An interesting question was brought up at another forum, the question that was asked was if the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is the best all around car? I believe the answer to this is yes. I believe there are other cars that can do some of the things that the EVO do and do it better, but it would be difficult to find other cars that can do all of which the EVO does (other than the STi). The EVO does so many things, and does them all relatively well, in some cases very well. Cars like the 911 Turbo and Viper can best the EVO in straight up performance, but the EVO is three times less expensive, can be driven relatively comfortably day to day, and transport a family of five from point A to point B, this is something both of those cars can not offer. The S4 offers 8-cylinders and AWD, but can not match the EVOs aftermarket potential and all around performance. So I compiled a list of reasons why I believe the EVO is the best all around car-

#1- All weather performance, the EVO is useful in almost any situation. It can perform in the rain, on the snow, on the mud, on the dirt, at the drag strip, on a race course, on the autocross, in the mountains on a twisty road. Not many vehicles can claim this.

#2- Daily driving capabilities and a relatively comfortable interior (Recoro Seats) with room for five adults.

#3- (Stock) 0-60 times in 4.6-5.0 seconds and 1/4 Mile times in 13.2-13.6 seconds and trap speeds at 99-103MPH.

#4- Inexpense and ease to modify. $2,000 to $2,500 can possibly turn your 13 second EVO into a low 12s and high 11s EVO and add an extra 100WHP+ to your EVO. Huge aftermarket support, from Vishnu, Dynoflash, AMS, Turbo Trix, HKS, and etc.

#5- AWD and great traction, 1.6 to 1.7 second 60FTs

#6- Great handling abilities, the best handling Sedan in the United States of America.

#7- Super car brakes!!! Any car that can brake 60-0 in under 120FT is just awesome, the EVO can do it under 110FT and that is simply amazing. Remember we are talking about a four door sedan here, not a super exotic Porsche.

#8- Relatively inexpensive pricing, from $27,000 for a RS to $35,000 for a MR. Great value for what you get in return.

#9- Awesome resale value, a 2003 EVO GSR still has Kelly Blue Book retail value of $28,800 (with 30,000 miles). Compare that to a 2003 Honda S2000 which has a Kelly Blue Book retail value of $26,600 (with 30,000 miles).

#10- Good gas mileage, the EVO is rated at 19/26 MPG.

#11- Top Speed- 150MPH+

Of course the EVO has it's faults, nothing is perfect (all cars have a fault). What do you guys think, what other cars can match the EVOs all around capabilities?

The EVO is a great car, no doubt. The best all around car that I would pick is the BMW E46 or the new CTS-V! I am considering this opinion as the best daily driven vehicle offering the best balance between ride, and driving.

I can fully understand why sombody would choose an Evo still, because they are just simply a 'perfect package' for what you buy.

hmmmm.............then again, an S4.....

What do you guys/gals think?

I don't know that I would call the Evo overly "well-rounded"., You have to take into account how "well" it performs these versious tasks.

Yes, the Evo can seat five people. However, if you think more than about 10-percent of them ever will on a regular basis you are losing it. This car rides like an iron canoe down a log-pile, and unless your the designated driver on beer night or your out street racing nobody is going to want to ride with you.

Also, while the Evo has good performance, this sucker is peaky in it's power delivery to say the least. Some folks like this, others don't. But, the Evo demands that you drive it in a certain way to go fast. This car is either "on" or "off" from a power standpoint, there is no middle ground.

The styling is also definately not for everyone. More sedate looking cars can always be dressed up to your liking, it would be hard to dress an Evo down. I like an agressive looking car, but the Evo is just a bit out there. Take away the big rear wing and give it a more refined appearing set of wheels and it might not be that bad actually. Much better than Subies WRX

That said it does offer a lot of go in a four-door car for relatively little dough. This car also makes me realize that it is simply too bad that Ford does not build a 4-door version of the Mustang. It would be a nice American-style compromise to the Evo.

I'm sorry about this but this thread is just pointless. Yes, some people will agree but everybody is going to have a different opinion.

Some people think big 4X4 trucks are the best all around cars because you can go anywhere in them and can drive them in all kinds of weather.

Fans of some cars will come in here and state their case about why their car is the best. This thread will be here until the world ends because it won't be settled, ever.

You must ask us though, is the EVO the best all around car, for what? The EVO would suck for a family of five that need a daily driver. The EVO would suck for a guy who lives out in the woods and does some trail driving.

The EVO would be great though for a single guy with money he could spend and would like a sporty car.

