Evo 8, the US, and older Evo's

[diegoaccord]

Does anyone think that this the most overrarted car ever. I'm not hating since I don't have a Evo, because my favorite car is the Evo VI.

Seriously, let's take a look.

The Lancer Evo came out in 1991. It has been 13 years, and the car has stayed the same in most ways. AWD, 4G63. So why is the Evo 8 so fucking special?

The combination of an AWD Mitsubishi with the 4G63 has been available in America sine 1990 in the form of the Eclipse GSX, and Talon TSi, and the 92 Galant VR-4, so again, why has such a big deal been made over the Evo 8?

Because it's a JDM uber-car whose JDM nameplate has been made to the US.

The Evo has 3 body designs, the first design.

The Evo, Evo II, and Evo III. CE9A chassis. The pic is the Lancer Evolution III



The second design. CP9A chassis. This is the Lancer Evolution IV



Still the CP9A chassis, the Evo V, and VI added widebody.

Then the CT9A chassis, the Evo VII, and 8. The Pic is a Evo 8 FQ330.



Okay... Now over the history of the car, it has evolved, as it's namesake. Until the Evo VII. The Evo was designed to compete in WRC, which all 6 original Evo's did well, especially the III, IV, V, and VI. Then came the Evo VII, which of course has the chassis of the Evo 8. It failed at WRC, and Tommi Makenin left the team. They even sat 2003 out working out bugs in the CT9A.

The US market on the Evo- For some odd reason, the Evo only exploded over here after the Evo VII. But then, most auto magazines were saying that:

"The motor is old, with no new technology dating from the 1980's.

The new Lancer Cedia chassis the is the basis of the new Evo has odd greenhouse porportions when compared to the previous styling.

The car is actually less potent than previous models."

That was said by US magazines. But I guess since it was "yet another JDM super car we wouldn't have" they could pick it apart. But once the car was slated to reach the US, things changed immediately. The Evo 8 is the exact car as the Evo VII that they slammed, yet they praised the 8. WTF? Just becuase we get it here...

Plus I believe it's the "shock phase" of getting a new "JDM super car", look at the WRX, it was praised as god's gift to us. Now that it's been here a while, it's just another car.

WRX VS Evo.


WRX STi 22B- Best WRX.


As I stated the Evolution VI Extreme is my favorite car ever, and IMO the best Evo. The Best WRX is the STi 22B, which is of the GC8(K) chassis, niether of which are in production, meaning the WRX, and Evo are PAST their primes. As far as new models, the USDM STi is a better car than the Evo 8, but most magazines/people are claiming the Evo better because the WRX has
been here for 2 years, and they're still in shock. I guarantee that if the Evo was here before the STi, the STi would get consistently rated better.

Besides, any way you look at it, a AWD drivetrain, and 4G63 has been here since 1990, and the Lancer Evo bodied car have been here since the 92 Miarge, just not in a Lancer Evolution package till last year.


The USDM Engine + Tranny



The USDM body



The result



A REAL Lancer Evo, the VI.

[EvoCrazy]

hmmmmmm, I dont know what to say about your argument. When I first read the first couple of lines you sounded like one of those "the Skyline should get all the credit not the Evo!" types of people. But you have a good argument. The Evo did change a lot. Not just body upgrades but things like suspension, engine, and compers where all changed as the years went by.

When the Evo 4 came out the LSD was replaced with the changed for an AYA which changes the torque distrubution in the left and right wheels. That helps in cornering.

Over the years the 4G63 was improved alot. They added more power, and they upgraded it. And dont froget that every year the Evo gets faster and faster. Its evoloving (get it) every year for the better.

The Evo is a 4 cyl that costs around 30K and has GREAT handling. Its a pretty cheap car when you think of the performance it can do. 0-60 in the high 4s sounds good. I dont think the Evo is NEARLY as overhyped as some cars *cough Skyline cough* I think its a great car thats worth every penny.

[diegoaccord]

I have to say the Evo VII was de-evolution of the series in many ways. The VI was so much greater in so many ways.

My point wasn't that Evo is old and recycled, it's more of why is the 8 getting a big deal made of it, when the VI to the IV are actually better. And that the answer is just because the US finally gets the car. But just like the WRX, when it came to the US, better versions had already been made in the previous chassis generation.

[EvoCrazy]

In my opion the Evo 8 is a good car, just like all the other ones. I cant say which one is better, because I never seen the Evo 6 or 7, but I do think the Evo 8 deserves all of the good reviews it gets.

[myrage]

the evo 4 is actually the dog of all evos, also the 4g63 has been around since 1985, and why change something so great? here in nz we have evos left right and centre, from evo 0 to evo 8MR! and in my opinion, are the best performance and reliability for your money, subarus are the most unreliable cars we've seen, yes we have tonnes of STI's, wrx's etc and they just shit themselves, especially their drivetrain!

