The Clio's replacement- Evo VIII MR FQ340

[Craig.]

Very capable cars, my friend has the same model in silver. I like them for what they are but I've never found myself wanting to own one, But im not really a big fan of jap cars though.

Yours has made very good figures mate, My friends just had abit of work done to his off the lads at evo tune in durham & it made 375.9bhp forgot what the torque was.

Evo FQ340 by CraigyD7, on Flickr

 

[Lal B3N]

Servicing isn't even too bad, oil change every 4.5k or 6 months on my mates 360. Only around £100 from a ralliart specialist if you haggle.

I change the oil every 3-5k on my GSI so hardly much different apart from I don't need to worry about a stamp for resale value.

 

[imprezaworks]

Diff fluid change too though. But tbh if you can afford to buy and run one, pesky oil changes will be a walk in the park.

 

[matt_132]

Facking awesome. Complete machine, most definitely not bland either!!

 

[Lal B3N]

ACY change is every 9k isn't it?

 

[imprezaworks]

Nope.

 

[Lal B3N]

Nope.

According to a few online service guides it is, its to be checked and possibly topped up every 4.5k otherwise change every 9k? Even then its still only £150 all in for that plus oil and filter from a ralliart place.

 

[Breamy]

Most specialists do ayc every service. Most places charge 130 is for small service.
Tax is only 20 quid more a year than the clio!

 

[imprezaworks]

When I had my seven i was allways led to believe it to be changed at 4.5k and serviced at 9k depending on milage/how it's driven.

 

[Lal B3N]

Most specialists do ayc every service. Most places charge 130 is for small service.
Tax is only 20 quid more a year than the clio!

Ha my mates 9 gets stung with £475 a year!

 

[FQ NICK]

Thing is with Evo's they are becoming cheap.
Folk are buying them and not realising the upkeep costs and not maintaining them correctly.
This as led to a lot of chaved up dogs knocking about. Tbh it's a mine field buying one second hand.

Oh and don't forget THE EVO TAX all parts and labour go up 50% before they have even looked at it ..lol

 

[Gally]

He's a hero because the running costs and upkeep is eye watering. It's a petrolhead purchase using man maths, that's why he gets comments like he has.

You could run and service some exotic machinery cheaper than some Evos!

 

[imprezaworks]

Admitadly not the best most upto date video, but this inspired me to get one.

http://youtu.be/XArgAIligQ8

 

[Breamy]

Thing is with Evo's they are becoming cheap.
Folk are buying them and not realising the upkeep costs and not maintaining them correctly.
This as led to a lot of chaved up dogs knocking about. Tbh it's a mine field buying one second hand.

Oh and don't forget THE EVO TAX all parts and labour go up 50% before they have even looked at it ..lol

It does seem a minefield buying one. Hopefully this turns out to be a good one. Last owner had it 5 years
And got a nicely presented folder of all services and other stuff done and a fully stamped service book

 

[MarkCup]

It weighs around 1400kg whereas the new fiesta st weighs 1163. Yet has twice the power so it's hardly an issue!
And also lol at bland looks from someone with a fiesta st!

1,450 kgs according to the specs I saw...which it also weighs when braking and going around corners...times at which your huge POWAAAAAAR makes no difference at all.

I accept my car is 'bland', I've never said it's anything but.

What I don't do though is turn around in response to one of those comments and say "well yours is just as bland so nerrr". Well done for getting personal and condescending when all I was doing is sharing my viewpoint.

 

[Ray Gin]

One thing these 'rally rep' saloons do exceptionally well is taking corners at speed, so I really don't understand what you're getting at with that point.

 

[brad259]

Will have to look out for this car. Love a evo.

 

[MarkCup]

One thing these 'rally rep' saloons do exceptionally well is taking corners at speed, so I really don't understand what you're getting at with that point.

