Feature: Two Kids & A EVO!

Since 1990, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has been rocking the World Rally Championships, and the fact that it was also a limited production family car, was merely a side effect of homologation rules. Mitsubishi was not thinking about selling cars when they designed the EVO, but winning races. Perhaps you could say they had their mind in the right place, which is why the model has been so damn successful.

Hector, President of Team SWAT (“So What Any Time”) in Phoenix Arizona, and father of two, says his 2005 Mitsubishi EVO VIII as an all in one package. “It's my family car and project car in one,” says Hector. “I can have my kids with me, drop them off, and go to the track—I don't have to worry about switching cars, I've already got the EVO.”

“Our EVO's family name is Squeaky,” says Hector. “I got some aftermarket brake pads and they squeaked a lot—the name has stuck ever since.”

Okay, now I know what you might be thinking, but before you picture the backseat with a built-in romper room and diaper changing station, Hector is a serious car fanatic, and wasn't about to be driving some diaper wagon when his wife told him that they had a second on the way.

“I told my wife, if I'm going to get a four door, it is going to be something I want,” says Hector, confident his wife was nowhere in earshot. “I tried the Dodge SRT but I wasn't feeling it—I tried a Subaru, but they didn't have one in stock—That's when I landed on the Mitsubishi dealership and fell in love with the EVO.”

“The funny part is, when I got the EVO, nobody believed I would get it,” said Hector “Then sure enough, as soon as I brought it home, those same people were like, Whoa, can I drive it.”

“I was trying to find a basic RS model, then the next thing you know, the dealer found me an SSL (Sunroof System Leather),” says Hector. “It took four trips to the dealer to qualify for it—I remember the moment when they handed me the keys, it felt like I was dreaming.”

For the next two years, Hector enjoyed his EVO as nature intended. Bone stock!

“The stock EVO is pretty nice how it is,” comments Hector. “My car today pretty much only has simple bolt-ons, nothing big, but I can take out cars that have a lot more done to them.” A few of Hectors greatest kills are a Pontiac GTO (new style) and WS6 Trans Am. “A GTO tried to race me once—I beat him, he got mad, we raced again, same story.” Hector pauses for a moment. “Of course, it's also got a lot to do with the driver.”

“Haters are always claiming their cars are fast, but once you get them, they don't like getting beat by cars that are supposed to have less horsepower,” says Hector, who has run a solid 12.8 at the track with bolt-ons only. He estimates his current horsepower to be somewhere around 330.

“I'm thinking of going with a bigger turbo,” says Hector. “But bigger is not always better.” Hector's EVO has around 110,000 original miles as a daily driver, so when he gets to itching for an upgrade, he has to consider the maintenance, reliability, and overall driveability. Not that Hector has any particular reason for being careful, as his EVO has not let him down in all five years he's owned it.

“It’s an EVO VIII, what's there more to say,” gushes Hector. “I love my EVO to the fullest, and to this day it has never failed me once.”

This is the point where the EVO haters start talking smack about the unreliable nature of the EVO, and how a three wheel tricycle could knock one off the road with a decent tailwind. But Hector is one step ahead of them. “I can't forget my haters,” says Hector. “They've made me who I am, they are my biggest fans—if they weren't around, I wouldn't be doing my job right.”

“I also want to thank my wife for always being there,” says Hector. “Even though she thinks it's dumb wasting money, she still supports me.”

They're both keepers, Hector.
The car and the wife!