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Review: 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR

Published by Jason May 5th, 2006 in 4 Stars and Mitsubishi.

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR
Rally Red
286-hp 2.0-liter, 16-valve, turbocharged I4; 6-sp.
$36,894
Review written by guest reviewer: Stefan Lombard.

2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR

If you’re a car guy, and your generation begins with either X or Y, then you know what an Evo is. Especially if you’ve ever played Gran Turismo. Though it’s still fairly new to our shores, the Evo has existed in various guises throughout Europe and Japan for at least a decade.

The Evo is a rally car, built by Mitsubishi to compete with Subaru’s WRX in the World Rally Championship. And it’s been no slouch, either, eventually unseating the WRX in 1998 to win both the Driver’s and Manufacturer’s Championship in the hands of Tommi Makinen.

The MR is the latest and greatest in the all-wheel drive Evo bloodline. Though it is still adorned with all manner of intakes, inlets, mesh grilles, fender flares, spoilers, wings, and carbon fiber, there is nothing “clapped on” about this machine. It is no Honda Civic with a body kit and coffee can exhaust. Indeed, this is one serious sports sedan.

Read the rest of the review...

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    • Review: 2006 Mazda Speed 6

    Published by Jason May 1st, 2006 in 4 Stars and Mazda.

    I’ve gotten the chance to drive quite a few Mazdas in the past year, and they match up pretty well with my expectations. The sleeker ones are usually a little more sporty, the boxier ones a little more convenient. None of them had been real terrors on the road, and none of them really gave me a feeling of excitement. Perhaps Zoom-Zoom wasn’t for me.

    Mazda MazdaSpeed6

    This weekend I was driving from Portland to Seattle and back again, and had the opportunity to take the new MazdaSpeed6. I’m still not sure exactly where the spaces are supposed to go in the name, nor if it’s a Mazda Speed 6, or a Mazda MazdaSpeed 6, or even, Mazda mazdaspeed6. Regardless, I acquainted myself with their extra-sporty car and got on the road.

    My initial thoughts were a lot of surprise in the low end of the RPM range. Lots of torque and lots of go while taking off. The acceleration is far different from other high-horsepower cars I’ve driven, but it was consistent through the gears and very responsive. Pulling into traffic was never a worry, and I always knew I had enough go to dodge through traffic.

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    • Quick Review: Subaru Forester 2.5 XT

    Published by Jason February 15th, 2006 in 4 Stars and Subaru.

    I’ve said in the past that I drive a Honda Accord Wagon, so to some people, I have the automotive taste of a 75 librarian. However, I still appreciate a fun and exciting car as much as the next guy, but I can’t deny my love for wagons.

    2006 Subaru Forester XT

    The craziest thing about this car is that it really doesn’t feel like a wagon. There were several times that I turned to look behind my driver’s seat just to make sure that this car was as big as I remembered it, and that it hadn’t changed into a small coupe while I wasn’t looking. It’s not the sexiest car in the world, nor is it the fastest, but this car is a crazy blend of a daily usability and suprising agility.

    It all comes down to the turbo. When this car is low in the revs, it’s exactly what you would expect, but once that turbo kicks in, you swing by even the most aggressive of city drivers.

    Read the rest of the review...

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    • Quick Review: 2006 Honda Civic Si

    Published by Jason February 15th, 2006 in 4 Stars and Honda.

    I hate to do this, review two different models of cars back to back, but it’s how the ball bounced this month. So, sorry if you hate Hondas.

    2006 Honda Civic Si

    From the outside, this car reminds me of the bastard child of a Prius and a WRX. It is short and low with sharp lines and a big ass wing on the back. It has a slight ground kit and a tuner-inspired front end, yet still looks somewhat gentle.

    Inside, it’s a cross between the special Si cloth racing seats that are intended to hug you and hold you in position, with the advanced and modern instrument panel I discussed in my review of the 4-door Civic. It’s comfortable, yet a little cramped. It’s easy to see all of the gauges, yet impossible to check your blind spot. Well positioned for a sprint around the corners, yet a little tight for a 5-hour trek to Vancouver, BC.

    Stats: ~200hp, ~8000 rpm red line, ~$20,000.

    Read the rest of the review...

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    • Review: The All New 2006 Honda Civic

    Published by Jason December 26th, 2005 in 4 Stars and Honda.

    To most auto enthusiasts, the phrase “Honda Civic” would only equate to the most boring old doldrums of a car experience (except maybe the Tuner Audience). And I remember years ago when both my sister and a good friend both had early �90s models; I couldn�t imagine a more underpowered, boring, run-of-the-mill car. And to top it all off, they just kept running, so you never even had the excitement of a breakdown or a fantastic repair bill. There was little to be excited by and less to be shocked by.

    2006 Honda Civic: The New Honda Civic

    I would like to introduce a new Honda Civic. In fact, Honda nailed it giving this the label of, �The All New Honda Civic.�

    I�ve heard a lot of talk about the new cars, and was not that excited about what I was hearing. Yet when I grabbed the keys and headed out, I found myself pleasantly surprised a few different times.

    Read the rest of the review...

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