The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX is a car with a
reputation for speed. If you’ve read our previous review (Evo 9 has Arrived)
there’s a good chance you’re already aware of its specs – 206kW, Super Active
Yaw Control, Active Centre diff, Brembo brakes and full aero package – so we
won’t recite what you already know.
But how well does the Evo stack up from a range of
perspectives? Is it a hard-edged racer posing as a street car or is it something
that’s genuinely useable? We get feedback from four drivers experienced with
high-performance cars...
Meet the Drivers...
Chris is a 54 year old proprietor of a cleaning business who has recently owned a
Holden Commodore SS 5.7 and a HSV GTS 300kW. He currently drives a Subaru Liberty
3.0RB, Cobra replica and Datsun 1600 Sports soft-top.
Andy is a 33 year old firefighter who currently owns his second 2000
Subaru Impreza WRX (with light tuning mods).
Mellissa is a 26 year old child care worker who has recently owned a lightly
modified Nissan Pintara 2.4 and Daihatsu Charade Turbo. She currently owns a
tweaked Nissan 180SX.
Ray is a 56 year old retiree who has recently owned a Subaru Liberty RS
fitted with a high-flow exhaust. It’s a car he wishes he never sold.
And how do I know all these people? Chris is a former neighbour, Andy is a friend, Mellissa is my wife and Ray my dad!
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Chris’ Impressions
“The handling is the go for this car.
“Through these medium speed corners it feels very
secure. The rear of my
[now sold]
HSV GTS would have moved around where this car
feels very controlled. It’s extremely forgiving – there was a small patch of
sand on one of the corners it didn’t even notice. I think it would be a great
performance car for a relatively inexperienced driver.
“There’s not a lot of body roll and, to me, it
feels like a go-cart. The steering is also very good – direct but not too fast
in response.
“You can feel the undulations of the road through
the steering and it can tram-line so you need to keep a grip of the steering
wheel. But I like the feel of it. The suspension is pretty right for this type
of car – it’s tight and you get bounced more than in a HSV but I think it’s
acceptable. But it needs a different set of tyres – there’s a lot of rumble and,
because of that, I don’t think it’s the sort of car you’d want to drive long
distance.
“A car like this should also have cruise control.
It’s also missing any real seat adjustment but I do like the driving position.
The seats are also very comfortable and have good support. Visibility is pretty
good – the big rear wing isn’t a problem.”
And what of the Evo’s turbocharged 2-litre
engine?
“The engine feels a bit agricultural – it’s not
what I’d call a classy engine. The Holden V8 and HSV are more refined and
smoother. There also a few whining noises from somewhere and the exhaust note is
a bit disappointing – I’d want a car like this to have a nice sound.
“Sometimes after I back off the throttle, like for
a gear change, the engine tends to hold revs which I find annoying. It can also
be jerky when gently on/off the throttle.
“The gearbox has a sporty type of shift but sixth
gear is hard to find – I need to be quite firm with it. The engine isn’t really
responsive in sixth or even fifth gear when driving at around 100 km/h – it
really needs to go back to fourth. At above 3000 rpm the engine is okay.
“The brakes feel reasonable but I would’ve thought
the Brembos would have more bite
[tested with a medium amount of pedal
pressure]
. The handbrake lever also comes up way too far – it might need
adjusting.
“I think this a very much a fun car - but , with
the lack of some bits and pieces, it’s not for me. I might be too old for it...
[laughs] To me it’s worth about 50 grand. With the equipment it has, the car
kind of reminds me of the cut-price version of the Holden SS – the SV8.”
Mellissa’s Impressions
“I like the car – it’s very easy to drive.
“The steering feels similar to my 180SX’s – I like
the weight and response. It makes the car feel very precise. But it tramlines
badly. I find it tiring to drive.
“The engine is okay. It’s a quick car but it’s
also pretty weak that it can’t reverse up a steep driveway without slipping the
clutch or giving it some revs from the start. It’s also pretty noisy in a
negative kind of way – it’s not a sporty sounding engine.
“Adjusting the seats in this car is difficult.
There’s no driver’s seat height adjustment and I find that I’m sitting too low.
It’s also difficult to get my hand on the winder for the backrest – there’s not
enough space. The inside of the front seats also rub against the centre console
– it’s almost like the seats were added at the last minute...
“The interior is also pretty basic given the car’s
price. It doesn’t have electric seats, cruise control or even a courtesy light
for the glovebox. It’s also unusual that it doesn’t have steering wheel controls
for the stereo.
“The car feels great through corners but in normal
driving I find the tyre noise unbearable – it’s mainly when slowing down. And
the turning circle is huge. When it hits full lock I expect there to be another
turn of the wheel.
“At around AUD$60,000
[with the optional
Performance Pack comprising lightweight BBS wheels and Bilstein struts]
I don’t
think the price is too bad. But I can’t see it being used as an every day car.
As a second car I think it’d be great.”
Andy’s Impressions
“From the passenger seat, this car feels quicker
than my WRX - but it doesn’t feel that way when I’m driving it. I think they’re
fairly similar in performance. But I like the gear ratios – they helps get rid
of some of the lag. The engine is also pretty quiet compared to my WRX
[with a
big exhaust]
.
“I like the feel of the brakes and gearshift – you
always know when it’s gone into gear. Better than my Subaru. The clutch is also
pretty quick to engage so it’d be pretty easy to stall.
“The steering I think takes some getting used to.
It’s really responsive and
[on B-grade country roads]
you can feel it tugging –
it’s not the sort of car you’d want to let go of the steering wheel. And, yeah,
the turning circle is terrible. I’d hate to drive it through a tight carpark.
“Apart from the steering the car feels very
sure-footed. It doesn’t move around much at all but, I see it does have some
pretty big tyres [235/45 17]. The tyres also have a pretty chunky tread which is
making some road noise but, overall, I think it’s pretty quiet. I think it’s a
comfortable car. The ride is pretty much what I expected – it’s firm but not
much firmer than my WRX.
“I like the interior – it’s kind of minimalist but
it’s trimmed really nicely. I like the leather and suede. It also has pretty
good interior space. More than my WRX.
“Looks good too – I like it.”
Ray’s Impressions
“Geez, the gearbox feels notchy and the handbrake
lever comes up way too far.
“There’s also a lot of noise from gearbox or the
tyres. It’s shocking.
“But the engine is great. It’s more responsive
than my
[sold]
Subaru Liberty RS and it really likes to spin – it bloody goes. I
can also put into a high gear sooner. The gearing is more flexible.
“It feels very secure. I’m not going to push it
here – it really needs to go onto a racetrack, I think – but I know it’s
incredible in handling. The ride is okay – it’s firm but not uncomfortable.
“The steering is very quick but it’s not nervous.
You can feel everything on the road. I’m surprised there are no controls on the
steering wheel – most new cars seem to have that.
“It’s not bad inside for space – there’s plenty of
room behind my seat and the boot is pretty big. But look at the boot carpet –
that looks cheap. Not what you’d want in a car costing this much. I find the
pedals are also too close together and the instruments are difficult to read –
especially the speedo. The redline isn’t clear – it’s marking is the same colour
as the rest of the instruments.
“But it’s an incredible car. It’s not for me - but
it’s a weapon...”
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