For me, the best all around car is the Mustang, I'm sure you're surprised by that one. You can get a nice V6 for a teenage that's just enough for them. You can get a nice GT for somebody out of high school. You can get a Cobra for somebody in their late 20s, early 30s wanting an awesome car. Finally you can get a Roush or Saleen for the stockbroker who wants a super hot car. There is a Mustang for every age group from the teenager wanting looks all over school, to the stockbroker driving a SR that'll burn the paint off of a Ferrari as it flies by it.

The EVO and STi are the best Bang-for-your-buck out there as far as performance cars.....Some would argue that the Mustang is.....But I don't think a car with a live rear axle should qualify. Ford really screwed up that one, the EVO and STi will run circles around it.........Of course, that's just my opinion.

If you don't like the live axle rear, well everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, the proof is found in the numbers and the new Mustang handles very well indeed (350Z levels both skidpad and slalom!) on the all season 17" wheel/tire combo. The summer tires on 18's can only be an improvement.

If this were a bang-for-the-buck comparison I cannot imagine that there is much competition for the new pony. Matter of fact, I smell a new thread!

I am sure if you invested in an IRS for the Mustang GT for I dunno...let's say it was 3k...bringing the price tag up from 23-24 to 27...it makes a good run against the RS for bang for the buck...

For the people that bitch about the live-axle do understand that the new 05 Mustang were all suppose to be IRS. The whole chassis was designed around an IRS. Then when word got out Ford got thousands of letters/emails etc.., of people saying they want the GT to stay a solid rear-end.

Ford actually had to make and desgined an all new 8.8 solid-rear to fit the new chassis. This is Ford giving the people who buy and love their car what they want. So what you see as a negative is a positive for others. Hence why there is no such things as the best all round car cause we all want and like different things.

Also IRS cars do not automatically= better handling. There are modified solid axle foxes that will turn 1.0+G and whoop a Ferrari around turns.

Oh dear god! :disappoin
Just because Mitsubishi releases a limit edition of 100 fully tricked out EVOs for the UK market only suddenly people are expected to consider such an absurd notion as the EVO being the best car ever made...whatever. :rolleyes:
"Flavour of the month" is a term that comes to mind.

As for the Mustang, its a great car for the price, I only hope they change the rear suspention when they make a Cobra/Mach 1 or whatever there going to call the next version up from the GT.

Now as for the Evo being the best all around car, there are two things that i'm going to have to point out that the EVO is lacking in.

1) Reliability- The Evo isn't exactly known as being a very reliable car. I've heard numerous horror stories about Mitsubishi voiding warranties and not wanting to fix certain components.
2) Luxury/interior- A complete car shouldn't just be fun to drive, but also good to drive. 3000ways mentioned that theres room for 5 adults. If I were one of the three people in the back seat of that car for more then 15 mins I would go insane. The interior really isn't that great. Mitsubishi even says that the RS is a stripped out EVO VIII. No power windows, ABS, or HIDs. In my mind its a great performance buy, but thats it. Personally, I just don't like this cars interior at all. The VW R32, and 350z both have better interiors in my opinion. Unless I were racing it, I wouldn't want to be in the EVO for long periods of time.

I like this car, its one of the best cars for the price you can buy, but I wouldn't say its the "best all around car."

For me, the best all around car is the M3. Great interior, great engine, I like my SMG, most fun I've ever had in a car. O, and I beat EVOs and STIs in legal drag and track racing. I don't get much snow where I live, and when I go skiing I'll either drive my X3 3.0 (coming soon) or a friend's car.

and i would say the C6 is a better all wround car then the evo, i wouldn't even think twice about the two

and the evo has little to no luxury, doesnt even come with a dang boost gauge

Best all rounder is the Bmw M3 E46.

The evo looks cheap, feels cheap, no personality or finesse compared to an M3. Japannese cars lack posture, there are excepcions of course (RX-7, s2000, NSX) but you know...

Just an fyi on the Mustang Cobra thing, Ford is going to show the next Cobra at the New York Auto Show in about 2-1/2 months.

SVT still says supercharged 5.4L V-8 and about 500hp are the numbers to look for. And, of course, the car gets an IRS. It will apparently even get an optional SMG for that matter!

Heck, it they price it right this might be the best car in the world!

Just an fyi on the Mustang Cobra thing, Ford is going to show the next Cobra at the New York Auto Show in about 2-1/2 months.

SVT still says supercharged 5.4L V-8 and about 500hp are the numbers to look for. And, of course, the car gets an IRS. It will apparently even get an optional SMG for that matter!

Heck, it they price it right this might be the best car in the world!

That 05 Mustang is probably the first time I’ve ever seen retro design pulled off properly. The styling is just so on the dot. Of course I prefer the look of the C6 Vette but god whoever designed the looks of that Mustang should get a Nobel Prize. Hopefully they intend to import it to Australia sometime because it would go down very well over here.

