2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Development GSR: Advantageous Illumination
There always has to be one stick in the mud on an editorial staff, and in the case of our long-term 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR (aka, Project Evo X), I guess that's me.
As you know, Project Evo X is on a singular mission to topple our long-term Nissan GT-R on the Streets of Willow roadcourse… while remaining streetable. And our Evo GSR is indeed streetable, not to mention reliable(in light of everything that has been done to it), but it'snot a street car thatI'd careto drive every day.
Ride quality was tolerable bordering on acceptable withthe stock setup; nowI find itbarely tolerable. I'm not sure in what proportion to blame the AST coilovers and BridgestoneRE-11 tires, but whenI hit cracked pavement in this car,I getslammed back down to the Earth sometime after the rebound stroke.J tothe Kreports that the adjustablemonotube dampers are set to “street,” though, and no one else is complaining about the GSR'sride.
Also, as we've written, the new brake pads are very squeeeallly until they heat up. When you're just going on some freeway errand, and don't have occasion to get on the brakes hard, that can take a really long time. Over the weekend, most of the noise seemed to be coming from the rears, the Project Mu B-Force pads.
Finally, whythis excessively dimphoto? Because I've never liked the look of the Volk RE30 wheels, so if I have to look at them, it had better be dusk. For vanity's sake, I want the MR's BBS wheels back (or even the GSR-issue Enkeis), extra unsprung weight and all.
I should also disclose that this is most time I've ever spent with a project car. AsI've driven Project Evo X during its transitions, I've realized I'd never be willing to take it quitethis far with a personal car, even if I had the money. Track-day capability is good, but I still want the car dumbed-down enough that I can just get in it and drive comfortably on a Sunday morning.
Then again, if I'd made time to take in some back roads with Project Evo Xover the weekend,perhapsI wouldn't be complaining.
Erin Riches, @ 25,871 miles
