I just purchased a 05 Evo MR with 12K miles on it for $27,000 which I think is a GREAT deal. The cool thing about it was it is COMPLETELY stock! So I know nobody stuck a bunch of stuff in it incorrectly that could have caused problems. I also know there is less of a chance it was raced and beat on alot.

That being said I am wondering if it makes sense to keep mine stock or to start the mods. I think a resale value on a limited MR model would be really good in stock good condition.

I will only be using it for Auto Cross and every day driving, including the Winter as of right now. If I do any mods, I would probably consider a drop in filter, Dyno Flash and Exhaust. I am not drag racing this car.

Any way what are your thoughts?

 

Once you start modding its hard to stop but a turboback exhaust and a mbc with a flash yield great results for the money.

 

+1

 

Get a full TBE, flash and dyno tune. You'll be blown away by the power but will still retain all the daily driveability and fuel economy...if you stay off the boost.

 

I had an 04 with mods and just traded it in on a IX. I am going to flash this one and that is it. They are faster with mods, but also get you in more trouble and sucks dealing with warranty.

 

Buying a used Evo is risky business but good luck. Evo's are much more fun when you start modifying them.

 

What is the difference between Flash and dyno tune? I think with those mods I could undo them and sell it as stock if I really wanted to so not a bad idea.

Don

 

Congrats.... I bought my 05 MR three weeks ago with 11k for $26,500. It came with a helix 3" tbe, and ive added k&N drop in and waiting for the dynoflashed ecu to come back from Al. I also put in a jdm mr bov to hold the boost better. I threw on a set of JDM 7 tails because I hate altezzas.

Ive been very happy with the car MADPACKET took such good care of the car and it shows. Only downfall was I came from driving a eclipse fwd that trapped 110. But the few mods Ive added I should be happy.

 

Flash= Base Flash without dyno. The basic flash be still gauranteed 20+whp.
Dyno Tune= Custom Flash while tuned using a dyno and road. Its a custom tune and well net you more whp, but costs more.

 

yah, when i said flash though, i meant on a dyno by doug at topspeed

 

Mail in flashes are just that...mailed in an based on cookie cutter data for your car and the supporting mods. They are a cheap reliable way to pick up 20whp. On the other hand, when a tuner flashes the car during a series of dyno pulls he actually plays around with the software to maximize the impact of the software reflash specific to not only your supporting mods, but also to real time data he logs about the car. He's actually tuning the car rather than simply replacing the stock ECU with a more aggressive, albeit canned reflash. I added a TBE to my car and it pulled hard. I took it to Gruppe-S for an EcuTek flash and dyno tune and now it's a terror and is almost too quick (and too fun) for busy Bay Area streets.

 

So does no one find value in leaving it stock? Its almost impossable to find a stock evo...

Don

 

Do what you want, if your happy with it stock then keep it stock.

 

One cannot tap the true potential of the car without mods IMO.

 

I hear what you're saying, but it's not a '64 LeMans GTO. In fact there are plenty of '05 Evo models still left on dealer lots. 10 or 15 years from now...who knows how hard it'll be to find a bone stock Evo VIII MR or how much one will be worth. I don't think it's an investment in the same way a new Ford GT or Ferrari might be. And since it's such a tuner car I can't really see a collector throwing lots of money at a stock version anytime soon. My car is an RS and has been produced in the same numbers as the MR. I'm not expecting a big pay day come 2025.