The M3 is the best all arounder...perhaps the E36 4 door was one of the best iterations of it...room for all, quick, amazing brakes, wonderful steering, handling like no tomorrow...

The E46 does all that minus the room...but hey...it's good enough

M3, E46... great cars. The Evo and Sti are incredible performers for the price. I guess I'm biased, but the C6 gets my nod. Just my 2 pennies.

In a word NO, the Evo is not a perfect car. It's a good car, but not perfect.

Firstly it lacks the character found in other performace cars such as the Dodge Viper, Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, Renault Clio V6 and MINI Cooper S. It looks like exactly what it is- a fast family sedan with spoilers stuck on. Makes me yearn for the days of the Lancia Delta Integrale, Mitsubishi Evolution I and R32 Skyline GTR, when bodykits were subtle yet effective.

Nor is Mitsubishi well known for it's reliability, especially the transmissions (Though in fairness it's mainly the Auto's that are bad), the 4G63 is a well built motor, however.

Interior? Not the Evo's domain, not even close to that of the Volkswagen Golf R32, GTi, Audi S3 or even the Civic Type R. Come to think of it, I've seen better interiors in Holdens and Fords. Cheap plastics and an extremely dull design.


Even the Evo has it's short comings, more than a BMW M3 for example, which although expensive, justifies its' price-tag IMHO.

OK WTF is this. Seriously people this is enough, no more bitching.

All of a sudden mustangs appear compared to 350Z and even vettes? WTF can't you read the title. Its not the best perfomance car, its the best all around car. So lets remember that means a fast sensible choice.

So you think the mustang is a good all arounder. Sure lets start on the premise that its performance its excellent now give it to a mom in Michigan with 2 kids and a toddler. I'm sure she will have tons of fun showing the todler in the back seat of a coupe, the even more fun when she will attemp to drive a high power RWD car with fat tires in the snow. Does that sound like a sensible choice?

Now lets attempt this with the vette....


Further on lets get to M bimmers CTS-V cadillacs and such. They offer luxury We come to the trick question: Can you afford it? They might be better cars but the price takes them out of reach for many families. So for many middle class familis they will not be a sensible choice due to finances therefore they might not be the perfect all around car either.

The evo while having many plusses: good price, performance, AWD, 4 doors its not without its drawbacks: boy racer looks and stiff suspension.

Bottom line there is no perfect all arounder but some cars come close. The evo and sti and een the srt4 make a good case for themselves in their price bracket (~20-~30K) if can forget some luxuries otherwise look for an RSX or Acura TL and trade some perf to luxury.

Audi S4 would be my pick for the next price level.


But IMO overall best pick would be the upcoming Mazdaspeed 6: 4 doors sensible looks, good luxury and amenities, priced around 28K. It will have an AWD setup powered by a direct injection turbo 4 banger with plenty of power and lots of down low TQ.

So now lets keep this civilised and if you want to make a case for your car don't just bring to attention the performance side, focus on how realistical the choice is for an average family.

There are even better choices as allround cars that the Mazda6 MPS and Evo/STi etc. Two that stand out are the Honda Accord Euro (aka TSX) and Subaru Legacy 3.0R B Spec.

The Accord comes equipped with a 2.4 four-cylinder producing 140 Kw, is comfortable and can fit four adults, transmission options are a 6 speed manual or 5 speed Automatic, equipment includes climate controlled air conditioning, four airbags, CD Player etc and the handling is typical Honda aka. Fantastic. Oh lets not forget the gorgeous styling

The best bit it only costs NZ$35,000, which undercuts a 1.6 Litre FSI VW Golf! So yes I believe that the Honda Accord Euro is a far more practical choice than the Evo (Let's not forget that you can get two Euro's for the price of one Evo VIII- which is NZ$74,500 btw.) and can offer driving thrills (If not quite in the league of the Evo) and subtle good looks mixed with practicality. The dowside of course is that everybody has a Honda Accord Euro these days (Though there are more Mondeo's and Mazda6's)

If you want something priced closer to the Evo, then choose a Subaru Legacy 3.0R B-Spec. Here is a car which offers AWD, just like the Evo, it offers a 3.0 Flat Six with almost as much power as the Evo and that well finished and nicely laid out interior says it all........ In fact this car offers more kit than any 330i I've ever seen. You can get the car in either a manual or Automatic as well, meaning once again it makes far more sense than an Evo. It's styled like a European car as well (I've mistaken one from the rear for a Peugeot 407 a few times)


So to answer this thread, yes. There are better all-round cars than the Evo.

Don't even get me started on FPV's new F6 Typhoon, this is a car that will cream a standard Evo (Powered by a 260 Kw Inline 6 Turbo), offer more interior room, probably handle just as well in the dry (Fords control blade IRS is amazing), while costing about the same (For those who don't know this car uses the Ford Falcon XR6 as it's base).


