Joined
·
7,392 Posts
I've sorted out a few bits and bobs on my car in the last few weeks and by God, does it feel good now! It wasn't exactly bad before but it's running really sweetly now. Found out I had a slight boost leak that was costing a bit of spoolup, now the car produces + boost from as low as 2500rpm and is pulling nicely from just over 3000rpm. Taking it out for a good run last weekend made me realise again quite why I bought one. I had been thinking that it really wasn't what I was looking for nowadays, but then all I was doing was trundling up and down to Sainsbury's and the odd trip to Ikea, so the stiff ride and abysmal economy were all that seemed to matter. Stretching it's legs and fully exploring the level of performance made me realise again what a bloody good car it is.
I know there are other high performance cars you can buy for under £6k, but do any tick as many boxes as an Evo?
Fast? For sure, by almost any measure.
Practical? Four doors, five seats and a useable boot says so.
Reliable? Almost ridiculously so, and especially when compared to obvious rivals like early WRXes and GTI-Rs.
Value for money? Certainly, when the above are taken into account.
Good looking? OK, we may be pushing things a bit but a III (or a I tarted up to look like a III
) certainly has an undeniable presence.
Cheap to run? Who cares?!
As if to confirm this, I had a wee play with a couple of decent motors today. The first was a E46 M3, we both caned it off a roundabout onto a motorway, there really wasn't anything in it; I had the early advantage upto about 70mph, he slowly clawed back some ground after that until we both lifted off. I was nice to get a flash and a wave when I turned off onto the M9 Then I had a couple of sprints with an ML55 up a bypass, I was struggling to get traction in the sodden conditions off a roundabout at 50mph but was all over his lardy ass once the squirming had stopped, I would've passed him but the bugger wouldn't pull over
I've now had a chance to imbibe a few cervezas so a day that looked like being a total washout (see my weather thread from earlier on) has actually turned into a good day
I know there are other high performance cars you can buy for under £6k, but do any tick as many boxes as an Evo?
Fast? For sure, by almost any measure.
Practical? Four doors, five seats and a useable boot says so.
Reliable? Almost ridiculously so, and especially when compared to obvious rivals like early WRXes and GTI-Rs.
Value for money? Certainly, when the above are taken into account.
Good looking? OK, we may be pushing things a bit but a III (or a I tarted up to look like a III
) certainly has an undeniable presence.Cheap to run? Who cares?!
As if to confirm this, I had a wee play with a couple of decent motors today. The first was a E46 M3, we both caned it off a roundabout onto a motorway, there really wasn't anything in it; I had the early advantage upto about 70mph, he slowly clawed back some ground after that until we both lifted off. I was nice to get a flash and a wave when I turned off onto the M9
Then I had a couple of sprints with an ML55 up a bypass, I was struggling to get traction in the sodden conditions off a roundabout at 50mph but was all over his lardy ass once the squirming had stopped, I would've passed him but the bugger wouldn't pull over I've now had a chance to imbibe a few cervezas so a day that looked like being a total washout (see my weather thread from earlier on) has actually turned into a good day
