Looking back on the time, it's little surprise that cars like the Tommi Makinen Evo and Imprezas RB5 and RB320 have become so collectable. Not only were they fantastic cars in their own right, but with a sprinkle of rally driver fairy dust they became the most desirable of the breed. Moreover, with rallying a very different sport to what it was and the cars no longer made, enthusiasts are clambering over themselves to get back into one.
Trouble is, that makes the cars quite expensive. See the
£40K Impreza 22B
we featured a little while back, plus the fact that a good Evo VI Tommi Makinen Edition can cost £30,000 now. Compounding the frustration is that these cars are not really for collections; some cars work very well as stationary objects to admire, but Evos and Imprezas are not those cars. They need to be driven hard to be properly enjoyed, but who wants to do that in a Subaru you've paid £40K for?
So here's an alternative: the Evo that's just like a Makinen but is a little under the radar (as much as an Evo can be) in terms of values. The Evo VI Tommi Makinen RS.
Looks pretty cool, doesn't it? Plain white lends it the impression of an unadorned competition car, the bodywork seemingly desperate for motorsport decals. The Tommi Makinen badges are still there for those on the lookout, there are Ralliart mudflaps and the whole aesthetic is unapologetically focused on fast. You want to look good? Go buy a TT. If you want to go fast, you buy the Evo.
The RS, from what can be found on it, appears even more of the same. Like cars with similar names, this Evo bears all the hallmarks of a classic lightweight special: the glass is lighter, the electric windows are gone, even the central locking is ditched here.
If it isn't needed, it doesn't feature
Now it's very easy to get lost in the details of mental Evos and the difference between your Zero Fighter and your RSX. According to this advert, over a regular TME the RS gained its own diffs, steering rack and drivetrain so it's a much more thorough overhaul than taking away the stickers and the electric windows. If anyone has any experience of an RS Evo VI it would be great to know; how much more intense can that car be?!
This imported RS is for sale at a dealer for £15,995. Concerns are raised by an ad that mentions both 'Outstanding Original Condition' as well as a different exhaust and seats, but it looks decent and the mileage is low for a car that's nearly 16 years old. Bet it still feels bonkers to drive too.
At the moment there is a UK-supplied Evo VI RSX at £10K in the classifieds and a TME (in the right colour) at £20,000. Those cars have their appeal certainly, but the prospect of one of the rawest rally reps ever produced made even more so would be very hard to resist.
MITSUBISHI EVO VI TOMMI MAKINEN RS LIGHTWEIGHT
Engine: 1,997cc, 16-valve turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 280@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 275@2,750rpm
MPG: 23
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2000
Recorded mileage: 63,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £15,995
See the original advert here.