Then again you guys in the US get your Evo's for cheap compared to us (Even though ours are better :D, JDM y0!)

Why do you people want to compare apples to oranges? I've seen Viper, Ferrari, Corvette, BMW......Lets AT LEAST keep this thread in the same price range! Not to mention Vipers and Corvettes don't have a freakin' back seat!

Now that being said, let's see some good comparisons to the EVO or STi for best-all-around-bang-for-your-buck-fun-to-drive.....Something you could autocross one day then take the kids to soccer practice, and swing to the grocery store on the way home the next day. All the while blowing away the COMMON vehicles (no Ferraris or Vipers) on the street.....In STOCK form.....All for around 30 grand.

I can't think of a good comparison.....Maybe the Mustang IF it had IRS and AWD.....Nah, screw the Mustang.

My answer is no. The AWD is a power eater. It is also a glorified family sedan. The insurance will be sky rocketed(depending on age) or high because of the turbo engine. The interior is made up of materials found in a sub compact rental car. The fuel consumption isn't exactly something to be proud of. The GM pickups get about the same milage with a V-8(LS-1 based 5.3L vortech) and weigh about double the Evo. I can keep going but you get the point. It is no it is NOT the best all around car.

I understand what you guys are saying, that EVO does have it's faults, and you must remember all cars do. My point is that the EVO just has so much more to offer to it's owner than the average car. I'm not saying that the EVO is the most comfortable car to sit in (because I know it's not), but the point is, that if you needed to sit 5 people in the car in relative comfort, you could. but I would argue that 5 people in an EVO would be a hell of a lot more comfortable than 5 people in a Mustang (I've sat in both). Plus cars like the Corvette can not offer room for 5 people, advantage EVO.

Now something else the Mustang can not match with the EVO, is it's all weather capabilities, it starts to rain or snow, where is the Mustang??? Either in the garage or going 45MPH on the Freeway or Highway (posted speed limit is 65MPH), while the EVO has just began to get started. Another thing the Mustang lacks is the EVOs all around performance, the only performance category the Mustang GT has over the EVO stock for stock, is top end grunt, the Mustang GT should pull on an EVO from a roll. A race from a dig, the EVO wins. A race on an autocross, the EVO wins. A race on a race course, the EVO wins. Handling, the EVO wins. Braking, the EVO wins.

I would never call the EVO the flavour of the month (the EVO is no SRT-4), because it has a very rich history, and it has earned it's spot on the podium of Japanese cars. The only 4-Cylinder AWD car to reach speeds of 200MPH+, was the EVO. The quickest record 4-Cylinder AWD car is, the EVO. The list of accolades for the EVO is long and that is my number #12 reason for the EVO being the best all around car.

Like I said the EVO has it's fault, as does any car. Still the EVO offers a lot in return, more so than any other car I can think of. I'm not saying the EVO is the best at anything I'm just saying it is good at everything. It's not the fastest, but the EVO is fast. It's not the most comfortable ride, but it is comfortable enough to live with day to day. It doesn't have the most room, but if you need to fit 5 people it can. It's not the best handling car, but it can handle very well. It's not the best looking by any means, but it grows on you and definitly get's you noticed. It's not the best in foul weather, but it will get you home safely. It's not the cheapest, but it isn't expensive (especially since the average new car in America costs $30,000, which happends to be the price tag of the EVO GSR). It's not the easiest to modify, but it is easy. Do you get my point?

My answer is no. The AWD is a power eater. It is also a glorified family sedan. The insurance will be sky rocketed(depending on age) or high because of the turbo engine. The interior is made up of materials found in a sub compact rental car. The fuel consumption isn't exactly something to be proud of. The GM pickups get about the same milage with a V-8(LS-1 based 5.3L vortech) and weigh about double the Evo. I can keep going but you get the point. It is no it is NOT the best all around car.

One could argue that the LS1 is a glorified outdated pushrod engine. The interior of GM cars are nothing to be proud of either. Try jumping from a Japanese or European car into a GM car and it would feel like traveling back in time like a decade or two. The AWD does eat up some power, but it benefits greatly outweigh it's faults. Could you imagine the EVO with out AWD, it would be just another car, it be a GM. The fuel consumption isn't the greatest, but it isn't that bad. The 5.3L V-8 you speak so highly of gets 15/19MPG (and that is with out the supercharger, because the vortech would surely eat up more gas). The EVO has rental car material in it you say, that's funny, because last time I checked most of the rental cars were GMs. So pretty much everything about a GM is a rental car. I can keep going but you get my point. I'm not knocking GM, I'm just saying everything has faults, now what are the benefits and do they greatly outnumber these faults, for the EVO, yes, for many other cars, no.

