Evo - will it be a case of don’t meet your hero ?
Discussion
Everyone should have an evo at least once, they are fantastic, i've had 2.
A 6 and an 8. I prefered the 8, but many prefer the earlier car, down to preference.
Was sure i'd go for a 10 but wasn't mad keen on that tbh - felt like it'd lost its evoness, if that makes sense??!!
They are still massively fast (i've a friend with a 700hp 7 and it's bonkers) and can pretty much go as fast as your wallet will allow.
As mentioned earlier I found the mlr a load of look at me, look at me crap but some helpful info from traders available.
You won't regret an evo, just make sure youve got deep pockets.
A 6 and an 8. I prefered the 8, but many prefer the earlier car, down to preference.
Was sure i'd go for a 10 but wasn't mad keen on that tbh - felt like it'd lost its evoness, if that makes sense??!!
They are still massively fast (i've a friend with a 700hp 7 and it's bonkers) and can pretty much go as fast as your wallet will allow.
As mentioned earlier I found the mlr a load of look at me, look at me crap but some helpful info from traders available.
You won't regret an evo, just make sure youve got deep pockets.
georgeyboy12345 said:
What cars have you driven that handle better than an Evo? Genuinely interested
Lotus Elise / Evora which just about destroy anything else for handling, Megane RS265/R26. The EVO I drove was fast and grippy but I didn't feel very connected to it and it felt heavy underneath (best way I can describe it), like I was sitting on this big heavy drivetrain. 
So I know quite a lot of these threads never materialise, I took out a evo on an good hour test drive was only the baby gsr and I don’t think it’s going to cut it I feel like I would need a MR of some description but then the problem lies I’m looking at 25-30k for a decent one, there is some barried ones at 22-25k.
It’s now got me looking at imprezas again, it’s looking like I could get a jdm widetrack blob sti for around 15k and I think that would be the better car than the GSR but maybe not as sharp as a MR
It’s now got me looking at imprezas again, it’s looking like I could get a jdm widetrack blob sti for around 15k and I think that would be the better car than the GSR but maybe not as sharp as a MR
dmsims said:
georgeyboy12345 said:
dmsims said:
georgeyboy12345 said:
What cars have you driven that handle better than an Evo? Genuinely interested
A 944 turboEdited by dmsims on Sunday 13th February 19:09
I had an EVO V as a daily.
Absolutely fantastic cars.
The wet weather usability is almost unbeatable, dynamically they turn and brake with great stability.
There was NO understeer. The AYC was programmed to allow a very fast turn in allowing a chassis without understeer but without the yaw induced oversteer that would normally accompany such a setup. As higher speeds, this then developed more towards four wheel drifts.
The previous owner was a rally driver and I suspect though that it might not have been running the standard AYC program.
Dont think you can out run things on the Mway though as mine was as aerodynamic as a brick, but on anything twisty I never had anything keep up.
My only issues
4500K service intervals
Standard clutch friction material really isn't upto the job
Tiny fuel tank
Replaced the AYC rear diff which was squeaking (which would be explained if it had got the motorsport chip in the AYC)
BTW
The V looks the best of the lot
Absolutely fantastic cars.
The wet weather usability is almost unbeatable, dynamically they turn and brake with great stability.
There was NO understeer. The AYC was programmed to allow a very fast turn in allowing a chassis without understeer but without the yaw induced oversteer that would normally accompany such a setup. As higher speeds, this then developed more towards four wheel drifts.
The previous owner was a rally driver and I suspect though that it might not have been running the standard AYC program.
Dont think you can out run things on the Mway though as mine was as aerodynamic as a brick, but on anything twisty I never had anything keep up.
My only issues
4500K service intervals
Standard clutch friction material really isn't upto the job
Tiny fuel tank
Replaced the AYC rear diff which was squeaking (which would be explained if it had got the motorsport chip in the AYC)
BTW
The V looks the best of the lot
Edited by Gary C on Monday 4th April 20:27
Having had a VIII FQ a long time ago, I’m inclined to think it is a case of don’t meet your heroes..
Back then, I was 22. I wanted something very quick - which it provided in spades. Nothing non-exotic could touch it A-B. That’s more or less what I wanted it for; I didn’t appreciate the nuance of a fine handling ‘normal’ chassis (like an Elise). So at that age, it ticked all of the boxes. I loved it.. Mine was reliable in the couple of years I owned it. I didn’t care about the drab interior at the time, and the service interval was acceptable sacrifice.
Having had a few decent cars since, and subsequently driven a VIII FQ400, I liken these (hugely capable) chassis’ to a turbo engine. You point, shoot, and the trickery does the legwork for you, so it wasn’t especially rewarding. Nowadays I like to appreciate working for the performance, and enjoying a chassis (and ideally NA engine) without things like AYC.