I can see that having a very advanced and technical 4WD system will give you better traction when accelerating out of a corner...does it also help you on the way in when you're not accelerating or give you extra grip when balancing it mid-turn?

 

[Advikaz]

 

[Ray Gin]

I can see that having a very advanced and technical 4WD system will give you better traction when accelerating out of a corner...does it also help you on the way in when you're not accelerating or give you extra grip when balancing it mid-turn?

I think you're fully aware of the answer to your question, but I still don't understand what you're trying to get at.

 

[MarkCup]

What I'm getting at is that a 1,450 kg car, regardless of what you do to it or how it does things (or how you may convince yourself otherwise), is still a 1,450 kg car, and will always feel like a 1,450 kg car.

To me that's a negative. To others, not so.

Does that make sense?

 

[Ray Gin]

and will always feel like a 1,450 kg car.

You've of course driven one to come to this conclusion, right?

Does every car have to be as light as a 205 GTi to be classed as good then, or is every car heavier than a Ford Fiesta a barge?

 

[FQ NICK]

I can see that having a very advanced and technical 4WD system will give you better traction when accelerating out of a corner...does it also help you on the way in when you're not accelerating or give you extra grip when balancing it mid-turn?

Yes is the answer.
Get a good set up on one , mapped acd etc and the car will go were it's pointed at speed slowly whatever.

The only thing is I find is it makes driving boring.
I did cadwell in the clio at the start of the month and enjoyed it more than in any other car. Point being I could drive it right to the edge and it felt as if I had input for a change.
The only time I lost out was on the straight, a little more power and I will be happy.

 

[MarkCup]

You've of course driven one to come to this conclusion, right?

Does every car have to be as light as a 205 GTi to be classed as good then, or is every car heavier than a Ford Fiesta a barge?

No, of course not. For me though, on the roads I drive day in, day out, having inherent agility and nimbleness makes a huge difference. Have I driven one? No, not driven and I've never even sat in one...but I do know that compared to a multitude of other cars out there, it would be way way way down my list.

We are talking about my opinion here, nothing more...I'm not sure why looking for me to support and substantiate every aspect of it. It differs from yours (and most others it would seem), can't you accept that?

 

[Ray Gin]

We are talking about my opinion here, nothing more...I'm not sure why looking for me to support and substantiate every aspect of it. It differs from yours (and most others it would seem), can't you accept that?

I'm aware of that fella, maybe I should have added a smiley or something.

I'm just surprised that someone who takes an interest in driving and track days isn't a fan of what is arguably one of the quickest and most capable point to point used cars on the market.

 

[MarkCup]

I'm aware of that fella, maybe I should have added a smiley or something.

I'm just surprised that someone who takes an interest in driving and track days isn't a fan of what is arguably one of the quickest and most capable point to point used cars on the market.

A Smiley would have been good

I get what you're saying, I appreciate what they are, I appreciate what they're capable of, I appreciate the technology that's gone into them and I appreciate that there's a huge following for them.

They just leave me cold and unmoved for some reason. I think it's because they tend to be associated with huge power and tuneability...which is something that's never excited me.

 

[Waitey]

He's a hero because the running costs and upkeep is eye watering. It's a petrolhead purchase using man maths, that's why he gets comments like he has.

You could run and service some exotic machinery cheaper than some Evos!

Doesn't detract from the fact its a bit ghastly.

 

[brisa4984]

What I'm getting at is that a 1,450 kg car, regardless of what you do to it or how it does things (or how you may convince yourself otherwise), is still a 1,450 kg car, and will always feel like a 1,450 kg car.

To me that's a negative. To others, not so.

Does that make sense?

i see your point. Much like the reson why i would choose an exige s over one (not taking into account the practicalities and the fact theyre different cars"

But

given the fact that thie 1450kg is connected to a well developed 4wd,ayc, and proper boost could well mean actually that its quite nimble for what it is. Not to mention it would shame alot of hatches/exotics etc

perhaps go for a test drive and it may suprise you?

