This isn't the first time I've noticed this interesting fact about modern-day cars. It was a few years ago, actually, when I drove a 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX that it first dawned on me. When I booked the car for a road test, I was ecstatic about trying a modern version of my '04 Rex daily driver.
But once I got behind the wheel, my excitement immediately slipped away. And here's why: The car was soft.
Now, I'm not talking suspension, dampening or even the general ride in the car. I'm talking about the engineering, the handling, the throttle response, the exhaust note and the engine output. Everything just seemed so toned down, so tame and so “proper.”
It made me almost sad to know they'd subjected a WRX to such a sad state. Here's a car that's meant to be a bit raw, meant to be a bit in-your-face with rude, obnoxious exhaust notes and turbos blowin' off in your face. And yet it was as civilized as the base Impreza I'd had a few weeks before.
Bleh.
I was reminded of this incident when I drove a 2012 Civic Si and 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR. Both (the Mits especially) are sporty cars meant to stand apart from the rest of their model lineup. It's about more than a fancy spoiler, big wheels, Recaro racing seats and other such added bling. Sporty vehicles should feel sporty behind the wheel. I want to feel the power, I want to hear it, I want to experience what all the hype is about – what I've paid extra to enjoy.
And I just don't feel it in modern-day sport-trim vehicles.
I'm going to go back to my WRX for a moment. Sure, we've done a few modifications down the road (cold-air intake, uppipe, short shifter, boost gauge, larger exhaust, 17” alloys, STI springs and an adjustable suspension), but even before all those little bits and pieces made it into the car, it felt sporty. With its cable clutch and throttle, the connection felt with the engine and the car itself is unparalleled. I don't have a million little electronic doodads controlling and monitoring my every move – and I love that.
While I thoroughly enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the EVO (more on that in my upcoming review), something felt... off. Sure, the torque is grin-inducing and the handling sublime, but then you notice the drone-y exhaust and the lack of turbo noise in any way shape or form and that feeling of deflated excitement overcomes me again.
I know I should be happy that manufacturers have reached such a point in the world of vehicle production in which computers for every aspect of a car can be integrated (from suspension monitoring and dampening control to throttle response and brake delivery), but what ever happened to the good old days? Do we really need so much electronic control all the time? Do we really need to feel so cocooned and coddled while we drive?
I was sure the idea behind a sporty vehicle was to feel more connected to your car, more in tune with the road. And I really just don't feel that with today's latest models. So, even when the EVO was parked in my driveway for the weekend, it was the WRX that won out for the country drive. And now you know why.
But once I got behind the wheel, my excitement immediately slipped away. And here's why: The car was soft.
Now, I'm not talking suspension, dampening or even the general ride in the car. I'm talking about the engineering, the handling, the throttle response, the exhaust note and the engine output. Everything just seemed so toned down, so tame and so “proper.”
It made me almost sad to know they'd subjected a WRX to such a sad state. Here's a car that's meant to be a bit raw, meant to be a bit in-your-face with rude, obnoxious exhaust notes and turbos blowin' off in your face. And yet it was as civilized as the base Impreza I'd had a few weeks before.
Bleh.
I was reminded of this incident when I drove a 2012 Civic Si and 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR. Both (the Mits especially) are sporty cars meant to stand apart from the rest of their model lineup. It's about more than a fancy spoiler, big wheels, Recaro racing seats and other such added bling. Sporty vehicles should feel sporty behind the wheel. I want to feel the power, I want to hear it, I want to experience what all the hype is about – what I've paid extra to enjoy.
And I just don't feel it in modern-day sport-trim vehicles.
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| 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
I'm going to go back to my WRX for a moment. Sure, we've done a few modifications down the road (cold-air intake, uppipe, short shifter, boost gauge, larger exhaust, 17” alloys, STI springs and an adjustable suspension), but even before all those little bits and pieces made it into the car, it felt sporty. With its cable clutch and throttle, the connection felt with the engine and the car itself is unparalleled. I don't have a million little electronic doodads controlling and monitoring my every move – and I love that.
While I thoroughly enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the EVO (more on that in my upcoming review), something felt... off. Sure, the torque is grin-inducing and the handling sublime, but then you notice the drone-y exhaust and the lack of turbo noise in any way shape or form and that feeling of deflated excitement overcomes me again.
I know I should be happy that manufacturers have reached such a point in the world of vehicle production in which computers for every aspect of a car can be integrated (from suspension monitoring and dampening control to throttle response and brake delivery), but what ever happened to the good old days? Do we really need so much electronic control all the time? Do we really need to feel so cocooned and coddled while we drive?
I was sure the idea behind a sporty vehicle was to feel more connected to your car, more in tune with the road. And I really just don't feel that with today's latest models. So, even when the EVO was parked in my driveway for the weekend, it was the WRX that won out for the country drive. And now you know why.