Mitsubishi Evo X?

My brother recently told me he's looking for a new car, and looking specifically at the Mitsubishi Evolution X. He didn't really know much other than he used to like them when he worked as a salesman at the Mitsu dealership. Is there any wisdom on these? He'd just be driving it daily, with some light mods perhaps. I said the only worry I'd have is that you're buying a $35k car from a make that could easily disappear within a year or two.

Any other options? He doesn't seem keen on the Subaru. He needs at least 4 doors, fun to drive, less than $35k, and preferably new. I suggested a used CTS-V but he didn't go for it. I also just remembered the Mazdaspeed 3.

Focus ST would be the other one...although that's not quite Evo league. GTI/GLI, but those aren't in the same league performance-wise either.

35k would also get a CPO 335i or G37 done, probably.

I test drove one before I got my RX-8. I compare the seating position to my F-150. Very upright and felt like i was stepping down on the pedals. Very different from the XIII and IX. I worked for Mitsubishi R&D when the XIII came to the US and loved it. After the test drive of the X, I was very disappointed. YMMV

The dual-clutch transmission on the Evo X is notoriously hard to keep cool. If your friend has any track days planned, he's better off with a manual.

They launch like god himself is giving you a push. I talked a lot to a guy who autocrosses one and have taken a few rides. He loves the car but complains constantly about keeping it fed with parts and such. It's heavy and eats expensive tires. The transmission is constantly trying to overheat (dual clutch box). It's fast and cool though.

So... after the 996 thread I looked

oh nm 4 drs =/

I've been drooling on 996 turbos in the 35-40k range

Does he need the AWD? If not there are tons of good options out there for ~$35k. Audi A3/4, BMW 328, Merc, Speed3, Focus, Golf R/GTI, etc...

Focus ST is incredible. Were I to put the 2g MS3 and the Focus side by side, it's HIGHLY likely i'd pick the Focus. I do however know the ms3 platform well, and know all the party quirks. That being said, I'd pass on an X. Heavy, complicated, still chintzy as hell on the inside, and Mitsu is looking to fly the Suzuki flag soon. I'd say pass.

Love it, asks about EVO X, gets a bunch of other suggestions.

OP, I was looking at the EVO X (the dual clutch box as well) before I settled on the Mustang GT. All the research I did turned me off because of maintenance and there is no Mitsu dealer in Tulsa.

The trans needs a bad boy oil cooler, like this:

http://www.sspperformance.com/product/ssp-evo-x-mr-front-mount-transmission-cooler/

Guys are having the best luck it seems immediately installing the cooler after purchase, but also changing the fluid a few times in the first 10k miles (doing it yourself with good fluid is a $500 hit)

Not even all dealers have the tools to bleed and replace fluid in the AWD system. These two were enough to kill it for me.........I'm a maintenance whore on my stuff and always keep it perfectly if not slightly over maintained.

Then as mentioned heavy, eat parts.

Also terribly easy to add another 100hp or so to them, which would really be awesome. If I made a bit more money, I would have gone for one still.

I'll also mention that the 5 speed manual tranny isn't that great in the Evo X either. A local racer killed his third gear in 1.5 seasons...

z31maniac wrote: Love it, asks about EVO X, gets a bunch of other suggestions.

He did ask if there was other suggestions. Quite frankly I'm surprised no one's suggested gluing two Miatas together yet.

I think the STI is better than the EVO X, definitely for most daily duties especially with the wagon.

Pure track toy I think the EVO is better but prefer the VIII and IX cars

Not my kind of car, way too complicated. This is the best complexity-per-dollar deal you could buy if you wanted a complex car.

BTW the cooling systems, especially the trans cooling system, are barely sufficient for street use.

I also test drove one before getting my Rx8 r3. I had prettymuch confirmed in my mind I wanted an evo X by looking at the numbers, but i was dissapointed by the test drive. Felt kinda cheap, disconnected in traffic. It has a small trunk considering how big the car is, too. I guess the seat upholstry is kinda crappy, even though they are recaros. I researched them up the wazoo, though, and it seems power is crazily easy to come by. I quickly forgot about it when I test drove the much slower, much simpler RX8. Thats the car I couldn't forget.

The performance is undeniable, but if hes gonna spend most of the time just driving around, he might be better off with a G37 or 335. Never driven a 335, but I spent some time with a G37x while my wife's G20 was in the shop. It would make a far better performance-y family sedan (emphasis on the family sedan part). I would still totally go for the Evo myself, but I certainly couldn't fault anyone for choosing the G37. It seems far more refined for a dd, while the evo felt like a hopped up economy sedan.

all I can add... I have seen a turbo Mitsu that was not broken. The internets seem full of such stories too

Mine died at 209,000 miles to be resurrected into a babe car

Friend has one w/Intake/Exhaust/Accessport. The car moves. Trunk space is non-existent.

The tiny trunk is what kept me from buying one when my S4 got totaled.

prefer the ix

For a DD?

Why not an Audi S4 of some sort? presumably, he is looking used, so that gets him many models (v8, supercharged v6, many body styles).

They are great cars and could be had as a wagon.

The Evo 8 and Evo 9 are astonishing cars, worth every ownership headache. If you haven't driven one, think "4-door Elise" or "4-door turbo Miata"; and that's an understatement because the Evo might actually handle better.

The 10 doesn't sound like it has that intensity. It might not have the resale value, either.

There really aren't alternatives. The STi is second best; not second-rate, but second-best. Any of the FWD hot compacts can be modified to go as fast, but it would be very difficult to match the traction or the driver feedback of the Evo. The Volvo S60R will go as fast but it doesn't have the predator's feel...

chaparral wrote: The Evo 8 and Evo 9 are astonishing cars, worth every ownership headache. If you haven't driven one, think "4-door Elise" or "4-door turbo Miata"; and that's an understatement because the Evo might actually handle better. The 10 doesn't sound like it has that intensity. It might not have the resale value, either.

This.

The first time I autocrossed one it was purely telepathic. I didn't have to "try" or even drive. Simply amazing. I'd love to find a well maintained one.

EVO X is a great car as long as it works, I spent a good part of the last 2 seasons behind the wheel of a modified EVO X chasing FFTD (I always seem to find a cone). IT's a lot of mass to fling around but the bigger issue is dependabiity, The one I drive has 13k miles and has had 3 different engines, 2 gearboxes and countless other issues.