We might have some cars enthusiast in this community so here it is. I'm looking forward to buy a nice performance car. Right now I'm looking at 2 models the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and the Subaru Impreza WRX STI.
I found out last week at a car show in Montreal that the battery of the EVO is in the trunk!?! What the heck is a battery doing in the trunk (if it's not for a boosted radio system). Anyway, that was not the biggest surprise of the EVO. The biggest one is that the windshield washer refuel is in the trunk!?!?!?!?!?!?! How many times do you put windshield washer everywhere when you refuel it even if it is very accessible? Now it's in the corner of the trunk and you don't have enough space to empty the refuel bottle because of the top of the trunk. I found out they had to do that to let some place for the turbo under the hood. The first impression I had when I saw that is that the vehicule has not been optimized correctly. When I see some choices like the ones I stated above, I think this car has been butched Just to put more horsepower... If we stop looking at the mechanical parts and only talk about performance, well the EVO X is very nice. Moreover, it is a very nice looking car!
On the other hand, the STI did a very good impression on the mechanical side. Subaru I think has a patent on flat engines which have, in my opinion, the best engine architecture for 4 cylinders. This architecture allow you to put all the LRUs (stuff that you may have to change during the life of the vehicule) right on top and are very accessible. The turbo is way more efficient because the intake, intercooler and compressor are very close which result in very few tubing for the turbo (unlike the EVO that has a lot of tubing due to its "patch" design). On the mechanical side, I give a 10/10 for the STI. On the performance, the only down point against the EVO is that it under steer which means that the tires in front start sliding quite early. I think this problem may be fix quite easily with a torsion bar though.
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
i think the scooby's are cheaper but i prefer the mitsy's only thing i will say if you are planning on the mitsy evo...make sure the active diff is sound...or get the price down to pay for one
Lt_Col WIZ, VC, MiD (Ret)
CHAV TASTIC ! ! !
CHAV ATHEFAM
SAS_Capt_Sniper
Head of Recruitment & Tactical Training
GCHQ - 22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
Ok what exactly is a "chav"? People don't use that word around here lol
[SAS] VET WEST
SQUADRON SERGEANT MAJOR (RET.)
22nd [SAS] E.V.R. - Who Dares Wins
The Subarus are actualy a bit more expensive then Mitsubishi. What you mean by active diff sound? That the diff makes some noise? That goes without saying, I would just not buy the car haha.
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
I prefer the Mitsubishi due to his agressive and sportive style. You're talking here about cars with approximately 300 horsepower.
The following ones might be worth a look aswell:
BMW 1 M --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEvpnKRLDO4
More information: --> http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/newvehicles/mseries/m1coupe/2010/showroom/index.html
Tracktest --> http://www.insideline.com/bmw/1-series/2011/videos/2011_bmw_1-series_ft_111.html
I think you get here the best perfomance and quality for your money.
The cheaper version with "only" 306 hp is the BMW 1 135i.
More information: --> http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/newvehicles/1series/coupe/2011/showroom/index.html
A good friend of mine made a testdrive with it. Comment was: "It's a real monster!"
The Nissan 370z is also something you should take under consideration.
More information: --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4dzg7ZJ4B8
It's also called "Porschekiller".
DUKE, Germany
"What's the plan?
Track'em, find'em, kill'em!"
Right BMW always look nice, but the mechanical stuff is crap. You need to go to the dealer to gte your car fix. As simple as a battery change, you have to go to the dealer because you need BMW tools to take it out... I'm realy not a fan of BMW for that. For the performances, the 2 cars I named above are pretty much the same: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn0UkrPvPmc
If I had enough money, I would go for the Nissan GTR.
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
If you want to invest that amount of money, then visiting the car-dealer from time to time shouldn't be a problem...
My own experiences are - and everyone says the same - if you've ever driven a BMW (no matter what model), then you want nothing else anymore.
It's true, with a BMW you don't always take the straight way due to having lots of fun while driving...
Nick, make a testdrive
I'm sure you'll feel the difference. 
DUKE, Germany
"What's the plan?
Track'em, find'em, kill'em!"
I meant that you need to make sure that the diff IS sound, not how it sounds lol.
Mitsubishi's have a terrible issue with the diff technology failing. Its an easy fix, but costly.
Lt_Col WIZ, VC, MiD (Ret)
Welp, if you were around here, I will tell ya to get a good pickup with a heavy duty brush guard on the front so as when ya meet a mistybmw ya can bump it off the road like a Deer and keep on truckin.
a 'chav' is like a British 'redneck' or 'hoodlum' the difference being that chavs are not inbred but do like to loiter and be generally annoying. Also, chavs seem to like driving around cars (mostly bad ones) at ridiculous speeds so thats probably why he said it
From the Muddled Mind of grumpoo.
I did try a couple mini coopers (which is BMW). They are quite fun to drive and performant, but the mechanics inside can only be done by BMW. Even if you want to do something as easy as to change an alternator, you have to get it to the dealer... I'm a mechanic and i don't want to be oblige of going to the dealer to fix my car...
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
Well get a proper cooper then..A series engine, bored to 1293cc, group N head (ported to 38mm in and out), turbo with adjustable boost, rollcage, 13 inch rims with Pirelli p7 tyres, long range tank, internal (plastic) fuel and brake lines and Spax, adjustable coilovers. Then you will have some fun in a mini cooper.
Cheap and really easy to work on...oh wait you cant, cos that was mine and i crashed it years ago, lol
Seriously though, a car will never handle better than that, and we are talking maybe 130mph top end, turbocharged though, with rally parts...so it got their bloody quickly..if you can find one, they are really fun to work on.
