is six foot and he rode shot gun wearing a helmet with plenty head room.

Head room is a non issue

zerohour

The EVO uses the 4g63 still right?

I really hope they have corrected that powerplant.

I hope the same for the rx8 as well.

One thing im happy about is with the eight lots of planning went into the improved powerpant Ive taken care of mine and so far its awsome.

The claimed problems with the car like flooding heat etc are just a normal part of this car and the engine. You must learn to respect this car and if you dont treat it well it will flood. Its a hot little engine by design. It also has huge potential as you already know.

Canzoomer stage 2 for 750 takes you to 45 to 55 hp just ecu. downside is you have to have midpipe but depending on your needs that may not be a downside. To get to about 260 270 whp will not be too hard a task even NA for the RX8. Im not sure about the possibility of 300 whp na but I think its feasable.

So I myslef dynoed 180 "whp" just three days ago at the dyno day at SC engineering add 50 hp for ecu stage 2 and 8 for mid pipe and your already at 238 whp. Not too shabby for a 3050 weight and only 2 mods.

So in conclusion I think we all have awsome cars, All have testy engines and although based on similar not so reliable engines us with seals and you all with the paper gaskets and other such complaints of the eclipse owners.

So far i love my car im sure as do you love yours in the end its what you want for your car and what your willing to do to get there.

I love NA, I love having a 9k redline, I love others underestimating us. I also love to suprise. I also like to give turboed cars a run for their money (sometimes hehe)! I also like long runs with friends to vegas. I will be able to do all of this and still look good what else is there to want!

Bottom line is

If you love your car as much as I do mine there is no better car.

We need to get a evo rx8 meet sometime to dispell some of the myths and misconceptions about our cars.

rabinabo

Actually, from the auto-x results that I've seen the viper will still usually beat the Miatas (but not by much). I totally agree with you though. The Miata may be able to beat a viper on the right track, but what does that prove?

Auto-x still measures how well a car handles in slow turns, so how are any other tracks any more real? Sure, take both cars to a fast track, and the Miata driver will have his *** handed back bbq'ed on a stick. It's just two different aspects of performance. The Viper would probably beat a Lotus Elise on one of your "real" tracks also (not sure about it though), but does that make the Elise kick any less ***? Certainly not. I'll take an Elise over a Viper any day. There are some things that the smaller cars are just better at than the big dogs.

I'll bring up another point. It's more likely that you will be able to enjoy your $25k worth of Miata performance on regular streets than you have of getting $60k worth of Viper performance on regular streets. That is, if you worry about things like getting your suspended.

rabinabo

I second the evo-rx8 meet idea. There's too much hate going on. Where's the love?

Ike

Autox is great fun, but I get the feeling many of the people on this thread have never done it. The dynamics are very different from a real race track, and real racing will never ever involve using one gear for the entire track, which is often the case on an autox course. Ones second gear ratio is as big a factor as any on an autox course, sure autox is a decent measure for a car but there are far far better.

This is why I could care less about the guy in his stock Miata beating me at autox and just focus on other cars in my class. Because I know that stock Miata won't beat me in any other format.

mikeb

I agree
I love imports
350z,evo ,g35, rx8, m3, acura,honda,toyota,

I love imports

I never understood the chevy vs ford
or mustang vs camaro ---american car rivals


there is alot of hate on this site

rabinabo

Ok, someone give me an example of a "real" race track that average joes can drive at, or an organization that allows average joes to participate in "real" racing.

Do you mean time trials? I guarantee that there are far fewer people that have driven time trials as opposed to solo2 auto-x. I've never done it for example, but I'll probably try it eventually. Auto-x, even if you don't count it as real racing, is the most accessible racing around to participate in.

So, seriously, who does this "real" racing? Only professional drivers? I don't understand what you mean exactly.

Ike

Elkhart Lake, Blackhawk Farms, Laguna Seca, the list goes on and on. There are track days, club events, SCCA events and all sorts of stuff you can get into at "real race tracks" throughout the country. Autox is real racing... it's just not the best way to judge a good track car was my only point. I'm not trying to take away anything from autox as a great, fun, accessible, inexpensive form of motorsports.

