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Car sales scams- How to avoid getting ripped off?

Car sales scams are common and many people end up getting ripped off. Selling vehicles is a highly profitable enterprise. A car salesman is paid highly for just that reason. As the saying goes, if someone can sell a car, they can sell anything. Usually the prospective buyer is not told the true value of a car; as the manufacturers are very much aware, there is always a markup. They definitely do not want you to know this bit of information. How do you avoid getting ripped off?

The following is some advice to consider:

1. Buy a car during the off season, such as during Christmas time. Since most people are otherwise occupied with Christmas shopping, you may be able to negotiate a better deal. You will find great deals from July to October, as dealerships are attempting to sell off their old inventory to make way for the next years models.

2. Research the vehicles that you are interested in online, print out the information, and take it to the seller. To help you find rebates and other incentives, it is wise to sign up for their newsletters. One website that is an excellent source for information is FightingChance.com.

3. Bring your credit information with you if you want to have your car financed. It is available to you online through Equifax.com.

4. If you still owe money on a car, you should not trade it in because you will still be responsible for the late fees if the dealer does not pay it off in a timely manner. It is a good idea to get all agreements in writing so that if you need to refer to them at a later date, you have them.

5. Never shop for a car when you are desperate because it is more likely that you will be taken advantage of. Take someone with you to help you who has some experience in purchasing a used car.

6. If the car is not in stock, leave a deposit of no more than $500 and use a credit card to pay for it. The advantage of doing it that way is that you can file a dispute if the dealer tries to change the price for any reason.

7. You absolutely do not have to purchase an extended warranty to be eligible for a car loan. It is definitely not necessary for loan approval. The extended warranty will be handled by someone from another company. If you decide to purchase the extended warranty, be sure to read the contract carefully since a number of things may not be covered. Before you go to the dealer, obtain quotes on extended warranties at warrantydirect.com.

8. Don’t purchase any extra accessories. If you purchase any accessories from the dealer, you will end up paying dearly for them. This will include many different things like: rust proofing, scotch guard, car alarm, paint sealant, detailing and pin striping, credit / insurance costs, extended warranty, etc.

9. Don’t let them talk you into the window etching scam. The seller may tell you that the banks require it, but they do not. This is not the truth. Caretch.com sells car etch kits at very low prices.

10. Do not let them box you in. Sometimes you may have more than one sales person trying to convince you to make a purchase in very obnoxious ways. Do not be bullied by the sales people, and if they do bully you, threaten to leave and then do so if they continue.

11. Take your time to understand the offer. Salesmen or managers may try to gloss over some of the details or rush through the information in order to confuse you. Insist that they stop pressuring you and take all the time you need to think it through. Do not be afraid to walk out if they are not cooperative.

12. You are not required to fill out a credit application if you are paying cash for the car. No company policy can require that you fill out a credit application if you do not need a loan, nor is there a law that requires it. There are no laws that require someone to fill out a credit application when buying the car for cash.

These tips should help you avoid finding yourself in a used car scam and getting ripped off.

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A collection of our hints and tips for your automobile.

Tires

Pressure

Paying attention to your tires pressure can save on their wear . In cold weather, a tire can lose a pound or more of pressure for each drop of 10 degrees F. If your tires are under inflated and its cold you can lose traction on the road in the snow and ice, as well as put more wear on your tires. So a few minutes each week, can save you $$$$ and make your drive safer!


Air Pressure

Take advantage of the next mild day and check the air pressure in your vehicle�s tires. Don't forget that spare tire also! Proper air pressure lessens the wear on your tires.

Good Driving Habits

Good driving habits really help your vehicles tires to last longer. Jack-rabbit starts, screeching stops and turns and scuffing curbs all undermine a tire�s lifespan! Try a monthly inflation pressure check when the tire is cold, before driving anywhere. Look in the glove compartment or on the edge of the driver�s door for the carmakers recommendations.

Tire Rotation

Rotate your tires every six months. Rotate tires front to back only, DON'T switch them from one side to another.

Tire Tread

Check the tire tread on your vehicle�s tires on a regular basis. The wear should be uniform around the entire tire. The tread grooves must be at least 1/16 inch deep for the tire to be usable. If you have wear at both edges but not in the middle, you have underinflated tires, and they aren�t wearing properly!

