Raced an EVO Today. - Page 2

That Porsche sounds like a nice ride what model is it?

It is a 2004 Carrera 2 - basically a "bottom of the line" 911 - 3.6 liter, 320 HP, 275 ft lbs torque, about 3100 lbs, Tiptronic 5-speed non-overdrive transmission (will redline in 5th gear at 171 mph). I bought it after the 2006 997ss came out and decided on it because I could get an entire $10K off sticker and it was 110 lbs lighter, with the same engine, as the newer model. Its pretty fast - jumps a length out in front of a C5 A4 convertible right of the line (doesn't spin its tires with all that wiegh on the rear axle) and stays there (but can't pull any more ahead) up to as fast as we tested (about 100). Does not corner or brake any better than a vette but it is way smoother and quieter and it feels "quicker" - can zip around road explanades and tight corners because it has a shorter wheelbase.

I bought it because, for good or bad, I had modified my vette to where I wouldn't drive it every day. The vette is driveable daily, but a bit extreme, but mostly I just worry about the (uninsured) money I have tied up in it in traffic: I could not afford to replace the engine or major damage. The Porsche makes a greaty daily driver but it is surprisingly basic. It has leather (including, believe it or not, a leather headliner), power windows, etc., ABS, stability control, etc. but no power seats, no dual climate control, 18" wheels only, no automatic darkening mirrors or auto-dimming headlights or auto-turn on wipers or headlight washers, no adjustable suspension, or ceramic brakes or turbo or antying. It does have a Bose sound system that is incredible (but only with the rear seats folded down, when up they completely block (are right up against) the rear speakers). Single CD player only.

The thing that is amazing is that it had $18k in "options" on it that were all driving oriented: things I thought it should have as the base model (salesman told me no one imports the base model into the US, mine is pretty much the bottom as imported, but the options including a sport suspension and upgraded tires and wheels and one unusual option even for this dealer:::: a $2400 "sport exhaust" which IS cool: rather snarly unless you push a button on the dashboard that cuts in an extra set of mufflers and then it is as quiet as a Honda Accord, and it loses only 4 HP (I had to have it dynoed--261 with extra mufflers turned on vs. 265 RWHP without): I turn it on each morning before starting off to work at 6 AM so I don't annoy my neighbors.

youre a lucky man lee, you have some awesome cars...

Yeah, of course I drove beaters, such as a 14 year old Dodge "V-7" (Dodge V8 with one cylinder that just nothing would make work) for years while I raised and put three kids through college before I "got rich."

I want more: my dream is to own a 1953 Buick SKylark convertible with the wire wheels and the supercharger (really, they are hideously ugly but very very cool), a 70 427 Corvette, a red 94-96 C4 with an aftermarket small block 427, and then my present 427 C5( I'd own 3 generations of 427), but my wife says anything goes, even an Aston DB9 to replace the Porsche in a few years -- but only two cars at a time. And the vette stays forever.

I can't believe Vette guys and gals talking about an EVO. These sleds weigh 3200/3300 lbs and have 286 hp. My stock Vette in good air runs 12.65/12.70. I should say almost stock. Blackwing, custom tune and a 3:42 with an A4. At the strip with my DR's I can launch hard with no tire spin. On the street I control the throttle and again, no tire spin on street tires.

There is no way an EVO, even with 4 wheel drive can keep up even from a standing start. A 1/4 mile race wouldn't even be close. The Vette would finish by several car lengths. And we should talk apples to apples. An EVO on spray vs a Vette on spray. Again, not even close.

I hope you folks don't mind me butting in. I'm a very humble guy. Intelligent, good looking and one of the best drag racers on the planet. I also have a hard time expressing myself.

Yes BUT the Evo has 4 cylinders! So bragging about how a V8 is a faster car is not that great in my book. The Evo is cheaper and more versitale than a Vette in my opinion. Not to piss of any Vette guys because I love them too. ;) I just think if you are looking for a car that you can drive everyday in every road condition and in any weather the Evo or Sti is the way to go over a Vette. If you want something fast for a nice weather summer car or weekend car the Vette is the way to go. Everyone has their own taste and reasons for buying and driving what they do. ;)

I agree 100%. My daily driver is a Ford crew cab with a diesel. We love that truck. But I don't compare it with the Vette. Some of the posts were comparing the performance of the EVO to a Vette when there is no comparison. I don't think I was bragging. I had nothing to do with creating the Corvette.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Special K
I agree 100%. My daily driver is a Ford crew cab with a diesel. We love that truck. But I don't compare it with the Vette. Some of the posts were comparing the performance of the EVO to a Vette when there is no comparison. I don't think I was bragging. I had nothing to do with creating the Corvette.