Ike

revhappy

The EVO feels MUCH smaller and lighter than what it really is. This is attributable, IMHO, to the quick steering and stiff springs. If you think a stock EVO is fast, try a slightly modified one. At one of our meets, a guy with an ECU reflash, turboback exhaust, aftermarket blow-off valve and a few other things I can't remember and was pushing 310 HP to the wheels.....the car was still accelerating past 8,000 RPM!!

revhappy

This stat will vary, but the EVO's has been anywhere from around that figure to .97 Gs (Road and Track - Spring 2003).

Here is a really comparison of the EVO VII (with AYC and ACD) to other high-end sports cars in regards to handling.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article....&page_number=5

revhappy

Much of this repuitation (especially in regards to the DSM's) cam from cars built in the US. The EVO is completely manufactured and assembled in Japan. Still, Mitsubishi cut costs in some areas (and has horrible dealerships/warranty policies), but the ones that count they really did a great job. Of all the sports/sporty cars around $30K, I think the EVO and 350Z will be the most reliable (for now) as their components have been around in one way or another for quite some time.

revhappy

Much of this repuitation (especially in regards to the DSM's) came from cars built in the US. The EVO is completely manufactured and assembled in Japan. Still, Mitsubishi cut costs in some areas (and has horrible dealerships/warranty policies), but the ones that count they really did a great job. Of all the sports/sporty cars around $30K, I think the EVO and 350Z will be the most reliable (for now) as their components have been around in one way or another for quite some time.

revhappy

I'm assuming you are referring to the infamous crankwall problem of the DSM (early Eclipses, Talon's, Laser's, etc.). Most of those problems related to the US production, but the 4G63 in the EVO is solid (with all the issues worked out) and has been so for about 10 years in other parts of the world.

zerohour

That is very very good.

Check the head gasket you might be able to make some easy power by switching out the stock paper on if its still the same with a much better head gasket.

Hell cheap power too.

Thanks for the reply.

revhappy

Hey, thanks for the advice - I'll take a look into that. The old DSM guys are gurus with this engine and it seems a lot of the new EVO guys are reaping the benefits of their experience. I expect something similar to happen with the RX8 new guys and the older FB- FD folks.

O.R.A.

The EVO comes with some nice sticky tires from the factory too. That definitely helps with magazine test numbers for slalom and lateral acceleration. Not to take away anything from the suspension, etc. but tires do make the biggest difference.

Ike

The RX_8 comes with some pretty damn good tires as well, at least better than most cars.

AbusiveWombat

I agree that the tires make a big difference but that what it comes with stock. Hopefully this will put pressure on other manufacturers to equip there sports cars with some good rubber.

racerdave

Well, IMHO it takes more skill to get that stock Miata around the course faster than to have the WRX go faster "in any other format." Then it's just a pure horsepower advantage... not much skill involved there.

Don't take that as a rip... I've driven and like the WRX too.

But in a road-racing format (like the Evo-RX-8 TopGear test) HP is a *huge* factor.

racerdave

Well, my $3000 shifter kart would kill all of these cars at an autocross.

And my dad can beat up your dad!

:D

Seriously, to the point of the thread... the more usable (and greater) power of the Evo will whoop the RX-8 on any road course.

But the extra couple hundred pounds that the Evo carries will definitely hurt it at the autocross course, in addition to the RX-8's better balance.

So, IMHO... autocross = RX-8; road course = Evo.

Ike

Have you ever driven the WRX on an autox track in stock form? You bog and it's a nightmare waiting for it to spool up again, the understeer in stock form is also a bitch on those tight little switchbacks. The reason why you don't see many WRXs running in DS is because it's almost impossible to keep it in the sweet spot or close to it due to the situation of the cats. The Miata from everything I've seen it much easier to drive fast around an autox track.

racerdave

Unfortunately, yes! Pure stock... including the stock Bridgestone Craptenza's. It was rather wierd on those junk tires plus the boost kicking on and off... but I creamed the time I ran in a stock Miata all day (I fun-runned the WRX).

Hmm... I probably didn't word that post right.

The general point is that the better chassis and lighter car will be faster on an autocross course... which is why many top CS Miata's are so quick.

But give them some straights and the boosted cars will devour them.