ahhh...RX-8 does not handle better than the EVO. I don't own an EVO, but I know what's faster and slower. You guys need to get over it, no one has the perfect car.

EVO goes into the wall because of irresponsible driver, not the car.

EVO goes into the wall because AWD does three things :

(a) inspires over confidence
(b) gives you little or no warning
(c) is next to impossible to recover once it does start to break loose.

Certainly the MP3 Protege was a fun-to-drive car. I think it's one of the smartest moves Mazda made to test the waters. However, I don't recall that it was designed from a clean sheet of paper like the RX-8. Tell me if I'm wrong, but isn't the MP3 a Protege (great little car BTW) with suspension mods and a trivial power tweak, whose success led to the underrated but fantastic MS Protege?

I don't follow why the MP3 example illustrates the validity of the "sports car". If the criterion is just fun-to-drive, then I'm afraid say that the argument falls way short. Perhaps, you and I are not in sync....

Are you certain? I somewhat doubt this from all the material I've seen. In any case, I'd assume any RWD car is quite a bit harder to recover for the novice driver.

In a RWD you can use power oversteer to get out of a nasty situation, if you are a good driver. In a AWD, once you have lost traction ... it's game over ... it also doesn't help that AWD's have a lot more traction, so tend to break away at a lot higher speeds.

I really, really like the new EVO.

I think Mitsubishi did a terrific job on the interior - it is much richer and more sophisticated looking, with much better materials - and the exterior is better, too.

Face it, the EVO is a rarity. AWD, 300 bhp, a race rally proven platform.

It's a great car for those intent on raw power, AWD, and now, even a little bit more refinement.

That's such nonsense. I can swing the tail out or break all 4 wheels lose going around a turn and all it usually takes is a little more gas or a tiny correction in steering and life is good.

Does this look like a car that loses grip and then ends in a firey death?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zj2QrbY3Gs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5KLktiFuVw

Whoa TMAK don't get your panties in a bunch. Your post proved my point in a round about way (irresponsible driver comment), although not sure I believe that an EVO handles better than an 8 (drove an EVO for about a week, hence my earlier comments) I would be curious to see skid pad numbers for both. My point is that if people like the EVO, great, talk about it on the EVO board. I don't talk about my 8 on the EVO board, just like I don't talk about my 8 on the Spitfire board (my other money pit hobby). I appreciate the EVO for what it is, but comparing the two is senseless. EVO people have their opinions, just like we 8 owners have ours. And you might want to ask yourself why such a great handling car like the EVO has so much higher insurance rates (I'll give you a hint...it's partially based on payouts for that car by insurance companies) I agree no one has the perfect car, they all have their ups and downs, I love my Spitfire and would choose it over any car I have ever owned, but you want to talk about a car with serious personality problems. Just try to go one week without an electrical problem. Anyway have fun driving what YOU like. If we all did more driving there would be less time for inane arguments like these.

Later
Corvus13

The Evo has high insurance rates for a lot of reasons. People crashing it because it doesn't have great handling is not one of them. Dumb kids driving like an idiot in a car that is too much for them to handle is. Your comment lack proper logic.

There are owners of all types of cars here just like many car forums on the net. It's not like we're randomly talking about the Evo, it's the subject of the thread. Don't like reading about cars besides your, then don't open threads with another car in the title. Better yet, don't bother visiting car forums.

What's the diff. with Euro and US Evos? The Evo tested at Top Gear had 400hp, and seemed priced at 911 levels (if it's "one third the cost" of that Lambo).

Impressive vid.

If you want to compare how a car handles, you have to look at more than just skidpad times. It's all about the total package, not just one thing. Miatas are way more tossable than any cars we mentioned, but it doesnt make them faster. Sometimes feeling fast is different than actually being fast. EVOs are more hardcore, they were tuned more for racers than everyday people like the RX-8. I love how my 8 drives around the city, but I found the car to be very scary at speeds due to the soft suspension.

Unlike Ike, I don't own an EVO. I am just stating facts. The EVOs are faster no matter what way you look at it, get over it! If you don't like it, buy whatever you want. Don't be coming out and bashing other cars just because it is not yours. I could have purchased an EVO when I bought my Z, but I didn't for personal reason. From time to time, I still regret for not doing it because they are faster!

