RE: Mitsubishi FQ-300
Thursday 17th October 2002
Evo VII FQ-300
Graham Bell drives the officially tuned Evo VII
Discussion
What can I say. This forum is full to the brim with people who rant on ad infinitum about TVRs (oh yes, including me!) but this car deserves more credit than a quadruple rating from Dunn & Bradstreet.
Despite the snobbish aloofness of the largely vindicated anti-Scoob/Max P lobby herein, I'll always champion the EVO VII. With unabashed bias, naturally but the simple fact is, on all but the longest, straightest autoroute, it is a vehicle that will embarass all comers.
I wish I was allowed another. Fun with a capital BANZAI!
Despite the snobbish aloofness of the largely vindicated anti-Scoob/Max P lobby herein, I'll always champion the EVO VII. With unabashed bias, naturally but the simple fact is, on all but the longest, straightest autoroute, it is a vehicle that will embarass all comers.
I wish I was allowed another. Fun with a capital BANZAI!
PetrolTed said: I think the Scooby brigade are sufficiently distince from the MaxP brigade these days. There's no snobbishness I don't think.
Glad to hear it!
After all, what could possibly be much more focused in drivers' terms than a barely restrained rally renegade?
And while we're at it, I'd like to propose a nod of recognition in the direction of Subaru's 22B. I remember an article in CAR magazine hailing it in the mid-90s and a small story recalling the trouncing of a then new 993TT. Russell Bulgin liked it enough too. So it must be good.
Cheers.
Anybody catch said vehicle being Platoed on the unspeakably awful 'Driven' last night?
Clearly phenomenal but WHAT about that 578bhp EVO V?!!
Holy sh1t! 0-60 in 3 secs, 100 in 7 and top whack circa 190? All from a slightly bored out 2.0 Charisma engine!
Awesome, staggering, wonderful cars!
What a pity they couldn't display as much enthusiasm for this Japanese engineering triumph as the automotive form of Japanese WWF!
Let's hope Jezza hasn't lost it this Sunday eve...
Clearly phenomenal but WHAT about that 578bhp EVO V?!!
Holy sh1t! 0-60 in 3 secs, 100 in 7 and top whack circa 190? All from a slightly bored out 2.0 Charisma engine!
Awesome, staggering, wonderful cars!
What a pity they couldn't display as much enthusiasm for this Japanese engineering triumph as the automotive form of Japanese WWF!
Let's hope Jezza hasn't lost it this Sunday eve...
Describing the Lancer's motor as an "overbored Carisma engine" is akin to saying the air-cooled 911 flat six is an oversized Beetle engine.
The 4G63 is without doubt the world's greatest 2 litre 4 pot. Conceived in the 70's the undersquare unit first appeared in the UK in 1981 with the launch of the original 168 bhp Colt Lancer 2000 Turbo. 21 years on that same basic design churns out in excess of 300 bhp stock and can absorb in excess of 500 bhp. Even way back in 1986 BBW Motorsport turned out new, road legal Starions producing up to 280 bhp for similar money to a brand new 204 bhp 3 door Cosworth. 280 bhp for a 2 litre is pretty impressive today, let alone 16 years ago.
The 4G63 is without doubt the world's greatest 2 litre 4 pot. Conceived in the 70's the undersquare unit first appeared in the UK in 1981 with the launch of the original 168 bhp Colt Lancer 2000 Turbo. 21 years on that same basic design churns out in excess of 300 bhp stock and can absorb in excess of 500 bhp. Even way back in 1986 BBW Motorsport turned out new, road legal Starions producing up to 280 bhp for similar money to a brand new 204 bhp 3 door Cosworth. 280 bhp for a 2 litre is pretty impressive today, let alone 16 years ago.
ian carboy said: Correction,the Cosworth YB is the greatest 2 liter 4 cyl turbo in motoring history.This engine created an entire tuning industry.It is also the most de-tuned unit as fitted to any road car.That jap stuff isnt tunable unless you have won the lotto.It is also made from monkey metal.
I'll take your word on it!
However, an EVO VII will nevertheless spank the majority of Cossehs, whatever the state of tuning involved and of course, we have overlooked the other Japenese contribution to mega-tunemeistery, the distinctly non-monkey metal construction of the cast iron 2.6 litre lump in the dreaded Skyline.
There IS a tuner's dream, surely?
Well it certainly brought high-performance motoring to many people. On the other hand, it needed to be detuned, because it was pretty unreliable in standard trim. I had one of these (Sapphire 4x4 Cosworth) it was great up until about 50,000 miles, when it basically just started falling to bits. In the end it used to use about 1/2 litre of oil a day (RS dealer couldn't find a fault despite half of it appearing on my drive each day), it would cut out on right hand corners, clattered like a tractor, lots of smoke out of the back. For the rest of the car, suspension got saggy, ABS failed once in the on position (ie no brakes
ian carboy said: Correction,the Cosworth YB is the greatest 2 liter 4 cyl turbo in motoring history.This engine created an entire tuning industry.It is also the most de-tuned unit as fitted to any road car.That jap stuff isnt tunable unless you have won the lotto.It is also made from monkey metal.
) Before you say that I skimped on looking after the car - it was a company car, so whenever I found a problem, it went straight back to the RS Dealer, who were completely useless.
Popular knowledge has it that these cars are "unburstable", however since then I have talked to other owners who have had similar experiences.