Eh Mustang has low end grunt. And Vortech is not the superchareger it is the name of the engine Voretech5300. The LS-1 is a great engine set a side the CSK. Where do you get your #s for milage on the Silverado 1500? It is exempt from the EPA rating. They usually get in the neighboorhood of 20mpg as the Dodge Ram or Ford F-150 will get the mid-high teens. The interior of the Silverado is actually put together a lot better.

Yes it does have low end grunt also, but it also has top end, the EVO boost starts to sputter on the top end and the Mustang should start to pull. My bad about thinking the Vortech was supercharged, but I have my sources for the MPG, like 3 different websites, where do you get 20MPG? On the highway you mean, the EVO does 27MPG. This is not a GM vs. EVO debate, just pointing out everything has faults, just remember that.

Why do you people want to compare apples to oranges? I've seen Viper, Ferrari, Corvette, BMW......Lets AT LEAST keep this thread in the same price range! Not to mention Vipers and Corvettes don't have a freakin' back seat.

Well, I think apples to oranges is the only way to go in this comparison. The author didn't ask for the best economy car for a certain price, or the best performance car with leather, he asked for the best all around car. I think for that reason alone a C6 or a Viper is as valid an answer as the next. All cars have trade offs, its just that those two cars' trade offs are that there is no back seat :)

I have to admit I'm not a new car type of guy. I buy what I want and make it into what I need/want. For me personally, the greatest all around car is my 1973 Impala Station wagon. 425 hp of 454 engine, room for 6 and 15 sheets of drywall plus all my tools and a spare tire, roof rack for road trips so I can sleep in the back, nice stereo with MP3 player, and flashy yellow paint. The only option it has is A/C, so the whole package is very reliable. Its trade-off is that it lacks luxury and handling.

Seriously, though. With what's available today, the best all-around car would have to be one of the BMWs. E46 M3 is probably the ultimate all around car with the least trade offs. The Evo (go ahead and flame me) was designed as a small economy car, then tuned. It doesn't matter how many factory designed bolt-ons you put on the car, the fact remains that its suspension hard parts were originally designed for reliability, and price. Ride quality, camber curve, caster adjustability, ride compliance, and other fine points took a back seat. BMWs on the other hand were designed from the ground up as a performance suspension, then reliability, compliance, and NVH qualities were engineered into it. Its easy to engineer down, but hard to soup up what you have.

I'm not even going to start in on things like chassis stiffness, interior noise shaping, assembly quality, and aerodynamic noise testing. It just goes in one ear and out the other. People look at numbers; X cubic feet of passenger space is great, but if your size 13s don't fit under the seat infront of you, what kind of engineering flunkie designed that? If the hump in the tunnel is too wide, how does the fifth person sit comfortably? Sure you can compare a Cavalier to a BMW 318; similar power, room, and the Cav is half the price, but you're not getting the same car for half the price, you're getting 1/3 the car for half the price. Then a tuner would start throwing money at that J-body Cav to make it perform as well as the 318 and end up sorely disappointed.

Flame me all you want, but the Mitsu Evo started life as an Economy car; designed for cheap A to B transportation. Then in response to the "tuner" craze, they made a souped up version. Granted, its a respectable and well-planned tuner car; the best one yet, but to place it as the best all-around car is (to me) a hilarious joke.

They all have trade offs and if you drove a BMW on a regular basis you'd see the driving experience can't be quantified.

Yes it does have low end grunt also, but it also has top end, the EVO boost starts to sputter on the top end and the Mustang should start to pull. My bad about thinking the Vortech was supercharged, but I have my sources for the MPG, like 3 different websites, where do you get 20MPG? On the highway you mean, the EVO does 27MPG. This is not a GM vs. EVO debate, just pointing out everything has faults, just remember that.
Where do I get 20mpg? I have driven several 1500s equipped with the 5.3L. One towing about 4000k lbs and still got about 15 mpg. Yes I know every vehicle has it's faults. BTW the 2WD 1500s get even better milage.

Now you people are putting pickup trucks into the equation!!?? Give me an freakin' break!! I like how you all disagree, yet no one has come up with a worthy opponent short of a viper or Corvette, which are not even in the same area code as the EVO....I would take a Corvette over an EVO any day, but thats not the issue here.... How can anyone say that a Corvette or Viper is the best ALL AROUND car? (trucks and SUV's not included....Duh) You can't take your pals out for a night on the town in a Corvette or any two seater.

