The LSD is partly the reason for why I wanted to lock the 4WD diff up and use it.

Any suggestions on where i could buy an LSD for a FWD and how much it would cost??

 

I read all the previous posts and can see where you guys are coming from but you also got to think about the bang for buck. 1997+ evo models are over $40,000 easy. I can get you an EVO 5 frontcut from New Zealand for around $6000. A rear cut for about $3000 or so. And then you pay some dude to do the rear floorpan if you dont know any good welders. And its not as messy as you might think. Its fiddly, but its a straighforward job once the floor is in.

So for parts and labour maybe costing you $12-15k all up (plus you doing a lot of work yourself too), I cant see the problem with owning an EVO hybrid for a hell of a lot less than $40,000. Especially cause you have genuine evo engine, drivetrain, brakes, interior, climate control and all the other cool jap stuff australia didnt get - And its all fully engineer approved easily as its all bolt in swap.

For any modded car most of the generic insurance companies wont touch you, but there are companies out there like Vigil, Just Cars insurance etc that specialise in insuring highly modified cars - its no problem to them as long as the car is registered and engineer approved.

It all comes down to how much money you want to spend, and what you really want. Hey, look at my case. I would love a genuine EVO 3, but most have been driven hard and I dont have the funds up front to buy one. I have spent close to $30,000 at the moment (including cost of buying the car) but it is a ground up rebuild for nearly 3 years with only the shell and glass remaining as standard items. The car will be practically new and for the money, I got a rare AWD Coupe with all the creature comforts capable of 50% more power than the EVO's for the same money as buying one.

Just look around in NSW, good examples of done up GSR's still sell for $25,000. EVO's in NSW are rare due to our rego and REPV laws and you wont find a decent genuine EVO 1-3 under $25k. For close to the same money, and for the same year model car, my 2 door is rarer and will cost me about the same as a decent EVO 3 on completion. And yeah, my car will be showed, see track use in hillclimbs and curcuit runs as well.

Anyway, Im just saying to weigh up what you want and how individual you want to be. Be it either a standard new mitsubishi lancer for $26,000 which depreciates heaps in value in a couple years, or an older AWD lancer which holds it value better and worth more in 2 years time. Think about it and spend your money right for what you really want to achieve in a car.

What do you really get for your money??? And if you have a decent maintained used vehicle, I suppose it also raises the question on whether a new car is really worth it as well????

I think I just opened the floodgates. =) Please be gentle.

Rob
evo_x_coupe

 

My thoughts exactly. It is a hell of a lot more satisfying building a realtively quick car from scratch than buying one that already has the work done to it. I have had many arguments with people who say that it is not worth the time and money. I tend to disagree, however.

As for the cost, my car currently exibits a full evo 5 kit, 17" chrome wheels (on the car when I bought it for $17,500). Chuck $5500 on top of that for the GSR front cut and installation and you have a 2000 CE 1.8L DOHC turbo Lancer that beats 90% of the cars here in Coffs, for a little over $23000.

Add the fact that I know the car is in good condition, and have loved doing every bit of work that I have done on the car, I can safely say that I would do it again, even if I had the money to purchase a new EVO.

 

Rob: Seriously you never make money on a car+mods. In fact you'd sell a car faster if you stripped the mods off it and returned it back to standard. But honestly speaking I don't think cars in general in Australia hold their value well. An example would be the TME, unfortunately its only worth almost 50% of its original tag compared to Japan where its's still worth over 80%. I know the marketting for the TME and pricing was a shock to many with the $80K tag, but many don't see it as a TME but just a normal E6.5 unfortunately...perhaps if it sold at $65K it may have weighted up better.

Sure these are imports but a good R33 GTR Vspec by right should be worth over $40k, but a mate of mine couldn't sell his for that...Supras RZ also. I think you get the picture, Australia has a high depreciation rate for cars compared to other countries. If the Gov doesn't realise the 15yo is opening up the gates to many hi-po cars from Japan such as the BNR32, don't expect turbo cars to hold their value when they can pickup a BNR32 or Series 6 for $10K and $15K landed...thus you MAY be forced to ask for a lower selling price.

You'd only be doing this conversion if you really loved to have AWD Coupe and the fact you are using it for circuit events. Modifying cars is a bottomless pit But if people are doing the conversion to surprise other at traffic light GP your an idiot, not for the conversion but for street racing. I seriously hope you keep the racing off the street and on the circuit.

Back on the 15yo rule I'm more concerned with insurance skyrocketting and the danger of having a 18yo P-plater behind a modified BNR32.

Cheers
T

 

I could not agree more Lee. I have been thinking about this issue for a while now and it just is not weighing up. Look the AWD coupe is great, but other than for its uniqueness I am sorry to say I does not have a lot to offer over many other performance cars which are at the end of the day are cheaper. I love the Lancer probably more than anyone else I have ever met (bit sad I know) but I know its limitations. I realise that there are 2 versions of the Lancer 1 that is a Economy car which is nice to play around with and the 2nd is the awesome Evolution...

 

Mivec: I already know a few guys who have deposits on a BNR32, they have already bought the car having it stored here awaiting the 15yo to tick over. To avoid the flock of buyers next year and being able to choose a good example or modded one for that matter before everyone else. The way I look at it is a few of these high powered cars will slip into the country under the 15yo rule, by then the Gov will get smart and probably push it back further, like they NZ did who I think changed it to 20 years import rule. So if you are looking at bringing in an import under the 15yo, probably best to look into one now. Course owning an Evo is the ultimate as well as it being rare, but I have nothing against the BNR32 or other cars for that matter, just people who think one is better then the other yet don't know why when you ask them.

Back to the topic too many people often ask if they should do this or that to their car, opinions are always good but the decision is always yours.

T