The Ultimate Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Buyers Guide V3.0 © 2001- 2004 lancer-evo.net | Page 1 of 59 The Ultimate Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Buyers Guide V3.0 Information compiled and/or written by Barry Smith [AKA Bazza] © Copyright 2001- 2004 lancer-evo.net / Mitsubishi Lancer Register Last update: 08th February 2004 [10:36] CHAPTERCHAPTER 1 ––– Guide Introduction BoringBoring Legal Bit ––– Disclaimer I make no express or implied warranty as to: • the information accessible via this website being accurate, complete, fit for any particular purpose or current • the Content being free from infection by viruses or anything else that has contaminating or destructive properties • the operation, quality, functionality, accessibility of this guide The information in this guide is provided 'as is' and 'as available'. It is for information purposes only and I do not hold myself out as providing any advice or recommendation of whatsoever nature and you should not rely on any information in this guide to make [or refrain from making] any decision or take [or refrain from taking] any action. In particular, while I make every effort to ensure that the information contained in this guide is accurate, I cannot warrant and do not take responsibility for the accuracy of the information displayed in this guide. I shall, unless specifically stated otherwise, not be liable, including liability for negligence [including personal injury and death] for any damages or loss arising out of or in connection with the use of this guide including [but not limited to] direct or indirect consequential loss, special loss, loss of data, income or profit, loss of or damage to property, damage to goodwill and claims of third parties. You hereby agree to fully indemnify Barry Smith, lancer-evo.net, Online Performance New Zealand and the Mitsubishi Lancer Register against any claim brought by a third party resulting from use of this guide by you and in respect of all losses, costs, actions, proceedings, claims, damages, expenses [including reasonable legal costs and expenses], or liabilities, whatsoever suffered or incurred directly by this guide in consequence of your breach or non-observance of these Terms. You may not assign, sub-license or otherwise transfer any of your rights under these Terms. These Terms can not be varied except in writing by me. If any provision in these Terms is found to be invalid by any court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of that provision will not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these Terms, which shall remain in full force and effect. Failure by either party to exercise any right or remedy under these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or remedy. © 2001- 2004 lancer-evo.net | Page 2 of 59 The Ultimate Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Buyers Guide V3.0 RalliartRalliart UK goes “Xtreme” This is an extract taken from http://www.xtreme-uk.net/. Hopefully this will clear up any confusion surrounding Ralliart UK and Xtreme Automobiles. http://www.ralliartuk.com is still functioning, but it will take you to http://www.xtreme-uk.net. For Ralliart’s webpage go to http://www.ralliart.com. Following the mutual termination of the Three Year Joint Venture to import and distribute Mitsubishi Ralliart Vehicles with the Colt Car Company, Ralliart UK can now confirm its new trading name and plans for the future. Xtreme Autos will continue the business as the leading Mitsubishi Motor Sport specialist and Independant Importer of Mitsubishi performance vehicles. In addition to the acclaimed Evolution VII, which is now available in manual and automatic versions. Later in the year there will be an EVO powered 4WD version of the Airtrek, followed in 2003 by the new Evolution Pajero which has already shown its evolving face at the Frankfurt and Geneva Motor Shows. The Xtreme Autos Development Team, headed by former Mitsubishi World Rally Team Workshop Manager, Toney Cox, has recently been strengthened with the addition of Mick Kehl, who formerly worked as a Senior Engineer for Motec Engine Management Systems. Prior to that Kehl worked with the PERT Rally Team and the Holden Race Team. The production of special models such as the widely acclaimed Evolution Extreme, RSX and RS Sprint, which were developed and built by Ralliart UK will continue under the Xtreme brand. However, no longer confined to the Mitsubishi marque, development will now extend to other makes with work already underway on Xtreme versions of the Subaru Impreza STI and the Golf GT TDi. Xtreme Autos will also continue with the development and build of Rally cars. A new investment commitment by Xtreme Autos means that its plan for a new state of the art Four-Wheel Drive Rolling