NY Times WRX/Evo

[stevewaclo]

Hello:

Here's an article from the 9/6/09 Times that may be of interest to Subaru and Mitsubishi owners:


Behind the Wheel | Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Evolution
Faster but Not So Furious, Boy-Racer Cars Grow Up

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/09/06/automobiles/06auto_600.jpg

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/automobiles/06AUTO.html

[Cody]

Sucks that the Evo MR's fancy automated gearbox slows it down so much. If you're going to do something, do it right.

That goes for you too, 2010 Nissan GTR, with your fancy "glass" tranny. Removing launch control is not a real fix. AWD cars were made to be launched. At least Subaru got it right with the tractor-grade gearbox in the STi.

[sperry]

Sucks that the Evo MR's fancy automated gearbox slows it down so much. If you're going to do something, do it right.

That goes for you too, 2010 Nissan GTR, with your fancy "glass" tranny. Removing launch control is not a real fix. AWD cars were made to be launched. At least Subaru got it right with the tractor-grade gearbox in the STi.
Since when are AWD cars "made to launch"? They were actually made for rally, which is almost entirely on dirt, and has no critical drag launch type starting. I would say AWD was explicitly *not* made to launch.

Drag racing is for RWD cars.

[Cody]

Don't take that statement too literally. I merely meant that launching an AWD car well is a breathtaking experience. It's a shame how often it must be accompanied by feelings of guilt and uncertainty...

[Kevin M]

Don't take that statement too literally. I merely meant that launching an AWD car well is a breathtaking experience. It's a shame how often it must be accompanied by feelings of guilt and uncertainty...

Those feelings result from the fact that, like Scott said, they're not made to be launched hard. :p

[Cody]

...or, the fact that I don't have an STi. Subarus make sense. You want the economy/performance model, you get the WRX. You want to spend some extra dough for extra performance and dependability, you get the STi.

However, the Evo is the opposite. You pay more and you get a transmission you shouldn't and can't launch hard with.

It makes me wonder how many people get the new Evo MR and love it until their friend with an STi shows them what a real launch feels like. ;)

[sperry]

...what does a "real" launch feel like? I've never had to launch mine in 8 years of motorsports. I leave drag racing to the cars designed for it.

[Cody]

It seems like "drag starts" are becoming more necessary given some of the course designs we've seen this year and the previous. Additionally, it's fun to launch hard every once in a while. If I had your car, I'd have tried it a couple times by now.

[20psimr]

The Sti tranny is not as bulletproof as you think it is bro, like Ive told you before Ive seen a few go kaboom launching in Vegas. /shrug

Evo 8/9 trannys have no issues launching, first gear is way stout. Even stronger on the six speed. Its fourth gear that lets go due to heat on the 6 speed, generally from guys running crappy bg syncro**** I mean shift.

[Cody]

It's pretty bullet proof. Nothing is indestructable though. By shifting/launching smoothly and limiting shockloads to the transmission (due to dumping the clutch), and good maintenance with apropriate fluids, you can almost eliminate the chance of damaging the STi transmission (assuming you aren't putting down crazy power). And of course these practices are important with any transmission. I've heard the STi tranny is generally good for up to 550 WTQ and higher depending on how you drive it.

It's good to hear that the Evo 8/9 can handle launching. I'm always interested to learn how Evo's compare to WRX/STi's.