EVO Experts and those who just generally know about new EVO's

Gibbo

Gibbo

Gibbo

OcUK Staff
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
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Hi there

Well since my test drive in the EVO, I've come away feeling rather impressed. The hooligan side of me is telling me I'd have a lot of fun in such a car and it would possibly make a good short gap, say something to buy over the next month and sell on March time next year, unless I am not bored of the fun.

I've just been watching many many Top Gear and Fifth gear episodes that mainly put cars such as Subaru, EVO and Audi S4's head to head and everytime as a fun car they all choose the EVO and it always delivers the better results. In fact on the Top Gear episode where they pitch the FQ320 and STi Prodrive head to head the Stig comments that the "Subaru is a good boys car" and "The EVO is a mens car".

Anyway this is not to start a Subaru VS EVO war, but if I was to go towards such a vehicle it will most likely be an EVO 9 are some sorts or if one came along cheap enough one of the newer Litchfield Type 25 cars.

So EVO guys please explain to me a few things.

I test drove an FQ360, with only 17 miles on the clock and as such was told to keep the revs around 5000rpm, I did creep to 6000rpm though. So some questions:-
1. Will the engine become looser as in more power with mileage once ran in etc, where is the rev limiter and does it keep pulling hard upto it or does the boost fall off?
2. How does the MR version differ?

Now the Mitsubishi guy did say because I was commenting how I thought the FQ360 was overpriced for what it is that the on-road difference between it and the FQ340 is hardly noticable, any truth to this?

3. Is say an EVO 9 FQ300, FQ320, FQ340 and FQ360 all identical accept from the power difference? As in suspension, bodywork, weight etc. I thought the FQ360 was great to drive, easy clutch, good gearbox and very little turbo lag, do the lower models have more or less lag, as is the FQ360 been specially tuned for less lag with it having 363Lb-Ft at 3200rpm?

4. If one was to get say an FQ320 or FQ340 can they be tuned easily whilst still keeping reliability but if at all reducing any lag as well? What kind of cost are we looking at? I am not talking crazy levels of power, but if one could get 360-400BHP without causing any extra lag or further improving it that would be ideal.


I ask because from looking at cars for sale I've seen 2005 examples of the FQ320 going for as little as £11,000 which seems absolute peanuts for what is such a great car to drive and enjoy.

Now I know the EVO is no Stang and I know beyond 60mph that the Stang would even obliverate the FQ400 but what the EVO does have as an advantage is even better handling and handling that usable for all weather.
Fair enough the EVO is common, has a bad reputation, looks nothing special and cost more than the Stang to run and does not sound as good but I think that for maybe a short period of time I could have some good fun in one.

Obviously I don't want to go buy an FQ360, keep it 6 months and then loose 5-10k in depreciation, if I was to get one I need to try to limit any depreciation as much as possible.

So I know there is quite a lot of people who know their stuff on here, especially reference turbo cars and EVO's so tell me what you know please.

Finally even though the steering and handling was very nice on the EVO can it be improved further for the road or do people generally leave them as is because the improvements on offer are not huge?
 
Gibbo said:
4. If one was to get say an FQ320 or FQ340 can they be tuned easily whilst still keeping reliability but if at all reducing any lag as well? What kind of cost are we looking at?/QUOTE]

Yes very eaasily tunable, but at the end of the day, chasing big power figures on a turbo'd engine almost inevitably will result in more lag (I know about timing swings, air-air injectors, roller bearing internals, using *** etc) or at least a higher boost threshold before the turbo delivers the goods.

For tuning research either M.A.Developments or RC Developments. :D
Click to expand...
 
bigchez said:
Gibbo said:
4. If one was to get say an FQ320 or FQ340 can they be tuned easily whilst still keeping reliability but if at all reducing any lag as well? What kind of cost are we looking at?/QUOTE]

Yes very eaasily tunable, but at the end of the day, chasing big power figures on a turbo'd engine almost inevitably will result in more lag (I know about timing swings, air-air injectors, roller bearing internals, using *** etc) or at least a higher boost threshold before the turbo delivers the goods.

For tuning research either M.A.Developments or RC Developments. :D
Click to expand...

Hi there

Say is one got an FQ340, do they already have performance air filters/CAI and exhaust setups as stock or can these be added to further improve things.

If so could one possibly add a CAI, De-CAT, Exhaust etc. and would the gains be worthwhile? Does an EVO benefit from an atmospheric valve or does it just add stupid noises?

Can companies simply remap an FQ340 to FQ360 levels and beyond?
Click to expand...
 
Gibbo said:
I've just been watching many many Top Gear and Fifth gear episodes that mainly put cars such as Subaru, EVO and Audi S4's head to head and everytime as a fun car they all choose the EVO and it always delivers the better results. In fact on the Top Gear episode where they pitch the FQ320 and STi Prodrive head to head the Stig comments that the "Subaru is a good boys car" and "The EVO is a mens car".

Anyway this is not to start a Subaru VS EVO war, but if I was to go towards such a vehicle it will most likely be an EVO 9 are some sorts or if one came along cheap enough one of the newer Litchfield Type 25 cars.
Click to expand...

I test drove a FQ340, awesome bit of kit but far too hardcore as a daily for my bony ass. If it were me and I was looking at depreciation issues, I'd be looking at the aforementioned T25 which is just utterly sublime, will embarrass Astons, Porka turbos etc (performance wise / track time, not in any other area though). And if you like to tinker, Iain has plenty of bits ;)

I think the FQ360 did do very well in EVO's COTY, even beating the T25 but I cannot remember the reasons right now...price possibly?

As far as Top Gear vids, that was the MY04 WR1 vs the FQ320. The bog standard MY05 STi addressed some of the issues raised in that comparison...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lcm1XhrcnA

...that'll be Hammond and Clarkson choosing the STi at the end :D

Either way, I think you'll get home with a grin.
 
