Fess up time...
The OTHER car, '94 Mitsu VR4 hit its and was just replaced with a Mitsu Evolution VIII. Fabulous machine-entirely functionally designed, and the opposite of my cobra. Not beautiful, not brutal, very technological (sprayers for the intercooler...), but faaast (0-0 in 5) and sticky (.97 on the skidpad) and AWD for all-weather driving when the cobra can't come out.
Very odd driving it though. In the cobra--well, you KNOW who looks and gestures and asks. In the Evo, it's the kids in the hopped up hondas that come by and give the thumbs up and smile. Even come by at the gas station and ask about it. Hell, I was at the Jag dealership last week (another Copple-like story there) and a guy drove into the parking lot, said he saw the Evo from the street and had to see it. Even the Jag service manager wanted a technical run-through. I do like the fact that its got 10 years of rally development. And yes, the fin works. You should feel it settle down between 80 and 100.
Here's the URL. Sorry about the flash, but it's a generational thing:
http://www.mitsubishimotors.com/lanc...ion/index.html
So, my feeble point is, that looking for a car to take the place of the VR4 led me to the Evo and, maybe a little understanding of the kids in the ricers.
Meanwhile, the Evo's a wonderful alter-ego to the cobra, now getting spiffed for VIR.