 

[Ja5on]

He's a hero because the running costs and upkeep is eye watering. It's a petrolhead purchase using man maths, that's why he gets comments like he has.

You could run and service some exotic machinery cheaper than some Evos!

The evo running cost are nothing compaired to the GTR. ;-) Tyres and brakes are all of a reasonable cost on an evo, you just need to know where to look. Example, I spend £600 on DBA discs all round on the evo. 7k miles late and a couple of trackdays later I had to replace the fronts because one of the dics had completely shattered! I then spend £100 or replacement discs for camskill and they lasted the rest of the time I had the car, 16K miles or so. that included track days and sprint.


Its a great choice of car breamy, and you'll love it the harder you push it. The standard suspension is a bit soft for seriously hard driving. Nothing a set of eibach lowering springs wont fix.

There even more fun in the wet, very sure footed (aslong as you have decent tyres) and you can get a nice drift onat a roundabout of you provoke it

 

[leeroybrown]

Is your pops and bangs remap running off the intercooler spray dude? I.E that's how you turn it on and off?

 

[Breamy]

Ye switchable with the intercooler spray button.
Just been out in it again, Thats every night this week! Loving it, so controllable all the time, Had it a bit sideways off a roundabout but its so easy to control it surprisingly didnt phase me!

 

[Wick]

Big fan of this!

 

[Naughty Boy]

Lol unless you abuse a Evo they are not expensive to run.

The key is to buy one that has had maintenance carried out at certain points. For example 40k ish means camber and clutch time.

As for the weight, after owning over 20 Evos in various states of tune with mechanical diffs to computer magic, I can safely say it's the most fun point to point car I have ever driven. Fact.

congrats on the purchase, looks nice.

 

[Rudi]

haha, lived here for far to long!

 

[r0ss172]

What I'm getting at is that a 1,450 kg car, regardless of what you do to it or how it does things (or how you may convince yourself otherwise), is still a 1,450 kg car, and will always feel like a 1,450 kg car.

To me that's a negative. To others, not so.

Does that make sense?

Have a drive of one mate, or better still pop along to an MLR sprint event and go out in one that's in standard trim... I think you will be surprised and change your mind that they don't feel like a 1450kg car. The top gear video where Clarkson drives it against the Lamborghini says it all, and the lap times they produce too, it's all about their ability in cornering and braking that astonishes me, the neck snapping acceleration is impressive too!

I fully understand why they don't tick any boxes for you, to most people they look a bit OTT, to me though I think they are great and I'll definitely buy another one when I can afford it!

 

[r0ss172]

Ye switchable with the intercooler spray button.
Just been out in it again, Thats every night this week! Loving it, so controllable all the time, Had it a bit sideways off a roundabout but its so easy to control it surprisingly didnt phase me!

Haha I remember my first experience of this in mine, fun isn't it

 

[Breamy]

Lol very. Big flames tonight caught with my go pro!

 

[CrippsCorner]

Amazing, one of my all time favourites. Just couldn't go from 24 month servicing to 6 months lol, too painful... owning a new age Impreza was bad enough!

 

[andywa]

Love it. I look forward to seeing what you do with this. The clio looked lovely and went well. This has a lot to live up to!

 

[st3ve]

Have a drive of one mate, or better still pop along to an MLR sprint event and go out in one that's in standard trim... I think you will be surprised and change your mind that they don't feel like a 1450kg car. The top gear video where Clarkson drives it against the Lamborghini says it all, and the lap times they produce too, it's all about their ability in cornering and braking that astonishes me, the neck snapping acceleration is impressive too!

I fully understand why they don't tick any boxes for you, to most people they look a bit OTT, to me though I think they are great and I'll definitely buy another one when I can afford it!

I agree with the weight comment, you'd expect it to feel heavier than it does but they're well balanced and handle like a go kart, I've only driven a mildly modded 7 though so I don't know what they're like stock.