mitsubishi EVO

[MdBlades]

Originally posted by The Tourist
We've settled one thing, for sure, people are passionate about what they drive.

It seems there are guys that like 'Japanese' technology. It also seems like there are guys who like the rumble of big V-8's and don't mind the maintenance. I'm one of those guys.

To me, wrenching and waxing and tweaking are all part of the sport. So is shifting your own gears, and I'm glad that the new F-150 Lightnings are going to a Cobra motor and a six-speed tranny.

That's not to say that I haven't driven (and owned) vehicles that produce power only when wound up. I had a 1994 Ford Explorer that we bought for snow and vacations. It had the older motor, and it made a lot of power within its limits. We could cruise effortlessly on the Insterstate to South Dakota if I 'kept my foot in it.'

The moment I let off, the power dropped, and with the automatic, I could not instantly downshift to get power. My wife, on the other hand, used it as a 'grocery hauler,' and could have cared less. We updated that Explorer to the one for a two-door Sport model with the SOHC and 200 horsepower ASAP.

Now, my F-150 has the 4.6 liter engine and a five-speed. And yes, I've embarrassed some imports from 'roll on.' That's what I like, the torque.

The lightnings will keep the 5.4 SC engine. But will be getting the 6 speed tranny from the cobra. Its also getting the Super coolingtechnology hopefully. And why didnt you get the explorer with the 5.0?

 

[powells85]

Those rice cars you're talking about (evo's) pull low 13s in the quarter... stock. And I've seen an evo pulling like crazy on an sti the last 1/8 mile. The evo with a bad driver who bogged the launch and in horrible weather where 9s GNX's were running "only" 10s ran a 13.4, he was stock too

 

[Beltfed]

I ended up trading the Evo for an STi, the STi is definitely faster....doesn't handle quite as well though (which most know by now). The STi suits me more though, I like the Rally car look more as well.

Picked up the M3 as well.....

 

[The Tourist]

MdBlades,

Sorry for the late response, I just found your question(s).

First off, I did hear that Ford was going to put a 4-valve head V-8 with a six-speed into the Lightning. Now, whether this will be a 4.6 or a Cleveland, who knows but SVT.

I do know that this is going to be a horsepower battle for bragging rights. Dodge is coming out with the 500 horsepower SRT-10 Dodge Ram truck; an aluminum Viper engine in a truck. I hope I'm there when the first ricer (not knowing it's an SRT, and thinking it's just a Ram) tries to scratch off from a stoplight. My guess is that his jaw will drop all of the way down to his snazzy purple shag floor mats.

As for the 5.0 Explorer, there is no benefit, and one disadvantage. Sure, it might be a 5.0 or probably a 4.6, but it won't be a Mustang motor. It is a two-valve head. It makes within an eyelash of the horsepower of the SOHC.

The disadvantage is the heavy driveline. There is no 'off' to this 4-wheeler. There wasn't enough room for a transfer case, so it's a full-time 4-wheel drive. It gulps gas, too.

edit: Now, there is a 4.6 liter two-valve in my F-150. It doesn't act like the V-8 in the Explorer. My guess is they changed the chip or the cam to accomodate pulling and loads. All I know is when you step on the 'loud pedal' it acts more like my old 5.0 than an SUV. I even downshifted two gears once to go around a farmer; when I mashed it to the floor the truck made so much wracket that the farmer jumped in his seat!

It wasn't necessary, the truck easily passed and got back into the right traffic lane. I just figured that a truck just had to be slower. With the new stuff, I think it's a mistake that everyone makes, once.

 

[baraqyal]

Holy crap, Beltfed. I am very jealous. I'd be happy with any one of those cars.

-- Rob