9 Reasons Why The Mitsubishi Evo Is Better Than The Impreza WRX STi

IGOTASTi

System Operator
Staff member
And here we go again....lol. What do you think of this article?

The competition between the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the Subaru Impreza WRX STI has been going strong since the early 90s, and recently, we've been adding fuel to that fire. Here is the second side to the story, and obviously the truth...

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Not so long ago, CT staff writer Darren Cassey wrote something that I, and many of you disagreed with. The article was called 9 Reasons Why The Subaru Impreza WRX STI Is Better Than The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, and as an Evo owner myself, I had to give my side of the story. Here are my arguments for why it?s the Evo that?s in fact the better car:

1. It's sharper to drive:

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Sure, Subaru has been able to make a name for itself through Colin McRae, but he drove a heavily modified STI with all the best equipment and factory sponsorship. He probably had to replace the entire chassis and suspension to make it a frontrunner. The 2015 STI has a bit of improved steering and suspension over previous generations, but any reviews and first-hand experiences say the Evo still feels sharper and grounded while still being light.
If you buy a stock Evo, you can have the better handling without spending the extra money if you can?t afford it. It is well known that the chassis is more responsive in the Evo, and the S-AWC creates the best possible traction in all scenarios. In fact, you?ll feel more of the road, and it unknowingly makes the beginner driver improve more quickly. It?s confidence inspiring.

2. The noise is better:

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If you?re looking for a car that always sounds like it?s trying to clear its throat, you?ve found the right one in purchasing a STI. The reason why everyone knows when the STI is coming is because they?re searching for the car that sounds like it is, in a raspy way, rapidly misfiring.

On the other hand, is the smoother, low grumble of the Evo. Even stock these cars give you the satisfaction that you?re driving a brilliantly quick car. If you?re looking for something that lets the neighbours know your Evo is home before they see you, there are loads of aftermarket exhausts that seal the deal without annoying the entire block; or having them look for the teenagers in a riced-out Civic.

3. It?s more understated:

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You can?t tell me the STI is more understated. Look at the picture. Tell me that this is not a sleeper. Go ahead, I dare you.

4. Evos have a bonnet scoop too, and it's better:

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Yes, the STI has a bonnet scoop. The Evo has a bonnet scoop, too (in fact, it has two more practical vents on the hood than the STI). And it?s more streamlined. As the driver you can even see across the hood to the other side of the car ? there isn?t anything there to block your view!
Plus, the Evo has functional fender vents that aid in cooling the brakes and venting air normally trapped in the wheel well, and, of course, add to the rally looks of the car.

5. Evo owners aren't snobs:

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This probably depends upon the country, but certainly in the US it feels as though many STI owners around do not understand that the competition between the STI and the Evo is what makes the cars succeed; they tend to be snobby and stick to their own car club. The competitiveness, though, is what has driven the manufacturers to build the best cars possible, and what has pushed them to the top for all of these years. Owners of both brands should be, even considering brand loyalty, praising each other?s work. The Evo culture here is doing exactly that.

And, although it may surprise you, the majority of STI owners I have spoken with at car meets and competitions admit they wish they had an Evo. The Evo is STI-owner approved.

6. Who cares that the Impreza has its own colour scheme?

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I will admit I grew up wanting the exact iconic colour scheme of gold rims on Subaru Blue. It is iconic ? I?ll give them that. Subaru has done a great job branding using that paint arrangement. However, don?t just throw the Evo out because they don?t have an explicit colour scheme. They?ve branded themselves with their overall looks; they are not hiding behind specific colours.

The body kit on the Evo X SSS package has it all ? it?s sporty, sexy, and sleek. The front lip not only is a functional aid in aerodynamics, it gives the stock Evo the lowered aggressive look. The side skirts add width and make the body flow from front to back, and the spoiler is just big enough without being over-the-top (ahem2015 STI ahem). The newest STI just looks like an Evo and a Civic SI made a baby.

Let us not forget about those Recaro racing seats that come with the stock Evo. Oy vey those are comfortable and snug for tight, fast cornering ? even for a woman?s hips! I?ve done multiple 2500-mile road trips in those seats; I know they?re comfortable. But let?s face it, why are you buying this type of car if you aren?t going to drive hard? You don?t want the no-name plush seats with somewhat functionality, you want the racing seats.

7. No limited edition Evos = a good thing:

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Yes, Subaru has done well by offering Limited Edition and special occasion STIs. But who has that money to throw down for one of those? And if you can buy one, you?re going to be too afraid to drive it hard for fear of it losing value! What?s a rally car without the rally?

Or, buy the Evo. No limited edition. No special authenticated plaque. If you care about a special colour scheme, have it custom done. Then take all of that extra money you didn?t spend on the Limited Edition Subaru and throw it into modding the crap out of your already awesome Evo. Then it truly is a special edition.

8. It still looks awesome in hatchback form:

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Just in case you haven?t stepped outside your Subaru bubble recently, Mitsubishi also has a hatchback. It might not be as aesthetically pleasing, but when it boils down to it, is Subaru making the hatchback anymore? Nope. Besides, a hatchback is for practicality. It?s said that the STI is a more practical, friendlier daily driver. That may be so, but I have two points here that may make you look twice at the Evo instead.

1) My Evo is a daily driver. It?s comfortable for long treks (see my bit about the seats prior) yet track ready when I need it to be.
2) I can fit a rear-facing car seat and a stroller in my car (yes, in the ?small? trunk without removing the sound system). What is more practical than a family car? If you need to haul something bigger than what can fit in the car, buy a truck.

