From what I can tell it seems like a decent deal ... nothing wrong with buying a 2nd hand car ... what most people don't realize is that taking a car to the race track is not damaging but how you drive the car when you are there ... Hell you could never take the car to the race track, still drive it poorly and break stuff ...
Ok here are a few things to help you out:
1. The Vishnu Xede is a very good piggy back unit and works well with the stock ECU ... although there are some issues with it depending on the firmware version loaded. There was a cold start issue with one version ... it is a piggy back that has most of the functionality of a EMS ...
2. The 280 cams will cause a lopey idle, you can eliminate some of the lopey idle with cam gears.
3. If you want to pass emissions, depending on where you live swap out the test pipe for a stock cat. You can probably get one on the forum for cheap.
4. The Xede can control boost, therefore there is no need for the MBC, take the MBC off and put a stock boost solenoid back on. You can probably get one on the forum for cheap.
5. If the car is running the stock turbo the larger injectors are a waste.
6. 20Psi of boost on the stock turbo with a stock motor is normal. Evos run 20Psi stock ...

Goodluck ... make sure you treat it properly if you buy it ...

 

^^ +1

Here's some things to consider:

- Where do you live? If you live anywhere near a reputable shop (Vishnu, AMS, Turbo Trix, Dyno4mance, etc.), then I wouldn't worry too much about the tune of the car.

- Who did the installation of the parts? Did the owner keep records?

- The car will not pass emissions with HKS 280 cams in it.

- I also doubt it will pass emissions with the larger injectors.

- neither of these are an issue unless you live in a state that tests for emissions state-wide. If not, then just register the vehicle in a municipality that doesn't test for emissions.

- The car may have some issues starting up and running at low rpms with that setup. I run almost the identical setup (280 cams, 780 cc injectors, XEDE, etc, with a larger turbo) and have similar issues. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me anytime.

- If I was you, I'd make sure to have about $2-3K saved up to pay for potential maintenance (clutch, trans/tc/rear diff fluid change, alignment, tires, tuning, misc stuff)

Sounds like the car was built with a purpose in mind; i.e. a turbo kit. Not sure why they went with 780cc injectors, though, but now that they're on the car, you're kindof stuck with them. If you want to change them, you'll also need to reflash your ECU on that particular setup.

IMO you're much better off buying a car that is honestly represented as what it is (a modded Evo), rather than trying to find a "stock" used Evo, which most of the time is a car that used to be modded and has been converted back to stock for sale. An Evo that has been converted back to stock, IMO, is the worst kind of car to buy.

l8r)

 

DaWorstPlaya + Ludikraut

Thank you guys both, so much for the input!


Ludikraut, you make a lot of sense and it's good to hear from someone with the same setup. I was told that the car was built with purpose in mind. In the full text of the article it states:So again, honest representation of the car. I'm seeing things in a new light.

Ludikraut - Is your car civilized enough to be a daily driver(wether you happen to or not)? What's your estimated whp now with the turbo upgrade, and did you replace the FMIC and ex. mani?

Can anyone else on these boards reinforce these great opinions? I understand it's still 'buyer beware', but I only live 45 mins from RRE if something serious happens down the line.

 

Civilized? There's really nothing civilized left about my Evo ... it's LOUD (esp. w/out a cat), clutch chatters (Exedy Twin Metallic), idles like a motorcycle, prone to stall if I let the rpms drop too fast in stop-n-go traffic, too fast for the highway ... in a nutshell, the car is a handful, and I love wrestling it into submission. Is it for everyone? Definitely not.

My hp level is currently at 380 on pump gas. I'm not sure what it will do on race gas, but I'm guessing mid-400's (the 3071 on my car is a "small" aftermarket turbo). The claim of the ad that the car is ready for 500+ rwhp, is silly. An Evo is an all-wheel-drive car, not rear-wheel-drive. Can you make 500whp or more? Sure. BUT, only on racegas or with alcohol/methanol injection. On pump gas, you will be very lucky to see more than 400whp. The combination of lack of displacement along with the limits imposed by the level of octane just don't allow you to generate more power than that.

If/when you decide to go with a turbo kit, you'll have some pretty tough decisions to make. One thing most people don't realize is that the stock turbo really makes no compromises. Once you go with a bigger turbo, you'll have to decide on which compromise(s) you're willing to live with. In my case I did upgrade the FMIC and, since I went with the AMS kit, I also ended up with a tubular exhaust mani. Depending on what you want to do with your car, that may be the way to go, but there are also other paths to choose from ... in your case, if you end up with the car you're looking at, I'd give serious thought to getting a Vishnu stage 2. It will be easier on your wallet (you already have injectors, so you should be able to get the kit for less than Vishnu advertises it) and should give you less headaches...

l8r)

 

I personally did buy a used Evo with 3500 miles on it. I was bone stock and I would not have touched it if it wasn't. I have had zero problems since I bought it and could not be happier. But I have read plenty of horror stories about buying used (and not to be biased, but most of them were modded when bought).

Something to consider: 15,000 miles= 60,000 potential quarter mile passes (I know, I know, not realistic but just food for thought).