Rusted lugnuts?

Ever have lug nuts rusted in place on your wheel studs while trying to change a flat tire? Or have so much corrosion on your spark plugs that they are locked tight in the cylinder head when you want to change them for routine maintenance? To avoid this kind of grief, the next time you install spark plugs and/or rotate your tires, coat the plug and wheel stud threads with an antiseize compound. You can purchase a tube for a few dollars at an auto parts store. The compound works better than penetrating oil, and saves you priceless time later when changing a tire or replacing spark plugs.
 
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TYRES

Tyre care is essential for maintaining vehicle safety. Tyres should be checked on a regular basis and before any long driving trips. Correctly maintained tyres will improve fuel economy, extend tyre life and improve vehicle safety.

1)  Tyre inflation should be checked every two weeks when cold, recommended pressure can be found in the owner’s manual.
2)  Abnormal wear patterns indicate possible wheel alignment or suspension problems.
3)  Vibrations in the steering indicate the tyres may require balancing.
4)  Make sure that tyres have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread depth.

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OIL

An engine is made up of a large number of important moving parts, such as pistons, crankshaft, valves and the camshaft to name a few. Engine oil plays several important roles in ensuring that these all work together properly.

So what function does the oil perform in an engine?

-Oil is a lubricant. Oil reduces friction and wear that occurs when parts move against each other, for example between the cylinder liner and piston ring, or the camshaft.

-Assists in heat dispersion. Engine oil absorbs the heat produced in the engine combustion chambers and piston under crown area, cooling the engine and helping to prevent overheating.

-As a sealant. Motor oil seals the space between the piston ring and the cylinder liner to prevent combustion pressure and engine power from escaping.

-Oil is also a detergent. It prevents waste matter resulting from combustion and impurities produced by oxidation from sticking to the engine interior, helping to keep it clean and last longer.

-Motor oil is also a rust inhibitor. It neutralises acids produced by combustion gases, preventing rusting, corrosion and damage to essential components.

Easy to follow tips:

1)  Engine oil level should be regularly checked regardless of vehicle age.
2)  Only top up oil with correct grade as specified by manufacturer.
3)  When topping up oil do not exceed the maximum recommend level.

POWER STEERING FLUID          

Power steering fluid should be checked regularly to ensure it is filled to capacity.

1)  The fluid can be checked via the reservoir. For the specific location relating to your vehicle please check your owner’s manual.
2)  Only use the recommended oil for your car, this information can be found in your owner’s manual.
3)  Never over fill the reservoir.
4)  If the power steering fluid needs regular refilling contact your nearest  site for advice.

BATTERIES

The battery is the key component of your car’s electrical system and the main cause of vehicle breakdowns. A number of simple steps can be taken to ensure your battery is kept in optimum condition all year round.

1)  Check battery terminals regularly to ensure they are clean and tight.
2)  Ensure that the electrolyte level is correct, if topping up only use distilled water. Many newer batteries are maintenance free and won’t require topping up.
3)  Make sure the battery is secure.
4)   If your battery has not been replaced in 3 – 4 years consider a replacement as battery failures often occur with no warning.
5)  Auto Services carry a comprehensive range of heavy duty batteries to suit all makes and models.

LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

Lights are critical for vehicle safety. Electrical components including horns and window demisters need to be checked as well to ensure correct operation on a regular basis.

1)  Check you lights regularly to ensure they work correctly.
2)  Only use the recommended globes, this information can be found in your owner’s manual.
3)   Check other electrical components i.e. horns, window demisters regularly to ensure correct operation.

COOLING

Your vehicle’s cooling system is vital to the operation of your vehicle.  Driving at freeway speeds and hot summer days put a lot of stress on your vehicle’s cooling system. Basic checks can assist in maintaining your vehicle’s cooling system.

1)  Only inspect your cooling system when the engine is cold. Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot.
2)   Check coolant level regularly.
3)   Only use the recommended coolant for your vehicle, this can be found in the owner’s manual.
4)   If your cooling system requires regular refilling there may be a leak in the system.

