Mitsubishi Evolution X King Of The Mountain
December 27, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Now, the reason I decided to write this story. The Mitsubishi. You see there are some cars that are made for such roads and there are some cars that wish they were made for these roads.
The Ford Focus XR5 is a car that wishes it was made for mountain driving. The Mazda3 MPS is another car that although it has a strong reputation and has performed well across the motoring world, is simply not made for this road (trust me, I’ve tried it). The list of wannabe mountain runners is endless and there is no shortage of Mazda3 and Lancer front bumpers all over the mountain.
There are so few cars that have actually made their way up this glorious road with grace and maintained their dignity throughout the near 60 kilometre drive.
The Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Peugeot 207 GTI (great car), Volvo C30 T5, Lotus Elise/Exige, Audi RS4, BMW M3, Porsche 911 Turbo … but let’s stop there as the list is getting expensive and most sport cars over $150,000 will do a good job.
Under $80,000, the options for enthusiastic mountain driving are simple. Evo X, BMW 135i, Audi S3, Impreza WRX STI, Golf R32 and Nissan’s 350Z. While the R32 recently won CarAdvice’s praise as the best overall small sports sedan for under $80,000, the Evo X is a whole league in front when it comes to grip, composure and extreme limits.
What the R32 and S3 lack around corners the Evolution X has plenty. What the 135i lacks in out-of-corner acceleration, the Evo X provides in buckets. As for the 350Z, unless you intend to install the APS twin-turbo kit to make up ground in the straights, keeping up with an Evo X is simply not possible.
Perhaps its closest contender is Mitsubishi’s traditional nemesis, the STI, but even that fails to inspire the confidence that the Evolution exudes.
Many (including my own colleagues here at CarAdvice) have stated that the Evo IX is sharper and more controllable than the Evo X. Not true! What the Evo X has over the Evo IX isn’t better cornering or grip, or faster acceleration (they are mostly the same). It’s simply a better overall package, and it ought to be, as it’s more expensive.
I drove both the Evo X MR SST and the manual and although I am one to usually pick a manual, the SST gearbox is extremely competent for enthusiastic driving. Engage Super Sport and say hello to unbelievably quick gearshifts, and an unbelievably quick way to empty your fuel tank. The German made SST gearbox is Mitsubishi’s answer to Volkswagen’s DSG, and in my opinion, a better result as well.
I am not going to explain the SST gearbox here in detail, that’s been done countless times in our other Evo X reviews, but if you’re one of those buyers that look down on automatics, then get this straight, the SST isn’t a traditional automatic, it’s a robotised manual gearbox and one that can change gears faster than physically possible in a manual gearbox.
The Evo X is similar to the new Nissan GT-R in many ways. Although the GT-R is inherently the better car (twice the price too), they both share that “when-will-it-lose-grip?” feel. Push, push and push harder and harder and the Evo X will keep going and going with endless grip around the tightest bends.
Yes, it’s a great road isn’t it?
I recall numerous times charging up down that same road in the mid-eighties, in a variety of cars.
JD Camira (leaded version), VC 4.2 Commodore, rear wheel drive Corolla fitted with a T-18 1.8 litre engine.
Now that I can afford more suitable cars for that road, I’m left to micro-manage my Licence Points, to see whether or not I can really have a go.
An EVO X is within the budget (just), but it still looks (inside & out) like a cheap econobox from Japville.
An Audi S3 might do the trick……
Alborz
Somewhat dissappointed here re this report….
Let’s just put aside the all ready known dynamic’s and many previous road tests of the evo for a minute here.
One cannnot help thinking you may be one of many whom are contributing, participating and also now encouraging others to take on this dangerous stretch of road with disasterous consequences. Appears this section of road has a high fatality rate a high accident rate exactly for the reasons why you went up there in that evo…
In doing this, you just got on the end of the line up there in your loan evo with all those other boy racers who just to take it to the limit, practise and show off.
Our public roads, epecially this section, don’t need more bad advise, like this, from you to head up there and ‘have a go guys’… ‘push it hard’ !!!..
Regardless of your little warnings to us all about obeying the rules, it brings no credibity to your actions here and shows us you are prepared to take risks on our public roads and advise others to also do the same. You cannot have it both ways Alborz.
This is not an encouraging story of your work.. I am also not sure that any of the locals or people who live and travel these roads daily would also call it good advise.
Mt glorious.. Mt god damm for the stupid… that sign is a clue.
Head up there, yeh… Some really bad advise here ….
Ho Albie
So what’s with your beef with Volvo’s? If that’s you by the pump, visually you fit the bill.
Nice sandles eh?
Klaus here is a typical example of a scumbag member of an Oz motoring public. Hey matey, go and kiss cops arse, and get on-board media hype re hooning blah blah.
The Evo X’s of the world are made to be driven, hell yeah, driven good and responsibly. It is not our fault that governments and cops have time for every other member of the driving public but us car enthusiasts, and brand us as dangerous and hoons.
They allow granpa’s to drive 75 in a 100 zone, or mums to drive their massive, dangerous and slow 4WD, to block everyone elses pass, never pull over in a slow spot, but god forbid you drive a car properly. They allow these retard to dsrive, never indicate, run over people, but don’t worry, its and accident when that happens, but if you drive a decent car you are immediately branded a hoon and accused of drag racing or some nonsense like that. No, that is not allowed. This is a friggin joke Klaus, a friggin joke.
What I have seen for the last 10 years is a continuous lowering of speed limits, for no reason. God dammit, if road was ok with a 100 limit 10 years ago and now its 60 or sometimes even 50 then something is wrong with this country.
Give us a break you bloody politicians and you slow cruisy drivers. Give us a break.