Gibbo,

Can't answer any of your questions, but if you want a trick 4WD car with big BHP, have you not considered a GTR34 Skyline? The Evo will surely blow itself to bits if you try and extract much more bhp from it.
 
BigshotPie said:
Gibbo,

Can't answer any of your questions, but if you want a trick 4WD car with big BHP, have you not considered a GTR34 Skyline? The Evo will surely blow itself to bits if you try and extract much more bhp from it.
Click to expand...

Hi there

Having been in a Skyline they are not much of a car really in stock trim. They also don't handle anywhere near as good as an EVO either in stock trim, in fact I preferre the way the Mustang handles over a Skyline.

Fair enough a tuned Skyline both power and suspension wise is very good, but for the money I'd buy a Corvette Z06 over one anyday. :)

Am not sure how tunable the EVO is safely and hence my questions. :)
 
Fett said:
I test drove a FQ340, awesome bit of kit but far too hardcore as a daily for my bony ass. If it were me and I was looking at depreciation issues, I'd be looking at the aforementioned T25 which is just utterly sublime, will embarrass Astons, Porka turbos etc (performance wise / track time, not in any other area though). And if you like to tinker, Iain has plenty of bits ;)

I think the FQ360 did do very well in EVO's COTY, even beating the T25 but I cannot remember the reasons right now...price possibly?

As far as Top Gear vids, that was the MY04 WR1 vs the FQ320. The bog standard MY05 STi addressed some of the issues raised in that comparison...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lcm1XhrcnA

...that'll be Hammond and Clarkson choosing the STi at the end :D

Either way, I think you'll get home with a grin.
Click to expand...

Hi there

Watched that video and even though for unknown reasons they think they preferre the Subaru, the actual on track performance is massively in the EVO's favour and the kind of roads I drive are those where the EVO's works best. :)

From driving the EVO it just let me do silly things and its understeer is very minimal to none existent.
 
Vita said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/193662.htm

Says it all Gibbo. You could always test one out again and buy one, and if you don't like get rid.
Click to expand...


Hi there

I've been checking that out, but its too modified for me really, bit of an insurance nightmare and hard to sell on.

Plus for £20,000 I can get an EVO 9 FQ320 and from what I am reading the entire EVO 9 FQ range use the same turbo, only difference on the FQ360 is the fuel pump and ECU map. Supposedly 380-400BHP is easy, safe and relatively cheap.

To me if I can get a nice EVO for 20k, basically bit of a bargain will limit any depreciation in the 6 months or so I own the car. :)
 
Try and find a second hand Evo9 GT.

Retains the leccy windos etc but uses the Rs diff instead of the AYC.

Better diff and cheaper to run.


Evo 9 gt's will see around 400bhp with a few bits+Ecutek remap :)
 
Wayn0r said:
back to the skyline question, was it an r34 gtr that you drove/sat in?
Click to expand...

Hi there

Yep it was an R34 GTR V-Spec Skyline, and it had a boost controller, so around 330BHP. It was a nice car but they are damn heavy beast and unlike on paper they don't handle as brilliantly as reviews/press would lead you to believe.

Fair enough an R34 with tuned suspension, running around 500BHP are fantastic, but to get an R34 to such levels cost crazy amounts of money and to be quite frank a Z06 would cost less and outperform it pretty much in every way.

The Skylines biggest enemy is its weight, whenever I've been at track days and Skylines have been present they never do particular well either. They are a grand tourer, albeit a very fast one and when the R33 GTR came out it really was leaps and bounds ahead of other cars at the time. However the R34 GTR now is an old car and as such there are newer better cars available for the same money as used R34's sell for.

The EVO is so much more nimble over an R34/R33, hell even my Mustang is more nimble over a stock R34 GTR. :)
 
Cryfreeman said:
Try and find a second hand Evo9 GT.

Retains the leccy windos etc but uses the Rs diff instead of the AYC.

Better diff and cheaper to run.


Evo 9 gt's will see around 400bhp with a few bits+Ecutek remap :)
Click to expand...

Hi there

Are these UK or import only? I only want a UK car, insurance and selling on purposes. :)
 
cymatty said:
I know it is not an Evo but something like this is likely to not lose hardly any money. :)

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/172351.htm
Click to expand...


Hi there

When I was younger I always adored the 22B, when I was possible P1 shopping, the 22B was my dream car. However as nice as it is its an old design that is seriously out classed by the newer Subarus and even more so the EVO 9. :)
 
Cryfreeman said:
This is kinda nice gibbo :D


http://lancerregister.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=159227
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Hi there

Same one as in the Pistonheads advert m8 posted above. :)
Really too many mods for my liking, so an insurance nightmare and its a little overpriced. I want to find a bargain which is ideally stock so I can do as I wish.
I've registered over there and asked similar questions.

Seems for £1500 its easy and safe to take an FQ320 or FQ340 upto 400BHP and 400Lb-Ft region. To me including margin that comes to less than half of my car budget. That means the remaining money can sit in the bank, gain interest, add further saving and then buy something real special and more "Gibbo Unique" in 6 months time after I've had fun been a hooligan.

My only issue is if I get an EVO do I have to get a burberry cap to in order to fit in? ;)
 
According to the figures, the r34 gtr is only 40kg more than the evo (curb weight).

But, i can see how it would feel like a big car. The ST220 is a big car with a big engine, but when i get into the golf, it feels as big as the mondeo whereas its really not.

I wont argue anyones point that the r34 gtr doesnt handle well. But, your mustangs handling setup aint standard is it ? ;)

as has been said, spend a couple of k on an r34 to sort the suspension out and get a few more bhp.

but thats just me, its your choice :)
 
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