[EvoCrazy]

The Evo 8 MR is a example of how Evos are being internaly upgraded, and becomming better and better as they evolve.

[10.5sec92AWDTALON]

I'll agree the US press is intoxicated with the new child on the block, both the STI and EVO. The EVO 8 marginally outperforms the STI and does it for a few $$$ less. So what for both cars I say.

As far as both cars, heck, they're both underachievers IMO. As was pointed out the Eclipse/Laser/Talon were here in the US first. Yes, they were not factory setup as very good performers, but a huge potential lay just below the surface waiting for a few simple mods to uncork the beast.

Back when I got my 1992 AWD 5spd Talon in 1993, I did careful, track tested, daily drive proven staged upgrades, all the work and most of the hardware was my own.
Result?:

For less $100 in mods I ran easy 13.5's. This was back in 1994.

For an additional $1,000 I ran 12.4's. this was back in 1997 and with the small 14b turbo still on the car.

It's now 2004-2005. The EVO MR/STI in US trim are running a 13.2 or so. BIG DEAL.

The STI and EVO for me mean very little. We could talk about handling too, as it doesn't take much to get the T/E/L of old to handle as good or better than an EVO, they actually have a lower center of gravity.

Until these cars start pushing some real HP as the 4G63 has shown it can do, and lay down some low 12's stock I'll remain unimpressed.

They will be nice used cars in a few years, hopefully cheap, and I may buy one as a winter beater, but I'm far from fooled and intoxicated by the new kid on the block, as to me..... he is old hat.

[EvoCrazy]

Wow, your not impressed by the Evo? I cant say the same, even though I do understand you point about the 4G63. The thing is, its a legendary Japanese car, and will remain that way. It by FAR impresses me.

[myrage]

for one thing everyone forgets, the EVO is based on a ralli car, NOT a drag car! yes they have a good chassis/suspension setup for drag racing but they were not built for that! hell i know of a few evo 7's running 12.1-12.4 with only an exhaust and air filter! evo 8's should be no difference....

[10.5sec92AWDTALON]

Originally Posted by myrage

for one thing everyone forgets, the EVO is based on a ralli car, NOT a drag car! yes they have a good chassis/suspension setup for drag racing but they were not built for that! hell i know of a few evo 7's running 12.1-12.4 with only an exhaust and air filter! evo 8's should be no difference....

So they're a ralli car, don't do much ralley driving on the street.

And No way will An exhaust and a filter put an EVO 8 into low 12's. you have to turn up the boost and run some 100+ octane gas if you think you're going to hit those numbers. You're talking trimming off close to a full second, that's going to take at least another 80 HP, LOL! Show me an exhaust and filter that will give you 80 hp with no other changes to the car. Bull.

[EvoCrazy]

The Evo 8 can run the low 13s stock. I asked a guy at lancershop.com and he told me a complete exhaust system can give you 40 hp. An airfilter might only give 6-10 HP. I dont think it will run the low 12s, but maybe the high 12s. But still running a low 13 in a car is extremly good. If you drive an Evo you will know thatm because thats one STRONG car.

[10.5sec92AWDTALON]

Shit, my Talon is running 10's I know all about strong 4g63 motors, LOL!

You are NOT going to get 40 HP from an exhaust with no other changes on that car. you're going to have to do something else along with the exhaust, like turn up the boost.

[myrage]

you may know alot about the earlier 4g63's, but the latter evo 4+ especially the evo 8's 4g63 is alot different, yes same block but nothing else is the same. boost is free to raise, wont cost a cent, we have 98octane pump gas here, and yes it is very possible to get a low 12 from an evo 8 with just exhaust and filter, hell i have a mate with a 1.8l lancer GSR 4wd, pod, zaust and boost and he done 12.3 down the 1/4! oh btw, your US evo 8 is detuned compared to ours :P

**So they're a ralli car, don't do much ralley driving on the street.**

who said they're a ralli car? i said they are 'based' on the ralli cars!

[matada]

What you need to realize is that Mitsubishi is starting to move away from rally and into "taikyu" (street endurance) and circuit racing. There is even talk here in japan of a JGTC based car for the 300gt class.

With the ever expanding popularity of street racing, the manufacturers have to "put their money where their mouth is", or rather wallet is. They have to produce vehicles that the consumer not only wants, but can use. Lets face it, you don't get too many off camber dirt hairpins on your way to work, do you?

I have owned 4 EVOs from the 1-3 and now the 7. The 7 is by far the tightest package. With no modifications, it is the fastest bang for the buck car on the road hands down.

[EvoCrazy]

Very true Matada! Like I said before the Evos are always getting upgraded, and the 4G63 HAS changed quite a bit. Ya make it sound as if the 4G in the Evo 8 is that EXACT replica of the one in the older Evos over 10 years ago!