spec-cie

Just finished reading the reviews of the Evo X and the Litchfield S-GT impreza hatchback in Evo magazine and can't help but feel that Mitsubishi and Subaru have both abandoned their hardcore rally fans.

The Evo X looks fantastic and reading through the list of equipment that's likely to be standard on the UK cars certainly leaves the impression that Mistu have been working their ***** off to make a significant step forward with this new Lancer. But I decided against buying an Evo VIII when I was replacing my old Turbo 2000 because even then the car felt a bit too 'smart' and the experience too clinical. Now with variable/active everything you can think of it sounds more like a 'point and shoot' car than ever before.

I understand there will be a lot of people who will love all this new technology but its just not for me. I'm no TVR miserablist but I loved the raw experience of the early cars and bought the spec C because it was the only car I felt came close to those early 'rally cars for the road' in the age of more electronics, more trickery and more weight. The Evo X will weigh 1550kg FFS - that's 300kg (or four of me) more than the old turbo 2000.

As for the Impreza, Subaru want to compete with the Seat Leon and VW Golf ... nuff said.

Things progress and I'm sure both the new Evo and Impreza will find many new fans but I doubt I'll be amongst them. Nothing to do with image, looks or lifestyle ... just not the types of car I (and I suspect many of those early rally car fans) want to drive. Can't see myself 'upgrading' the spec C to even one of the lightweight versions of the new cars so looks like I'll be driving it for a while yet ... alongside my old-school Mini Cooper S which, despite having only 70bhp, seems likely to be a lot more fun than either of the next-gen Evo or Impreza.

I wonder if Suzuki or Fiat will come along with the next true 'rally car for the road'?

ARM-Scooby

suzuki might be releasing a 4wd version of there rally car, nothing confirmed though.

For mitsu i think its worth waiting for the uk guys to get them and make some fq versions they only had the 276 jap version.

Scoob is the same, it was the wrx version not the sti. Might just be me hoping/ wishing that latter versions meet our wishes, i guess only time will tell!

RoadrunnerV2

I understand what your saying spec-cie but I think you jumping the gun a bit by basing your opinion on the initial model line up. We will just have to wait and see what either manufacture will conjure up

Steve_PPP

iTrader: (3)

Whilst i'm not a fan of the new Impreza's styling, I consider it to be the start of a new era for the SWRT and their fans, rather than the end of the road. I agree its a move into an already busy hot-hatch market, but look at what cars have been doing well in the last decade in the WRC - they're all hatches. We've had the 206, the Xsara and the Focus. Only in 2003 did Subaru beat them (imo mainly due to Solberg's skill and that Loeb was still learning how to master his Citroen).

I've been a rally fan for years, and thats where my love for the Impreza road cars was born. Its the same for hundreds of fans - Subaru haven't had success for a few years now but they're still the most popular team on the WRC circuit. If the new Impreza is more balanced and makes a great WRC car, then people will quickly come to love the road going version too

As for other manufacturers, the Evo X looks awesome, but i'm not sure whether Mitsu will commit the money to a serious WRC programme - they've been inconsistent since they parted with Tommi Makinen.

automodellistagt

i totally agree with your views, there isnt anything you can buy thats lightweight adn 4wd. Its all got really fat, even to the point where im considering buying a classic typr-r or ra for my sunday mornings rather then my newage.

spec-cie

Interesting replies - thanks.

RoadrunnerV2, I think you're right to wait and see what comes up. It may be a return to the car qualities I value. But I fear not ... I think the early models indicate a direction both companies are taking that move them further away rather than closer to those qualities.

Steve_PPP - spot on analysis about the format change also being influenced by the WRC. Perhaps I'm moving on in what I value too? I'm a big fan of rallying and a regular spectator at the WRC stages but the WRC cars are less exciting to me than they used to be. They are becoming further removed from the road cars they mimic and the whole WRC circus is becoming more controlled, officious and showbiz than it has been. I now spend more time watching the JWRC and the lower order cars at the WRC, and attending local rally events with Group N and historic cars, than I do watching the top cars.

I really enjoyed reading last months Evo M-car review. I'm not BMW fan but could really relate to their rating of the original 'classic' M3 over the more powerful, more effective, more efficient new models.

Steve_PPP

iTrader: (3)

I agree with that too - we're never going to get a new 4wd car thats as light as those from 10 years ago. Its the price we pay for better safety, interiors etc. But thats a price i'm happy to pay - the newer cars feel more solid, better built. Weight has increased, but thats just a challenge for the designers and engineers to overcome!

It all depends on what we need our Scoobs for - a weekend car, or an everyday car. If its a Sunday drive, its nice to have the lightweight rawness

Spec-cie: Yep, shame isn't it. Why does everything have to become so commercialised...