Alright well with the common knowledge that most used EVO's have been driven pretty hard would it be better to shell out the extra cash and get an 03 from a dealer used and pay a couple thousand more than private sale? Talk them down a bit? or opt for an extended warrantee? I understand that Mitsubishi is kinda rocky right now but others bring up the point that Nissan was in the same boat. I would think it'd be worth it to buy from a dealer and that way everything has been taken care of. Funny thing is though, I'm not buying til I get back from training in the spring but I know right now there is an 03 EVO in Apex Silver with 19k on it and the dealer was trying to get $27,899. hahah what an EFFIN joke!. I just wondered if it'd be better to buy off a dealer and they may not know much of it's history, sometimes they know alot because it was bought new from them, but buying private sale you can get to know a previous owner well in the chats about the car etc etc, but integrity is always a problem with some.

 

NO front LSD. No 10.5 hotside

 

from a competition standpoint the ACD does help...and the front LSD is nice too

the extra power is easy to replicate..

 

Got my 03 cheap-$27,900, bought it new in May 04. Can't come close to that on an 05. Do miss frront limited slip/acd/6-speed/aluminum roof options though.

 

Not entirely true. With each new generation platform comes new bugs. It's not like the Evo VIII is the exact same car as the Evo I but just with a different body on it. The VIII is a completely different car from the I. So for me, I wouldn't want an '03 VIII. And I wouldn't want an '06 IX. That's why I'm getting an '05 VIII - the last generation of the VIII with (hopefully) everything worked out by now. But this is just my opinion. Perhaps I'm a little **** when I'm plunking down $30k.

 

used 03=$22,000, plus $5000 in mods=$27,000. And a whole lotta whoop a$$ on any $35,000 MR.

 

No cons... doesn't matter about the ACD since it will always stay on Tarmac mode... HID standar... maybe a little bit less powerfull than 04 and 05.

 

Good - Someone correct me if i'm wrong but the 03's dont have a rev limiter. 04+ do.

 

There doesn't seem to be much to justify paying a couple to a few thousand more for an 04 or an 05 when that money could simply be put into the car and it would be an 2003 EVO VIII (just add mod)= *** handing. I like the idea of an 03 because it's cheaper and it increases my chances of actually getting one, I am deeply in love with this car I do not care what anyone says about "it's just metal" or "it's just a car" F that!. I want to be able to keep it as long as possible once I get it that's for sure.

 

The best part about buying an Evo is owning an Evo. Screw the warranty/bugs/HIDs/Leather/other ****e, etc. Buy it, beat it, fix it, beat it some more. I bought my car New (with about 15 miles on it), voided the warranty at 1000 miles, haven't been back to the dealership since (except to thumb my nose at them and give em the occasional 1 finger salute while doing a drive by at 80mph in 3rd) **** on a warranty...

 

there's no cabin air filter for the 03... if i only knew that, i woulda waited for the 04

 

I think we have the same idea, and I think most if not all dealership deserves that salute

 

Its not a new platform the VII was a CT9A also so your theory is incorrect in this application.

 

Yup, y'all realise that we pretty much have Evo VII's with new bodywork. I think the GSR's and MR's in Japanland all have the 6speed, at least the 05's

 

the warranty is shorter duration, and there is no free maintenence.