BRAKES

Brakes are a vital component of your vehicle. Poor brake performance and condition can result in substantially longer braking distances potentially placing you and your passengers in danger.

1)    Squealing brakes, grinding on your rotors or unusual vibrations may indicate your brakes need replacing.
2)    Another sign of worn brakes is poor brake performance.
3)    Ensure that your vehicle's brake fluid is full.
5)    Always use the recommended brake fluid for you vehicle, this can be found in your owner’s manual.

TRANSMISSIONS

 Most transmission work is best left to the experts, however the following tips will help ensure your transmission operates correctly.

1)    Ensure that the transmission fluid level remains filled to the correct level, check owner's manual for details on checking levels.
2)    Ensure fluid is not discoloured or burnt.
3)    Always use the correct type of oil for your car, this can be found by referring to your owner’s manual.

SUSPENSION

Maintenance of suspension components is vital to ensure vehicle safely. Worn suspension components can increase your stopping distance by up to 20%. In addition properly-functioning suspension ensures a more comfortable ride for passengers.

1)    Suspension components should be checked regularly for any signs of physical damage and excess wear.
2)    Shock absorbers should be checked for fluid leaks.
3)    Check your suspension when driving for any abnormalities i.e. steering wheel vibration, nose diving when stopping.

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Seatbelts

Buckle Up!

The truth is it's 25 times more dangerous to be thrown from your vehicle in an accident, then to remain inside it. SO, please buckle up!

Cooling System

Antifreeze

Remember antifreeze is a deadly poison. It�s sweet taste unfortunately attracts animals. If they lick it, they may become seriously or fatally ill. Please remember to pick up any spills you see.

Cooling System

To prevent your engine from freezing in the winter you want your cooling system to be in good condition. Maintenance includes inspecting all hoses and their clamps to prevent any leaks. Take a look at the water pump and fanbelt for any looseness or wear. Check the radiator for any corrosion, rust or leaks. Then clean the radiator fins of any debris. Remember to replace the coolant mixture every other year and check it for strength more frequently. Inexpensive flushing-tee kits are available at autoparts and department stores.

Windshield

Windshield Washer Solution

Winter can be a messy time with much road spray on your windshield, thereby seriously hampering visibility. Remember to weekly, check your windshield washer reservoir to make sure you have enough fluid for future trips.

Temporary Glass Repair

To temporarily fix a crack in a windowpane, apply some clear shellac along the break-line. This will weatherproof the glass and prevent further cracking. You still need to replace the glass, but this gives you a little time to shop for it.

Windshield Wiper Blades

Going to be cool again, bring your wiper blades inside for the night. No waiting in the morning for them to defrost-just attach and GO!
 

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Car Rack

Vehicle Lumber Rack

If you have to carry lumber or something rough on top of your car, have a couple of foam pipe insulation pieces available. The foam pipes will protect the luggage rack.

Headlights

Spring Checkup

Rough winter driving, (e.g. hitting potholes, snowbanks, etc.), can knock your headlights aim out of their proper alignment. Think about having them checked out when doing a spring tune-up/ inspection on your vehicle.

Winter Driving

Snow Driving

If you are driving a rear wheeldrive vehicle adding some weight in the trunk will provide added traction in the upcoming icy weather. A bag of kitty litter, sand or cement will do the trick! However, if you have front wheel drive, then you want to keep any heavy objects out of the back of your vehicle. They will reduce your traction, rather than improve it!

Pothole Alert

Now is the time of year to keep your eyes alert for that big hole in the road, yes, potholes! Driving in these holes is not good for your car. If you have bad shock absorbers, you could possibly lose control of your car. SO BEWARE!

Hoses

Car Hoses

High temperatures are often the cause of engine hoses cracking and breaking. When your car engine is cold, check the hoses. They should be resilient under pressure, but not soft! Look for any crimps, brittle edges or swollen lumps. For trouble-free driving you should replace suspect hoses NOW!

Oil

Oil Changes

With summer almost upon us, its time to switch to a heavier grade motor oil at your next oil change. The heavier grade oil protects the engine better during hot weather driving. You can also check your owner�s manual for specific seasonal recommendations.

