Fleet Week is ending its week-long run today in NYC. Back at the center of activities is the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.
What does this vessel have in common with our long-term Mitsu Evo Ten MR? Both have gigantic turning radii. As Caroline also previously noted, the Evo MR's turning diameter is 38.7 feet. For comparsion, the 2009 Subaru WRX STI's turning circle is 36.1 feet. (The Intreprid's turning radius is probably several nautical miles, just a bit more than the Evo's.)
Turning radius is something we take for granted in most cars, but when you attempt a U-turn in the Evo MR, you can get an unpleasant surprise.
Everybody in our shop has commented about the Evo MR's poor outward field of view, both to the front and the rear. When this is combined with the large turning radius, parking isn't just an adventure, it's a job!
Belated Happy Memorial Day; and thanks to those who have served.
Albert Austria, Sr Vehicle Evaluation Engineer @ 17,151 miles
brickyards says:
04:05 PM, 05/26/09
Anything car has a good turning radius once you have owned a 2002 Maxima. Try 40ft.
slickersdrip says:
04:08 PM, 05/26/09
The turning radius of my SRT-4 is 41 feet. It's like trying to take a U-turn in a freight train.
carlisimo says:
04:34 PM, 05/26/09
Acuras are pretty bad too. My fiancée's RSX's is close to 40ft and the TSX is about the same. Must be something about FWD packaging and wide front tires. Of course, if you don't have to stop at a light you can approach at ~30mph and use the brakes or handbrake to help the back around.
My Miata's is closer to 30ft. I think 35ft is about average for cars.
lysine says:
04:56 PM, 05/26/09
In the first few hours of owning the MR I realized that it's turning radius blew.
http://lysine.org/2008/06/day-that-will-live-in-infamy-6132008.html
A good 4.8 feet different than my previous mazda3.
I asked my brother soon after, wondering if his WRX had the same problem, and he said matter of factly, ALL mitsubishi's have terrible turning radii.
The sucky thing is, I've come to accustomed to the fact that it's turning radius is terrible. Yet this weekend, I scratched the rear passenger rim pretty badly cause I actually turned too quickly coming out of a spot... Poor BBS. I FAIL.
kurtamaxxxguy says:
06:20 PM, 05/26/09
Give Subaru credit for its unusual front wheel bearings that allow it to make those tight turns.
That's really handy in apartment complexes where roads are narrow and so many folks double park, etc.
By comparison, the Malibu Maxx needs 40 - 41' to U-turn. So does the Lexus RX400h.
cwc1 says:
09:09 PM, 05/26/09
I think you're right, carlismo - it's probably a packaging issue that is amplified when putting wide tires on a front wheel drive car. This is at least reason #8 why rear wheel drive is better for performance cars.
SnakeDoctor says:
09:29 AM, 05/27/09
All -
I made an error in the post. I stated "the Evo MR's turning radius is 38.7 feet."
Of course, should be "turning diameter is 38.7 feet." Now corrected.
You can state the more commonly used turning radius if there isn't a number, or if it's actually the radius.
Regards,
Snake Doc
lvranger says:
02:17 PM, 05/27/09
I can't believe so many cars have such a poor turning diameter. There is no reason for a cars to be that big. I just bought a 95 Land Cruiser that has a 40 ft turning circle. My Tundra's is 44 ft. Which is about the size of my carbon footprint now. :-)
ibognar says:
05:37 PM, 05/28/09
Isn't this what the handbrake is for?
vee_ says:
05:44 AM, 05/30/09
We're trying to switch from an E46 325i SMG (SSG), and have been looking at the Evo X MR for a few days now. Just to comment on the turning radius... I don't think it's that bad... The E46 has it a tad bit better, but not by much, while the E90/E92 xi or the M3 has the same values as the Evo (data from http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142524).
Anyway, this has never been a problem in the past with other cars, and we live in Munich, EU, where the streets are narrower than the US (I suppose). :)