Klaus, you are 100% correct. This sort of behaviour on public roads can not be condoned, nor tolerated. As a ‘reputable’ and legitimate motoring website and magazine, you have a duty of care. The only place an Evo should be terrorising, is on a race track.
Royal National Park in Sydney is the same. 7 out of 10 times i drive through, the road is closed. Why? Because some young chap with a car that is either a shit box, or a car thats limits are far beyond his, is in the armco, with a motorcyclist underneath him.
Jester, your comments a very valid re large 4WD’s, and people in wrong lanes at slow speeds and so on. This is not a good scenario, but is no where near as dangerous as speeding on tight twisty roads, with cars inches away coming in the opposite direction.
Alborz, despite your good intentions, you should appologise for your article, and go on the record, and clarify your stance on hooning around on public roads.
Did Alborz say he exceeded the posted speed limit?
In Queensland, every “k” over is a “Killer”, apparently.
Just ask (Transport Minister) Paul Lucas; he’s at least 50kg over!
:[
Perhaps Klaus would do better spending more time getting advice about the difference between advise and advice. It was clear that Alborz was advising the reader to enjoy a good driving road and take due care when driving such a road – good advice by any account.
The advice I would give to Klaus is to perhaps focus on driving appropriately to the conditions and within the ability of one’s self and the cart in which he or she rides, rather than advising that all should blindly follow arbitrary rules; rules usually implemented by (i) Bureaucrats whose experience of cars is largely from a back seat with a chauffeur at the wheel or (ii) An opportunity to raise further funds for the state under the guise of a safety campaign.
There is more to driving than simply getting on a toll-way Klaus. The *lack* of learning to drive on roads described by Alborz in this article is a contributing factor to the road toll and here you are demeaning someone encouraging people to learn to drive such a road, thereby making themselves into a better driver. Damn boy! I hope you are not in the left hand seat with an L driver being advised by you!
Forgot to mention that the rainforest section often has wet leaf-litter on the bitumen which makes it very slippery. This can prove deadly, particularly to motorcycles.
No more freedom left in the world, huh?
I agree with Flying High. If you teach young (young at heart?) drivers well, and they learn what to expect (especially from unfamiliar roads) then all would be well.
To me the article didn’t seem to encourage spanner behaviour, it was just about driving a good car on a good bit of road.
I’m gonna also add the usual (bound to come up eventually) “Just because some of us are complete dills when it comes to driving, doesn’t mean the rest of us are complete spanners on the road too..”
Klaus and Ben, If you read the entire article, you will notice that I say the speed limit is 80, essentially throughout the drive this limit does not change. There is no reason to go fast and exceed the limit on the straights (not exactly a challenge!) so that leaves the corners.
You can do the entire 60km drive enthusiastically without breaking one single traffic rule. That’s what I am suggesting.
There is also a big difference between Hoon cars and what I am talking about here. As I said, many come without a clue, in unprepared cars and leave in tow trucks or unfortunately sometimes in Ambulances.
That is a result of ignorance, over-confidence and mostly lack of driver skill. I’ve seen Toyota Echos going up the mountain at lightning speed. It truly is a mixture of driver skill and the appropriate car.
The point you have to keep in mind here is that Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious is one of the few roads in Australia were driving at the speed limit can be quite challenging. You should try it.
Oh and Beig, nothing against Volvos, if you notice I actually mention the C30 T5 as one of my favourite cars, however you do get a lot of old folks driving up here at 30km/h when the speed limit is 80. As for the sandles, they tend to come on and off in between the Pilotis :D
Klaus,
Where to start with a chap like yourself. I can surgically take your argument apart cell by cell or I can grab a hammer and just obliterate it with one clean swing. I think I must chose the later approach.
Most EVO X’s purchased by the enthusiast public will probably never set wheels on a track (you should though it will be so much fun)so there is absolutly nothing wrong with pointing out to our genuninely enthusiastic readers, where another great driving road is.
Almost all good car magazines have written articles on great driving roads throughout the world (all public roads of course) and continue to do so.
Klaus, next you will be telling me you have never exceeded the posted speed limits in Australia – and I won’t belive you, funny that.
Merry Christmas and enjoy the drive, wherever that may be.
Its amazing how much of a fat pig the evo looks next to that STi…
Still an amazing car, but give me any MY04 Impreza thanks.
I live on the mountain and drive/enjoy the road every day.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of drongos using the road as a racetrack. Articles like mean that more will try and there will continue to be accidents caused by those who are unfamiliar with the road/conditions or inexperienced with their vehicle. It is a fun drive, but sadly there are too many accidents – those that involve cars (rather than motorcycles which seems to be the norm) are typically overpowered cars where the drivers have just lost it and ended up upside down, up or down the bank. It would probably p*ss you off i it was happening on your doorstep day after day.
Alborz,
I think we all take your point, but the fact that several of your readers (of which at least 2 are regular) believe that this is likely to encourage people in a negative sense should ring bells. If you expect us to believe that you stuck to 80Km/H the whole trip, then you take us for mugs.
The problem here is the idiot factor. There will be idiots who read this article, who say “awesome – gonna do the mountain” and will drive it dangerously. Thats certainly not your fault, granted and with your ability and knowledge of Mt glorious you aren’t going to fall in that category. But as a public website I do believe there is a duty of care that needs to regard the “lowest common denominator”.
Apart from that point, I really did enjoy the article and it makes me smile to think of my driving experiences there. Keep the articles comming!
Cheers,
Simon
Driving enthusiastically is NOT hooning.
Why people constantly confuse the two.
You can get told of or yelled at by a mamber of a public just because you can actually drive at a posted speed limit.I’ve seen that so many times, speed limit 100 and people drive 40, shyte you not, and then if I am capable of driving at a 100 I get branded a hoon and dangerous. Well, sorry to bust your bubble peoplle, but person doing 40 is more dangerous then me.