Lt_Col WIZ, VC, MiD (Ret)
Well the only German cars I like are the Audi (sorry for my German friends). But they cost way too much for what they can give as performance. Your money is going more into the gadgets and luxuries that are inside and that's not what interest me.
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
Oooh Nick, that cuts deep
'A' series mini's are BRITISH
They have a nice traction control system called a 4 speed manual gearbox, a very sophisicated window system, called a handle and a very clever fuel management system called a carbuerettor 
Lt_Col WIZ, VC, MiD (Ret)
You can't compare a Mini Cooper S with about 170 hp with a BMW 1 M with about 340 hp. 8O There are WORLDS between
If you're looking for a Rolls Royce...
...well, it would be funny to say "I tested a Mini Cooper which is from BMW, too".
DUKE, Germany
"What's the plan?
Track'em, find'em, kill'em!"
@ Wiz: I'm not interested on the Coopers for the look but they are fun to drive since you feel like in a Go Kart with 187 hp HAHA!
@DUKE: I could try the BMW 1 M, but I really hate how BMW design their vehicules. Like I said, you can't do anything without going to the dealer. I remember one of my friends told me he had to change his battery on a BMW. I told him, bring it to me and I'll do it (changing a battery is so easy I was thinking). When he brought it to me, I look under the hood to find the battery. I see the positive connector but not the battery... They have put it under I don't remember what part they needed a special tool from BMW... What the heck.... You can't even change your own battery... I know this is not the case for all BMW, but they seem to have that philosophy to oblige you to go to a BMW dealer for repairs.
Maybe if I try it and look inside I might be impress. I guess I'll try it because the specs are quite interesting and BMW performances are good. I didn't look at the price yet though :roll:
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
Well Nick, the reason they do this is quite simple... Most people would normally get a friend to change the battery for the price of a beer.
BMW now dont want that to happen..they will do it for the price of a small island
Simple sales vs the lazy culture that is developing. Can i be bothered to hang around in the cold? or do i want to sit in a leather chair with a posh coffee, while a nice man does it for me?
I personally have scraped my knuckles many a time, but would i prefer someone else to scrape their posh rubber gloves?...well...
Lt_Col WIZ, VC, MiD (Ret)
And takes your hard earned money? HAHA! I better do it myself, drinking a beer and having fun with your hands dirty!
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
I hate coffee
Lt_Col WIZ, VC, MiD (Ret)
Get a Jaguar. I think all regular maintenance is included in the sticker price. My next car will not be as expensive. I'll be getting a Dodge Charger in 2014, if they still look cool and have four doors. I'll use my connections and get a special engine package
SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
Well I don't want to put a lot of money, so that is why I talker about the EVO and the STI which are 2 performance car under 50k new so near 20k used (for the years I'm targetting)
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
dont buy a BMW!!
if u have trouble with the car the repair cost u all ur money nick believe me:D
i had a 525 d A Touring
the boardcomputer is under the reservewheel i had water in the room for the wheel and it crashed my platine
the platine cost by ebay 80 euros the software only availabe by bmw dealer ??? so they want me to pay for a service (putting in a cable and upload)
300 bugs o.0
Well, I drove mine for 10 years and ran 250.000 kilometres with it
http://static.pagenstecher.de/uploads/0/02/028/028e/normal/Mein_Bmw_da_noch_original.jpg
In all this time I had only ONCE trouble due to an out of order fuel pump, which resulted in my most expensive blind-date ever --> 600 EUR.
And if you go for a used BMW, then you don't need to go to a official dealer, just choose a small garage you trust. Since years, the small garages are equipped with all the tools needed.
If I had the cash, no other car (of course a Prosche would be more sweet)
DUKE, Germany
"What's the plan?
Track'em, find'em, kill'em!"
You go to the dealer or a garage, repairing a BMW is expensive because it has not been designed for repairs. Nothing is accessible, so it cost a lot of time. No matter how reliable your car is, you have 1 single failure, and it costs you a lot.
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
How does your new BMW with more than 300 horsepower feel?
DUKE, Germany
"What's the plan?
Track'em, find'em, kill'em!"
I still didn't buy it, and I will most probably not take a BMW
I think I will go with the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Anyone has drove one?
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
I'm bringing this back up. I did a tour of all the most popular dealers and I saw a couple cars that I didn't really think about at first. Here is the list of the ones I'm interested in:
Audi A3 Quattro Chipped : 270 hp 207 lb-ft 6 speed semi-automatic twin clutch AWD.
Subaru WRX STI sport tech: 305 hp 270 lb-ft torque 6 speed manual short shifter AWD.
Subaru WRX limited: 260 hp 240 lb-ft torque 5 speed manual short shifter AWD.
VW Golf GTI: 200 hp manual not sure if it is AWD.
VW Golf R: 270 hp manual AWD.
Honda Civic SI: 200hp manual Traction
If you know one of these cars, I would appreciate your comments. I will start test driving tomorrow with the A3
SAS_Nick
22nd SAS Elite Virtual Regiment
All Subaru have three diseases:
1). Crashed transmission (gearbox)
2). Eating a lot of motor oil, because you have turbine... And... It's so fast, believe me.
3). Crashed turbochargers (if you have low oil)
And on my eyes, one Subaru was died and for repair it my friend needs 3900 $ US.
Where i problem?! Man was haven't back-up bottle of oil in car & it's end in engine... So... Turbine was stop and break engine too...
Repairing: partition of engine, new turbine...
For the real men - H1 2006 Alpha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1f4f1wRAcY
Watch other related videos of it and you may just want one
Speed, Precision, Experience, Endurance. General System Tweak Guide
VW Golf is considered a "chick car" in the US, meaning often driven by women.
SAS_Vet_Random
Lt. Col (Retired)
22nd [SAS] Elite Virtual Regiment
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