Depends on what you plan to do with the car. For the best gas mileage, you will be better off with a "stock" Honda CIvic...for rallying you will be better off with the EVO.

hmm, something that isn't stupid and um.. not a subaru.....

i think it's all been said before;
it'll probably cost you.
i.e S4, M3, GTA, VW R32 maybe....

don't know what the prices of things are like in the US but here in the UK,
the EVO 8 FQ-300 (mid range price) is listed as a tad under £29,000.
the S4 is listed as £36,000.
that's £7000 more but for a much better built car that will hold it's value much better so it's almost the same in the long term.

on the other hand the 3.2 V6 A3 is only £24,000.
it's not as fast but most of the time, as an all rounder AND in terms of comfort/quality, it's better than the evo.....
it also has cheaper insurance..... but way more expensive parts......

damn, this is tough.

hmm, sod it.
tvr cerbera.
big engine.
four seats AND a big boot.
um, it's a bit slippy though.....

To answer Neutrion's post......the Mustang works for me better than does the Evo because a: it has no worse rear seat room than does the RSX he cited as a good alternative. As a matter of fact, the new Mustang has better rear arguably better rear seat room than that RSX.

b: while it is smaller I would much rather ride in the back of the smaller pony than the "are there shocks in this thing" Mitsu. Are you serious? Could you imagine putting a baby in that torture chamber on wheels? I would be afraid the shaking actually might hurt the kid!

Also, if with the new style child seats which simply pop right into the mount to suggest that bending over for five seconds to do so is just unthinkable shows how lazy this society has become. My fiance made virtually the same statement in an argument to get a sedan when we have kids.Once those kids are over say, 12......I probably will get a sedan, but not now.

and c: I never said I picked the current Mustang. I said a four door based on the Mustang would be a nice alternative and the next Cobra might be good enough to win.

Now, on the why I will pick what I pick...... To be fair, the GTO, E36, TL, and a few others offer better back seat room than a pony, but one maker wants a LOT more money for it and another offer far less actual performance. For a peformance car to be truly "well rounded" it has to offer world class performance at a reasonable price.

I also do not buy the idea that the only practical performance cars are fwd or awd. In the U.S. and elsewhere people drove rwd cars in the snow all the time 30 years ago, and it worked fine...why? Because they knew how to drive. As a matter of fact fwd loses here in my book because the idea is "completely well-rounded" and fwd is still a compromise in the performance area.

For an example of the over-rated "snow" issue, I drove a rwd coupe with 8" wide ZR rated summer tires in the back over 50 miles from Greenville S.C. to Spartanburg S.C. in a freak snowstorm. With no way of dealing with the ice in this southern paradise you were either driving on solid ice the entire way (not good), or snow covered ice (not bad actually). I was just fine, as a matter of fact once I got the car going I did not feel at a disadvantage to anyone. So sorry, if you feel this a disadvantage more power to you.....I feel it merely seperates the drivers into two classes.

Okay, after all of that I think the best/most well rounded performance car built right now is....the GTO. (God help me) 35k gets you everything including decent back seat room, 400hp, and a compliant ride. In this debate about well rounded cars Bobby and Jenny had better be loaded to be picking stuff like the M3

The GTO's styling lacks, but that is subjective. Good rear seat room if only 2-doors. Superb power, good gas mileage, a doable price tag, and a decent rid along with decent handling.

The best all around car is the Accord EX. Solid acceleration. Quality interior. Great reliability. Roomy. Handles well in bad weather. Very well priced. Carries more then just my ass and a gallon of gas.

Torture chamber ride of the EVO, isn't it funny how people like to exaggerate. The ride in the EVO is no where near that bad, it's not the greatest (it's no Maybach or E-Series Benz) but it's exactly what I said, relatively comfortable. The Mustang GT is no better, it's relatively comfortable and please don't make out to be more than it really is. The EVO also has almost 37 inches of rear leg room compared to 31 inches for the Mustang GT. The EVO gives you almost 37 inches worth of rear head room, while the Mustang GT gives you 35 inches. The EVO also gives you 50 inches of rear hip room compared to 47 inches for the Mustang GT.

The best all around car is the Accord EX. Solid acceleration. Quality interior. Great reliability. Roomy. Handles well in bad weather. Very well priced. Carries more then just my ass and a gallon of gas.

Finally a good example of a very good all around car, and definite competition for the EVO in the all around car department. Only thing I'd doubt is the all weather capabilities, the Accord may be just passable in foul weather, but the EVO shines.

If you want something priced closer to the Evo, then choose a Subaru Legacy 3.0R B-Spec. Here is a car which offers AWD, just like the Evo, it offers a 3.0 Flat Six with almost as much power as the Evo and that well finished and nicely laid out interior says it all........ In fact this car offers more kit than any 330i I've ever seen. You can get the car in either a manual or Automatic as well, meaning once again it makes far more sense than an Evo. It's styled like a European car as well (I've mistaken one from the rear for a Peugeot 407 a few times)




And there's the car that beats the Evo as an allrounder, that and of course the Legacy GT Turbo.

