I test drove a IX tonight. I have continually heard on here how much faster the IX is than the VIII and frankly that just wasn't the case. It had a bit smoother powerband and felt like it might be a hair quicker but certainly not the night and day difference that some of you have claimed. For reference, I have the tubbiest VIII (stock 04 w/SSL) and the IX was an RS.

 

I agree with you, but I don't think this will set the record straight.

 

the main difference from a 8 and 9, their adding the same basic mods, the 9 is seeing way more power out of them, gogo mivec!

 

correct me if im wrong anyone, but from what i've been reading you wake up the "beast" (IX) with a few bolt-ons and an ECU flash.. then its considerably faster

 

nothing some cams and a diff wont fix.

 

The IX is supposed to be a bit faster out of the box.
But the MAIN difference peopel claim is, modding.
You can spend less then $1500 on an IX and have 320WHP+

It takes over 2k to do that on a Evo VIII and you still get a bit less power.

 

Is it MIVEC that makes the IX so receptive to mods or the revised turbo? Or something else entirely?

 

Here are some quotes I have seen regarding the VIII vs IX:

"Buy a 9, i drove both and the 9 blew the 8 away in my opinion so..."
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=207813

"I picked my Rally Red IX MR today... all I have to say is what a difference!!! I havent taken it over 5,000 rpm's but it feels alot faster than my old one."
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=198694

"When I drove my friend MR8 I was not very impressed it was very very close to the 8 in many ways but when i drove the 9 today I felt real power for stock car.......
they say it 287HP but I say its no less than 325~330HP. this thing pulled very hard and it was very predictable"
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=183009

"Oh, and for those interested in the engine, yeah, the IX feels much stronger."
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=181839

"Stock 03s dyno around 220-230whp on a Dynojet while IXs have been dyno'ing over 260whp on Dynojets. Mitsu lists the difference at 15hp, but we know that is not factual. The 05s already were dyno'ing 15-20whp higher than the 03/04s, and now the 06s are dyno'ing even higher than the 05s. "
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=171967

"If you are comparing an 03-04 VIII there is a big difference."
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=167210

I'm not hating on the IX. I think they are fantastic. Just trying to keep things subjective as its sometimes hard to filter out the over-enthusiasm.

 

They are both claimed to be low 13's (high 12's with a freak, being light weight and the best driver) so why would you expect some crazy seat of the pants difference? I thought the difference was the flash, ix's with basic mods (when tuned) are making 8 cammed numbers give or take...I don't really remember seeing anyone saying the ix's made huge amounts of whp over the 8 stock vs stock.

 

I'm assuming you didn't see my last post

 

over 2K? i doubt it, i should be making 340 whp and i have 1800 dollars total in my car.

stock for stock the IX is a hair faster, but it responds to mods better. its because it has a better turbo (bigger compressor) the full potential/capabilities of MIVEC is yet to be seen when u level the playing fields of the two cars when they are running the same turbo.. When u go big turbo, and have stand alone tuning etc i think the gap will close significantly.

evo IX makes the same amount of power with a 8 with cams... not a HUGE difference...(but a significant and exciting one albeit)

i had the oppurtunity to sell my paid off car for a IX, but with this in mind id rather go big turbo and continue to modify mine, rather than have a car payment and higher insurance and less money to mod.

 

i have an 04 Evo VIII w/SSL and my best friend has a IX MR. we ran stock for stock and his car crushed mine. as soon as we got to the higher rpms and higher gears, he was pulling with ease. yes there is a difference!!!! i've seen it personally.

 

exactly. IX's are ahead of 8's by a set of cams, some improved low-end, spool up, and resistance to knock at higher psi. the real test or question will be that when u upgrade a IX and a 8 with a big turbo/supporting mods/standalone, how much of a gap will the mivec and improved coolant passages provide, from now we know it improves spool up but will it really effect 1/4 mile times significantly when u take the improved turbo out of the question? dont know yet, my gestault says that there wont be.

 

I personally always gave the most credit to the Bigger turbo unit on the Evo 9. The MIVEC helps but I strongly believe the turbo has more weight into this sucess. Bigger fuel pump, shorter gears, lighter rims,revised ECU you name it is a combination of things that makes the Evo 9 slighty faster than the Evo 8 in stock trim.


As far is modding them, you already know the results, by having the bigger turbo on the Evo 9 it will give you ultimately more power.

Carlos

 

yep... right now IX is king of bolt-ons (a bolt on 8 needs cams to be near what a IX makes with bolt ons without cams), but real world testing of upgraded turbos on a IX and a VIII will probably reveal a much narrower difference if any at all when it comes to 1/4, trap speeds... it should still be better (IX) spool up, and be able to run a bit more boost, but not by enough for people to dump 8's for IX's...not by a long shot, atleast if they will continue modding there car and ultimately change turbos.