I say, drive the car well and responsibly , and I give advice to people like Ben and Klaus, learn how to drive at least up to the speed limit and stop complaining.
In Australia its ok to talk to your passenegrs, and not pay any attention to anything or anybody arond you, but actually enjoy the car and the road, no, no big no no. Joke.
alborz, i found the attack against the TRD Aurion strange, especially since caradvice is one of the only publications i have actually found that warms to it at all.
I understand your point of understeer on that road would be bad…
Simon, thanks for your note and I do understand your point. I’ve added a little more to end of the article to further encourage that extra care is taken.
Tom, the TRD comment was a result of a running joke here amongst us at CarAdvice, it’s one of those cars that we argue about on a weekly basis as our opinions are very divided. I took the TRD Aurion around mt glorious and although of course it will do the job (excellent brakes too), the idea of it being a legitimate sports car doesn’t hold true in, around or out of the twisty bends.
I have also driven that road many times. If you stick to the speed limit, it would not represent any sort of fun in a car like a EVO X. The validity of testing that cars limits on that road is an arguable point which obviouslty some have made. We dont want to see caradvice.com.au get a bad reputation or treatened with legal action from beaurocrats or the police.
I went for my first drive up this road last weekend in my Audi R8 and what a great bit of road it is.Not once did I exceed the speed limit but still found it a enjoyable and challenging experience.
I do ask the question what has happened to some of our population that they cannot see that the article talks about enjoying a bit of road and is not advocating irresponsible behaviour.
I am one of these drivers that believe the responsibility is with you to drive within YOUR limits and not be served and indoctrinated by propaganda by governments.I am tired of other drivers offering the same opinions that have been brainwashed into them by “road safety campaigns” and really have little idea about reducing the road toll except that speed kills and that speed cameras will cure everything.
Its the inexperience,lack of driving skill or over confidence of the driver that kills!!!
For some of those offering negative opinions about actually enjoying driving and travelling at high speed why don,t you go travel overseas and see how other countries do it where police and governments concentrate on things such as skilled driver education,tailgating,blocking the overtaking lane and not indicating when changing lanes and where speed surveillance is of a low priority and drivers are allowed to travel at speed that would mean a jail sentence here.
These countries have the lowest fatality % per population so they are doing something a lot better than us.
The best bit of road in SEQ to drive, for a real drive, in my opinion is the ‘Lions Road’ which links Rathdowney to a little spot with the ironic name of “The Risk” in northern NSW. You can recover in Kyogle (bout 15k further) with a refuel and some lunch, then do it all the other way back to Rathdowney. Great scenery with empty, windy unpredicable roads.
Alborz
Eventhough I probably never end up going on those particular roads -I found the article both interesting and entertaining!
You gave plenty of relevant advice regarding safety and adhering to the road laws.
I would love to take my Civic R on those type of roads it would be fantastic(although I would rather do it in the lsd version that’s recently came out in Europe).
I simply took this article as someone that had some enjoyment on a stretch of road.
ANYONE can speed on ANY stretch of road,a posted speed sign isn’t going to stop anyone that’s why I found some comments pompous,sanctimonious,omniscient,and self righteous and why I am in total agreement with GARY’s view.
The Victorian Government, The ‘Puppet Masters’ of the Victorian Police Force,have drivers so apprehensive about exceeding the speed limit that driving down eg the Great Ocean Road, is a very,very nervous trip for a driver.
At this moment,Victoria heads the National Road Toll!
So KLAUS and others alike, I suggest that you grab /download a copy of “GETAWAY IN STOCKHOLM” take out the suppository,sit down and relax :)
It really is quite sad that if you are not seen as a speed-limit saint you are automatically branded a hoon.
I have previously lost my license during double demerits due to what some may consider “hoon” activities – 69km/h in a 50km/h zone, lock me up and throw away the key. The fact is the stretch of road where I was caught by an unattended mobile speed camera had always been a 70km/h zone – at the time I thought I was 1km/h UNDER the speed limit!
If an patrol car had pulled me over and informed me of the changed speed limit, I’m sure he would have had the decency to let me off with a warninng. But setting up a mobile speed camera on the side of the road in the middle of the night during double demerits on a road which has just had its speed limit reduced by 20km/h can ONLY be described as revenue raising.
Ever since then I have had no respect for speed limits, they simply aren’t in place to save lives.
I later found out why the speed limit had been reduced so abruptly, a pedestrian had been hit whilst trying to cross the road against the traffic lights – I believe that is called natural selection.
Klaus, normally I would agree but there are some very misguided people on these comment boards that I really don’t like.
Well, there’s not much more I can do other than to rent a diesel Volvo V70 and drive at least ten kilometers under the speed limit on this very road over and over and over…
I do feel sorry for Australians as far as roads go. I’m not saying this one isn’t a good one (although I’ve never driven it so I can’t comment) but in the UK, we have thousands of wonderful driving roads and all you have to do is get off the motorway and watch you’re not heading into a city center! When there, I often get up early in the morning and head to the Welsh countryside as the roads are so twisty and marvelous. And the best part is that you can drive for hours and not see a single car!
George, what do you mean speed limits are simply not in place to save lives? Are you really stupid enough to think that if every road went at 100 kilometers an hour the same amount or less people would die on the road? Now, I like to think of myself as a pretty good driver and I’m sure you are too but what about all the other idiots? I don’t think my mother could handle driving if everybody was going that fast all the time. I don’t think my older brother could. What abut the idiot teenagers in “pimped” twenty year old Commodores? It would leave a lot more space for people losing control of their cars and if you crash at high speeds, you will do more damage and are more likely to kill yourself and others. So obviously speed limits are in place to spare lives, but also to make people more comfortable on the road because don’t forget that probably about 85% of drivers are driving because they’re going from A to B, not because they enjoy driving. A car is still a tool for most people sadly.
