Picked up an Apex Silver, 5-spd EVO X w/SSS last week! Thanks to Sam and Chibby at South Coast Mitsubishi! The $100 over invoice pricing was honored, and I payed approx 33,500 (not including taxes and other misc fees). Serivice was very friendly and informative. I would advise anyone interested in an EVO X to consider their offer. Pics are at the bottom. Please pardon the lousy photography.

I initially intended only to browse and not really to buy. To trade in my STi after a year and a half of ownership would not have been the sensible thing to do. But then again, I am not the most sensible person when it comes to finances, and the EVO drove a lot better than my expectations. I'd like to offer some comparos between my prievious car and this.

I liked my STi a lot. I thought the prev gen EVO was more fun to drive, but it was too harsh as a daily. Some other choices like the G35/335 were a bit too soft. For me it was the best compromise in the market. The STi was quick, handled well, braked good, pleasant engine sound, quiet, had good space, reliable (for the 10k mi owned it) materials were nice, comfy enough for daily driving and long trips (even though I had a beater crx for that). I almost never felt a need for mods. Where the STi feel short was in the excessive power steering assist, vague shifter feel, lousy stereo, and mediocre seats that were too large.

The performance was def there, but the feedback was not. Feedback came in the form of tire noise, slip, and body roll. It was a car I did not really feel comfy to drive hard unless I had a lot of experience with it.

The EVO X I test drove made up for almost every issue I had with the STi. In short, because of the EVO's harder steering feel, excellent hugging Recaros, better (but not perfect) shifter, less body roll, and maybe even better brakes the EVO X was a very confidence inspiring car. between the confidence factor, and possibly better suspension/tires, the car feels like it corners much better than the STi. To me, the EVO was a lot more fun to drive. Ride quality isn't too bad either. Suspension isn't too harsh on the streets.

As for the SSS pkg, I thought it was a good deal being an 1,800-1,700 option. The upgraded stereo is not exceptional (may replace the hu w/ better ipod integration, speakers, and get an amp), but it is decent and prob most will be pleased. HID's are awesome, no doubt. The key fob is a very cool conveneince feature. The rear wing hinders rear visability somewhat, but this is not something I care about coming from an STi. If anything, the wing isn't big enough! :P

My qualms with the EVO is that the theme of bieng upscale is very inconsistent. The exterior is certainly classy, and I like it a lot. The seats are first class no doubt. Driving the car around, the suspension and chassis feels very solid (and moreso than the STI. However, the interior plastics could still use improvement. Also, the car is loud at highway cruising. Its at 4000rpm at 80mph. My STi would be around 3,200. I think a 6-spd would have helped tremendously with noise, and possibly mileage. I think Mitsu should not have skimped on this one. Then again, this does not bother me so much personally, as I just turn on the stereo.

My second concern is that the EVO X feels a bit slower than my STi. This is not so much a complaint as it is a concern. I actually wanted a slower car on the straights than my STi, but that handles better on the twisties. I wonder if there's some sort of a brake in period for some manufacturer's turbo engines. To be fair, a 335 I test drove in last year felt like it had no *****. Its not like either car has no torque. a few engine mods later would be tempting.

For me, this is an excellent car that it extremely fun to drive! Overall it is a more balanced performance car than my STi. Comfort is better in some ways, but compromised on other aspects. You can't have everything, but you cant really complain for the price you pay. I like it so much that I already signed up for a track day at the 'Streets of Willow' this Friday, via Speedventures.

I think it would be a lot of fun to see what the EVO X is capable of, and have no doubt it will best embarrasing 1:39.1 time I got when I brought out my ls-vtec civic last year or so (which I ended the day by misshifting, and blowing up the motor). It was fun terrorizing the beginner grp, and will look forward to doing that again.

As a bonus, I hear there will be some stock and modified new X's and STi's out there. should be fun. will report later.

Pics:
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4...pics007gd8.jpg
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/478/recarosvh9.jpg
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2...pics004le9.jpg
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4...pics003gk7.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6...pics002om2.jpg

Previous STi
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6327/adadadaie7.jpg

 

Congrats on the trade.

