Last weekend started out rather strangely.
Having sauntered down to the carpark Saturday morning, I couldn’t resist having a long look around the silver Evo X that had just been dropped over to me. Sure, I’d seen and been in the new Evo before, but another look over the flared guards and vented bonnet wouldn’t do any harm. Yep, impression confirmed, it still looks the goods.
Sliding into the well-bolstered Recaro driver’s seat, it became immediately clear that this is a car for those sporting a narrower girth than mine, and while I’m nudging 100kgs, my girlfriend tells me that I’m definitely not fat (and she’s always right…). So if you are… fat that is… and want an Evo, I would recommend ‘trying it on’ first.
Intriguingly, a mysterious CD had been delivered to me the night before by a short guy in a tux. He wouldn’t let me see his face. Handing it over, he told me “be sure you play this before driving off in this car”… so before I did anything, I slotted it in and hit play.
“Klosey, TMR has previously reviewed the SST equipped Evo. Our informers tell us that you are the only rabbit at the TMR hutch who can be trusted not to turn a manual box into a loose collection of cogs and teeth. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to evaluate the manual Evo X. You must determine if the manual can still hold its own against the all-singing, all-dancing SST dual-clutch.
This CD will self-destruct in two seconds…”
Smoke filled the cabin…
Partially blinded by the stinging smoke, and despite finding it hard to breathe, I fired up the Evo and headed out on my first TMR mission. A few tunes were obviously out of the question.
The first thing you notice about the manual Evo, is that the gear shift has a ‘plasticky’ clunk to the shift when the box is cold, but that soon disappears and just requires a little sympathy on the part of the driver. The second thing you’ll notice is that there is a distinct lack of any adjustment (compared to the SST equipped cars) aside from the AWD system. No ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ or ‘Super Sport’ modes. To change gears faster, you move your hand faster; simple. So, there is nothing to do, no choices, nothing to fiddle with, you just select ‘tarmac’ or ‘gravel’ and swap the cogs manually.
I have to confess that, when I’m behind the wheel, I just can’t be bothered mucking around with paddles and transmission settings or flipping gears manually in an auto or double-clutch equipped car. I usually jump in, drop them in ‘Drive’ and leave well enough alone.
I spent a couple of hours with Dan McCoey on the previous weekend, and Dan knows the Evo X better than most who will read this. There is no doubt, according to Dan (and I believe him), that the SST-equipped Evo’s are sporting one of the best twin-clutch boxes sensible money can buy. They are quicker than the manual in a straight line and capable of swapping cogs better than a seasoned race driver on the track – but at the end of the day, what you have is a gearbox that is calling the shots for you.
2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 
2009 Ford Mondeo MB (Titanium) 
2009 Honda Civic Type R 
2009 Nissan 370Z Auto 
2009 Volkswagen Passat CC V6 FSI 
2009 HSV Clubsport R8 Tourer
Yep, give me a manual anyday as well. I haven’t tried the SST but have driven my mates DSG GTi. Great car but still not as much fun as driving a manual.
So do Recaro need to make bigger seats, or does Klosey need to hit the treadmill?
It’s the latter.
The Recaros did an exceptional job of keeping all of me in place around the bends - can’t ask for more than that. Now…where did I leave those runners…
Another great review! Even though the Evo is out of my price range, it seems like the ‘perfect’ ride! Not a fan of Manual trans myself, but I can see the advantages of the 5sp trans, would be a more interactive drive.
I think you can learn the strengths and weaknesses of an engine as you can ‘play’ with it using a manual gearbox.
Yep I know times will change me eventually but for now im always a sucker for a manual.
Just drove the new Evo X yesterday (thinking of trading up from a WRX) and the review is spot on with the benefits of the manual over the SST. Of course, there is another benefit: price. The SST definitely adds a few dollars! Interestingly, the dealer advised that the manual was actually quicker than the SST (in a straight line). It would be nice if someone could do a definitive comparison so that everyone knows.
The biggest disappointment for me was the fact that Mitsubishi decided to fit the manual with one less cog. Why? The seats are also an issue if you are a little on the large size.
Overall I agree that the manual is still the enthusiast’s choice and that is what I would want too.
I have to say that this car goes in the category of better in the flesh than pictures can perceive
this car looks alright, my dad freaking loves it
, but not as much as his Harley Davidson, and i think hes getting a fat boy or something, dad ur awesome, while im like annorexic cause i have a fast metabilism
anyhow, this car defy’s physics
Comment by Steven
“The biggest disappointment for me was the fact that Mitsubishi decided to fit the manual with one less cog. Why?”
Quite simple. The 5 speeder is a far stronger unit than the previous 6 speeder. All motorsport EVO IX in Japan came with the 5 speed box not 6, purely because to include an extra cog in the same size housing everything must be made slightly smaller, hence the reduction in thickness to cogs and parts making the 6 speed weaker.
I test drove the 5 speeder yesterday with mixed emotions. Firstly, the grip was undoutably brilliant. The sales rep had us flying sideways round corners without any understeer or need for oversteer to correct the line.
The get up off the line was quick too, but not as quick as my tuned 07 Mazda 3 MPS. I really think Mitsubishi need to re-think the 366Nm torque curve, and maybe add 40-50 extra Nm like the Evo VIII and IX.
The engine note, well I tend to disagree with the review. It has a very nice rumble to it in the lower revs (and considering its a stock exhaust and as restricted as hell) but up around the 6500-7250 RPM range it sounded like it should. Doesnt sound as evil as the Focus RS, or a Subie WRX Sti, but its definatly better than a stock Mazda 3 MPS.
My major disappointment was the interior. It just feels down right cheap. From the centre console thru to the door trimmings. The dashboard also didnt seem to line up properly at the intersections of various components either. I dont know if the MR is any better, but for a $65k car on road even a Nissan 350Z or Subaru Sti do it better.
Finally, for those wanting to get the $59k base package and then add the $5500 performance pack, be warned. There are added taxes on the $5500 pack so it ends up more like $7500, so when all said and done, the MR was only around $5000 more expensive and with all the bells n whistles…
I’m hangin out for the ‘09 model, and for 1 good reason. The RED rear lights will be replaced with silver insert lights (eg like going from a Mazda 3 2004 model to the Mazda 3 07 model), and for those of us hankering for the Lightning blue, without the red rear lights will make for one hot tail end (aside from the fact that red on blue just doesnt work!!!).
Wardski
Correction, the 2009 ver will still sport the red tail lights. If we get the 2010 around August this year, it will have the new ones.