Tuesday 26th November 2002
Evo VIII
Slap in the face for grey importers as UK gets VIII first
Discussion
The fact of the matter is that the UK is under supplied for the Lancer Evo series.
The main dealer I spoke to and test drove with over the weekend said getting hold of a demonstrator is near impossible, and the 2 cars (yes, 2) they were allocated for this year had already got buyers.
They said they would register neither as a demo car as their sales were already secure.
Come on Mitsubishi, supply and demand. Good to see they're responding to this however.
The main dealer I spoke to and test drove with over the weekend said getting hold of a demonstrator is near impossible, and the 2 cars (yes, 2) they were allocated for this year had already got buyers.
They said they would register neither as a demo car as their sales were already secure.
Come on Mitsubishi, supply and demand. Good to see they're responding to this however.
smifffy said: I would have agreed with you until Saturday when I test drove one.
In any other colour than white, it looks excellent. Even Mrs Smifffy agreed which has to be a first. It does look aggressive, but in the flesh it looked far less Max Power than in photos that I've seen.
You lucky bugger, Smiffy! If 'she who must be' has consented, get ready for the best hoot/pound available on 4 wheels!
Muahaha! 
I actually went for the P1 in the end (see profile) although it was a close choice.
Evo VI just that little bit too uncompromising for everyday use. Suspension, errm what suspension? Anything below 3500 rpm.. err No. But what happens after that, well, yeehaa! (license loser)
Sadly, the UK roads are not all perfectly smooth racetracks, so I went for the P1 which is only a gnat's knacker slower but far more usable on a day to day basis. It seemed to inspire more confidence too. The Evo always felt like you were moving, twitching. It definitely a far more nervous car.
So P1 it is. Oh God, why can't it be Saturday?
I actually went for the P1 in the end (see profile) although it was a close choice.
Evo VI just that little bit too uncompromising for everyday use. Suspension, errm what suspension? Anything below 3500 rpm.. err No. But what happens after that, well, yeehaa! (license loser)
Sadly, the UK roads are not all perfectly smooth racetracks, so I went for the P1 which is only a gnat's knacker slower but far more usable on a day to day basis. It seemed to inspire more confidence too. The Evo always felt like you were moving, twitching. It definitely a far more nervous car.
So P1 it is. Oh God, why can't it be Saturday?
As they (apparently) say, in some of the less salubrious night spots in and around the great metropolis that is Wakefield, "top banana!"
The P1; yes, you know a car must be fairly explosive when only a 996TT bests it in a (EVO, CAR?) Car of The Year award group fight out (2000?) and it even manages to supplant a Lambo from the runner up spot.
Like the RB5 before it, the ultimate incarnation of the original Imprezza form for UK roads and WHAT pace!
Question for you, though, Smiffy: how did you find the steering against the EVO? I know the Scooby has better compliance for our roads but the immediacy of the Mitsi's rack was what always staggered me.
Whatever, fantastic motor and, well, can I have a go?
The P1; yes, you know a car must be fairly explosive when only a 996TT bests it in a (EVO, CAR?) Car of The Year award group fight out (2000?) and it even manages to supplant a Lambo from the runner up spot.
Like the RB5 before it, the ultimate incarnation of the original Imprezza form for UK roads and WHAT pace!
Question for you, though, Smiffy: how did you find the steering against the EVO? I know the Scooby has better compliance for our roads but the immediacy of the Mitsi's rack was what always staggered me.
Whatever, fantastic motor and, well, can I have a go?
If the Scooby is set up with all the Prodrive front camber settings, then it handles like a big go-kart and theres no issue with steering response.
Standard UK cars are set up with a UK setting which is considerably duller in its response.
There are also two Prodrive Settings for the rear toe-in, one to provide very darty handling (circuit use, B- road blatts) and one for high-speed stability (fast autobahn runs).
Any good Subaru WR Sport should be able to set your car up and if you wnat the settings for yourself then I've always found Prodrive themselves very helpful.
I had a 98 UK Impreza Turbo with full Prodrive Handling pack and on circuit days it was absolutely stunning (never been passed by a V8 TVR!! at Cadwell and and Oulton (long circuit)). I was also doing similar times to quick TVR drivers (GreenV8S) in other sessions, though it has to be said that with the amount of practice he puts in, I don't think I would be in the running now!!
Well done Smifffy on your choice, now I've moved to mid-Wales I keep driving these deserted, twistry roads and thinking how right they are for a Scooby, so perhaps I should start transferring the 911 fund back into another Scooby.
davidy
Standard UK cars are set up with a UK setting which is considerably duller in its response.
There are also two Prodrive Settings for the rear toe-in, one to provide very darty handling (circuit use, B- road blatts) and one for high-speed stability (fast autobahn runs).
Any good Subaru WR Sport should be able to set your car up and if you wnat the settings for yourself then I've always found Prodrive themselves very helpful.
