YACT: How much can you tow with a WRX/Lancer Evo?

[dexvx]

Yes I know these cars arent meant for towing stuff. But I was wondering how much they can tow because it'd be nice to hive a rally type car and something that can tow some heavy equipment around. They have decent power, with HP in the mid 200s, which is more than most low end SUV's and trucks and comparable to some of the mid-sized SUV's and trucks.

 

[Eli]

The WRX STi can tow 2000lbs.

 

[Walleye]

torque is what determines how much you can tow, not horsepower. torque and strength of the chassis. the japanese cars are econoboxes with unibody construction, so the chassis and body are 1. thus, they cant take as much towing.

that, and little tiny wheezebucket engines dont have the torque to pull anything.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Walleye
torque is what determines how much you can tow, not horsepower. torque and strength of the chassis. the japanese cars are econoboxes with unibody construction, so the chassis and body are 1. thus, they cant take as much towing.

that, and little tiny wheezebucket engines dont have the torque to pull anything.

But the STi and Evo don't have little wheezebucket engines.

But I agree.

Hmm.. can't find towing capacity of the Evo on Mitsubishi's site.

 

[d33pt]

the reason they can't tow much is because of the chassis. it's a light car made to go fast. if you tow anything heavier than about 1000lbs or so, you won't be able to stop

 

[dexvx]

Yea, they dont list towing capacity.

IIRC, the Lancer Evo is around 270 and the WRX (non STI) is around 220.

Kelley Blue Book lists the Forester (166HP/ 160ish torque) as capable of towing 3500 lbs. So what? A WRX can tow like 5,000?

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: dexvx
Yea, they dont list towing capacity.

IIRC, the Lancer Evo is around 270 and the WRX (non STI) is around 220.

Kelley Blue Book lists the Forester (166HP/ 160ish torque) as capable of towing 3500 lbs. So what? A WRX can tow like 5,000?

did you not listen at all?


the forrester is built on a heavier frame.

 

[Vic]

WRX owners manual says 2,000 lbs.

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Walleye
torque is what determines how much you can tow, not horsepower. torque and strength of the chassis. the japanese cars are econoboxes with unibody construction, so the chassis and body are 1. thus, they cant take as much towing.

that, and little tiny wheezebucket engines dont have the torque to pull anything.

But the STi and Evo don't have little wheezebucket engines.

But I agree.

Hmm.. can't find towing capacity of the Evo on Mitsubishi's site.

in those cars, the first limitation is the chassis.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: Walleye

Originally posted by: dexvx
Yea, they dont list towing capacity.

IIRC, the Lancer Evo is around 270 and the WRX (non STI) is around 220.

Kelley Blue Book lists the Forester (166HP/ 160ish torque) as capable of towing 3500 lbs. So what? A WRX can tow like 5,000?

did you not listen at all?


the forrester is built on a heavier frame.

Actually, I posted before I even saw that post.

 

[freebee]

Originally posted by: Walleye

Originally posted by: dexvx
Yea, they dont list towing capacity.

IIRC, the Lancer Evo is around 270 and the WRX (non STI) is around 220.

Kelley Blue Book lists the Forester (166HP/ 160ish torque) as capable of towing 3500 lbs. So what? A WRX can tow like 5,000?

did you not listen at all?


the forrester is built on a heavier frame.

1st gen foresters (both phase I and phase II) were built using legacy/impreza bits. The frame is not any stronger than a regular wrx. The 4EAT trans is quite durable, much moreso than the 5MT in the Suby line. The SOHC (and previous DOHC) configs are more durable than the turbo 2s, though I think even the old style turbo 2.0 foresters had similar towing capability as the newer ones.