A Legacy is going to be more reliable, easier to insure, more comfortable, more spacious, more frugal, better built and better looking than an Evo, while being just as good in every weather, just as easy to modify (Especially the EJ20T) and almost as fast.

Torture chamber ride of the EVO, isn't it funny how people like to exaggerate. The ride in the EVO is no where near that bad, it's not the greatest (it's no Maybach or E-Series Benz) but it's exactly what I said, relatively comfortable. The Mustang GT is no better, it's relatively comfortable and please don't make out to be more than it really is. The EVO also has almost 37 inches of rear leg room compared to 31 inches for the Mustang GT. The EVO gives you almost 37 inches worth of rear head room, while the Mustang GT gives you 35 inches. The EVO also gives you 50 inches of rear hip room compared to 47 inches for the Mustang GT.


Think what you want. I drove an Evo and the ride was awful. If you like it, and can live with it more power to you. However, if really you think it rides as well as the Mustang I do doubt that you have riden in an 05 Mustang GT. The Mustang is no luxury car, but it beats the hell out of the Evo in ride quality.

Frankly,the differences in interior dimensions were less than I thought. Absolutely does not make up for the enormous difference in ride quality. I have driven many new cars, and the Evo is the worst riding production-stock car I have ever been in.

That is your opinion, and every one is entitled to that. I can also state my opinion that the ride in the EVO is not that bad, and I know people who transport their families in the EVO with not a single problem. I've also rode in plenty of Mustangs and can tell you it's crap, I have not rode in the 2005 but I doubt it is too much better, of course this is all based on my opinion. Like I said, the Mustang ride is just relatively comfortable andf your truly fooling yourself if you think it's more than that.

Ahhh the Legacy is a good all around vehicle, I'll give credit to that.

I'll say the EVO is a good all around track car or performance car fairly cheap and fast. But what I think the EVO is lacking to be a all around good car is dependabillity and maybe ride quality. And I say dependabillity because I read that someone raced one in an auto x and blew out the turbo. It was still under warrenty so he took it to get it fixed and they wouldn't because they found out he raced it. He had to pay $7,000 out of his pocket to get it fixed.

I don't think the Mustang is an all around good car unless you only need to haul 2 or less people or two kids. The back seat is a little small but not horrable it's ok for short trips.

I would take a Mustang over a EVO though.:D

My fiance made virtually the same statement in an argument to get a sedan when we have kids.Once those kids are over say, 12......I probably will get a sedan, but not now.


LOL ou might win an argument against me that the stang is a better all arounder, but if you think you'll win an argument like that against your wife after you have kids....think again. :grinno:


Okay, after all of that I think the best/most well rounded performance car built right now is....the GTO. (God help me) 35k gets you everything including decent back seat room, 400hp, and a compliant ride. In this debate about well rounded cars Bobby and Jenny had better be loaded to be picking stuff like the M3

The GTO's styling lacks, but that is subjective. Good rear seat room if only 2-doors. Superb power, good gas mileage, a doable price tag, and a decent rid along with decent handling.


well i do agree the GTO is quite a good allarounder luxury, sensible styling, good chassis, decent gass mileage. But its still has two drawbacks: RWD coupe.

[QUOTE=Neutrino]LOL ou might win an argument against me that the stang is a better all arounder, but if you think you'll win an argument like that against your wife after you have kids....think again. :grinno: /QUOTE]







Yeah, I've been wondering about that myself. My older, and long married, brother laughs everytime I tell the story of that conversation.

you guys honestly think a EVO rides bad? lolz try sitting in my 240. my 240 gives me neck pains, and lower back pains after long drives, the car exhuast me, and beats the hell out of hte driver after prolong drive.

when i hop in my friends evo, it rides like a nice car ( compared to my stiffly sprung 240 ) and the STi rides like a luxury car to me. lolz.

so ride quality is definitly a subjective term, i honestly think the EVO is hard to beat for the price. it can honestly do everything well.

Best car all around car Volvo V50 station wagon

Seating: Volvo.

Electronic All-wheel drive: AWD, so tie here

Engine: 2.4L T-5 turbocharged engine 218hp,236lbs ft/lbs@1500rpm, not as badass as the EVO but you can't have it all. Winner Evo

Handling: Sport Package, Your not gonna win LeMans but it will do for some fun. Winner Evo

Ride Quality:Volvo

Interior Quality:Volvo.

