PH Fleet: Mitsubishi Evo X FQ360
Our new arrival has turned out to be something of a soap dodger...
Darth Vader just out of shot
In a last minute attempt to clean off the slush, mud, salt, and everything else that the roads have thrown up, I thought I’d nip down to the petrol station. But the giant Zanussi was having other ideas. It was all going well when I drove in but the sensors took one look at the large rear wing that has been fitted exactly behind the glass pane I use to look through, and gave up.
Not a refusal to clean the car give up but a ‘we need to call an engineer’ give up. I decided it would be a good idea to casually smile and leave, vowing to use a kinder method to clean the car next time anyway.
A carwash's worst enemy...
Well designed too, with a distinct push towards making it cluttered and button-free. Much of this is helped by the slightly baffling optional Rockford Fosgate entertainment and navigation system.
It’s not baffling to use and the sound quality is excellent but having umpteen speakers and a huge sub woofer, complete with its own box, fitted in the left-hand side of the boot seems at odds with such a performance orientated machine. But then what it probably shows is that Mitsubishi knows its market and is not trying to compete with BMW, instead looking for those who have graduated from a line of Imprezas and Evos.
Which has more power..?
The ‘carbon effect’ plastic on them is a bit naff too and looks more like an MC Esher drawing than a lightweight material. But at least they do, once you’ve squeezed in, hold you admirably in place.
All of this seems to be nothing more than glitter and decoration around the two main features of this slightly scary-looking machine: the engine and the chassis. First of all the four-cylinder lump that sits up front. If you have to expense fuel on bands based on engine size this is not the car to go for.
Interior is a pleasant place to be
There doesn’t seem to be the lag or laziness of the Subaru STI’s 2.5-litre boxer, just free revving response followed by time-warp speed. Forget first, second will do pretty much all you need, savagely shoving you back into the seat. It will rev to over 7,000rpm too and the shove only starts to dwindle just before that.
It’s incredible that with a 0-60mph time of four seconds this is not only one of the fastest cars in the world it is almost supercar territory. If it’s bang-for-bucks you are after suddenly it seems like good value.
So fast the plate has started to slide off
18mpg on 95RON is much cheaper than on 97+RON.
Makes a big V8 look sensible.
Not really comparable in any other respect though.
George
With regard to day to day civility, they were all a nightmare; noisy, bumpy. But when you got a clear road - oh my god!!!
My RS4 is so much more comfy, but whenever the road gets clear i feel the wooly steering, sense the mass, lean with the roll and really really miss my evo's
I did seriously look at the X, but apart from my local Mitsi garage refusing to let me test drive one, despite there demo being available, and myself being a regular customer [ there excuse was you need to make an appointment!! ] I thought the lack of a 6th gear which really helps whilst cruising, smaller boot with a fecking great big speaker box in the way were down points.
However, in the end, due to the price being too high, and ugly IMO, put me off.
They are great driving cars though.
It was then I realised how often you've to service the things. Every 4500 miles? And at £260+ at time?!
Not for me thanks. I've love a go in one but owning one, no thank you.
+Lower compression etc..
Educated guess!
How lossy is the drivetrain?
+Lower compression etc..
Educated guess!
How lossy is the drivetrain?
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