OK, I've not yet tracked the EVO (so I really don't know how it behaves near the limit) but thought I'd start a thread about my experiences with it in any case.
INTERIOR: It's been my daily driver so coming from the MX-5 it's taken quite a bit of adjustment. For starters you sit a lot higher in the EVO (you literally had to crawl out of my MX-5, it was that low and the Sparco bucket seat was that deep). Initially I felt like I was sitting on an encyclopedia and the gearshifter and steering wheel were too far away, almost out of reach. I've gotten used to this over time though and it feels rather comfortable actually! Nice to be able to just hop out of the car without all the gymnastics too! The momo wheel has some really gay "fake" allen key screws on it, they're plastic, and only there for decoration (now that's crap! I hate 'fake' things). The general interior is clean, if anything, plastic and a total lack of character, the little screen for the climate control reminds me it's JDM, that's pretty cool. There's a little switch to squirt the intercooler with water, funny shit!!! Never sure just when to use it though lol. The Carrozzeria (Pioneer) sound system is pretty good for a stock car too. Great visibility all around as well (apart from the massive rear wing which blocks off a fair amount of vision if you adjust it for maximum downforce). Headlights are weak (like so many other JDM cars of this year and below) so HID is going in ASAP.
EXTERIOR: It's so ugly it's beautiful. Amazing how the front bar design is totally 100% different on left and right sides, that's definitely tough!!! It's tough from the front, muscular but compact-ish and tall. The TME plates I bought for the car has done a lot for it, feels more special when driving it now, adds some more character to the car (I'm just a plate whore). Generally, I like the look of it more and more.
DRIVE: Put the key in, start it up, quiet low rumbling exhaust but a very very loud mechanical whine, jab the accelerator and you get "vvvvvvvvvvfffffffffff" (a lot like my old DC5R Integra), it's all whine. Very soft induction noise and more whine, it's a horrible sound. I'm itching to get some induction and exhaust nouse happening. The MOMO wheel feels chunky, perfect actually, steering is great, very light (a lot like the GT-R) and very direct. The shift feel is farking awesome, very notchy, best stock shift feel I've had in any car I've ever owned. Stop at a traffic light and watch the heat dissipate from the engine bay through the large bonnet vents... at first it's a scary sight as you think "damn my engine's running so hot..." but after a while you get used to it, feels tough and it's great to know how much these bonnets work (must get one for the GT-R!). Boost comes on damn early, 3000rpm and you're in the zone already, loses power up top but hey I love the power down low as it makes it an absolute hoot as a daily (in comparisson to the very laggy and heavy GT-R).
At first I was throwing the car into roundabouts just like the MX-5 and getting a whole lot of push understeer, same with very sharp corners. And in wide sweepers, if you don't get the nose in and your foot is on the accelerator hitting boost then the car will push wide. I was super dissapointed by this understeer in the 1st week but since I've figured out how to drive the car. Unlike the MX-5, you actually have to brake (lol!!!), braking makes a lot of different, tuck the nose in then burry the accelerator. I miss not having to brake though (lol the MX-5 is such a fun car to drive).
I've felt the AYC at work on some corners, but not on others, not sure why, it's a strange feeling. I can only describe it as being on rails. The car really feels like something is pushing it along, into the corner, initial instinct is to adjust the steering but then before you realise it you don't adjust the steering and the corner's behind you. Strange... I will surely feel it more on the track.
Brakes are amazing. Same set-up as the GT-R but damn this set-up actually works. They're so punchy that they make the car feel very light. I do have Endless Race Pads in there, they're damn noisy which is pissing me off for sure so I'll be replacing them soon.
GENERAL: The car makes you feel tough and a little angry behind the wheel (but nowhere near as tough and angry as the GT-R). It's different, feels a lot lighter than the GT-R, more nimble, less muscle and blunt brute force. It handles like a WRX, you can just chuck it around, similar in that respect to my old DC2R and DC5R. There's zero fear of the tail coming out (like the GT-R or the MX-5) and it's amazing how much confidence you have in the wet in this thing. I love flying over speed humps (damn the MX-5 used to scrape on coke cans lying on their side), it's got a massive boot, cup holders (wow!), seats 4 adults comfortably and isn't THAT bad on fuel so it makes for a perfect daily driver for me bar a little bit of paranoia when parking it on the street (IE: thieves).
Well, that's about it for now, loving it, great car, looking forward to tracking it (but looking more forward to tracking the GT-R which is finally tuned now!).More reports when I've tracked Mr. TME.
Photo by Narada (http://www.circuitclub.com.au)
Reply With Quote
pity about the horrible blur
Originally Posted by Justin Fox
