evo iv as a tow car?
Author
Discussion

laam999

Original Poster:

538 posts

198 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
Ok simply put, I've almost convinced myself to get an evo IV and I realised last night that in about 6-8 months time I'd have been buying 2 more cars, a race car with my mates and a tow car with my mates, but it struck me the evo could tow. This would make us not need a tow car and since I bought the tow car alone reduce my cosy for the race car. I'm just asking if anyone has towed with an evo and would towing be bad the for engine and cause even more regular servicing (would already be every 6k miles)

Cheers

Liam

ejenner

4,653 posts

210 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
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The dangers of towing a caravan with a Mitsubishi Evo = blown engine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1472OHWnfw

I know why it happened though and I doubt it would happen to your car. I'm sure when they mapped it they forgot or didn't bother mapping properly for the load points which would be used when towing a caravan. Perhaps they weren't expecting it to be used for that? When the engine has more weight to pull at any given throttle position even though the engine is reving at the same rate it needs different fuel and ignition settings to pull a heavier load. Anyone who has a boost gauge fitted to their car will notice the car appears to make more boost when going up hills! Actually it's using less rather than making more as the engine is finding it hard to breathe for the same revs and this is cumulative so the boost keeps building.

Really I would say all the same things apply to the standard evo as would to any other car being used for towing. Most significant would most likely be that the rear springs are up to the job as towing bounces the rear of the car and puts a lot of downward force on it.


Grant76

1,381 posts

234 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
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Can't speak from personal experience but I do know someone with an Evo 9 who has towed a racepod carrying a R400 & spares to many races with no problems.

Ten Ninety

244 posts

205 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
I wouldn't do it, but then I wouldn't buy an Evo IV in the first place. It's the runt of the Evo litter with its horrid little undernourished narrow body and is also generally regarded as having the weakest engine. I'm sure the IV owners will hotly dispute both of the above, but the fact is they bought the wrong car. Get a V or VI instead.

That said, I wouldn't be keen on using any Evo as a tow car unless it was for short distances, very occasionally. It's not a comfortable cruiser and the tiny fuel tank and comically poor mpg make long journeys an endless series of refuelling stops even without a trailer. It's super-unleaded only as well. And the servicing is 4500 miles (not 6000) for normal use, not accounting for the extra towing stress.

I suppose if continually negotiating your way through filling stations with a trailer on the back whilst haemorrhaging cash is your idea of vehicular entertainment then go for it. Otherwise, I suspect there are better options available.

laam999

Original Poster:

538 posts

198 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
Thanks a ton! Some great info for me there :-) just the kind of thing I was after

Liam

jbi

12,700 posts

233 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all


4x4
0-60 = 4.6 seconds
1/4 mile = 13.2 secs @ 104.1mph

Evo performance with all the towing capacity you will need smile

andye30m3

3,499 posts

283 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
A guy I sprint with tows with an Evo 7 but he's only towing a jedi single seater which is very light.

Does say it tows well but I'm not sure how well it would tow a heavier car.

rb5er

11,657 posts

201 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
jbi said:


4x4
0-60 = 4.6 seconds
1/4 mile = 13.2 secs @ 104.1mph

Evo performance with all the towing capacity you will need smile
Amazing, Ididnt realise there were going for evo iv money. Could you find me one for around that £3k -£4k mark then and i will take it. Thanks.

ejenner

4,653 posts

210 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
I've heard from someone in the know that the best towing car is a Land Rover Discovery TDI - original version. Cheap enough to buy and own. Probably had towing in mind when it was being designed. In most other respects a horrible car. Always hated the design of the head rests on the front seats.

jbi

12,700 posts

233 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
Disco 1 is a very good tow car and is comfortable, spacious, economical, cheap and very very good offroad

Watch for rust, rust and more rust... they are extraordinarily susceptible to the tinworm
They are also very slow (about 50hp per ton)

If you can find a good one they are probably unmatched in terms of value for money... and when the body rots off, the chassis and mechanicals will likely still be good... so put a different body on it smile

Lots of kits out there.

Mastodon2

14,324 posts

194 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
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Using an Evo as a tow car seems like an expensive way to blow cash on something an old diesel Mondeo would probably do a better job at.

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

241 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
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Forester would be a better idea for the budget.

Liquid Knight

15,754 posts

212 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
rb5er said:
jbi said:


4x4
0-60 = 4.6 seconds
1/4 mile = 13.2 secs @ 104.1mph

Evo performance with all the towing capacity you will need smile
Amazing, Ididnt realise there were going for evo iv money. Could you find me one for around that £3k -£4k mark then and i will take it. Thanks.

Range Rovers are all that and more.


In all fairness the car in the Top Gear clip was a Norris Designs Evo and the engines do a Frosty in those when going to the shop let alone on anything resembling a track.

Edited by Liquid Knight on Sunday 17th July 10:27

irish boy

3,912 posts

265 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
My worry would be the clutch, evo's are heavy on them at the best of times!

KaraK

13,805 posts

238 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
Surely with the extra fuel consumption and wear on components towing with the Evo it would be cheaper to buy a diesel snotter to tow with with.