 

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the EVO family and the forums. Feel free to scan the forums to get a lot of questions answered. As far as the acceleration concerns, there should be quick and easy remedy, as it seems that simple bolts ons such as intake, exhaust, and a boost controller yield tremendous gains with the X. I am not sure if you planned to mod the car or not, but if you do plan to mod, the power concerns can be addressed. Also I am wondering if acceleration wise the EVO X is just a little too linear for people's tastes. I guess many of us are so use to the sudden rush of the turbo kicking in our EVO IXs, VIIIs, and STIs that the linear power delivery of the EVO X makes feel even slower than it really is.

 

" I actually wanted a slower car on the straights than my STi, but that handles better on the twisties. "

i never think of that..
Congrats for the new car! you will love it even more, after you will upgrade the exhaust system and the intake!

 

Thanks! Yes, this has been a very informative enthusiast website indeed. I only found out the deal at South Coast Mistu through here, so I have that to thank evolutionm.net for!

As far as the lack of power goes, I don't doubt its potential to make more power. It def seems responsive to mods as you say.

My concern is more about perhaps the brake in duration. Right now my car has around 600 mi, but still a bit sluggish. power-buildup is linear though. I'm wondering if issue is due with a longer break-in period with certain examples.

Interestingly, there has also been some descrepancies with acceleration times tested by various mags. some ppl claiming as high as mid 5's, to some claiming as low as 4.6. Of course, some differences are to be expected b/c of driver skill and other enviromental factors, but diff of a second is quite substantial. I'm also sure this issue is not specific with the EVOs, since the 335 I test drove a while ago was quite slow.

IDK, maybe there is an optimal shift point/driving style I have not discovered. My Dealer mentioned the optimal shift point was around 6000-6300, and for the time bieng I do agree. I just floor it until then, and shift. I've even tried shifting at 7k, but it feels about the same.

 

Lol, too much traffic tickets will give you odd incentives. That, and hopefully it will be more forgiving to push on the track. I learned to drive on more technical tracks like spring mtn, and the streets of willow on underpowered (but good handling cars) like my old miata and crx, so it's not a bad thing at all retrospectively.

good to know it will be easy to add power as the need arises, but I will attempt to learn to drive the car as is for a few months at least. Some timed lap times are needed first!

 

very smart!!!
good season is coming for you , i'm sure about that!
You certainly got the weapon!!!

 

What's goin on with that FD you got sittin there?

congrats on the purchase!

 

congratz! I think you are one of the most happy evo x owner I have read about so far

 

sam is tight ... haha
congrats!

 

unfortunately, it belongs to my uncle and he moved out of the country a while ago. the thing's been sitting there for some 12-15 yrs w/ 7k on the odometer. Not sure if it'll even run if I re-attatch the battery.

here are some pics I took recently;
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7090/fd2mp1.jpg
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8135/fd1zi1.jpg
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8048/fd3mr3.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/3136/fd4lz6.jpg

 

That's very smart. Too, no one knows how the new parts will effect the reliability of the vehicle. Seeing how some of the vendors developed them within days of receiving the cars, the lack of extensive R&D doesn't make me very comfortable, either. Congratulations on the new X!

 

Holy *****! That would be a hot commodity if it were on the market... 7k on the odometer, thats amazing.

 

According to the 2008 Lancer Evolution Owner's Manual, breaking in the motor is doing the following:
Btw - Congratz on the purchasing the the X.

 

yes, it really is wiser to wait till the kinks work out. I did not think that way, but you brought up an excellent point! That, and I really have confidence that Mitsubishi sorted everything out the driving dynamics very well (or at least very much to my liking). Almost everything used is already top of the line. Even with suspension mods, I am skepticle to upset that balance. Besides, I am too broke for mods anyways right now. Incidently, my Insurance Co, 21st Century gave me back almost $400 for my 6 mo insurance premium for replacing the STi. It probably is a mistake, but not one that bothers me.