I've been in love with the Evo for years now, but the first one I saw in person was at my local dealership. Red with sunroof. I told the salesman, "I'm coming back to buy this car in 3 months". He looked at me like, 'whatever, stupid kid'. Well, guess what....

 

I had to smile when I read that! I came this close to buying a WRX in 2001-2002. But I knew deep down the car I really wanted was the Evo. I was just hoping the Evo would one day get here...and the waiting paid off!

Still, I secretly wish they hadn't changed the front end: I still think the Evo VII looks much better than the VIII. And I definitely feel we got screwed by not getting the AYC rear diff. The Makinen Edition I drove had AYC and it was un-freaking-believable!

Emre

 

In person let's see it was at the dealership to pick mine up in March of 03 it was the first one in the city where I live I actually went up there and watched it get unloaded and have been in Love ever since.
However I did see spy shots the October of 02 C&D issue and I immeaditaly went and put 5k down at the dealership site unseen with the faith it would be everything the magazine and tech articles claimed and they all where correct. Except they left out the part of wanting to buy every new thing made for it though.

 

Dealer show room. A year later I bought one.

 

First time I saw one was at my place of work. Guy showed me his, let me drive it...had to fight me to get his keys back A month and a half later I sold my mustang and now I own a BBY Evo!

 

Agreed, that silly corporate nose just doesnt do it for me. Still like my car though

I'm also glad I waited on buying one, I was gonna pick up a used 03 or one of the VERY FEW new 03's still left when 04 came around, but dealer wouldnt budge, and I thought better of buying a car like this used....then came a tiny little sidebar in C&D about the RS coming to america....the perfect weekend racer....

 

nice story

 

first time i spotted an evo was back in 2k3... around 11:45 at night.... driving around in my 3kgt at the time... i spotted this black car with this enourmous wing on it... i followed it.. next thing you know... this blue VW r32 rolled up... and the just took off like no other.... catching up to them at the stop light... it was a black evo... no plates.. no nothing... some spoiled asian kid driving... i was so jealous

 

I was driving, delivering for work on the 60 freeway in southern cali. Then as i glanced to the left side mirrior, i noticed a silver bullet coming fast... to my suprise it was an evo. This was back in 2003. I couldn't believe what i was seeing, but anyways i thumbed him up and i kept staring for like another 10 miles. Throughout the whole time, In my head i was like HOLY **** the beast has Breached our shores. Game on subaru

 

Saw the Mitsu advertisement for it in Road and Track, went to my dealer the next day, she had one, I drove it then bought it the following day. That was the first week in June of "03". Check out my join date.

 

^^ i'd say you had a good week...i saw my first one up here at our local weekend car meet(Barnes & Noble/Starbucks), i was like "wow its an evooo..... "

 

Man reading all of these people about there first makes me wanna cry hahahah. j/p

 

I went to a auto show in '03, that's when I first seen the evo8 in person, that same day I fell in love, and said to myself, SOME DAY... and now l'm a proud owner of a 05 Wicked White, very happy with my Evo...

Also video taped the same Evo after the show... AWD STYLE!!!

http://boston-motorsports.com/videos/Evo8AWDburnout.mpg

 

at the mall, coming out. I was looking at it from above. it was turning and going down the hill.

it was the sunset hitting that car and it started to run slowly in my head.

that thing was so damn sexy. went to the dealership the week after and bought one, used, for $28000 with 14000 miles on it, since noone in GA had a new one in stock.

I had to have it.

 

First time seeing an EVO ever (not in person): no clue... way before I saw one in person... if i had to guess it would be 1998 was the first time i heard of one

First time seeing an EVO in person: two open class Lancer Evolution IV's at the Rocky Mountain Rally on May 28th, 2003, Calgary Alberta.

First time seeing a EVO VIII in person: passing us in the fast lane on the highway visiting my grandparents in California in August, 2003... while we were on the way to the dealer to check out the Lancer Evolution (don't get to see them in canada)

First time seeing a Evo VII and VI in person: Colorado Cog pro rally, September 2004

....so I still need to see a I, II, III and V.... but I will need to somehow get off this damn North American continent first (maybe theres some in mexico tho)... I've never been outside the USA or Canada

and to add...

FIRST TIME BEING WOKEN UP BY A LANCER EVOLUTION: Leon Styles' open class EVO VII rally car parked right outside my window at the Holiday inn at Steamboat springs for the Colorado Cog ProRally..... I thought the hotel was under attack at 6:30 in the morning or so when I awoke to loud banging, popping, and exploding sounds. DAMN ANTI-LAG!!! (if you haven't heard the anti-lag on Leon's car... believe me.... ITS LOUD!!!!)