While canyon roads or a race track are no doubt our 2008 Lancer Evolution's preferred habitat, I had to use the Evo for some domestic errand running this weekend. On Saturday morning, I went grocery shopping with my one-year-old daughter. Having four doors and a decent-sized backseat allowed easy fitment of the rear-facing safety seat, something that can't be said for similarly priced performance cars in a coupe body style (Mustang, 350Z, etc.).
I was a bit surprised when it came time to load the groceries, however. For better weight distribution, Mitsubishi's city council rezoned the trunk, and it's now home for the battery, washer fluid and possibly great residential home buys in the low 200s.
The battery and fluid are located behind the plastic covering you see in the picture. So this, along with extra bracing that Mitsubishi installed, prevents having fold-down rear seats or even a pass-through. Further space is taken up by the optional subwoofer. As you can see, I didn't have any problems loading a few grocery bags, but more stuff would certainly be a problem, something that Dan covered very well in two earlier WRX STi posts (here and here).
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 1,974 miles
ahightower says:
01:36 PM, 08/11/08
How exactly do you fill the washer fluid? Another picture showing the access to that would be appreciated.
Brent Romans says:
01:56 PM, 08/11/08
Don't have a pic handy. But if you pop off the access panel, the reservoir is easily visible. A long funnel is the only thing that would be needed. Though my guess would be that trying to refill from a gallon container could be a bit tricky. -- Brent
carfreak8394 says:
07:42 PM, 08/11/08
Brent, that first picture is fantastic!
Great job.
blueguydotcom says:
09:54 PM, 08/11/08
Can I see pics of the car with the babyseat in it? I'm not kidding. I'm not really sold on the Jetta TDI/GTI or Cooper Clubman S. I still want something smallish, with rear doors and fun handling. The Evo, while scary that it's a Mitsu may be a logical choice...
jahfakin says:
03:51 AM, 08/12/08
"Can I see pics of the car with the babyseat in it? I'm not kidding. I'm not really sold on the Jetta TDI/GTI or Cooper Clubman S."
I'm 6'2", so when driving, in most cars I have to have the seat all the way back. I have a 4mo boy and I can tell you a Jetta and clubman isn't going to cut it....with a rear facing child seat. I dragged the child seat with me when I was car shopping.
Bob Holland says:
06:49 AM, 08/12/08
Yep. The EVO's tiny trunk would be a deal-breaker for me, especially now that the STI is a hatchback.
cruiserhead1 says:
08:10 PM, 08/12/08
The Greenies must have shed a tear seeing your reusable grocery bags :)
no pass thru or flip down seats is a dealbreaker on a 4dr sedan
blueguydotcom says:
10:05 PM, 08/12/08
jah, the clubman will easily swallow a car seat - test it. My issue with the Clubman - I'm sick of the feel and FWD.
jahfakin says:
05:56 AM, 08/13/08
blue guy,
I did try it, I guess my rear facing seat is a little larger than others. I'm a big guy, so when I'm in the driver's seat, I can't push the seat back as far as I like to, without it hitting the car seat. But my biggest complaint on the Clubman is that I wanted/needed a true 4 door car. It makes getting my son in and out easier for my wife. I love the handling of the Clubman, but when it comes to practicality for a small family, there are better options.
blueguydotcom says:
06:07 AM, 08/13/08
jahfakin, your size would be an issue. I'm a good 6-7 inches shorter than you and I tend to sit closer to the wheel than most. I always set up the driver's seat the same as my track seating position. Plus the baby in a clubman would be on the passenger's side - all the room in the world. Practicality is one aspect of the decision but my enjoyment of driving is more important to me in the end. My wife has no desire to endure 3 years of me griping that my next car isn't fun (she already put up with that when I get a 2006 BMW 3 series and she never wants to live through that again).