I had a 98 UK Impreza Turbo with full Prodrive Handling pack and on circuit days it was absolutely stunning (never been passed by a V8 TVR!! at Cadwell and and Oulton (long circuit)). I was also doing similar times to quick TVR drivers (GreenV8S) in other sessions, though it has to be said that with the amount of practice he puts in, I don't think I would be in the running now!!
Well done Smifffy on your choice, now I've moved to mid-Wales I keep driving these deserted, twistry roads and thinking how right they are for a Scooby, so perhaps I should start transferring the 911 fund back into another Scooby.
davidy
You'll have to join the queue mate! 
You'll be welcome to have a ride any any meet 
No Mungo... calm down. 
The steering, hmm, a little difficult for me to answer as I only had about 15 mins in each which isn't enough to form a concrete understanding but...
The rack on the Evo is totally immediate. Pretty sure it's fewer lock to lock turns than the P1, but the turn in of the handling is so so so sharp. It was a marked difference stepping from the P1 to Evo. I thought it made it feel quite nervous though, combined with the feeling my bum was moving around (no, not like that) then it just felt like I'd have to take a longtime to get to trust it when throwing it into corners at bonkers speed.
The P1 felt totally planted, but certainly not dull. If the steering was a radio then it was filtering out the crackle, pops and hiss that you got with the Evo but you still got every message in equisite detail. No bum movement here - it feels so much more solid so that you can start throwing it into corners with impunity. Although that's what got me into trouble last time
You'll be welcome to have a ride any any meet No Mungo... calm down. The steering, hmm, a little difficult for me to answer as I only had about 15 mins in each which isn't enough to form a concrete understanding but...
The rack on the Evo is totally immediate. Pretty sure it's fewer lock to lock turns than the P1, but the turn in of the handling is so so so sharp. It was a marked difference stepping from the P1 to Evo. I thought it made it feel quite nervous though, combined with the feeling my bum was moving around (no, not like that) then it just felt like I'd have to take a longtime to get to trust it when throwing it into corners at bonkers speed.
The P1 felt totally planted, but certainly not dull. If the steering was a radio then it was filtering out the crackle, pops and hiss that you got with the Evo but you still got every message in equisite detail. No bum movement here - it feels so much more solid so that you can start throwing it into corners with impunity. Although that's what got me into trouble last time
smifffy said:
I actually went for the P1 in the end (see profile) although it was a close choice.
So P1 it is. Oh God, why can't it be Saturday?
P1 - so did I (about 2 years ago) and it's fantastic - fast as most exotica and really handles. Soaks up the bumps too. Great circuit car - Here's me at Trax 2001 (last 30 seconds of video)
www.mivec.co.uk/downloads/trax2001_scoobies.avi (My one and only track experience)
However, Having now bought a TVR Chimaera (not as quick and safe-feeling as the Scoob) - it's just got that X factor that the P1 can't supply. So sadly I think the P1 will be going soon - 2 years old with a measly 8000 miles on I so can't justify keeping both :-(
>> Edited by plipton on Wednesday 27th November 12:42
I can understand that. As posted elsewhere I loved my Griff in terms of the whole TVR owning experience, I just couldn't live with it's -break everything all the time- nature. I think I had a real lemon.
Ah well, I'll give you a whizz around in the P1 to give you a nostalgia buzz at the next meet
Ah well, I'll give you a whizz around in the P1 to give you a nostalgia buzz at the next meet
You definately gotta get yourself a P1 back box - makes it louder and boosts midrange grunt a bit. Makes up the gap between the P1 and the EvoVI and then some ;-)
Also it might be worth investing £400 odd quid on a Prodrive quick rack. Makes it turn in quicker I'm told.
If you plan to do track days the standard brakes are crap - I had to replace pads AND disks after Trax 2001 (hence 1st and last track day)
Have fun !!
Shame about the lemon TVR - Mine's had a few irritating niggles but is mainly reliable and fun to drive.
Also it might be worth investing £400 odd quid on a Prodrive quick rack. Makes it turn in quicker I'm told.
If you plan to do track days the standard brakes are crap - I had to replace pads AND disks after Trax 2001 (hence 1st and last track day)
Have fun !!
Shame about the lemon TVR - Mine's had a few irritating niggles but is mainly reliable and fun to drive.
Cheers for the tips.
Mine's got the Prodrive brake upgrade already so hopefully no smouldering mess after each track session.
I had the Scoobysport backbox on my old scoob which I found to be a little bit loud and intrusive. Not sure which backbox is on the P1 already - will check on Saturday!
Cheers
Mine's got the Prodrive brake upgrade already so hopefully no smouldering mess after each track session.
I had the Scoobysport backbox on my old scoob which I found to be a little bit loud and intrusive. Not sure which backbox is on the P1 already - will check on Saturday!
Cheers
Interesting reading guys, I am seriously thinking of an EVO VII instead of the TVR, but am unsure as to wether it will give as big a grin, now I know they're quick but on track I've always managed to get past, and seeing as I've never driven one it's a difficult call to make, I like the looks of the VII over the VI, I've sat in the VII and love the driving position and interior, so is there anywhere you can go to get a go in the VII on track do you know?
Nik
Nik
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