PS – Your story is heart braking but it’s not as if you’re the only one in history thats had that happen to them.
Alex, I’m not saying speed limits are unnecessary nor am I saying all speed limits should be set to 100km/h. I don’t know how you have found yourself on that tangent but it is simply not what I implied at all.
A very small portion of my original post, which you seem to have latched onto, is in regards to the current over emphasis placed on speed limits. People seem to think as long as they are doing the speed limit they are perfectly safe, which just isn’t the case.
I fail to see what more Alborz could have said in terms of safe driving on these roads. We were encouraged to stay within our limits, taught a bit of etiquette such as pulling over for faster cars, warned of the dangers, and encouraged to stay within our own and the listed speed limits. He even provided a checklist of things to do before your drive. If people still want to drive past their limits or hoon around the mountain I say let them contribute to the Darwin awards.
I’d take a drive up the mountain just to be able to drive on 60km of tarmac uninterrupted by potholes (QLD’s roads are shockingly bad). I’m sure driving within my own limits – and probably being overtaken by a more skilled driver – and within the posted speed limits, I would still probably enjoy myself safely.
George, you did imply that they are unnecessary because the only important point of them is to save lives which you seem to be sure they are not there for. And what else was I to think? You say they’re not there to save lives so presumably you think they shouldn’t be there at all. I misunderstood because you didn’t say anything about what you do think they’re good for which goes to imply that you think the are good for nothing.
Alex, you can’t honestly be trying to convince me of what I am implying in my own comment.
If you take the remark in the context of the entire comment you would realise that my point is the speed limit had been reduced as a knee-jerk reaction following an incident unrelated to speeding.
If the authorities were serious about saving lives they would chose a much more effective solution such as building a pedestrian bridge over the stretch of road rather than reducing a three-lane highway to 50km/h.
Unfortunately making a few road signs with the number 50 on them is the cheaper option with the greatest potential for a return in revenue.
Alborz, where do i start?
“Who will give in first? Whos limits will be reached”
“..an unhealthy obsession trying to find the limit”
The above 2 comments alone, and there are many more point to your reasons for driving this road like an absolute D head.
I’d also like to point a couple of other things out to you.
1)An Evo on 3 wheels does not happen at the speed limit.
2)An evo with brake fade does not happen at the speed
limit.
Also, saying cars like the Focus XR5 and the 3 MPS wish they were made for this road, and then in the next sentence saying that the VOLVO C30, and the Pug 207 GTI are, is just either sheer lack of any motoring knowldge, utter BS, or extremely agenda driven.
This could also be as a result of you driving a WRX, and finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that there a many better cars for the money out there, namely the XR5, and the MPS 3.
This agenda driven journalism on your part, is becoming last week’s news, and there is a lot of credibility being lost as a result.
To all others out there who condone Alborz behaviour, shame on you. Visit intensive care units, and see how many patients are good for nothing, as a direct result of exactly this stupidity. Unfortunately, probably half were innocent motorists on the receiving end.
As a car enthusiast, i love driving ’spiritedly’ on a nice piece of tarmac. I can say that ’spiritedly’ for me, on public roads has never induced brake fade, never caused me to be on 3 wheels, and has never put me anywhere near the limit of my car. All this without Brembo brakes, S-AWC AWD system, with tricky diffs, and “more gadgets than the space station”.
Finally, Alborz, please get some objectivity back into your journalism, and Appologise for your reckless, and irresponsible behaviour, which could potentially have rather serious implications.
Ben Larden – you sound like the sort of persomn who believes that by seing a car drive around a racetrack with Winfield or Marlboro written on it will make people want to smoke
That is a load of s–t.. I was a flaggie for 10 years during the time of the Winfield GT-Rs and i didn’t take up smoking.
It all comes down to peoples attitude/mentality and whether or not they have the ability to think logically for themselves..
you learn by your mistakes and if thos mistakes happen to be fatal well that’s just too bad.
As Gary Said [Nice car by the way gary] the responsibility is with you to drive within YOUR limits as well as the weather traffic and road conditions.
Unfortunately You can’t legislate against stupidity.
its actually the ones who make the laws that are stupind.. In NSW a Learner can’t drive a 80Kw Daihatsu Copen because it is turbo charged hoever they can drive a N/A Porsche 911 which produces almost 3 times as much power.. Work that one out
Ben Larden,
Where to start with you, anywhere will be fine.
Having driven both the Volvo C30 T5 and 207GTI for some distance and dare I say, enthusiastically, I can confidently state that your comments about such cars are utterly baseless and worse still, demonstrate a complete and lack of experience or understanding of any of the four cars mentioned in the said article.
Some contstructive criticism would be to at least spend five minutes behind the wheel of a car, before passing judgement. You won’t look so… silly.
Just curious Wheelnut, why do you think the cigarette companies paid a fortune to advertise?
You are right you can’t legislate against stupidity, but you can avoid encouraging those likely to drive in a foolish manner. Just remember that you need to share the road with people who may not have the maturity to drive discerningly. Lets just pray that no one here encounters any such person losing control as they come towards you. Sadly that’s the real world. If you need to go anywhere near 10/10ths then do it on a track, keep the hell away from me and my family.
Ben Larden Says:
As a car enthusiast, i love driving ’spiritedly’ on a nice piece of tarmac. I can say that ’spiritedly’ for me, on public roads has never induced brake fade, never caused me to be on 3 wheels, and has never put me anywhere near the limit of my car. All this without Brembo brakes, S-AWC AWD system, with tricky diffs, and “more gadgets than the space station”.
Well said.
Apart from that, Alborz giving high praise to an Evo 10 when he is firmly in the STI camp demonstrates some objectivity.
