I was curious about the sensability of buying a used EVO. Be it a 2003 or 04 I just fear that for the most part you are buying a problem and to search and search and search for the right one just seems to be a pain, I was wondering the likely hood of finding a used VIII for $20-$22,000 and what kind of problems to expect and how hard to find a nice one. As long as it clears car-fax and seems to be in nice shape is it something you could simply take to a good shop and have them tell you there thoughts, and have that be enough to go on in trusting? I understand they are not a cheap car to maintain however a blast, I have driven 2 (05 SSL in Red and 05 MR)... a car I would love to have even if left bone stock and now I am sure used versions of the car are becomming fairly common but should one trust them? or only as far as you can throw the car. I know the MR I test drove was at a dealership, I wasnt going to buy because it was too expensive but I needed to feel one, I knew the cars history and it was a modded EVO MR that was making 400whp and ran an 11.7 at New England drag way, I asked the dealership about its history and they said well maintained and great condition however with those mods and knowing how the past owner drove it I beg to differ.

 

I have the same problem as you do, cause i am planning on moving to the New England area and i am lookign for a used EVO 2, even tho i am an EVO owner, i am overseas and cant take my EVO with me....but i will try though, even tho it sucks cause i pay for my evo 36K....and wont have the cash to get a new one cause i have to look for a place to live = P

If u can find one that is compeltely stock, even better ( not that means it was never modded ) but you have a better chance in that sense.

Obviously test drive it before u buy it....pay attention to tranny / transfer or any other weird sounds from the drivetrain or engine....loud whines for example

Do u have a friend with an evo that can go with you to test drive the car?...an EVO owner should know more about the car cause is very familiar with it, since EVO are very noisy cars.

Also try to pull the codes out of the ECU....a friend of mine did when trying to get a used evo and he got 2 codes, cant remember which ones....the service engine soon light was no lit becasue the previous owner took out the little light bulb.

 

There are probably a lot of good used Evo's out there. Even if they are modded it doesn’t necessarily mean they were thrashed on. I would say get it checked out by someone who knows what to look for and you would be all right.

 

I would say probobly between 40-60k on it however longevity of the car is one of my biggest concerns considering I will more than likely fall in love with the one I were to own and not want to get rid of it, I don't care what color or if it's a 2003 even I just want one, I know some EVO owners however what would it cost or would it be smart to just have a Mitsu dealership take a look at it? or even maybe buy from a Mitsu dealership? I am aware of clutch and transmission issues however generally once the stock clutch has been replaced what type of life do the aftermarket ones have on an un hammered on EVOlution... It is hard because it is indeed a noisy car, and it blankets problems very well especially if you have not owned one before but counting on another EVO owner can be tricky as well.

 

i have questioned the same things for the past couple of months and realized one thing.....Its a crap shoot, just go for the one that looks like it was maintained the best

 

I'm going to be buying a used Evo in the near future as well and I think it's best to buy directly from the previous owner. That way even if the car looks perfect you can get a feel for what the previous owner was like. If they're a complete moron then you can bet that they thrashed the car and treated it like crap, but if they seem to have a good head on their shoulders then it is probably a good buy. Aside from the usual mechanical inspections, that's what I'd look out for.

 

Good point, good point. I just wish I knew what kind of life these cars have... the worst part is Road and Track or one of those mags did a long term test and over 60k the 0-60mph increased a few tenths...as if time sucked power out which is a BUMMER!

 

There is another thread with some good "thoughts" about used Evo's here: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=184035

 

- Ask them how long their stock clutch lasted!

- Talk to the owner, ask a lot of questions, you'll get a good idea of how knowledgable he is about cars

- Ask the actual owner to take you for a drive, notice the way he warms up the car, engages gears, etc

- Check for the usual suspects: peeling calipers, paint chips in front of rear wheels, fading clear coat on wing, cracked recaros, etcs

 

Im selling my 03 Evo (silver) with 27k miles with STOCK clutch for $22,800!!!

CLEAN with extra set of winter tire and rims
Megan TBE, Dynoflash (only mods this evo seen).

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. Getting a feel for the owner is usually the best way to determine how well the car has been treated. You can check the usual wear items but oftentimes there will be demons lurking that you won't be able to find without a thorough inspection. That said, ask lots of questions. If the owner seems annoyed or trying to dodge any of them, you're probably better off with a different car. Trust your gut.

Tom

 

How about the EVO at 100k? Is this a car that should be going strong through higher mileage or will it weaken by the miles... if a stock turbo has to be replaced due to the mileage than no biggy it's just an excuse to go bigger but if I buy one of these cars down the road then I would want to know if I want or intend to keep it the life of the loan then I will be fine to without worrying about the car falling to pieces but I'd think so because the car is MEANT to be driven hard, DESIGNED to be driven hard, so it should be able to take it.