2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX review
15 May, 2008
20 Comments 
Simply hang on for the ride of your life, and remain committed to the corner. An initial understeer tendency is initially offputting, however keep your foot buried, and the torque is shuffled to the rear, where the back is brought around, and the front merely determines the line (while adding more grip). The reward is the car resting on the outside rear tyre, and oversteering through the exit. Fun? You bet. But fast? Yes, it’s that too.
And if you want to practise your Tiff Needell skills, you can. Sliding is as simple flicking the steering wheel. It will oversteer on turn in, if thrown into the corner quickly enough at medium speeds. But if you want to keep that slide going, you need to time your accelerator prodding to account for the slight turbo lag. If you do, four-wheeled drifts are there for the taking.
And it’s on boost that it really impresses. The SAYC seems to respond best to power-down, medium to full throttle cornering. If you’re not into it fully, the SAYC backs off, and relies on the Evo’s impressive inherent chassis balance. Really the only thing that lets this car down is its tyres. Unless they’re up to temperature, the Yokohama Advans fitted allow the car to shuffle and squirm a bit too much. Still, if that’s your beef, then new rubber is only a phone call away.
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(6 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
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May 15th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
296kw!!!
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May 15th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Great car & should sell well. (second attempt at posting) !
Cheers
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May 15th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Thanks RoFlmaTiC. Typo.
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May 15th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I would love one, but even the older models hold their value way too well for my wallet. Oh well, the Impreza will have to do…
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May 15th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Sounds like you chaps had a bit of fun. Love these but personnally would never buy one as there is too much association with the ‘boys’. Pity since the performance is awsome.
What was the best evo to date? what it the Evo7??
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May 15th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
wow truely awsome car by. prety much the uiltimate hoon mobile now that the impreza/rex is a little more conservative (i dont meen in terms of performance)
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May 15th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I guarantee its a lot quicker than 5.5 secs. It’s just a question of shifting ratios at the precise time. Not too late, not too early.
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May 15th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
i heard its in teh vicinity of 4.9-5.0 0-100?
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May 16th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I’d prefer the new Evo on looks, but this is still a beast
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May 16th, 2008 at 1:45 am
4.9 sounds right
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May 16th, 2008 at 7:07 am
It looks stunning in white!
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May 16th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I would have thought faster than 5.5 -100 too,but your right on the interior,very average.
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May 16th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Do you fella @ caradvice know when the offical launch of the EVO X is commin out?
Cause if its soon, its time to sell the 06 WRXY for it!
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May 16th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I think in Europe theve got 254kw Evos there clocking higher 0-100’s www.evo.co.uk did a test against Carrera GT 997 Turbo, Carrera GT managed 3.8 Evo 4.3 0-60mphs
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May 16th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
No Name ..”what was the best evo…?”
I’m fortunate enough to have driven the 6.5 TME, the 8 and the 9 and all are brilliant! The TMA had a few modifications and was stunningly fast, easily in the 4 second club and as the author notes “more than your senses can handle in one go..” is exactly the experience… sensory overload is another way to put it, focusing up the road as far as I could while everything else seemed to blur. It was more hard edged than the 8 and 9, easily provoked into tail out four wheel drifts when on boost,yet with lag to test your patience when off it.
The 8 and 9 are truly Jekyll and Hyde vehicles being much more refined, superbly fast and with limits beyond most people’s (mine included). And yet if you’re driving to conserve your points and keep your licence they will do that easily and comfortably, being docile and tractable and with no ill manners to speak of. The worst of it would be the toning up your left leg receives through a firm and responsive clutch pedal.
Which is better? Not a fair comparison at all with the TME being modified, but I could easily live with and drive a 9 everyday, but I’d be waiting anxiously for Sunday’s to let loose in the 6.5 TME…
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May 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
It doesnt really matter which evo you get as long as it has the AYC (active Yaw Control). Completely takes the understeer out of AWD. Kinda like Sti’s when they put the variable centre diff in. Like the others though I found the interiors below standard and the indicators on theleft was a big bug-bear for a japanese car. Note to prospective buyers of new or used - Don’t use anything less than 98RON fuel or you will regret it.
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May 16th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Like most turbo cars you shouldnt be taking anything less than 98… I remember a test was run and found that ratings dont actual match the real octane level in the petrols and noticed one being off by like 4 points 98 was actually 94.
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May 16th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
5.5 sec is about right for the watered down Australian version. For the real deal you need to drive a JDM spec Evo IX. A better drive than the latest X !
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May 17th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Re the Evo X and its imminent arrival. I spoke to a Mitsu dealer today and apparently the Oz delivery of the Evo X has been pushed back to July now!
There appears to be far too much demand world wide and the tiny market here in Aus loses out (again):-(
Also means that with the new LCT, it will cost even more.
I hope it lives up to the hype. Certainly looks better than the STi, although I am still a bit miffed that the manual is only 5 speed.
I really don’t think I could justify the purchase of an STi before taking the Evo for a spin. Having said that though, I have seen a STi Spec R for 62.5K drive away (slightly used for test drives) and that indicates there might be some flex in the price for a new STi
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August 5th, 2008 at 4:51 am
this truely is a superb car and has all the go indeed! sure the cost is a bit hefty but the ride quality makes up for it! the only thing i have to agree w negative nature, is that, it does use the base $19,000 lancer dashboard, and set up! Otherwise flawless!
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