The people complaining here are complaining through sheer ignorance. The whole section is sign posted at 80km/h and as someone who has actually driven the road (unlike those who are complaining) i can assure you that you can test the handling limits of any car on this road without exceeding that speed limit. The only time you would need to exceed them is on the straights, and wow isn’t going fast in a straight line fun…
The road is very twisty and tight with many corners that even an evo would struggle to carry more then 60km/h through
Ben Larden, you say:
“1)An Evo on 3 wheels does not happen at the speed limit.
2)An evo with brake fade does not happen at the speed
limit.”
You clearly have never driven mt nebo and glorious! You can get both, in any car, without braking 80k’s on this road.
Clearly you have never driven the road, so you don’t know what your talking about, so why don’t you quit while your behind eh?
Ben Larden, if you are not aware, the photos are taken to emphasis a point. Actually pretty much most of the photos are taken AFTER the run (which was conducted in a whole other car, the RED EVO X).
As for brake fade, you’ve obviously never been up and down Mt Nebo.
Regarding the Focus and MPS3, I am not going to argue with you, except I am happy to say that I’ve driven them all around the mountain and I’ve had extensive driver training in all forms of cars, hence why I can honestly say the Pug and Volvo are great cars for the job, plus and most importantly, it’s my opinion so if annoys you. You really CAN Stop reading :)
also ben, stop preaching as if you are some high and mighty being who has never done the wrong thing because we aren’t stupid ben, we have read comments you have made on this site previously that indicate otherwise. Pull your head in and get off your soap box.
Besides as i said, you have clearly never driven this road and therefore do not understand just how tight and twisty it is and therefore how difficult it is to even reach the speedlimit on anything other then the few straights.
also ben mt nebo has some very steep downhill stretches which lead into very tight corners, which is where the brake fade comes in in no matter what car your driving
The biggest cause of accidents is the Nut behind the wheel
The second biggest is that the speed limits on our roads change so often that instead of watching the roads drivers are more focussed on their speedometers..
They are forever speeding up and slowing down keeping an eye out for signs by the side of the road trying to workout what the speed limit is for the next 2 metres..
That is if they can see/find a speed sign among all the trees and other signs
Which is why you sometimes get drivers on main roads doing 60km/h when the speed limit is 100Km/h – which is just as dangerous as doing 140km/h when you consider braking distances etc.
And because they’re looking for signs on the side of the road and not whats ahead of them you will find thats why drivers are all over the place encroaching into other lanes etc which is another cause of accidents as those around em have to take evasive action
Speed limits should be painted on the roads like they used to be – afterall that’s where the divers attention is supposed to be isn’t it?
It would be possible to end up on 3 wheels when driving through a series of corners/bends/curves at the speed limit..
It all comes down to physics – which states an object will continue to travel in the direction in whihc it siheading or moving until an equal or greater force is enacted or imparted upon it
I mean look at a slalom skier – who is constantly changing direction form left to right.. each time they change direction they gradually build up speed.
The fact thea they are also going doewn hill only adds to the termial velocity
And on occassions due to the combination of kinetic energy [swinging from side to side] terminal velocity [the air speed travelling behind them] and g forces [gravity pushing them down] one of their skies gets lifted into the air and they have to use their muscles to regain control and balance
The same applies to the Lancer going down hill with a series of sharp left hand right hand turns the speed increases and despite the use of ABS ESP EBD TC etc physics takes over and a car can on occasions lift up ont 3 wheels
It’s only when the road straighthens out and/or starts to go uphill that the driver can safely regain control and reduce speed
Richo,
with all due respect, I have driven and ridden the mountain literally dozens of times in and on a variety of cars and bikes. I have never once experienced brake fade there. I also am one of the whingers you mention. I do take issue with stupid drivers. Don’t we all? It just disturbs me that I need to share public roads with some people that would treat them as race tracks. My family and I often picnic around Mt Glorious and have had several close calls with people pushing the limits.
Alborz did a great article, I just don’t think it should be public as there will always be some fool who will take up his advice, drive the mountain, but ignore all the warnings.
Alborz,
On most points I agree with you. However, you say that you can drive this road hard without breaking one single rule. Can you not be charged with ‘driving without due care’ for fanging through a corner (be it at the speed) with no regard for what may be creeping out of the other side?
Just because you are doing the speed and sticking to the (loose) road rules, it does not mean that you are driving safe.
Mate, i love your work but there is no doubt that in this time of holiday road tolls and families being torn apart at christmas because of dangerous driving, this article is a little out of line and unfortunately reckless.
Im a 20yo lad who makes plenty of silly decisions on the road.. Trust me, we dont need any more encouraging.
I’m sure it has been said, but how can a XR5 Turbo be so hopeless and the Volvo c30 so great, when they are basically the same car?
Enjoying the comments for and against this article.
To the detractors who want Alborz to apologise for the article – how would you have written an article for an enthusiast website with vehicles that we are keen to hear about. I think we are a nation of nannies judging by the responses against.
I am not interested in track performance just everyday driving enjoyment. Those that don’t have the discipline to control themselves on the road would probably have difficulty navigating the web to this site and article.
I can suggest some ‘good driving roads’ over in WA too.
you all love reading articles about how a certain car handles, how it reacts on the limits, etc, but then when an article goes on to say “i found all of this out by driving fast” you all start going OMFG YOU HAVE TO APPOLOGISE I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT A CARS LIMITS BY DRIVING IT FAST!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMBULAAAAAAAAAAAAANCE
Seriously what did you expect? When alborz, wheels, motor, or whoever does a review on a performance car and tells you all about how it handles did you really think they found all of this out by just dribbling about at 50km/h? Seriously you blokes need to pull your heads out of the bloody sand!!!