My fun car needs to be normally aspirated, RWD, manual, and ideally have a LSD. That’s what I find as an enjoyable & rewarding combo for today’s roads. Perhaps it’s just growing up a bit? Who knows. Maybe if I had a fleet of cars I’d like one, but probably more for nostalgia.
Back then, I was 22. I wanted something very quick - which it provided in spades. Nothing non-exotic could touch it A-B. That’s more or less what I wanted it for; I didn’t appreciate the nuance of a fine handling ‘normal’ chassis (like an Elise). So at that age, it ticked all of the boxes. I loved it.. Mine was reliable in the couple of years I owned it. I didn’t care about the drab interior at the time, and the service interval was acceptable sacrifice.
Having had a few decent cars since, and subsequently driven a VIII FQ400, I liken these (hugely capable) chassis’ to a turbo engine. You point, shoot, and the trickery does the legwork for you, so it wasn’t especially rewarding. Nowadays I like to appreciate working for the performance, and enjoying a chassis (and ideally NA engine) without things like AYC.
My fun car needs to be normally aspirated, RWD, manual, and ideally have a LSD. That’s what I find as an enjoyable & rewarding combo for today’s roads. Perhaps it’s just growing up a bit? Who knows. Maybe if I had a fleet of cars I’d like one, but probably more for nostalgia.
Evos on the whole are all very similar in setup and handling. Overall power climbed over the years and there were some refinements to the chassis etc, but considering eve platform was developed 30 years ago near enough, it’s amazing how well it performed and still does today.
There are many a time when out on weekend blasts where it surprises not only me, but the cars I meet when out for a run. The lack of weight, the lack of electronics all go to make the car engaging and for the power output, quick!
My V with a stage 1 (365bhp) feels so much quicker than the numbers suggest, point to point it’s just a silly quick tool, the way you can gun mid corner and feel the chassis squirm, point and shoot never gets old.
Interiors are rubbish, but can be made more pleasant with aftermarket options fitted, though you don’t buy a car like the Evo for the soft touch plastics and infotainment system; stick to Audi/VW if you want that stuff as I do for my daily. If you want something to wind the windows down and smile ear to ear as you carve curves up, the Evo will do it. Old and agricultural yes, old and irrelevant not a chance, but that’s the charm.
There are many a time when out on weekend blasts where it surprises not only me, but the cars I meet when out for a run. The lack of weight, the lack of electronics all go to make the car engaging and for the power output, quick!
My V with a stage 1 (365bhp) feels so much quicker than the numbers suggest, point to point it’s just a silly quick tool, the way you can gun mid corner and feel the chassis squirm, point and shoot never gets old.
Interiors are rubbish, but can be made more pleasant with aftermarket options fitted, though you don’t buy a car like the Evo for the soft touch plastics and infotainment system; stick to Audi/VW if you want that stuff as I do for my daily. If you want something to wind the windows down and smile ear to ear as you carve curves up, the Evo will do it. Old and agricultural yes, old and irrelevant not a chance, but that’s the charm.
Edited by Evolved on Tuesday 5th April 20:29
Royal Jelly said:
I didn’t appreciate the nuance of a fine handling ‘normal’ chassis (like an Elise).
Having had a few decent cars since, and subsequently driven a VIII FQ400, I liken these (hugely capable) chassis’ to a turbo engine. You point, shoot, and the trickery does the legwork for you, so it wasn’t especially rewarding.
While I get what you are saying, I found my V very rewarding. It handled with a nice compliance and predictability. Very different to an Elise I grant you but not just a point and squirt. On the overrun, it would shudder as the recirc valve popped and slammed shut.Having had a few decent cars since, and subsequently driven a VIII FQ400, I liken these (hugely capable) chassis’ to a turbo engine. You point, shoot, and the trickery does the legwork for you, so it wasn’t especially rewarding.
The only real trouble was, when you pushed the chassis to its limits so that you reaped the rewards, you were going really fast, too fast really.
Like 90MPH four wheel drifts in the wet.
It was oft said the electronics 'drove the car' whereas I always felt that they took a chassis that would have been to sharp on turn in, and made it work but you still had to work with it. The odd thing that took some getting used to was the turn in rate, it yawed so fast you instinctively expected the rear to step out and you would find yourself countering it, only to find the AYC had already dealt with it.
Hard on tyres and clutches but driven in a 'rally style' it works, if your licence survives
I do suspect Evo V & VI cars are a bit more involving than my 8. It made everything too easy! For what it was, though, it was brilliant. I loved it at the time. I guess tastes change and all that.
There’s no way around the fact that like them or not, they were seriously impressive of the time.
And yes - your license becomes a fragile thing as a result
There’s no way around the fact that like them or not, they were seriously impressive of the time.
And yes - your license becomes a fragile thing as a result
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