Oh I know man. I was just sort of commenting in general. ;)

Thats definitely a good point you are looking at 2 completely different classes of vehicles. There isn't any chance that a stock EVO would be a Corvette.....but I still had a good time beating him

I respect EVOs and STIs immensely. They are just differnt cars- really rally cars. The one thing any vette owner ought to think about is this nightmare: you are chasing an EVO or an STI down a winding, dusty, gravel road, late at night- a road you don't know well. In other words, its a rally race, not a closed road race.

You're in their element, and you will lose, if not lose the road and end up in a ditch. On the dragstrip they are in your world, but as rally cars they are in the tradition of the great Lancias and Abarths of the 70s and 80s -nasty on short, twiting, turning courses where events are unpredictable.

Have some respect for them. Different cars, different worlds. They ARE very cool cars.

I had a lighly modded STI as my last tuner car. vf22 turbo, 3" catless exhaust, k&n short ram, no ecu mods. and it was quick. awd is too easy to drive but very fun. I took out a 996 from 65-120 by about 5 car lenghts (not that big of a kill) but a kill none the less. I raced an ECU modded EVo at Big willow and was dead even. I could not get away, and he could not gain on me. The big hp rwd cars just seem like alot more fun to drive and take a little more skill to keep her in line( ie, alot more fun IMO).
MAtt

EVOs and STis are really nice cars. I respect them for several reasons. First, they have a lot of power for their displacement and size, and they are complete designs: Mitsi and Suburu took the time to give them good 4-wheel drive systems and suspension and brakes to equal their power, as opposed to the Neon SRT, which is just a 225+HP motor dropped in a car designed for 140 HP and a very unblanced design as a result.

And I do not consider the EVo and the STi to be a new concept, or "rice" in any way. In my mind, they are a continuationof the European ralley-car design tradition of Abarth and Lancia, etc., going back to the 60s: boxy but fast, small displacement 4-wheel drive cars designed to stay on the road when driven on twisting drit back roads by people who are certifiably crazy.

And both are fast: even stock either one can take some 996s - mine has the automatic and does only 13.5 in the quarter - either of those two turbo 4s is a stock 13.3 car in the quarter.

no way the rolling start and long straight away is almost cheating. you should just race where ever you show up not het all of these advantages over the other car. thats not being fair now is it hah?

I'm sorry but I don't understand. Were you thinking I said a long straight and a running start were cheating. Where did you get that? Its not in my book. I nearly always race from a running start -- makes less noise and smoke and attracts far less attention.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lee Willis

I'm sorry but I don't understand. Were you thinking I said a long straight and a running start were cheating. Where did you get that? Its not in my book. I nearly always race from a running start -- makes less noise and smoke and attracts far less attention.

...and doesn't wear your tires down as quickly...

hmmm..ive never gotten into roll racing...

It makes sense for street racing. Makes less noise, has less chance of a bad control lande-change on a hard launch, and makes the car, not the driver, more of the issue (which, if you are challenge racing on the street, with a sleeper, is the whole thing).

But I do miss the hard launch you get at the dragstrip, that IS fun.

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Evo's are decent cars with some good power and strong launches. Nice kill. :)

Hi guys.... been browsing the site for a while, decided to register now. Just wanted to chime in on the conversation. Lee Willis is right about the higher rpms needed before the Evo hits any decent power. It definitely has to be kept in the upper rpms to compete with most any V8 today. 3500rpm or up or your going to get left.

I must disagree with Special K however when he is comparing "apples to apples." A new 286hp Evo IX can run high 12's stock with a decent driver. Not the 12.7 that special K can run, but he has a custom tune. If a custom tune is performed on an Evo it will be mid 12's easily (on stock tires). This is a fact. So apples for apples it is pretty darn close with a possible edge toward the Evo.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Special K

I can't believe Vette guys and gals talking about an EVO. These sleds weigh 3200/3300 lbs and have 286 hp. My stock Vette in good air runs 12.65/12.70. I should say almost stock. Blackwing, custom tune and a 3:42 with an A4. At the strip with my DR's I can launch hard with no tire spin. On the street I control the throttle and again, no tire spin on street tires.

There is no way an EVO, even with 4 wheel drive can keep up even from a standing start. A 1/4 mile race wouldn't even be close. The Vette would finish by several car lengths. And we should talk apples to apples. An EVO on spray vs a Vette on spray. Again, not even close.

I hope you folks don't mind me butting in. I'm a very humble guy. Intelligent, good looking and one of the best drag racers on the planet. I also have a hard time expressing myself.

'65 Chevelle SS, eh? Those are very cool -- I always liked them a bit more than the '67s and later, even though those had big blocks. What engine do you have in it - the original 327?

Took out the 283 and installed a reasonably built 406.

Oh man!! What a beautiful car.

VERY NICE RIDE.

Thanks guys!

WOW Deffro that is one beautiful car you have there.