Excellent article Alborz and really well written, seems to contraversial with some, seems some chose to ignore your great know;edge of this road. I for one know every bump and crown on a 80Km road that I regularly use for work, I know which lane to be in in whatever weather condition and exactly where each rough bit of asphalt is, it that that makes the dirrerence.
That road looks awsome and should be on TGAU’s list of drives in Australia. If I ever get back to Oz its def on my list. jpg’s 140 and 141 say it all.
Funny you should mention the Lotus when i one photo there’s one in front of you!!, do hope you weren’t chasing it.
And I’ve read the fuel consumption of the EVO is somewhat excessive, Nice if you can afford it.
sorry “great knowledge of this road” Oops!
You can get any car on 3 wheels by sticking to the speed limit. You are talking absolute BS Ben.
What my point is that I’m just sick and tired of people waving their hands out the windows or yelling(or talking with their keyboards)when I go past them under the speed limit in a twisty road just because I’m capable and my vehicle is capable of doing good speed, while they drive a massive family 4WD and consider us driving enthusiasts all hoons. That is the BS that makes my blood boil.
This is like watching TGOZ, driving a porsche 911 at 50kmh in a 100kmh zone in Tassie. Why not drive it at 100kmh???? well, probably because everyone would claim that the car was exceeding the speed limit. This kind of lack of knowledge is pathetic. Its like when people claim some car was doing 200kmh+, when in all honestly the same car was probably only doing 100kmh. Sheer leack of knowledge causes all these hoon complaints.
Picture Evox_163 shows the Evo lifting the rear wheel slightly, my guess is that the speed limit thru that downhill sharp left handers was 65kmh(genuine). See, this kind of thing pisses me off, if 95% of Oz motoring public sees this they would get up and yell and scream, abusive comments at a driver, and for what. He was sticking to the speed limit and God forbid he can drive a good car well.
WE have roads here that have been 100 for the last 50 years but over the last 3 years the local cops and the local and state pollies are constantly dropping the speed limit, first to 80, and then probbaly to 70-60. No wonder people get done speeding now, if its 100kmh almost nobody would be done.
In the old days with a 100 limit there used to be a cop with the radar on this corner and I have never seen him stop anybody, but if you go to that stretch of road now(with limit at 80) he is constantly pulling people over for speeding. Revenue raising, nah never in Victoria, nah, never, its all for safety reasons. Bollocks.
So Allborz after such a fantastic drive are you seriously considering trading the Subie in on the new Evo-X?.
It’s an awesome lil sports sedan and if I could; I’d be heading to my nearest Mitsubishi Dealer to order one
Drive around Mount Panorama [at the speed limit] and when you drive through the esses and the dipper your car is on 3 wheels as the road drops away from you so quickly. You will feel the car lean and the suspension react to the changes etc..
What the hell has Alborz to appologise for ?
Hes not speeding he driving a car more than capable of the conditions its being driven under and hell what is the point in owning a performance car if you cant drive the car the way the manufacturer designed it for.
Quote “Most importantly and I can’t emphasis this enough – stick to the speed limit. Take it very slow if you don’t know the road. It’s one thing to drive quickly around bends, it’s another to be an idiot and have an accident. Learn the difference between the two and it will save your life or that of someone else.”
So where is Alborz condoning being a hoon ?
The Evo sounds like its a real drivers car ,isnt that what the whole exercise of doing a road test ,sounds to me that the EVO is bags of fun.Except for the fuel bill for the week. You must have really enjoyed the car to have gone through that much ,a great insite to some fab driving areas around Brisbane,I think we all have our favorite section of road somewhere!
Driving from Sorell to Orford in Tasmania {East Coast} is one of mine,some great cornering and a few straights to stretch the legs on. Take your sick bag if your a passenger with me though!hahaha
At the end of the day, you’ve got to drive within your limits. Unfortunately to find your limits you need to exceed them. Thats where a lot of younger drivers go wrong, they’ll find their limits on a road like this where there is no margin for error, and unless they’re very lucky they’ll injure themselves or someone else. For guys like Alborz who have a lot of driving experience, tearing along a windy B road at their limit is still fairly safe and a shite load of fun, but I guess the only issue is that some people might read this article and confuse Alborz driving limit with their own. But we don’t want
to become even more of a baby state where we can’t talk about anything dangerous lest someone copies us. We’ve already got one Harold Schruby in this country, and thats one too many. The solution to the problem is attitude change in young/inexperienced drivers, to one that considers the possibility that something might go wrong. That if you go into this corner too fast and understeer into the next lane, a family wagon might just be about to go around that corner too, and then your bit of fun has caused serious injury to someone else that had no choice but to be a part of it. Now making young people realise they aren’t invincible is near impossible but its the only real way.
As for the XR5 not being capable but the T5 is, well, I haven’t driven a T5 (have driven a XR5, and the handling was thoroughly impressive for a FWD car). But I couldn’t find a single review by anyone in aus or in europe that says that the T5 handles better than the XR5 (or ST). Not one. Often it was said that the Focus ST felt like a T5 Type R, more aggressive, more sporty, gripped harder, rolled less and held its line better. Now you’ve driven both cars so your word has more authority than mine. However when you alone are saying the T5 is a better car, then you probably need to quantify more why the T5 felt better suited, otherwise you will get a lot of people questioning your credibility as a motoring journalist.
Wheelnut, I am actually going to trade it in for an EVO IX next year :)
Great car the Evo 10,its tamed Mt Glorious but can it tame Mt Panorama,we’ll see in feb,at the 12hr.CA you should cover the 12hr and the build up to it. ,after all it is the showroom showdown.
