Readers' Rides: Justin's Brutal 700bhp Evo VIII GSR

Justin got in contact with us on Facebook, and after a brief back and forth his sarcastic sense of humour won us over. Then we discovered he is the proud owner of a crazy modified Evo, and we just had to get it on the site! So, Justin, tell us more about this brute...

My name is Justin and I live in Albany, New York. I'm 21-years-old and a student of Physics at SUNY Albany. This is my 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII GSR and she's a bitch. She's loud, noisy, violent, and likes it rough. There's no air conditioning, no back seats, no traction-control and no ABS. Hell, there isn't even windscreen washer fluid. Why? Because all those things make a car slow.

You get two Bride seats, an NRG quick-release steering wheel, three pedals at the floor, and a five-point harness to keep your ass in place. She's 100 per cent brutal. She'll break loose in third if you suddenly decide you want a piece of her. She gets whatever she wants. She's a real queen.

I came under her control about two years ago. I had a good ol' bug-eye WRX that I had just sold and was looking for something with more power. So I was scrolling through some Subaru forums when I found this beauty (ironic, I know). Bought it. I'm not loyal to any brand - I'm loyal to performance.

Now I'll admit, she'd had one or two things done to her when I first got her - she was making about 500whp. But I said, "know what? I want more." So I spent the following year completely rebuilding her with a buddy of mine. Engine was pulled; rebuilt. Transmission was pulled; rebuilt. Everything was ripped out and rebuilt. I have scars on my hands from putting this car back together that will never go away. It was then re-tuned and pushed harder. She cranks out 650whp and about 585lb/ft of torque. I think that's good enough...for now.

She's built for function, not form. You won't see any hella-flush #YOLOswag camber on this ride. She's made for the track - not just the quarter-mile. She's garaged for the winter (NY is salt-heaven and my Toyo Proxy R888 tyres aren't rated below 45 degrees Fahrenheit - first world problems) but when she's out at Watkins Glen Raceway she's a real head-turner.

I've done some amateur racing through SCCA

and I'd love to get into rallying. I think that speed is an addiction just like any drug. Too much of it and you'll get in trouble. It's expensive and becomes habitual. But I love it.

But it's not just the speed. A car is something you can easily develop a relationship with. It can stir a lot of emotion for something that is, to most people, an 'inanimate object.'

I don't think I'll ever get rid of this car, no matter how much of a headache it can sometimes give me.

If you want your car featured on Readers' Rides, email darren.cassey@carthrottle.com with a pic and a few words explaining why you love it so much. If we like it, we'll feature it!