If you are re-considering, there is a guy selling a bone stock Apex Silver Evo that I just saw in the 'Cars for sale' section. Looks like a hell of a good deal to me, especially considering mileage. Take a look:

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...49#post2462749

 

i just read the last two post one after another and it really makes me think how much trouble i would have with the black evo... and then, thanks to LancerEVOVIIISD, he posts a link to another somewhat-local guy selling his evo, in the OTHER color i was considering, that seems to have been babied and has even less miles, only 8,XXXmi...

wow...

maybe i should get a stock evo and mod as money allows... honestly... i have not owned a manual car before, and it wouldnt be easy to learn to drive the black one i originally posted if i was wrestling it into submission every day with the 280 cams and the race clutch.

=^\

I sent the seller of the silver one, CICreations, a PM...

I think buying that one would make me a lot more confident about how I spent my money.

 

I concur.

If you have not driven a manual transmission car before, then a bone stock Evo is probably your best choice. IMO (and opinions will vary here), the stock clutch mated to the stock engine is one of the easiest manual transmissions I've driven for day-to-day driving. The only places it falls short is if you try to launch the car hard and shifting near redline ... outside of those two scenarios, it's actually pretty good. Both my mom and my brother had zero problems driving my Evo in its stock state.

A heavily modded Evo (esp. with 280s, race clutch, etc.) requires a lot more finesse to drive, especially if you're just putzing around town...

As a last note ... make sure the clutch pedal engagement is adjusted properly. The car should not begin to roll forward if the clutch pedal is not at least 3 inches off the floor. Any lower than that and you will most likely end up wearing out your clutch prematurely.

l8r)

 

^^ +1, adding to it
remember race clutches and lighten flywheel cars will be harder to drive. Also a manual AWD car is a little tricker to get moving than a manual FWD or RWD car and since you have never driven stick you should definately stick to the stock clutch and stock flywheel combo ... just remember launching an AWD car is abusive on the clutch and tranny ... never ride your clutch, either have it completely pressed in or completely let out ... which ever car you get, learn to master it before you mod it ... this is one of the cardinal sins most people who buy EVOs do ... Good Luck

 

I think almost all EVO's are "ridden hard and put away wet" but thats what they are made for. This version of the 4G63 is the best yet and it certainly and take 100k miles of abuse. The transfer case is a weak link on the 03 and they also have the same grinding gear issues that almost all years have.

The one think I wish I had is a front LSD. The one thing I'm glad I dont have is ACD.

I think the price is too high but I like to negociate.

 

That is exactly what I am doing. You will be much happier with silver anyway!

 

well, i have driven a manual before, a couple dozen times, in 4bangers, in v8's.... new cars, and old cars... but i havent OWNED one before. I do intend on being careful and the way i figure if i can't put each poney to use around the corners, then i don't need more yet.

My 2000 eclipse GT has just basic bolt-on intake and exhaust, but the suspension setup is pretty nice:
- Intrax springs
- Koni Sport rear shocks
- kyb AGX front struts
- Suspension Techniques rear sway bar
- Road Race Engineering upper shock tower brace
- 235/40/18 Nitto Extreme 555's

these mods have brought my car's handling to a pretty nuetral state, minus the fact that its a FWD plow, and I have learned to drive my car so well that I know when i push my car to the limit, i know i am getting the most the car has to give... with a stock evo i will do the same... i'm sure i'll have enough fun in my first non-fwd, and first manual car that will hold me off for a while... wheels and tires might get upgraded on a purely asthetic tip.

Im very eager to hear back from the the seller of the stock silver evo... i PMed him which im waiting for a reply to still, and called him at the number he left in the thread but from the sound of the answering machine it sounded like his home line and he wasnt there. I'm just hoping it hasn't sold yet. At lunch today I got my loan all preapproved and everything, I just need to confirm with the seller and bring a copy of the registration in!

 

Yea, I would deffinately go with the silver Evo..sounds like an awesome deal...that poor sucker CI's really loosing a nice car! LOL

 

UPDATE: I haven't yet met up with CICreations to test drive his '03 GSR for sale, but as i read more and more on the good ol EvoM boards... I am becoming very dettered from buying ANY evo after learning how persistant the P0300 problem is.

CICreations' car has only 9k miles on it and may not have ever encountered the P0300 problem yet. It may not encounter it even if we test drive it on the freeway and TRY to get the P0300 to pop up. But this problem could very well happen to me after owning the car for just a few months, and it sounds like a big headache, especially considering that the closest mitsu dealer to me is on the Blacklisted Dealers list. [Thousand Oaks, CA]

What am I to do? I have become VERY FOND of the Evo lately, and want to make the purchase, but since i own my current car already, getting back into a financed situation should be worth it, not a lemon!

 

Hmmm... after reading this thread:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=164800

maybe I can retract my statement!?!

I'm very happy to see people with '03s that have not caused them much problems.

 

I would definately buy used and not new. People say driven hard, but alot of people run the tachs up to 7K do the occasional launch etc, so unless the car truly was a track rat I think most people drive their car's the same way.

I've closed a deal on a 05' Black EVO 10.2K miles, a 2'' scratch by the door, a hairline scratch on the lip, and a curbed rim not dented just scrubbed up. It's at a dealer they ran the VIN and no black flags, passed CARFAX, and the price............................................. ..........................................$23,750! ! I can't complain I'll be swapping out parts anyway.