John T, the reason I believe the C30 is the better car is because of its overall build quality and interior design. Handling wise they are similar, however the Volvo simply feels more planted and far more aggressive out of corners. The focus is a little twitchy (but still a good car – just not made for the mountain). But at the end of the day there is a reason rally cars are all-wheel drive hence why the EVO is superior
Alborz, since you are going to get a EVO 10, pliz buy a set of ear plugs as well. as a owner of 2008 VR lancer (after getting rid of Yaris), the interior noise on course road is a pain. Even through the car hasnt got low profile tire (yokohama advan sr34 205/60/R16), the noise is driving me nuts at times as the roads up here in NQ are second rate. Perhaps if you could provide some points in reduction in road noise ie tyre choice, sound dampering etc will be great. looking forward to drawing from your experience.
also inviting other readers for their help or suggestion… by the way keep up the good work Alborz…. looking forward to the next review/article.. :)
Coconut Wireless – I have a VRX lancer, and I have to say that I don’t think it’s all that bad, although i have different tyres then yours being the VRX with 18″ wheels, but i would have thought that would only make things worse?? But anyway if it bothers you that much, and turning the radio up isn’t an option, then you can install aditional sound deadening. Probably speaking to a car stereo installer will be your best bet as they deal in sound deadening quite a bit. Also tyres CAN make a difference to tyre noise, makes perfect sense really considering they are what is making the noise! Only problem is that its a hard task finding the right tyres as tyre fitters generally won’t let you take tyres for a test run! If you find a good tyre fitter though who knows what he is talking about he should know which tyres are better then others for road noise. This won’t get rid of tyre noise, but it may well reduce it to a more tollerable level for you.
Coconut Wireless, just out of curiosity, is your lancer equipped with a CVT gearbox? I drove both the ES and VRX Lancer and the only road noise that bugged me was the constant whining from the CVT.
Might be worth checking the pressure on your tyres?
“pure, pothole free, Volvo free, old-lady free, solid tarmac”
Surely you mean camry-free, aurion-free, corolla-free, tarmac…! All the Volvo drivers of yore have switched over to toyotas these days…
But also a v good article thoroughly enjoyed it!
Nice article mate. Very sensible advice there. I’ve ridden and drive the road a few times and it’s great fun and challenging without needing to speed.
I’ll have to take your word about the C30 being a better drive than the Focus, as I havent driven the Volvo.
If you ever need someone to drive the backup vehicles, drop me a line!
Great road if you know what your doing!! brings back lots of memories for me. I have driven plenty of various types of cars up the mt myself. One of the best in my opinion was a prelude VTIR with ATTS diff. Keep the engine in the vtec zoan and rely on the atts diff to do its stuff round the tight corners, JUST MAGIC!!, more fun than any awd turbo car ive taken up there, maybe not as outright quick as an sti, but the fun factor is definately 10/10..
Very nice article Alborz. Nothing better than spending a few hard earn dollars on a twisty mountain road (responsibly of course).
One thing that bothers me though is your first tip at the end of the article. Lowering your tyre pressure sure increases grip during cornering, but also reduces the tyre’s breaking ability.
Under heavy breaking, an under-inflated tyre will have less road contact compare to a tyre with 34-36psi.
Also Alborz, have you tried the mountain with EVO X with all the electronics off? I wonder how well it will handle…
You could also end up with your car on 3 wheels whilst drivng a road such as the one over Mt Glorious or Mt Nebo -yet sticking to the speed limit is if you were driving either a Trojan or a Messerschmitt.
Coconut ,just reading Matt Brogans review on your car,over all its a pretty good package and one hard to pass up ,however he does say
“Engine and road noise are noticeable at all speeds (and on any surface), whilst the exhaust noise borders on annoying. A loud droning resonance is prevalent under even moderate acceleration and with the rear seats down, rapidly becomes irritating.”
So if you do find it annoying some sound insulation {which maybe an standard on some of the upper ranges}maybe an alternative for you.Under the bonnet under the boot lid and you can also buy it in lengths to put under your carpet in the boot to also decrease noise,if its still bad ,find a car upholster ,they can remove the seats ect take out existing carpet and fit sound instillation under the carpet!
Quieter tyres maybe an option also,most of the tyre places are helpful when it comes to helping choose a tyre that suits,I use a Bob Jane dealer so perhaps try them babe! Hard to get one that suits all needs,good in the wet, dry,braking,cornering quiet,and longevity.Somewhere you may have to sacrifice one for a little more of the other !
Great car in both cases though it seems!
Who cares that the car was up on three wheels or that the speed limit was or wasn’t broken? Who doesn’t? Get over it.
What I’m more interested in is why the photos are so amateur? Tristan, if you’re a budding photographer, great. But here are a few critiques I hope you take on as advice. The motion shots are a blur. While the background is blurry to illustrate movement, the car is also blurry. You need more practice taking shots of moving objects. I’d say get yourself to a grand prix or a ride day at a race track near you for some practice.
The EVO/WRX back to back is off centre. It really takes the effect away from the purpose of the shot.
With a couple EVO shots there is too much background. Don’t be afraid to get close to the car. Take some close ups of just the headlights alone.
I’ve been an avid reader of this site for a couple years now, and have always appreciated the pics with the articles. I’m not sure (bad memory) if you have photographed for CA in the past, but this article’s photos stood out for being very limited and newbish.
I hope you take this as constructive criticism. I’m not having a go, but hopefully helping a fellow photographer and also hopefully allowing CA to continue with great articles with great photos.
Cheers
SteveC
Why don’t people move into the left lane and let traffic pass on our Motorways?
This problem seems to be getting worse.
Don’t see much point in giving Alborz a hard time over this article as we are all masters of our own destiny.
Gary hit the nail on the head!
Good onya Alborz!!
Now that you’ve let the word out about the speed limit on that road, surely some government goose is going to come along now and lower the speed limit…!
BTW readers. Speed doesnt kill…Innapropriate speed does.