Automatic Transmissions

Car Care

The most important task for an automatic vehicle is to maintain the proper level of transmission fluid. Low levels cause hard shifting and speed up the wear of internal parts. If you see any reddish stains where you park, jack up the car and inspect the gaskets and transmission case for any leaks. Sometimes just tightening the bolts in a crisscross pattern will stop the leak. If it�s coming from a seal, then time to call the mechanic!

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Gas Cap

How Not To Lose Your Gas Cap

Tired of losing your gas tank cap? If you have a screw on the cap you can attach some fishing wire to the screw on the filler tube and the cap , just unloosen screws and retighten.

Tools

Do-It-Yourselfer Tools

What should the do-it -yourselfer have in the garage for automobile repairs and maintenance? Depending on your vehicle, you will need a set of combination wrenches ranging from 3/8in. to 1in. or 6mm. to 19mm. It would also be good to have a 3/8in. socket wrench set (or mm.), including the same range of sizes. Allen or hex wrenches ranging from 2mm. to 12mm.,(or .05in. to .25in.) are also essential. Other items could be a tire-pressure gauge, a 12-volt test light, jumper cables for your battery, small wire brush, oil-filter wrench, funnels, jack stands and an offset ratchet screwdriver.

Trunk tool kit

Hint for the trunk, keep a small tool kit on hand at all times such as small hand pump, adjustable wrench, screw driver with multi-tips, knife with variety of blades, plus ten ft. of electrical wire. Among other things you can charge a battery with it from a friends car. You connect it to both batteries and let the car run for at least twenty minutes, then start the car.

Stains

Get Rid of Oil Stains on Garage Floors

For fresh stains use kitty litter, grind in with your foot and let set for a couple hours to absorb the oil.
For older oil stains try scraping off what you can from the surface with a putty knife. Next try paint thinner which breaks down and dissolves the stain. Wipe up with a disposable cloth. If needed, make a poultice of crushed kitty litter mixed with paint thinner. The sponge effect of the poultice will draw out the oil. Leave on for several hours.

Wash/Wax

Spring: Car Wash and Wax

Warm outside? Time to give the car a good washing and waxing? Spray a strong stream of water underneath the car and wheel wells to flush away any road salt left behind. Touch up any paint chips and then apply a quality wax.

Car Locks in the Winter

To prevent your car locks from freezing, when washing your car this winter cover the keyholes with masking tape beforehand to keep the water out. Also, by operating the button or lever a few times, this may help the area from freezing. If you do end up locked out of your vehicle, use an aerosol de-icer with a narrow tube to reach in between the door and car body to reach the latch. Good luck!

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Other Vehicles

ATV Safety

Remember a few safety tips when on an all-terrain vehicle. Try to buy a 4-wheel ATV they have better records for being safe. As a rider, wear a helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, gloves and boots. Don�t give rides! Stay off paved roads and if under 16, the ATV should be under 90cc.

Hibernation of Snowblower

Time to finally put away the snowblower for the year! Remember to drain the fuel tank, and run the engine to use up any remaining gas in the fuel line. Or instead, just add some Stabil.

Visors

Visor Cover

Save your old sweatshirt sleeve, (with the cuff attached), to use as a cover on your car visor. The cover will hold all sorts of small items, sunglasses, tapes, and pens! So if you never know where to place all those things-give the visor a try!


Driveway

Blacktop/Patching the Driveway

Blacktop(asphalt) driveways require maintenance because the asphalt tends to lose oils from constant exposure to the sunlight, causing it to dry out and crack. Therefore, a yearly patching or sealing will add years to your driveway, and keep it looking great! If you are living in a northern climate you might want to check out a heavy-duty sealer.

Signals

Distress Signals on the Highway

Tie a white cloth to your vehicle�s antenna or door handle and raise your hood. Try to remain calm and conserve your energy while you are waiting.

Distress Signals on the Water

You have a few options-use red flares, or an orange smoke signal . Use a signal mirror, or an upside down national flag, or try continuous foghorn blasts. If you have a radiotelephone use channel 16 for Mayday announcements.

Distress Signals At Night

SOS with a flashlight,(3 long, 3 short signals) to an airplane. If you know Morse code you can send and receive messages.

