I just recently learned about the Mitsubishi Evolution. I've been very impressed with what I've discovered about this car.

STRICTLY among 4-door vehicles, other than the S4, SRT-4, M3/4, and WRX STi mentioned in the thread title, are there any other 4-door sedans that offer SIMILAR performance (not better, just similar) to the Evo for somewhat the same amount of money?

Prior to learning of the Evo, I was strongly leaning towards a '97-'98 BMW M3 4-door as a good all-around fun car for road or track (not racing, though.)

Since learning of the Evo, I think I would be leaning towards a '06 Evo RS.

Any other cars that would fall in the same category?

Edit: I'll also post here what I perceive to be the major drawbacks of the cars I've mentioned so far.

SRT-4: FWD and UGLY
Audi S4 V6: Heavy
E36 M3/4: Near ideal, but expensive to get more from the engine
WRX STi: Apparently not as easily tunable as the Evo IX

 

sti is the only other in that price category.
mazdaspeed 6 is slower but in that sedan bracket.

 

No other car falls in the same category as an EVO, especially the IX. For a few thousand dollars you can dominate new Z06 corvettes, Porsches, Ferrari's, Lambos and many more like they were honda civics.

The EVO is in a league of its own. However, the STi comes close, but who wants close when your paying the same amount of money. After modding not even the STi can compare, the EVO is the best car ever made.

...

-Nate

 

Sounds to me like you would probably be better off with the '06 Evo MR ... it has a better suspension (read: not as harsh on the street and still better than the RS suspension on the track). The RS is a bare-bones version of the Evo, which means that you will save some weight, but you will also lose a few creature comforts (e.g. no power windows, much less sound deadening, etc.).

l8r)

 

a E36 is the way to go if you want luxary and performance but over all i'd say a IX MR

 

hop on the evo, prices for mods are not too expensive, and with a few bolt ons you could out 300 with a flash or some sort of tuning you can be putting out more then that.

 

of your list, the sti is the only car that really compares.

and even still, the evo9 is much more tunable than the sti (and looks better!)

 

I own a RS which I chose over other Evo models. It's raw, visceral and exciting, and it's not for everybody. Other RS owners, as well as myself, have written about the experience. You can easily find the posts/threads with a search.

 

Actually, if BMW had made a mass-marketed bare-bones version of the 4-door E36 M3 (less noise insulation, less comfort features, etc,), I'd have a tougher choice between the Evo or an M3.

I think it's incredibly amazing that Mitsubishi has the fortitute as a company to market (to the USA, no less) a performance sedan without the option of power windows, power locks, less sound deadening, etc., in the form of the 'RS' version. ...plus the rear wing on the Evo makes the car look great (IMO) but is not appropriate for me. Hence, no rear wing is even better.

 

For the money, there are really only two options, the EVO and the STi. The E36 is nice but it will cost a fortune to maintain, repair and mod. For about $5k you can endow the EVO with super car like performance, 0-60<4 seconds, 11 second 1/4 and >1 g on the skid pad.

The only other cars that I think are similar are the E30 M3, Spec Miata and the Lotuses. They are all pure driving machines, but lack the ultimate power capabilities of the EVO/ STi. Though the EVO maintains an edge over the STi in capabilites when upgraded, the gap is closing. They are both great cars and you'll love driving either.

 

Actually BMW did make a bare bones M3- called the M3 CSL.
It came with carbon roof, lighter glass etc. Heaps more expensive than the normal M3

 

...as are Porsche's and Ferrari's lightweight models, but not the Evo RS. You're beginning to sound like the right person for the RS. :-)

Drive one if you can, and you may find that it offers a unique driving experience that few other cars can offer. IME, it's the high-performance bargain of our time.

 

Evo's are good performance cars PERIOD Thats about it! They are poorly made (quaility) compared to some of the other cars mentioned above. AGAIN for the best bang for the buck you cant go wrong in an evo. I raced a GT2 the other day thru the mile and he had me by 1 car. I dont think that car was stock but if it had been 1/4 mile race he would have lost badly.

 

the m3 csl is not offered in the states and it's not a 4 door either. they did make a lightweight e36 m3, it was called the LTW, only came it '95 and is a 2 door. The
evo will be the best bet, i had a turbo e36 325i, loads and loads of money was dumped into it to make it fast. for a 13 year old car it could take an e39 m5's and
also e46 m3's turbo cars from the factory will be easiest to mod from the get go, the s4 also reacts well to tuning with just a chip and minor mods like the evo, stock for stock the s4 and m3 are fairly even, just depends on the driver

 

Quality for Mitsu isn't bad, at least according to JD Powers. There is this urban myth floating aroand NASIOC that EVO quality is crap and it simply isn't true. There seems to be a trend to equate current EVOs with the old DSMs that truely had quality problems, but they are not the same.

The problem with EVOs or most any car for that matter, is when you increase whp by 50% or more, you're going to break things.