I bought a standard IX... then went back to swap it for the IX MR SE. Paid a bit more, but with the Bilstein's, 6-speed, HID's, Aluminium roof, Vortex Generator, BBS wheels, front air-dam, wickerbill, etc - it's more than worth it. The factory HID's alone are worth $2800+harness+labour. Sure, you could do it a lot cheaper aftermarket - but it won't be warranteed. That was my main issue - I wanted features that wouldn't break the warranty. I will definitely be modding the car (so there goes the warranty), but they will be mods that I could remove if necessary - swapping my lights every time I go in for a service wasn't something I was interested in!

Also, resale value would be higher, and if I wanted to upgrade the suspension or wheels, my MR factory parts are worth a lot more on the open market (if I sold them).

Besides - the MR badges and accents look cool

Thanks!

S.

 

Definitely to each his own, but comments like "You'd get the MR if you could afford it" are definitely offbase.

I got my SE for South Coast Prices and I didn't want a 6 speed because personally I didn't see the purpose over the 5-speed and I didn't think it was worth the mark up. If they both cost the same I'd go with whichever one I thought was more reliable, which seems to be the 5 speed.

I can afford an MR or even the vaunted 335, but I chose the GSR because it suited me and had what I wanted.

 

 

I still think the GSR SE represents the best Evo IX deal in existance. You get so much of the most expensive MR stuff for substantially less.

 

This is wrong. My car has these three things. MRs have never had the things I took from your list exclusively.

I think MR owners are the ones who get the most bent out of shape over these types of threads because all Evo owners don't covet them. Its not like the Type R is to the rest of the H&A cars, it just basically an option package of the same car that all of us have. Some checked the box and some didn't. And most of us are happy with our decision, if not they go trade. And that's it.

 

The american Evo 8 MR not worth it, but the european MR400 definatly is.

 

this is like the 3rd time someone corrects silverEVO8 about ACD and LSD...
silverEVO8 please get it through your head: the first year of the MR in the US, 2005, EVERY AND SINGLE EVO HAD ACD AND FRONT LSD, jesus christ!
i know u love ur car and that's fine, but get ur facts straight, please, nothing personal though, i just can't stand when ppl don't have the facts.

i was interested in the MR when i was buying the evo back in late '04, a month or 2 before the 05 models hit the dealers. I was told, however, that all MR's were preordered and were impossible to get, so i said, F it. I don't regret having a non MR evo, although the 04's are a bit slower than ALL 05's in general.

 

OK, OK, I got it. Every single EVO since '05 has the LSD and ACD. Don't get so excited about it. The MR still has a few features which used to be exclusive to that trim. Maybe now the MR is totally not worth it since everything but the 6 speed is available for the other trims and the 6 speed is a worthless transmission anyway

 

lol, nothing on the evo is worthless, save the interior lol... i'm definitely digging interior on the X, but that's for another thread.
Hey, if MR's weren't so exclusive in quantities the first few months, i would've had one too. The bastards tacked on huge markups too... to me it was worth it, but it didn't happen, so i'm not gonna say that MR's were nothing special in 05.

As of now though, i kinda like having viscous center, as it allows for more tail play because it's not as restricted by computers (and this is not just comparing '04 to MR, but to anything after '05). The non ACD cars have a more loose feel on the turn in and that gives them a sharper entry (not making it up, this was stated by some respected track junkies on this forum and it makes sense, since the ACD is supposed to prevent excessive front/tail play). The one thing that i do miss is not having front LSD but a sh!tty weak open diff (BARF!)

btw, i haven't read the whole thread, in case it was posted, but just FYI on the Bilsteins vs regular shocks: Bilsteins are softer, therefore car has more grip in very bumpy corners compared to non MR. However, GSR and RS have sharper and quicker response than MR because of the stiffer shocks. Again, this was straight from an article comparing all 3 trims and again, it all makes sense.
There's no such thing as the best trim EvAaa!!!1 It's all relative to what you need and how you need it and how much it costs.... After all, that same article had RS as the fastest due to light weight.
If you can afford the MR, get it...WHY NAWT! I LIKE!!
This thread should be closed, since i think all points were exhausted a long time ago.

 

worth every penny in my book..

 

If you can buy the MR at the right price, it is worth it. I like the six speed. I was able to sell my 95 Eclipse GSX for $3,500 so that paid for the difference in cost. That being said, having a stripped down RS would not be bad either!

 

If you plan on autocrossing and racetrack events (not including drag racing), its not worth getting an MR since you will probably lose a gear due to the poor design of its six speed. It's simply not as well built as the GSR 5 speed. The IX SE comes with everything an MR has except for the 6 speed. Thats the best car to get.

 

Does anyone think about the weight saving due to the aluminium roof and front door side impact bars on MR worth at least $2,000. I know AMS making a carbon roof prototype and plan to sell it about $950 plus. Include that with labour, and the chances of leakage in future. Weight plays such important role in the car, the roof save you 4 kg, the side bar save you 3.5 kg, thats a total weight saving 16.5lbs!!!!! from the furthest distance of center inertia.

So just by the simple math calculation, if you getting all the after market parts by yourself at damn good deal, extra $1000 for the forged wheel, extra $500 for the better blistein shock, $1000 for the 6 speed(very subjective as 5-speed more durable, yet 6-speed more responsive), $500 for HID kit, plus the $2,000 on the weight saving.....runs you a total of $5,000 (WITHOUT WARRANTY!!!!!)

So, without paying more than $5,000 more by getting a MR compare, don't you think is a good deal??? Since a MR is like $33k and a GSR is $28k???

 

HAHA, people will always rant on this with their difference of opinion. The ultimate question: Is the MR worth its price tag? Am I right? If I am why are people comparing it to other things then (assuming that this makes it easier to determine its worth). Well, it is worth it to some and it isn't worth it to others depending on their expectations for the car. It will ALWAYS be a divided opinion.

Lets leave it at that.

BTW, I own a 06 IX MR and love it.

 

as far as this thread is going, we might as well have a poll going as to which color is the best color for the evo...we need to seriously close this one down

whoever has an evo be happy! remember 2002? oh, that's right there was no usdm evo's then!!!