Road and Engine Dyno are well advanced. These commitments along with our recently opened Engine and Transmission Build Shop will ensure that Xtreme Autos will continue to offer enthusiasts worldwide a service which proven as second to none. Not only as the Technical Centre of Excellence for Mitsubishi Motor Sports vehicles, but now also other specialist performance marques. © 2001- 2004 lancer-evo.net | Page 3 of 59 The Ultimate Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Buyers Guide V3.0 GuideGuide Updates After looking at various other buyers guides out there [MLR and of course the Evo VI buyers guide written by Richard Morris] I decided to go that one step further and combine all the info I have found on the net, learned through various forums/mailing lists and owning an Evo and talking to other enthusiasts, and the end result? This buyer’s guide that covers EVERY Evo model from the 1992 Evo right through to the new 2004 Evo VIII MR. There have been some major changes to this buyer’s guide since the first version was released in June 2002. This is Version 3.0. If I miss something, feel free to email me or PM Me. Version 2.4 Changed the layout and added more information on the GSR/RS differences Added LanEvo’s in Rallying – A glorious Heritage section Added Chapter Numbers Version 3.0 Changed layout for easier viewing Removed TOC Fixed Bookmark linking bug [now displayed all links] Added more information on Chassis Numbers and Model Codes Added information on the Evo VII MR Added section explaining the Active Yaw Control [AYC] System Added more information to the Technical Specification section Added Badge information for the Evo IV-VIII Added Component Layout section PleasePlease Donate If you find this buyer’s guide helpful, please donate a few pounds to keep this guide going. It has taken me hundreds of hours of hard work and effort to get this guide to the state it’s in today. Thank you. Click here to donate £3.00 via PayPal Click here to donate £5.00 via PayPal Click here to donate £10.00 via PayPal HostingHosting PermissionPermissionssss The guide is © 2001-2004 B.Smith/lancer-evo.net. I have given the following websites permission to host this guide: Lancer-evo.net – http://www.lancer-evo.net Mitsubishi Lancer Register – http://www.lancerregister.com Online Performance New Zealand – http://www.onlineperformance.net.nz ContactContact Details Mitsubishi Lancer Register Private Message: Click here Email [[email protected]]: Click here Email [[email protected]]: Click here © 2001- 2004 lancer-evo.net | Page 4 of 59 The Ultimate Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Buyers Guide V3.0 CHAPTERCHAPTER 2 ––– About the Evolution So what exactly is the Lancer Evolution? The Evo is the critically acclaimed AWD turbocharged sedan with a mad 276bhp [limited, real figure between 285 and 300bhp according to Ralliart] engine. Its one of the most sought after performance cars on the road today and has picked up a cult following since the rise in popularity of the World Rally Championship [WRC]. 0-60 appears in around 5.0 seconds [every model, some figures show around 4.4, this figure is possible but you want your clutch to last more than a week don’t you?] and the top speed is anything between 143 and 160mph. First developed back in 1992 to match rally homologation rules the Evo has been honed and perfected over 12 years. Wherever you go the Evo will spark a response! Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it! The aggressive bumper and bonnet vent just say “get out of my way or else”. The crazy rear wing signifies its rally heritage. And the pop and bang from the exhaust confirms it! Since 1999, the Evolution has become extremely popular in the UK. Various car magazines have tested the Evo against cars twice the price! Recently the Evolution VIII FQ-300 was the second fastest car round a test track, faster than both the Porsche 911 and Ferrari 575. Only the Radical was faster! And as of today [03/01/04] the Evo VII FQ-300 is the third fastest car round the TopGear Track [driven by the Stig]. The precise steering and brilliant chassis inspire the driver; you always feel you can go faster [sometimes not a good thing]. Well enough of this praise for the Evo, not every example is a brilliant rally-bred supercar. There are also down sides to owning an Evo. After reading this guide you should have the confidence to take the plunge safe in the knowledge you know pretty much everything there is to know about owning an Evo [next step is to become a qualified Ralliart technician!]. AreAre there any other cars that match the EvoEvo???? There are some alternatives to the Evo. The most common is the Subaru Impreza STi. It has been widely publicised that the rivalry between the Evo and Impreza STi is nothing short of bitter.