Sunday 7th January 2018

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II RS: Spotted

Well, it's a completely standard early RS in fabulous condition - what more do you need to know?

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While it evolved over time, the early Mitsubishi Evos are a lot like the later Mitsubishi Evos in terms of public response. The ethos and the ingredients remained admirably familiar for more than 15 years, but we all know that it's the VI (and perhaps the generations either side) that are the most sought after Lancer Evolutions. Not only is it the model most closely linked with Tommi Makinen's success, the VI was also the first to be officially imported to the UK - at the peak of our fascination with the Japanese rally rocket, too.

As a result the very best Evo VIs are up above £50K. And yet cars like this fantastic Evo II RS, doted on by its owner and just 33,000 miles young, are available for £15,000. Like the VI - like every Evo, in fact - it combined ferocious turbocharged performance with incredible four-wheel drive agility and four-door practicality. (Why did that go out of fashion again?)

More than that this car is a genuine RS (meaning it left the factory as one, rather than having RS parts retrofitted), which means it will be even lighter and sharper than a regular II. More even than that, this is a standard, Evo II RS, exactly as it left the factory nearly 25 years ago. Think about that: this is a car that has survived more than two decades without modification (or you would have to assume so, at least), during a time when modifying was all the rage and cars like the Evo were prime targets. Remarkable.

Early Evos are rare anyway as Japanese-only cars; it takes some commitment to seek one out given so many of the later, better known models were officially available in the UK. Look at it this way: on PH there are two cars for sale in the Evos I-III section, and 30 in the IV-VI. In VII-IX there are 40... What that means now is that only the very best ones have survived because of the preventative care required to keep them rust-free. And the preventative care required not to wrap it around a tree.

This RS is a case in point, utterly flawless and seemingly cared for by a fastidious owner. Check out the pictures with other white Evos and the corresponding plates - this is a man who knows and loves Evos, and spends his time with others who share his passion. Fabulous.

And while it may take some explaining to the vast majority of people you know, this Evo is a £15K bargain too. No, really, it is. There isn't a comparable Impreza on PH at the moment - this V-Limited at is nice but modified and with many more miles - which is disappointing, but there are plenty of the Evo's WRC contemporaries on offer that make it look like staggering value. You want a 1994 Delta Integrale Evo II, also imported from Japan and with similar mileage to the Mitsubishi? That's £60K, and from a private seller, too. You'll pay the same amount for an Escort Cossie, albeit with twice the mileage of either. Even a Celica GT-Four, that perennial homologation bargain, is creeping up - £10K with 78,000 miles for this one.

So there's an awful lot going for the Evo, particularly (or perhaps only) if you're one of those saddos who loves fast Japanese Domestic Market metal. It's at the age too where you would be unlikely to use it regularly anyway, so keeping this one pristine for special occasions wouldn't be too much of a hardship. And, most importantly of all, any Evo must still be an absolute riot to drive. Then next year it can go to the US, if you want. Buy it before someone here embezzles the funds for a website refresh and heads out to the Vale of Glamorgan...

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SPECIFICATION - MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION II RS

Engine: 1,997cc, 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: 5-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 260@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 228@3,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1994
Mileage: 33,000 miles
Price new: N/A
Price now: £15,995

See the advert here.

[rossub]

Difficult to argue with the price, it’s going to be one of the best ones left worldwide.

Calling the Integrale seller a tool is a bit harsh though

[rossub]

PoopahScoopah said:

Anyone that can't see that the remark about the Integrale seller is an obvious typo is, perhaps, the a tool themselves!

Hence the wink in my post