Why do auto makers feel the need to take the crappiest cars and turbo-charge them (Evo, SRT-4)?

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The Sauce

The Sauce

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 1999
4,741
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I can't believe that t Mitsu took the Lancer, easily the ugliest and most poorly constructed car in the history of the world, and Dodge with it's Neon, beyond doubt the crappiest car ever made by any manufacturer on the planet, and dropped monster powerplants into them --> Evo and SRT-4. And PEOPLE ARE BUYING THEM?!?

I mean it would be embarassing enough to have to drive one of those crap-bucket eyesores that drop parts behind them as they go, but then to overpay and get them with bigger engines so that they can explode or fall apart faster? Who are the morons buying these things? Reminds my of a idiot friend in college who bought an early 90's Hyundai and dropped thousands of $$ in extras into it to have, in the end, a supremely craptacular car that made more noise and had shiny rims. It just makes no sense. Someone please explain it to me.
 
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isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Rally cars aren't really luxury cars....
more race cars....


I dont know why they super charged the SRT-4 but it's ugly either way .. FI or not
 
D

Dudd

Platinum Member
Aug 3, 2001
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Because people want fast cars, but most people can't afford the *good* fast cars, for example the Vette, 350Z, etc. So, the only way for people to get a fast car for cheap is to take a cheap car, make it faster, and then charge a little bit more.
 
The Sauce

The Sauce

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 1999
4,741
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OMG, I just went to the mitsu site and the Evo starts at $29K. Someone's hitting the crackpipe awfully hard over there. For that money you could get a TSX, Accord V6, Altima/Maxima, WRX...or a dozen other cars that are at least 10 times the car. The only thing that monstrosity has going for it, for the most part, are a few extra HP...very few.

BTW, 350Z starting MSRP is less than Evo. Explain that.
 
K

Krk3561

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2002
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Do you know what the EVO includes? That things a beast in stock form. I think its a little bigger than the regular Lancer too.
 
W

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
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Originally posted by: Krk3561
Do you know what the EVO includes? That things a beast in stock form. I think its a little bigger than the regular Lancer too.
Click to expand...

It's the same car!!
 
codeyf

codeyf

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
11,854
3
81
Originally posted by: Snatchface
Would you take it over a 350Z?
Click to expand...

Yes. But I'd take a WRX Sti over the Evo.

Overall, your statement is a valid one, but IMHO, does not apply to the Evo. Turbo Evo's have been available in Europe and Japan for years. Current gen on the Evo is the Evo VII. It is in no way a new model, such as the Neon is.

However, from what I've read on the Neon, it's supposively a respectable little rocket. Despite the fact that it's still a Neon....
 
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
Originally posted by: isekii
Rally cars aren't really luxury cars....
more race cars....


I dont know why they super charged the SRT-4 but it's ugly either way .. FI or not
Click to expand...

I thought it was turbocharged, not supercharged. ? Personally I think most rally cars are ugly, it's just the nature of that type of car. The Alltrac Celica wasn't that bad looking though.
 
M

mdennison

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2001
1,710
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Originally posted by: Krk3561
Do you know what the EVO includes? That things a beast in stock form. I think its a little bigger than the regular Lancer too.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of my friend saying his Trans Am is bigger than a Firebird!

...and that a mustang gt is bigger than an lx!
 
BigSmooth

BigSmooth

Lifer
Aug 18, 2000
10,484
12
81
Originally posted by: Snatchface
OMG, I just went to the mitsu site and the Evo starts at $29K. Someone's hitting the crackpipe awfully hard over there. For that money you could get a TSX, Accord V6, Altima/Maxima, WRX...or a dozen other cars that are at least 10 times the car. The only thing that monstrosity has going for it, for the most part, are a few extra HP...very few.

BTW, 350Z starting MSRP is less than Evo. Explain that.
Click to expand...
Yes, I would take most of those cars over the Evo... however, it's quite a bit faster than any of them, including the Z. Some people are willing to pay a premium for pure speed.
 
A

arcain

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
932
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Originally posted by: Snatchface
OMG, I just went to the mitsu site and the Evo starts at $29K. Someone's hitting the crackpipe awfully hard over there. For that money you could get a TSX, Accord V6, Altima/Maxima, WRX...or a dozen other cars that are at least 10 times the car. The only thing that monstrosity has going for it, for the most part, are a few extra HP...very few.

BTW, 350Z starting MSRP is less than Evo. Explain that.
Click to expand...

Wait... you complain about that the Evo and say go for the WRX?

OK, OK.. the WRX doesn't cost as much as the Evo, and Subaru has higher build quality than Mitsubishi..

but the WRX is no more than a souped up Impreza which really is an "economy" car, just like the Evo.

What is your opinion of the STI then?
 
StageLeft

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Cause some people want cheap power. Nothing on the road can take an SRT-4 at the same price (both cars being new). It's got damn good power for a $20k car. And the EVO has excellent performance numbers. Yes I'd take a 350Z especially since it's cheaper, but the EVO will take it, especially on a track (and yes I realize nobody really takes their cars on tracks, but if practicality was the argument we wouldn't even be here).
 
M

Maverick

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
5,900
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EVO is like a completely different car than the base lancer...its just like comparing an Impreza to a WRX. Evo and WRX are rally cars...not riced out Lancers and Imprezas.
And Evo's kick the sh!t out of WRXs...except the WRX STI.
 
The Sauce

The Sauce

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 1999
4,741
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91
Whoa. Just read the Motortrend article on the evo. Words being eaten as I type. That car does seem to kick ass from a pure performance perspective. I would still be getting the 350Z but I understand a little better. Foolish of Mitsu to associate it with the craptastic Lancer though. I would never have even looked at the car for that mistake alone.
 
F

FuZoR

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2001
4,422
1
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Obviously, these cars arent for you man. They may share some similarities with their lesser Bretheren, (Evo and Lancer, SRT4 and neon) but trust me, they are totally different beasts. The amount of tuning, bodywork, design, that went into these tuned versions is extraordinary. Its like somebody taking a regular Neon and completely reworked the engine, (bored out, forced induction, giant front mount intercooler, advanced timing, etc) to the point that these cars are no longer the "econoboxes" they once were. Trust me man, get behind the wheel of an EVO 8 or SRT4 and you will know why not to underestimate these cars.
 
S

slikmunks

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,490
0
0
the srt4 is actually kind of a fun little car to drive! i mean, i would take my car over it in the blink of an eye, but it really isn't that bad of a car! i drove one around an auto-x track a couple times, and for the price, it's really not that bad...
 
N

Nyical

Golden Member
Feb 7, 2003
1,157
0
0
Did you know some makes of Fords have engines and tranny from Germany and France!


Just saw a sticker on a Explore when I brought my wifes mazda in
to the Ford/Mazda/Suzuki//////////
 
M

Maverick

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2000
5,900
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Originally posted by: Snatchface
Foolish of Mitsu to associate it with the craptastic Lancer though. I would never have even looked at the car for that mistake alone.
Click to expand...

Foolish of Mitsubishi America you mean..if you go to Japan and say Lancer they'll think of the Lancer EVO. Only the US gets the bastardized versions of Japanese cars first. We should have gotten the Lancer EVO at the same time as the Lancer.
 
C

Cyberian

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2000
9,999
1
0
If edits counted as posts, I'd own this place.

Edited: 05/16/2003 at 5:50 PM by Snatchface
Click to expand...
Nice sig!!

BTW - Is the turbo engine in the Neon the same one that they're putting into the PT Cruiser?
 
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