Pick up the November copy of "Sports Car International" for this article. The cover has a picture of a Silver 350Z.

(I found mine at Barnes and Noble)

It compares the MCS, VW GTI, Focus EVO, and Civic Si.

I won't tell you the results unless you ask nicely!

(Actually, I don't want to spoil it for anyone who wants to read the article) If enough people want to know I'll spill the beans on which one won and why. It might shock you.

Oh, and for any of you considering the purchase of a Subaru WRX you may want to wait. They also have an article on the Lancer EVO that will be landing here in January/February. Mitsu is promising under 30K for base pricing and (gulp) ~280 HP. (Likely higher) 0-60 times that will give the WRX and most other cars a pants-down spanking. Mid 4 second range.

 

... I don't know that particulars, but I also believe that the Impreza will be offered in an STi version soon that will be smokin' even the WRX....

 

>>... I don't know that particulars, but I also believe that the Impreza will be offered in an STi version soon that will be smokin' even the WRX....

The "buzz" is that the Lancer already trumps the STi. The STi will have ~260HP.

Who knows...

 

Problem is although the WRX isn't that much of a looker, the Lancer is even less of a looker. At some point, no matter how fast a car is looks DO matter!!!

Besides, it's a Mitsubishi! Who's seen one of those on the road in the last 5 yrs!!!

 

so my dealer here does lots of fun stuff with MINIs. I talked to them today while I was down there. They will be getting in the John Cooper kits for the Cooper and the S in January. He's telling me that the S kit will add 90 HP!!!! That puts it at 253 HP. He also said that they are looking at some other things to push 300 HP. Crazy.... but at 253 HP, the MINI would compete and do some spanking of it's own...don't you think?

 

There is already a wait list at some dealers for the WRX STI. Word is, only Subaru exclusive dealers get them... and they only each get 1!!!! It will be all wheel drive of course and rated at 270HP! It will be a monster! I've got my deposit down on one.

 

>>Problem is although the WRX isn't that much of a looker, the Lancer is even less of a looker. At some point, no matter how fast a car is looks DO matter!!!
>>
>>Besides, it's a Mitsubishi! Who's seen one of those on the road in the last 5 yrs!!!

You haven't seen all those Eclipses around?

 

I think that they're changing the WRX's mug next year. I'm just happy we're finally getting some of the toys the Euros have had for years. Ah, but that'll have to be the next car, though, won't it?!

Jeff

 

A 2300 lb car... with 300hp.... ^&*!%^&@#$@%!!!!! :smile: I'll buy a John Cooper kit... no voided warranties!

 

Here's some pictures of the restyled WRX that was unveiled at the Paris autoshow. the blue one without all th stickers is the STI and the silver one is the WRX.

http://www.subaruwrx.com/news.html

I've heard so many different rumors about he EVO8. I'm on the WRX and EVO forums and most people are hearing 250hp. You guys are right, the WRX STI is going to be very limited. My dealer said he has two people who already have $10k deposits down.

Jeff in ATL asked me in private about how I like my WRX and I bascially told him two things.

1) Looks alone will not sell you the car and neither will the acceleration if you've ever driven a Z28SS or Corvette - I admit it. Looks sure as hell didn't sell me at first. Looked like a souped up Neon. I just happen to be bored one day and went for a test drive at the right dealer. Go to a dealer who will let you drive the crap out of it or at least let the salesman drive the crap out of it to show you what it will do. Huffines in Dallas, TX had a specific designated demo car for showing customers what the WRX is really capable of. They even had a designated assistant sales guy (Chris). Chris took me out to a warehouse district and took two consecutive s-turns at 90mph (scared the hell out of me). He then showed me lane change emergency manuevers at 30, 50 and 70mph. After that he took me on very rough road and took a 90 degree turn at high speed, the rear end came out a little, he barely counter-steered and gave it gas and it was right back in line to show how the suspension and AWD can keep it's composure on any kind of pavement. He then proceeeded to take a dip at 50mph just to show how well it can handle the bumps but yet still have great handling. Then he turned the keys over to me and let me do what I want with it. The combo of acceleration and agility of the car was just unreal and I've driven plenty of performance cars from C5 Vettes, Z28SS, 3rd gen RX7's (still the best car made as far as I'm concerned) The thing about the boxer engine (horizontally opposed) in the WRX is it sits lower and has a lower center of gravity. Therefore, the car does not have to sit so low which gives you nice real world driving (not having to worry about bottoming out, etc). Of course, there are plenty of aftermarket lowering ktis if you desire.