I too know this road well and have had the chance to appreciate it with some very special cars. My advice for safe driving on this road is find out what you and your car can handle legally by using the advisory signs on the corners – They are very consistant.
thanks to all for their helpful tips… my Vr is a manual 5 speed model… the tyre pressure is set at 30 psi…. thinking of getting thick sound deading mats and increasing tyre pressure to 34 psi… if no better, then will get dynamat install on the door walls plus floor pan… spoke to someone at a tyre centre – told me that yokohama tyre are suppose to be the quieter tyres…
so far so good with the car, getting 8l/100km with mixed driving.. will update more on the car as more km’s are done..
wishes of a prosperous new year to all of you..
Gave up reading the responses, as it seems there are a lot of persons out there who cannot understand that one can derive a lot of fun from driving without nessecarily breaking the law.
I have driven that road (If you continue on you in the proper circle you will do Malaney & the best road in Aust, Peachester to Beerwah) more times than I care to remember. Yes you get people speeding on it, but articles like this have nothing to do with that, word of mouth is more the problem. I have never seen an article in any publication about street racing down the M1 with rolling blockades, but it happens. Also you have to be out very early because the road is HEAVILY policed with multiple types of unmarked vehicles.
Articles like this that state you can get out and enjoy the road without speeding are more important. The comment of an evo on 3 can’t be done without speeding, that particular corner has an “advisory (yellow) speed sign of 30 kph, if you can do 60 around it safely, even if the wheel lifts, you are NOT speeding!!
Gentlemen & B.M (.)(.) do yourself a favour, find this road, drive it as close to the posted limit as you can and you will enjoy it.
the CVT is ALOT noisier then the manual. I test drove the CVT and found that the engine constantly droned with the CVT because it holds a steady RPM, in the manual the car is actually fairly quiet as far as engine noise is concerned. Tyre noise is definetly noticeable, but i still don’t think its all thaaat bad
Great story. Very unrealistic and silly comment by Alborz stating its a Volvo free drive…..!
John T
I don’t care what you think (even though you have not driven one), my ovla T5 is very nice and fast and black. Not Orange or green or Bogan.
Ablie – I miss the shot of you in the sandals. Cheers.
good article, keep up the good work Alborz…
Ivan of Perth, The EVO tyres are generally around 40PSI standard, so I take them down to about 34-36, I wouldn’t recommend much lower on 235/45/R18.
As for turning of the electronics, I tried that too (in the manual) and it feels very much the same, it hardly ever kicks in unless you really need it too which is exactly why you should leave it on!
Mt Nebo/Glorious, definitely one of the best roads in Brisbane.
Have you tried driving to D’Aguillar from Samford Village Al? There are also some very nice roads. Pity you missed Sunday!
Thought I’d put in my 2c, even thought this thread is a few days old…
Arguably Glorious/Nebo is one of the best driving roads in QLD, but as a couple of people have noted you need to drive to your ability. I’ve had a lot of fun up there, even though my ‘90 Laser TX3 (front wheel drive, unfortunately) isn’t the best handling car in the world. This is where driving ability comes in, and I cannot recommend driver training enough. If you are into driving on roads like this, getting skidpan experience is a must (so you’re aware of how your car will handle in the wet, and you have the ability to correct if your car begins to slide). Additionally you need to have an intimate knowledge of your car and its limitations, particularly its level of grip and any strange at-the-limit handling traits. Courtesy is also a huge must – keep it slow in the built up areas like Nebo township, and move over for faster traffic, including motorbikes. A few slow seconds on the side verge is better than having a Lotus or Yamaha on your rear. Watch for bikes leaning over the centre line as well.
Also have to agree with Sam – the Lions Road is fantastic. I tried it out in my XR4 – slightly faster than the Laser! – and had a ball.
Very interesting article … must have tested a while ago though… the road is full of potholes and creases now.
PS limit in mt nebo township is 50 to the roundabout (those pesky kids and pets might damage your car) and after that 60 to the top of Manorina (more pesky concealed driveways and residents). No mention either of the weekend cyclists (not motorcyclists). No mention of politeness to them.
… forgot to mention too that the road is so challenging that parents drive their kids down to school every day … with 4 wheels on the bitumen. They go shopping too.
I live on this road and really don’t enjoy it being advertised as somewhere to go and test cars. The increase in traffic year after year is unbelievable. Some people drive carefully but others in their little cars with the loud noises are out of control and plain dangerous. Enjoy a safe drive, sure, but do it safely and in a quiet car.
BTW – the “small” 50km/h zone near the school is all through the village with the next zone being 60km/h before the 80 km/h zone further up. Take note drivers and take care.
Wheelnut, yes I still own the TRD. It’s not a bad car by any means, especially since I got a ridiculous deal on it. But it screams out to be a RWD/AWD. Traction control has to be turned off for any decent amount of fun, and if it is a wet day you can forget about spirited driving or else the next car you will be in is a hearse. For a day to day driver, it does the job well, no compromising on space or comfort.
I’ve brought it around Nebo a fair bit too. It’s by far the stickiest FWD I’ve ever driven but it simply cannot compare with a RWD. Lucky it has good brakes or it would have been my bumper that Alborz would’ve seen on Nebo!
I am going to trade it in for an Evo X next year. I only buy cars when I can afford to pay cash.
The speed limit is there but one has to drive at a speed which is safe depending on the road and its condition. Trying to maintain the speed limit around a corner is dangerous driving and will increase the risk of
- Hitting a cyclist!!!
- Hitting a broken down car just around the corner
- Hitting the occupants who have abandoned a broken down car
And what happens when the cops come to such a scene?. They will just say the driver was driving dangerously, causing the accident.
The public road is NOT a controlled environment.
We all know this, but some chose to ignore reality.