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Auto mobile news

You've no doubt heard endless praise for both Subaru's wicked Impreza WRX STI and Mitsubishi's wild Lancer Evolution. It's well-deserved. With an intoxicating mixture of monster horsepower and magical four-wheel-drive systems, these little rockets have hexed a generation of boy racers into spending more than thirty grand on what are, in essence, tarted-up, entry-level economy cars.

But what happens when the boy racer grows up? Subaru says he turns into Jason, a fictional character its marketing department has developed and affectionately refers to as the "affluent man-child." Jason shares more than just his name with your humble author - at thirty-two, he's the same age, also has no kids, watches little or no television, and works in a creative field. Jason must be newly interested in cushy refinement because, to ensure that their new 2008 STI and Evo models continue to appeal to him, Subaru and Mitsubishi have kept the same blistering performance recipe - about 300 turbocharged horsepower and four-wheel drive - but added lots more everyday livability and convenience features.

They've added a lot more price, too. In fact, both cars, when fully loaded, come perilously close to the base price of a certain BMW, the 335xi - the car that Jason will surely want in another few years, when he grows from affluent man-child into affluent man. Although you might not realize it, the BMW is similar in size to the Japanese cars, and its powertrain cauldron is cooking up the same ingredients: a turbocharged, 300-hp engine and four-wheel drive.

You now understand the meaning of that WWJD bumper sticker you keep seeing. It symbolizes the painful emotional dilemma that faces every boy racer as he begins the long, introspective journey into adulthood. Evo, STI, or 3-series? What Would Jason Do?

To answer that question, Jason (your author) rounded up all three cars and a few leadfooted staffers and flogged them mercilessly (the cars, not his coworkers) around Southern California.

Visually, the 335xi is the grown-up of the group, devoid of deep spoilers, fender flares, clear taillights, and wings. Under its bulgeless, scoopless hood lies BMW's power-house 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged in-line six. On the way to its 7000-rpm redline, the screaming six produces the thrust of 300 horses and a tenor crescendo that echoes off mountains a half mile away. By using two small turbochargers, BMW eliminated a great deal of potential lag - major oomph is available instantaneously, regardless of where the tachometer needle is pointed.

Our test car's $47,100 sticker price was considerably higher than that of a $41,575 base 335xi because it included various options that don't affect performance - and that the other two cars don't have. So, for the purposes of this comparison, we will ignore the metallic paint, the leather seats, the keyless starting system, the Bluetooth, and the cold-weather package. Equipped with only the sport package and the eighteen-inch wheel-and-tire upgrade, our 335xi would cost $43,075. Yes, that's a lot of dough, although the top-spec STI isn't much cheaper: our 2008 WRX STI test vehicle shocked us with its $39,440 price tag. Subtract the optional BBS wheels and navigation, though, and the STI drops to $35,640. The two cars' equipment levels are similar (for example, both cars have high-intensity-discharge headlights and six-speed manual transmissions) but the Subaru's lower price is partially offset by missing standard 335xi features such as a sunroof and dual-zone climate control.

The Subaru's 2.5-liter flat-four engine belts out 305 hp in one huge explosion, pulling so frantically toward its 6700-rpm redline that its engineers wisely installed a beeper to notify the driver that it's time to shift. Still, we hit the rev limiter constantly. While the flat four never creates a symphony like the BMW in-line six, it's smooth and pleasing to the ears, no matter how fast it's turning.

The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X's raucous in-line four, on the other hand, could wake the dead. Inside the car, it sounds like a blender. Outside, a jet helicopter. It builds power more progressively than the STI - to a peak of 291 hp - and pulls frantically all the way to its rev limiter. You'll never be surprised by the rev limiter, though - the engine is so vocal that you don't even need to look at the tach. You will be checking the gauges, however, to see if the engine is still running when you're trying to take off gently up a steep hill: the Evo's 2.0-liter engine - the smallest in the group - is powerless off idle. To complicate things, the Evo's clutch fills the air with the scent of burnt lining after even moderate slippage, so slow starts on steep grades are a tricky proposition involving lots of throttle, a modicum of revs, and a measured dose of patience. ..