2) The stock all-season tires that come with the WRX are total crap. They are mushy and ruin the handling. Most of you probably know that upgrading from an all-season tire to a performance tire is like night and day. The demo I test drove was outfitted with some optional 17" rims and somewhat good perfromance tires. for my WRX I bought aftermarket 17" rims along with Bridgestone S03's and also put in a front strut tower brace and it feels like a completely different car. I have no problem taking exit/entrance ramps that bend into about 70 degrees at 90-100mph.

My main point is the WRX looks did not sell me, it was the all-around performance. Nice thing is I got four doors and a trunk and the car does not attract cops (doesn't attract girls either! :smile. And believe it or not, the styling actually grows on you..probably just because I admre the performance so much.

I agree 100% the Cooper has a ton more class and charm. All I'm saying is don't discard the WRX on looks alone unless that is all you are looking for. Just my $0.02

By the way, I did read that article and the Mini did great. That is pretty incredible when you consider the Mini is still just a front-wheel drive car. You can only imagine the higher performance models the Cooper will probably come out with in the next years. What do you think the next one will be? Coooper S M-power? Cooper SS?

ps- Sorry to ramble but as you can tell I do love my WRX (and the Cooper as well)!

Later!

 

yep...read the article....they loved and hated exactly the same thing as I do about my MCS.....what made the article so fascinating....they loved the handling and cornering, thought the accelleration was more than adequate, clearly the quickest on the slalom course, they loved the styling and they loved the fun factor of driving it.....they hated the seats (quote, impossible to find a comfortable position), they hated all the interior plastic as they had already gotten a rattle from the rear hatch and were worried more rattles could come, they do like from the sunroof and dash, they also weren't crazy about the harsh rides around town because of the feeling of being beaten up after long driving periods and they didn't like that it felt cramped (guess they never drove the original), they also didn't like the center speedo which was just for nostalgia and a bad design they said (that doesn't bother me that much)........overall they loved driving the car in the country on winding mountain roads and wasn't that excited about driving it around town...I think it is pretty fun to drive even around town, just wish the seats were better designed.

The new Z car review was probably the most positive review I have ever read in any magazine...they said it was much better than a 911 at half the price and that the driver's seat was the best they had ever sat in....pretty amazingly positive article. I drove a freind of mines new Z and it is an incredibly fast car and handles about like the mini, no roll on cornering because of the wheels sitting to the outside, but still didn't seem as fun to drive, maybe because you have to be more carefull throwing it around with all the power....I'd take a mini especially if they could improve the seats...

 

>>so my dealer here does lots of fun stuff with MINIs. I talked to them today while I was down there. They will be getting in the John Cooper kits for the Cooper and the S in January. He's telling me that the S kit will add 90 HP!!!! That puts it at 253 HP. He also said that they are looking at some other things to push 300 HP. Crazy.... but at 253 HP, the MINI would compete and do some spanking of it's own...don't you think?

A 250hp MCS would be kick a$$. That would be soo much fun. But 300hp? Slap my **** and call me Spanky. I'd be in the performance category of playing around with the big boys, like I did when I had my Lightning.
I have a friend of mine here that has an older Mini with a turbo Civic engine in it. Pulls away from Stang's, Camaros, etc after 2nd gear. That's nuts.
Haven't heard too much about a JCW kit for the 'S' yet. It's mainly been for the Coopers. I'll have to look into that in case I run into a lot of money. A warrantied 100hp+ extra would be schweet. I'll have to see what Santa can do for me this year.
Cheers,

 

P.S.-Who's gramother was driving that Civic si? Pfffft.......an 8.2 sec 0-60??? Come on. I have a friend doing around 7.2 secs normally. A 7.7 seems a bit high for the SVT Focus. I usually see them in mags doing 7.2-7.4 secs. Damn V-Dubs(that's all I have to say about them). The rating for the MCS wasn't too bad.