As far as high insurance rates, just take a look at the demographics of EVO drivers vs RX-8. Drivers with no skills with a very fast car=someone's going to die. It's funny you guys brought that up, I got a rating sheet from Liberty Mutual. The EVO, Mustang and GTO are three of the riskiest cars on the market. 350Z and Corvette are above average and the RX-8 is average, 911 is below average.

What's wrong with having underwear floss between your ass anyway?

That's not the point- if we had any interest in these boy racer shoeboxes, we would all be driving them.

Wow, man. Think I'll trade my 8 in this morning.....:dubs:

You beat me to this one. I was debating whether to pull out this vid.
:naughty:

"One finger!" - Jeremy Clarkson

its a limited production special edition one, not the regular EVO sold in europe.
evo still handles better than the rx8 though imho, evo, s2000, and elise are pretty much the best handling cars under 50k.

TMAK and Ike,

Never said that the EVO wasn't faster. To me handling and speed are two independent items. And once again TMAK, you and I agree. I never said that the EVO's insurance rates were due to poor handling (reread my earlier post again), it's more due to the fact that the kids driving them have no idea how to handle the power (speed in a straight line). And where did I bash the EVO? I have stated many times before that I thought it did what it was designed to do with a certain flair. My main problem is with the people that usually drive them and then come to boards like this and go, "well yeah but my EVO can beat your RX" Great. I am glad you are enjoying your car. Let me get back to enjoying mine. Anyway, I will get back to a car forum where the people actually enjoy their brand, Ike. I'm just sorry you can't seem to understand that some people ACTUALLY LIKE their 8's.

Later
Corvus13

^^its been mentioned many times before on this board, theres a reason why RX8 is in B stock while EVOs and S2000 are in A stock in autoX. they are a class higher because they handle better in general. AutoX is all about handling while acceleration plays very little part in it. on the skid pad EVO pulls close to 1g while RX8 if i remember correctly is a tad below .9 ... but skidpad is more indicative of the grade of tire and EVO has superior Yoko Advans, not so much about handling. ---edit actually tires does directly affect handling, superior tire will add toward overall handling of a car

just because EVO is a better performer doesn't mean its a better car, everyone has their own criteria and priorities in car shopping. theres no need to get defensive just because EVO does some things better, that does not indicate its a better car.

Thanks Playdoh thats the info I was looking for. I don't mean to sound like I don't like the EVO, in a perfect world, I would have one right next to my 8, my spitfire and (dare I say) my Elise. But, I have to pay for my daughters college, etc etc, so I chose what I liked the best for my daily driver. I just get a little irritated by the constant diatribe for x car over the 8. As I have stated before, I use this forum to learn about new mods, to find new ways to do things, and in general find out hidden facts about the car. I knew what I was getting beforehand and and will still be happy with it years down the road. And you're right TMAK, sometimes the butt floss does a body good!

Later
Corvus13

this is just one of about 10 RETARTED comments ive read so far. this is reality, not gran turismo.

hahaha poor Ike...the ignorance and debating skills of some of these fanboys must drive you up the wall.

this thread made my brain bleed a little.

When in Rome.

No, there is not that big a diff. in skidpads or transition/slalom times, which says much about the 8 considering its compliant ride.

I assume everyone here on this forum is a car enthusiast and it's quite funny to see people debate the topic of which car is better. A or B?

I tell my girlfriend that I think of cars as animals. To me, they are almost like living creatures of metal, rubber, plastic, glass, etc....There are thousands of parts engineered to make a vehicle no matter how common or exotic.

To compare the RX-8 to the EVO is like comparing a tiger to cheetah. Two totally different animals with their own merits. A car is more than just numbers at the end of the day if you're not a race car driver.

It's all about the driving experience and you really can't quantify it. A car is a complete sum of its parts. From the styling to the engine to the interior. I take all of this into account when looking at a car.

I'm actually think there are too many cars to choose from when deciding on a new car. That's a wonderful thing.

You're mostly alone in that "scary" evaluation of the 8's handling. I only read one review out of dozens that said anything close to that. The 8 IS too soft for a trackday only car, but so are most stock cars, your 350 included.

That one in particular is the top of the line UK model but it's not as different as you'd think from a standard MR Evo. All the suspension is the same they just boosted power levels to 400hp, which is about the same as a standard Evo with some boltons. They did it a little differently though, maybe for emissions, maybe to justify the extra cost. The main difference is a little bit larger turbo and a Motec.