There would have been no such eau de clutch issue had we tested a Lancer Evo MR, whose dual-clutch automatic uses wet clutches. The MR - which we expect will start at about $38,000 - includes gorgeous, forged BBS wheels, two-piece brake rotors, Alcantara seats, Bilstein dampers, and additional sound deadening. Its higher price and equipment level would have made it an ideal choice for this test if it were available with a manual transmission.

We chose the basic Evo GSR, however, because, like the BMW and the Subaru, it has three pedals and a stick shift. With a sticker price of only $33,615, it arrived sans all of the MR features and without many items that the other two cars had - the HID headlights, a satellite radio, and a sixth cog in its transmission, to name a few. On the positive side, its back seat is roomier than those in the STI and the 3-series. That's important to note, because not much will fit in the tiny trunk.

Once you're behind the wheel of a Lancer Evolution, though, practical concerns like trunk space are secondary. We declared the previous Evo to be one of the most throttle-adjustable street cars we've driven, but the new one is even better. Ironically, the lack of cargo space is the price you pay for that increased maneuverability - various rear suspension and Active Yaw Control differential components live where cases of beer would normally fit in the trunk. The Evo's driveline computers shuffle power effectively through the three differentials to diminish understeer, and as a result, the Evo pirouettes like a ballerina any time you twist the steering wheel.

Perfectly accurate, although not particularly communicative, the Evo's steering is geared so quickly that it makes the 3580-pound sedan feel like a go-kart. Maintaining a quick pace on mountain roads requires lots of concentration - it's so eager to drift that we tended to leave the stability control turned on during very fast sections. Mitsubishi's engineers kept the first four gears very short and closely spaced to help ensure the availability of thrust on the way out of slow corners, but with only five gears to work with and the need for a high-speed top gear, the ratio drop from fourth to fifth is enormous. Nevertheless, the Evo's engine is in wailing range at highway speeds, making long interstate trips less enjoyable.

On the same roads at the same pace, the driver of an STI will have a much lower pulse rate. The Evo's primal scream is replaced by a distant, mellow, flat-four thrum. Instead of the Evo's tail-happy, tame-me-if-you-can chassis, the Subaru provides complete directional confidence. The STI can maintain the same pace, but whereas the Evo's driver is busy calculating the yaw-angle consequences of changing road camber, surface-grip levels, and frost heaves, the STI driver is enjoying the ultrashort throws of the bolt-action shifter and the seemingly endless range of suspension travel. Stability control? We never much cared whether it was on or off, knowing that the STI's rump would never step out.

Although the Subaru is 220 pounds lighter than the Mitsubishi, more of its mass is concentrated in the front, and it feels less willing to change direction. Its steering is very precise but much slower than that of the Evo, and it offers no more feedback. Unless you count nasty kickback over midcorner bumps, that is.

On interstate stretches, the STI's longer top gear and mellow engine make for much more relaxed cruising. Its cabin is a nicer place to be for long periods of time, thanks to higher quality materials, a smoother ride, and lower noise levels. (Even the Evo MR isn't as quiet and smooth on the highway as the STI.) The Subaru's elegant, twin-cockpit dashboard design makes even the BMW's look somber.

The second you climb into the BMW, however, you realize that you've just graduated from T-ball straight to the major leagues. Everything your fingers touch feels twice as expensive - and while the BMW is lacking in visual verve, looks can be deceiving. Take the sport seats, for example, which look as if they're nowhere near as supportive as the big-bolstered buckets in the other cars. In fact, the 3-series' bolsters are electrically adjustable and will hold you just as tightly.

With the proverbial twist of the key (the BMW uses a start button), discussions about the slight acceleration differences between the STI and the Evo are immediately silenced. The 335xi's engine displaces 50 percent more cubic centimeters than the Evo's and 20 percent more than the STI's. With 50 percent more cylinders than either - and 100 percent more turbo-chargers - the BMW beats both of the Japanese cars in a straight line.

From a standing start, the 3-series was merely a bit quicker than the other two cars, but in real-world driving it's significantly faster. The Evo's engine slowly comes alive from 3000 rpm; the STI's wakes up suddenly at 4000 rpm. The BMW, however, is always alert, achieving peak boost (and peak torque) at 1400 rpm - and it pulls hard all the way to 7000 rpm. Around town, it feels twice as powerful as either four-cylinder, and on the highway, it simply walks away from both. ..

