Hey guys, long time lurker, finally posting. The time has come to make my childhood dream come true and finally consider buying an evo. I have found a beautiful white MR, super clean low miles and near stock, at a dealership so I have finance options too. Now I have searched but I'd like some opinions. My plans would be to max out the stock turbo and stick with it for a while, and eventually go big turbo if I get bored.

I understand that you can swap a 5 speed into an MR. My question is, would there be any negative consequences of swapping a 5 speed (built or not) into an MR? Would it be better off to hold off for an equally clean GSR? Is an MR with a 5 speed as strong as a Gsr with a 5 speed? Is it basically direct swap with the kit?

Sorry for the somewhat stupid question. I just want opinions before pulling the trigger. Thanks!

 

If you wanna make real power youll need the 5 speed. The 6 arent able to handle anywhere near as much power. In terms of a gsr vs mr. If your going to mod the hell out of the car it wont really matter. The only real dif btwn the gsr and the mr is the bilstein suspension and the 6spd at least in terms of major stuff. There would be a larger dif btwn a gsr and an rs. I would personally but the gsr. Spending less and already having the 5spd means you can just have it built and not need to swap the tranny and id your goibg to do suspension work theres a decent chance youll get rid of the bilsteins.

 

I honestly think you should just go with a GSR if you want a 5 speed. The 6 speed cant hold as much power as the 5 speed so instead of getting the 6 speed and waiting for the trans to go, just save yourself time and money and opt for the GSR with the 5 speed.

 

What do you plan to do with the car? That will determine that you should get.

To do the 5 speed swap, you will need the shifter cables and trans mount to go with it. Everything else will bolt on.

One of my friends has an MR making 400hp and 380tq with no issues. He has around 100k miles on it. He mainly street drives it and takes it to a few road race events. It has held up just fine at those power levels. If he wants more, he will have to do the swap.

 

Can the 6 speed handle bolts ones, cams, dyno tune? If I went big turbo I'm guessing I might need a built 5 speed. What's the additional cost just the $500 kit? The real question I have though is would there be any down side of having a swapped trans? Like would there be any additional issues or less strength?

 

The hardest part especially now a days is finding a excellent condition evo, low miles, an anywhere close to stock.

Personally, I'd grab it.

I have an MR and my power is below in my sig

 

Drove 2 MR's with 5 speed swap.im not saying that is normal but on each MR I felt slight vibration on the shifter in 3rd and 4th gears.and owners admitted rhat they feel it as well but they just ignore it.

 

I bought my Evo IX-MR new and has 106K miles on it and dyno'd at 389hp to the wheels (more on the way). It has been a daily driver for most of it's life. I've done a few track days, with more planned. My stock, 6-speed trans has never been an issue. Should you decide on the MR and later on try to sell it with a 5-speed trans, you'll be hit with lower offers. If someone wants an MR, one of the attractings is that 6-speed trans., secondly that lighter, ribbed roof. I've seen a few times, friends having to accept lower sale prices of their MR's. MR's typically have a higher sale price that other versions. They cost more new of course too.

The other thing to consider is, if you sell that car with the 5-speed, someone can think that "he probably raced/ran the car hard" and that can be a negative factor. They'l be differing comments from mine, but I'm just letting you know from friend's experiences...Good luck with your decision.

 

If I eventually do put a built trans and big turbo setup in the car, it's staying with me forever, unless I REALLY need to sell it.

 

This is what concerns me. Any issue aside from shifter vibration? Pop-outs, grinds, etc? Any way to combat this? Any idea why these issues arise?

 

I really don't know what's the issue my friend.maybe something was overlooked.but no problems with tranny no Pop outs no grinds.they been racing them on the drag strip also.but to be honest if you not chasing crazy numbers 6 speed is alright.they swapped because they liked the way my Evo 8 shifts.I have buschur short throw btw.

 

if you get a trans cooler it will last ALOT longer.

 

You'll find tons of people who break both the 6 speed and 5 speed. The 6 spd is no slouch. I first heard that people were replacing their stock clutch at 12k miles and that worried me, but after 58k miles I finally had to replace it. Don't take a few horror stories as gospel. Don't abuse it and it will last forever.

 

The mr come with limited slip front diff too, pretty sure the gsr dosent have that

 

I had 03 and now an 06 MR and I personally love the 6sp trans much better. I DD my car, so around town and highway the 6sp gear ratios are much better. When i had the 03 i wanted an MR, glad i have one now.