My subsequent car was a '95 Impreza Turbo, which was still going strong after 80,000 miles (suspension still felt taut when I sold it)
In the whole 80,000 miles the only unscheduled things it needed were new brake disks, wheel bearings & igniters (individual coil packs per cylinder)
In terms of tuneability, the Cosworth is far more cheaply tuneable than the Impreza/Evos, but the Skyline as Derestrictor says is more tunable again....
Having owned an Evo 5 and an impreza I was not very impressed with them.For start they both rattle like an old lada and the running costs are very high too especially on the evo.The evo's engine let go at 25000miles,2 failed big ends apparently,it wasnt tuned either.On the impreza, it went through 2 gearboxes a turbo and a rear diff after 50000 miles and 2.5 years.Both cars were only used for fast road use and commuting.Having got fed up with "monkey metal" I now own 2 German cars.
Fair comment but I feel duty bound (God knows why) to defend the Jap crap because of (a) my EVO VII experience, which was certainly not one of shoddyitus and (b) the pre-eminence of the type generally, particularly Scoobies, as reviewed with much heraldry, ad nauseum it seems, within the hallowed pages of CAR and EVO over the years...
I know of several Scoobies with 6 figures on the odo and they still feel at one with Vanessa May, to para-quote Clarkson.
Must admit, though, I have sod all knowledge of EVO engine longevity and you may be on to sommat; how CAN such a small engine last when wrung out so? Would've been interesting to have found out!
Then again, all that practicality and demented urge for such (relatively) little outlay?
So still great, great cars. IMHO.
I know of several Scoobies with 6 figures on the odo and they still feel at one with Vanessa May, to para-quote Clarkson.
Must admit, though, I have sod all knowledge of EVO engine longevity and you may be on to sommat; how CAN such a small engine last when wrung out so? Would've been interesting to have found out!
Then again, all that practicality and demented urge for such (relatively) little outlay?
So still great, great cars. IMHO.
the sad thing for us brits is that this car, inc the new evo viii coming out in april/may 2003, is retailing in japan for 3.3million yen. Thats 16,500 pound sterling!
The new evo viii is going to retail for 26,900 sterling!
Mitsuibishi, at least with this car, are still "takin' the piss". That's why I've decided not to buy one. If everyone else did the same the'd have to drop the prices in line with those in europe.
people power
The new evo viii is going to retail for 26,900 sterling!
Mitsuibishi, at least with this car, are still "takin' the piss". That's why I've decided not to buy one. If everyone else did the same the'd have to drop the prices in line with those in europe.
people power
Well, I wouldn't expect a fair hearing, as this is PH after all - home of the TVR lover and Jap basher. (despite Ted protestations). However, there is a growing small group here of those who appreciate the rice rocket and looking at my profile will give you no suprises that I'm one of them. 
Performance aside, the Scooby and Evo are fantastically engineered cars. As said above, I know of several scoobies that have covered 150k + miles on the original engine and turbo. You have to remember that they originally became popular with farmers in the UK because of the 4WD, strength and reliability.
The EVO seems to equally durable although tends to gobble consumables more quickly including clutches, brake discs, pads, tyres etc. meaning it is expensive to run - especially with fuel taken into account. But, you don't buy a performance car and expect it to cost that of a Primula.
As far as I know, the EVO engine is the current best 4 pot in the world. I've heard very few disaster stories about this, and it can be tuned to give a reliable 400 bhp, but gets very expensive after that. The scooby engine gives a wonderful off beat sound (I believe due to the boxer configuration and different downpipe lengths from each side of the engine) but the engine is limited to a reliable 330 bhp. After this it gets very expensive and prone to detonations. The 2.2 litre unit as fitted to the 22b only produces 330 bhp in standard form, and isn't known for its great flexibility in tuning.
There's alot of criticism aimed at these cars for one of the reasons Grahame states above - they compliment the driver and make them feel like Makkinen. Well, that's true. (having put my last scooby on its roof I can testify that they make you feel better than you are) however I want to have a car That rewards the rare moment of talent that I display. I don't want a car that makes me feel like a blind juvenile baboon with alzheimers whenever I get behind the wheel.
So, it comes down to choice. That thing which makes the world faaaar more interesting. So enough Jap bashing already - let's just love our cars, man
but then I love a good argument - so bring it on plastic pig owning Teutonic tank lovers 
Performance aside, the Scooby and Evo are fantastically engineered cars. As said above, I know of several scoobies that have covered 150k + miles on the original engine and turbo. You have to remember that they originally became popular with farmers in the UK because of the 4WD, strength and reliability.
The EVO seems to equally durable although tends to gobble consumables more quickly including clutches, brake discs, pads, tyres etc. meaning it is expensive to run - especially with fuel taken into account. But, you don't buy a performance car and expect it to cost that of a Primula.
As far as I know, the EVO engine is the current best 4 pot in the world. I've heard very few disaster stories about this, and it can be tuned to give a reliable 400 bhp, but gets very expensive after that. The scooby engine gives a wonderful off beat sound (I believe due to the boxer configuration and different downpipe lengths from each side of the engine) but the engine is limited to a reliable 330 bhp. After this it gets very expensive and prone to detonations. The 2.2 litre unit as fitted to the 22b only produces 330 bhp in standard form, and isn't known for its great flexibility in tuning.
There's alot of criticism aimed at these cars for one of the reasons Grahame states above - they compliment the driver and make them feel like Makkinen. Well, that's true. (having put my last scooby on its roof I can testify that they make you feel better than you are) however I want to have a car
So, it comes down to choice. That thing which makes the world faaaar more interesting. So enough Jap bashing already - let's just love our cars, man
but then I love a good argument - so bring it on plastic pig owning Teutonic tank lovers
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