Great shootout in the latest C&D. Not available online yet (go buy a copy! It's not exactly expensive), but here are some highlights. It was very very close--201 for first place, 199 for second, 195 for 3rd. The results:
3rd place: Subaru WRX STI
Highs: Fantastic high-end grunt, supple ride, an interior worthy of the sticker price.
Lows: Vague, overly assisted steering, flaccid power below 4000 rpm, a chassis set to terminal understeer.
Verdict: ROCK--plenty of power in need of some finesse.
2nd place: Volkswagen R32
Highs: Spine-tingling exhaust note, smooth power delivery, an interior you could live in.
Lows: Stiff ride, only marginally better performance than the GTI's.
Verdict: PAPER--Requires a certain amount of intelligence to properly appreciate.
1st place: Mitsubishi Lancer EVO GSR
Highs: Yaw control that absorbs understeer, awesome grip, great low-end torque for a turbo.
Lows: Needs a telescoping steering wheel, one more gear, and an interior worthy of the price.
Verdict: SCISSORS--Simple and effective at its single purpose of easy speed.
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It's a good read, though I would have gone for #2.