Is the EVO the best all around car?

[3000ways]

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?

[Kurtdg19]

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?

[syr74]

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.

[Muscletang]

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.

[sunsetway]

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.

[syr74]

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!

[NISSANSPDR]

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...

[GTStang]

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.

[Vettribution87]

Oh dear god!
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.
"Flavour of the month" is a term that comes to mind.

[DinanM3_S2]

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.

[youngvr4]

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

[MexSiR]

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...

[syr74]

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!

[Vettribution87]

Originally Posted by syr74

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.

[NISSANSPDR]

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