"I never really noticed how effed up this road is," my passenger said as we drove the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo GSR down Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. "Well, it's this car's suspension. You're used to your Camry," I replied as we were jostled around in our seats as we passed over every road imperfection. It was really bad, teeth-rattling bad. But that's OK, I thought. The GSR may be short on comfort or everyday drivability but it more than makes up for it with its Weeee! Factor.
It's so easy to drive fast, rowing through the gears and even heel-toeing are so easy. A really fun car. Now that the MR is gone (sniff), it's really the only car that I feel comfortable taking for a spin. The Z is rough on the upshift, the M3 and S5 are too luxurious for my comfort feel too fancy to drive hard and who knows when the GT-R keys will ever land on my desk again (not that I can handle that car anyway).
By the way, I noticed this morning when I got on the road after having let the car warm up for a minute that it felt VERY sluggish. So sluggish that I was afraid it was going to go into limp-home mode. It didn't but it just wouldn't accelerate as quickly as it usually does. Hm.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 24,004 miles
rick8365 says:
11:34 AM, 07/31/09
"too luxurious for my comfort" - what?
caroscuro says:
11:49 AM, 07/31/09
Sorry, that does sounds weird. You know that feeling when you were a kid learning how to drive and your dad let you borrow the keys to his beloved car? That's how I feel in those cars.
slowevo says:
12:24 PM, 07/31/09
Your car feeling slugish can be a couple things.
A) You've gotten used to the power so it feels slow.
B) You have a boost leak somewhere with the stock hose clamps.
C) Hotter days make turbo'ed cars slugish.
rick8365 says:
01:23 PM, 07/31/09
Yeah..... I think I get it - thanks.
Funny, I don't think I would feel that way in the M3 but I can imagine feeling a little odd whomping on the S5.
thedoctor29 says:
03:06 PM, 07/31/09
You know I'm still curious on the fuel economy numbers on the car.. Have the performance enhancements seriously reduced the average MPG? How are the performance numbers for the car recently? Are we up to GT-R levels yet like originally intended?
huyracing says:
04:51 PM, 07/31/09
Caroline, i think you meant to say the M3 and S5 are too pretty to beat on... and that is a very important thing to consider in a car. We all like beauty, but then we love it and cherish it more. A car is for driving and the uglier it is, the harder you'll drive it and the more you'll enjoy it. LOL. My Subaru WRX was that type of car. Got rid of that for a GTI and I must say I'd be more upset if this car got a door ding...
farmerbob says:
12:09 AM, 08/ 1/09
Curious, but what are the plans to get the HP/TQ increased even further on this Evo? In order to get the HP close to the GT-R, you'll need a drop-in replacement turbo - like the new Garrett T35 or the Blouch Dominator or the FP Red. With larger injectors, better fuel pump, maybe upgraded intercooler and tune, you should be about 550 crank hp and low 11's in the 1/4 mile. Those numbers should put you closer to the bogey GT-R. When are they going to go head to head on the track, to see where you currently compare to your benchmark? Seems like you spend a great deal on expensive wheels/tires and suspension, when this may or may not have been necessary for a stock GSR that already pulls .97 g's and slalom of almost 72 mph. BTW, the drop in replacement Blouch turbo is about $1200 for an extra 80-100 hp/tq.
aloysius_vampa says:
07:32 AM, 08/ 3/09
You guys were on a roll with this car, then you just started arguing and saying "Weeee!"