9. The STI has outlived the Evo:

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We all heard the news that Mitsubishi has discontinued the Evo X. Yes that means the STI is the last one standing, but is it the best one left? Or just left? From the very beginning Mitsubishi and Subaru were battling, producing the Lancer Evolution versus the WRX STI-specific rivalry in 1993. Ever since their induction the STIs have been playing catch-up to the Evo, it?s not a secret.

Subaru producing the STI with no direct competitor is only going to increase the price of your STI while limiting the pressure on Subaru to produce a better car. I mean, c?mon, Mitsubishi didn?t stop producing the Evo because it was losing to Subaru and the STI.

This article was written by freelance writer Kate Sickelka.
 
That is one of the more retarded things I've read recently. The chick that wrote that should be taken out and flogged.

1) Okay, I'll concede that; the Evo had quicker steering.

2) Noise is better? It sounds like any other 4 banger. Tell me how good a Civic sounds too.

3) An STi is understated too if you put a wingless trunk.

4) That's just moronic.

5) Most Evo owners are snobs. Do Evo owners wave at each other in passing? Do they wave at other turbo AWD cars? Nope. But Subaru guys do.

6) I'll concede that, Evos do look pretty sexy, especially compared to the latest STi.

7) Sounds more like jealousy that Mitsubishi never made special editions.

8) Ick, just ick. That's fugly.

9) Yeah, Evo couldn't survive, that makes it better. :rolleyes:
 

IGOTASTi

System Operator
Staff member
That is one of the more retarded things I've read recently. The chick that wrote that should be taken out and flogged.

1) Okay, I'll concede that; the Evo had quicker steering.

2) Noise is better? It sounds like any other 4 banger. Tell me how good a Civic sounds too.

3) An STi is understated too if you put a wingless trunk.

4) That's just moronic.

5) Most Evo owners are snobs. Do Evo owners wave at each other in passing? Do they wave at other turbo AWD cars? Nope. But Subaru guys do.

6) I'll concede that, Evos do look pretty sexy, especially compared to the latest STi.

7) Sounds more like jealousy that Mitsubishi never made special editions.

8) Ick, just ick. That's fugly.

9) Yeah, Evo couldn't survive, that makes it better. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the sum up! ;)
 

HolyCrapItsFast

Drinks beer!
Sounds largely like fanboi rhetoric.

"The sound is better"
Come on!!! Yes it's better if you like your car to sound like a Honda hopped up on drugs. I have seen more shitty sounding and runnning Evos than I can count.

Then there are these four statements...
"It's more understated"
and
"Evos have a bonnet scoop too and it's better"
and
"It looks awesome in hatch form"
and
"Who cares the STi has it's own color scheme"
All just a matter of opinion. And what makes its scoops function better. The hood scoop on the STi has a very specific function and it performs that function perfectly. Where is this guys engineering degree and test results to back up these claims.

And then the most laughable statement of all...
"Evo Owners aren't snobs"
In fact it has been my experience that Evo owners are the epitome of snob. What community comes together more than the Subaru community. The list is short.

And this...
"I mean, c’mon, Mitsubishi didn’t stop producing the Evo because it was losing to Subaru and the STI."
They stopped producing the Evo because sales are rapidly declining and Subaru's are skyrocketing... Evo's are not good for the bottom line and the population has spoken as to what "is best"

And this...
"No limited edition Evos = a good thing"
No... No limited edition Evos = no choice and less styling. Besides did they have a standard Evo and then the MR in the Evo9? I think it is up to the person buying the car to decide what is to expensive and what features he/she likes.

The only statement that holds any weight is that it is sharper to drive but not by much. Lets see how sharp it is after three years of heavy driving. The rattling and deteriorating interior should change your mind.

This article is just another A-Hole opinion... in my opinion.
 
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1. It's sharper to drive:
I've never driven one, so I have no first-hand experience. I'd have to rely on the reviews, but that seems to be the consensus.

2. The noise is better:
The "raspy" sounding STi's that I've seen tend to be running straight pipes/non-resonated exhausts, and they are few and far between. Most of the ones I've encountered just have that deep, signature boxer sound, which is music to my ears. I would hardly say that the WRX/STi sounds like a civic.


3. It’s more understated:
True, it is. And I do love the look of the Evo - before the body overhaul after the IX and the Evo X as well. It's a nice looking car! That doesn't mean that the STi isn't good looking either.

4. Evos have a bonnet scoop too, and it's better:
As stated above by others - in what way is it better? Vents on the STi hood could help with heat dissipation, true. I know I've seen aftermarket hoods with scoops, and they look pretty sharp.

5. Evo owners aren't snobs:
...and yet the accompanying photo with this post is a picture of...all Evos. And as above stated, we do wave to fellow STi owners :) The same was true when I had an S2000. Are those guys all snobs too?

6. Who cares that the Impreza has its own colour scheme?
It pays homage to the rallying history. I hardly see why that would be a negative.

7. No limited edition Evos = a good thing:
I don't know of too many limited editions here in the US other than the latest gen launch edition. I'm sure there have been others but I'm not familiar with them. Would be cool to see if you ask me!

8. It still looks awesome in hatchback form:
If the Evo hatch is the one I'm thinking of, that thing is not easy on the eyes. It just looks awkward, and reminds me of the Chevy Malibu hatchback, which is hideous. The WRX/STi hatch looks awesome.

9. The STI has outlived the Evo:
I wish the Evo was still in production. But that's because I love cars, and not anything to do with wanting an Evo [though I would totally rock one], or jealously, or anything like that. I just love cars, and really appreciate them, especially since with the increasing regulation of emissions and other pollution concerns. I'm just hoping that manufacturers will continue to produce great, fun cars like the STi and Evo.
 
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