Storage Capacity: Volvo

Safety: Volvo

Price:
Volvo wit T-5/AWD start MSRP 28,000
Loaded: Absoluely everything, from Navigation System , to baby booster seats. LoL $39,000

Evo RS: MSRP 28,000 Loaded $37,000(not including installation cost?)
Evo VIIIL MSRP 30,000 Loaded:$31,000(not including installation cost?)

Here it's a tie the Volvo comes wit more but cost more loaded. Base there about even.


Score:
5 for the Volvo

2 for the Evo

2 Ties.

So the Volvo V50 station wagon is the better overall car and I'm sure many of you like me would rather own a lot of others cars for the money. Point is there is no great overall car but a car that fits certain people and thier personal wants and needs!

so what's an S4 avant cost in the states?

I had not even thought about the Volvo GT Stang. And, I used to sell 'em which makes it worse. A loaded S40 T5 with awd rides like a luxury car, (because it is a luxury car) has every amenity you could want inside a very, very well done interior, and offers very good hp along with fantastic handling with much better room front or back than either the Evo or WRX for no more money. I am changing my vote!.

I like the Volvo S40 or is it the S40R? They safe have a nice ride plenty of room for 5 people. They alos have decent power and awd. Also there is a option witch you can choose a the push off a botton soft, medium, and firm suspension when you get in some twisties.

i still think the m3 and the S4 are better all around cars than the evo

so baasically 3000ways, your saying that in your opinion, the evo is the best all around car?

i'd put it in my top 7, so i'm not saying your an idiot for thinking that, but i disagree and sooo many others will too, meaning its not the best all around car

i don't think there is one, its all a matter of opinion

I like the Volvo S40 or is it the S40R? They safe have a nice ride plenty of room for 5 people. They alos have decent power and awd. Also there is a option witch you can choose a the push off a botton soft, medium, and firm suspension when you get in some twisties.


You ae thinking of the S40T5, there is no R model for the S40 yet. Although, Volvo has said that they might do one if interest is high enough.

"....best all around car.....
i don't think there is one, its all a matter of opinion"

and what your needs are.

^ Thanks syr74 I agree with you drunken monkey it mostly depends on what you like and have to do with it. Some I would still say are more practical than others.

and even if two people's needs are the same, they'll have different interpretations of what fulfills those needs.
stick an EVO in front of a housewife with two screaming kids and a trolley full of shopping and stick a boggo focus in front of the same woman and she'll go for the one with the bigger boot.....

or something like that.
well, you get my point.

fast is also relative.
taking the Evo again.
to me, it doesn't really make sense in london,
whereas something like the wonderful Mini Cooper does.

do you need a sub 5 second 0-60 when the majority of cars do it in 10+ seconds and the average speed is less than 20 mph anyway?

that's why the hatchback market is so big in the uk, mainly because in most cases, a simple (7/8 sec 0-60) hatchback turns out to be the best all rounder.
(ST170 anyone?)

add to this that they tend to to be much cheaper and it just makes even more sense.

Yeah, it's too bad that hatchbacks never really made it in America. If they did, we'd probably have the Focus RS, the Civic Type R, and the MK5 GTI by now. :(

I would never call the EVO the flavour of the month (the EVO is no SRT-4), because it has a very rich history, and it has earned it's spot on the podium of Japanese cars. The only 4-Cylinder AWD car to reach speeds of 200MPH+, was the EVO. The quickest record 4-Cylinder AWD car is, the EVO. The list of accolades for the EVO is long and that is my number #12 reason for the EVO being the best all around car.
I was referring to the FQ400. I don’t think it will have a long lasting impact because of limited numbers and being available in only one country.
I suppose you could say that the EVO has a rich history but it is dwarfed by so many others. After all the EVO has only been around since 1992.
Still 200MPH from a 4cyl is impressive. Was it modded or did they just push it off a cliff? :rofl: I’m just kidding but its good to hear of a Lancer that actually uses its spoiler and ground effects for something other then looks.

As far as bang-for-buck, i would have to go with the SRT-4, but i would have to agree that the EVO is a good all around car, (4 doors, reasonably good gas milage, traction, preformance, etc)

..then again, you don't have to spend the £40,000+ on an M3.
the 330i Sport isn't exactly a slug and it's a useful £10,000 cheaper.

The Volvo R series would be a very good all around car.

I like the Volvo S40R as good competetion, the other Volvo in my opinion gives up way too much ground to the EVO in performance.

I like the Volvo S40R as good competetion, the other Volvo in my opinion gives up way too much ground to the EVO in performance.


Well, as we already discussed above there is no Volvo S40R so it is a difficult car to like very much. There is a S40T5 awd, but the only R cars currently in Volvo's lineup are the S60R and it's wagon sibling the V70R.

Other than that this was a well-rounded, attentive post....lol

I meant the S60R.

I meant the S60R.

Yeah chief, we know you did. ;)