2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR: Now That's a Wing

Is the main spoiler element on the Evo X carbon fiber like that on the previous gen Evo? If so, proper measures would need to be followed to maintain it, right?

Hmmm. I guess the testing surface wasn't great. Are ya'll gonna take it to the same place or go somewhere else for the retest? I'm guessing the latter.

Evo vs. STI vs. 135i AutoX please. :o)

First, why would you take that car (or any car) to a non-touchless car wash? I cringe whenever I see a nice car going into one of those things to get beat up by giant pieces of cloth hanging from the celing and huge brushes.

And second, how is that Evo that slow - 5.7 to 60?

Although the new Evolution is more refined than the last one the performance numbers for this car seem a bit worse. Does it FEEL better than the previous Evolution?

5.7 0-60? I'll save the $10,000 and get the Ralliart.

Why would you put a car through brushes? I can understand hand washing but automated brushes?

By the way, touchless can't clean a car.

If a wing can create downforce and not break off, it's probably strong enough to sit on. Or send through a car wash.

Is that 0-60 about par for the course for the new Evo?? That's equivalent to my WRX wagon ...

Hell, according to Subaru my 08 Legacy GT is just about as fast :)

Not impressive.....that 135 vs. evo vs. STI test (which we all know is coming...it just has to be) will have some interesting acceleration times.

Edmunds: Upon performance of such a test, please please please do some 5-60, 10-30, 30-50, 50-80, etc testing.

Joe

First off, it's actually refreshing to see that a car-wash staff was concerned about damage to the car, whether it be for their own liability (probably) or otherwise. Maybe they've just seen too many slammed civics have their duct-taped shopping cart handles torn off midway through the hot wax...who knows....=)

With that said, I have only taken a car through a traditional automated wash once and that was because it was a brand new car wash on opening day (the brushes and chamois were brand-spankin'). I will never do that again, just too many risks. I will say that touch-less car washes are pretty much worthless, though, except for when I need an under-carriage wash.

The braking performance is good, but everything else is pretty unimpressive. It will be interesting to see how the dual clutch fairs in the real world of congested traffic verse a traditional manual

"The .91g skid pad performance makes us curious since we've recorded much better numbers in the past."

.91g seems pretty respectable to me. I believe Car and Driver got .93g on their test of the Subaru WRX STI. Tires and road condition can make a difference, so achieving the same number shouldn't be a problem.

Those guys at the car wash were right to be worried - when C/D tested the last-gen Supra Turbo, it had a wing like that. They took it through a car wash - Poof, no wing!

car wash would do you a favor to take off that wing.

5.7 to 60? What were guys driving on, ice?
If you're supposed to be doing "real-world" testing of these cars, shouldn't you be acting like "real-world" owners? No real-world owner of an Evo would take his or her car through a car wash like this. The Rondo, sure! The Aura, sure! The Evo or M3, no freakin' way!
High-performance cars generally get treated better by their owners, and what you do with them should reflect that.

I'm with joe and suby, the Evo vs STI vs 135i has just gotta happen, if only so we can endlessly discuss the results of it. =)

Seriously, though, a wash with brushes on _any_ car, let alone the almost-new Evolution? For shame...

"Evo vs. STI vs. 135i AutoX please. :o)"

I don't think Suby will like to see the result of that one...

"Evo vs. STI vs. 135i AutoX please. :o)"

Before Edmunds has a chance to setup the contest, here it is a similar one recently done in Canada.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/cc/evo-versus-sti.htm

Consumer Reports actually did ax X, STI, 135i post in one of their blogs with results from their test track. STI lost.

Great link, dodo2! :o) I'll read it later.

Man is this thing going to get smoked by the 135i.

"Man is this thing going to get smoked by the 135i."

Straight line - no doubt.
On the track - I don't think so.

Track Results:
#1 Evo
#2 135i
#3 STI

"No real-world owner of an Evo would take his or her car through a car wash like this. "

Um in most southern cal cities you gotta go to the car wash. It's just a matter of deciding hand wash, touchless or brush.

Well, at least the Evo has the beans to back up that wing, unlike the Lancer GTS. Actually, the GTS is adequately powered for 2009. It's a shame Mitsu waited a year for that. Same thing they did with the Outlander. Released in 2003 with an underpowered 2.0 liter (I think). All the early reviews said, "Nice vehicle, great chassis and handling, unique styling, but not as fast as a RAV4." The weak engine killed its ratings in the all the enthusiast publications. The next year, they bumped it to 2.4, about 30 extra hp. A few publications re-tested it and commented on how its ONLY shortcoming had been addressed and it was now an excellent alternative to the ubiquitous Hondas and Toyotas. But that wasn't a front page story, and the damage had already been done in the early press reviews. I bought an '04 and loved it, but it was never very popular. Nice to drive something less common, but hated the poor resale value when it came time to trade up for a bigger family vehicle. Anyway, I know sometimes they have to rush a vehicle to market and start making money, but when they need a real hit, they've got to put their best foot forward from the start. You only get one first impression. Now, the Evo and Ralliart may bring a lot of showroom traffic, and a lot of folks may end up with a GTS because it looks just like a Ralliart or Evo, and drives well enough, but for a lot less money. I do hope to see Mitsu rise again, I think they have been underrated for a long time. Edmunds has certainly given them a fair shake over the years by including them in all the importat comparison tests, long terming two Lancers and a new Outlander. The Endeavor actually won a mid-size SUV test back in 2004 or 2005.

You shouldn't put down modern car washes, brushes or no. It's a far cry from those 10 or 15 years ago.

Much like the change from 3,000 mile oil changes to 7,500 or 10,000 miles, some places are very good at brush-ful washes.

Joe

P.s. I've got 12k on my current oil fill and still going strong :)

"Um in most southern cal cities you gotta go to the car wash. It's just a matter of deciding hand wash, touchless or brush"

Um, Why?

0-60: 5.7 seconds

1/4 mile: 14.0 seconds @ 98.1 mph

These numbers seem so slow. Maybe they were conducted without launch control?