Mitsubishi Evo IX FQ-320

One of the fastest saloon cars in the world meets the police force! You could be forgiven for thinking that when these two come together there's bound to be trouble, but it seems the boys in blue are just as attracted to Mitsubishi's Evo as we are, even having a few of their own in full police livery.

We took WX05 EGJ to visit its nemesis, hoping our meeting would be the closest we would come to a brush with the law. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. Auto Express's long-term Evo IX's biggest trip to date took me, a photographer and all his cameras to Germany for the Frankfurt Motor Show last September. En route, the French police pulled us over on the motorway - thankfully, they were only inquisitive customs officers.

Otherwise, the trip was largely uneventful, but not short of excitement. On Germany's unrestricted autobahns, the Mitsubishi's high-speed performance could be enjoyed for the first time - and it didn't disappoint. While the suspension is firm, the seats are cosseting and damping is excellent, so the Evo is uncomfortable only on a bumpy B-road.

But noise is a problem, the booming exhaust system resonating throughout the cabin at motor-way speed. And that isn't the only drawback to our focused performance machine. Servicing is an expensive business, and it's needed frequently. The Evo requires a trip to the dealer every 4,500 miles (that's every 10 weeks at our current rate), and it already has two stamps in its service book, at a total cost of £613.68. The work was carried out at Mitsubishi's MotorWey dealership in Putney, south west London, to an excellent standard. Our only gripe was when the firm said it would replace a scored brake disc under warranty, but then re-tracted the offer. In the end, the part wasn't needed, but it was irritating to be misled.

So are the big bills justified? For road use, the Evo IX is the nearest thing to a Group N rally car you can buy - and they get serviced after every stage! However, with a clutch that now judders in cold and damp conditions, plus front tyres which are showing considerable wear, the next six months don't look as if they're going to be any cheaper.

Other aspects of life with the Mitsubishi are thoroughly rewarding, and the interior is proving sturdy and well built. Only the lack of a folding rear seat detracts from what is a practical saloon, while the fiddly touchscreen Alpine radio and sat-nav unit is still a source of irritation.

But versatility isn't what the Evo is all about - this is a formidable performance car. Given the pace on offer, restraint is required to keep within the speed limit. Let's hope we've now had our one and only meeting with the law...

Second opinion

I borrowed the Evo for a weekend, and fully expected to be given a thick ear by my wife for my unsuitable choice of wheels. However, we found it rather practical and enjoyable. The only downside is the poor refinement, and the fact you become a target for every modified Vauxhall Nova within a 10-mile radius. But they soon get put off when they see my two-year-old waving at them from the back seat.
Oliver Marriage, road test editor