The 335xi's shifter throws are neither as precise nor as short as the other cars', but its clutch engagement and electronic throttle control are so well-matched that you'll execute every shift perfectly without even trying. BMW fits its all-wheel-drive 3-series models with a slower steering ratio, but what the rack lacks in quickness, it makes up for in feedback. Its steering system transmits constant messages about the road surface to your fingertips, loading up naturally as you turn in.

The 335xi's operatic engine and prodigious steering feedback keep its driver as involved as the Evo's but with a dose of the STI driver's confidence. BMW doesn't install its sport suspension on all-wheel-drive cars, but the 335xi offers a blend of the silky ride quality and remarkable body control typical of other 3-series. Not surprisingly, tail-out antics are not easily accomplished in this all-wheel-drive Bimmer. Trail-braking causes it to push wide, whereas the Japanese cars' sophisticated, rally-bred chassis computers help them rotate. Regardless, the 3-series is always able to keep up with the others on back roads, its relative lack of absolute grip negated by the additional grunt from the big engine's broad torque curve.

Cruising at high speeds in the 3-series is, as you'd expect, a nonevent compared with the STI and the Evo. Triple-digit speeds happen as if by accident. The 335xi, despite having the largest engine and the best acceleration times, also has the highest EPA highway fuel-economy ratings.

Although their performance credentials are both impressive, the STI and the Evo couldn't be more different in personality. The Evo's high-energy, manic nature is in stark contrast to the Subaru's relaxed, refined demeanor. Yet the STI's understeer is no match against the Evo's sophisticated yaw dance. In cornering agility, the Evo has advanced from the modified compact-sedan realm into hard-core sports car territory. As the crudest, most aggressive car in this trio, it stays truer to the boy-racer ideal in both price and performance.

Some enthusiasts, though, will always view the pair as sub-$20,000 economy cars with $20,000 in upgrades, no matter their performance chops. A few years back, both the STI and the Evo were fantastic bargains at about $30,000. However, as these Japanese rally cars creep up in price, more and more boy racers will understandably stretch their budgets and look toward Germany. That's what this particular boy racer named Jason would do.

Click here for video of this comparison test.

Techtonics: Differential Equations
By Don Sherman

After two decades fiddling with every conceivable type of mechanical differential in their WRC-inspired sport sedans, Mitsubishi and Subaru are both moving aggressively toward active (electronically controlled) limited-slip devices. As the spec panels on the right show, basic open differentials have gone the way of the buggy whip.

BMW's xDrive system is an apt reference in this comparison test, because it bridges the gap between old and new. The old parts in the 335xi are a simple transfer case serving as the center differential and open front and rear diffs. These seemingly outdated components work acceptably well because they're backstopped by electronic circuits. A computer-controlled transfer-case clutch sets the share of torque dispatched to the 335xi's front wheels. Automatic one-wheel brake applications by the ABS help both axles behave as if they were fitted with limited-slip differentials.

Our cornering tests revealed a significant performance edge attributable to the Mitsubishi Evo's new Active Yaw Control system. Two computer-controlled clutches in the rear differential open or close on cue to help the car rotate (yaw) about its vertical axis. This approach proved very effective at curbing understeer and maximizing midcorner speed.

While electronically regulated differentials and cockpit adjustments are handy tools, neither negates all-wheel drive's dirty little secret: ordinary rear-wheel drive usually delivers superior dry-pavement handling. One reason is that every car engineered for public roads understeers (runs out of front-tire grip) at the limit. The most expedient means of diminishing understeer, and thereby elevating performance, is to allow the front tires to devote all of their adhesion to cornering (none to propulsion). The second reason is that skilled drivers generally prefer to command the front of the car with the steering wheel and the rear of the car with throttle adjustments; all-wheel drive muddies this strategy.

So why do Mitsubishi and Subaru continue racing for all-wheel-drive superiority? Two reasons: First, both the Evo and the STI spring from front-wheel-drive genes, and all-wheel drive is a notch higher in the performance pecking order. Second, no one drives exclusively on smooth, dry pavement; when the road is rough or slippery, all-wheel drive is more likely than any alternative to get you home quickly and safely.

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