Excellent post!!

In line; I have a FD and there's mods with no drawbacks that are a must. Ie, boost/water temp gauge, better rad, AST!! and other 'reliability' mods. People go as far to pull the AC/PS just to get rid of heat sinks on the engine!

But since the Evo is really really reliable, I don't think it needs those mods. The stock cooling on a FD really sucks, but I don't see any real inherent weakness in an Evo.

 

Even if you convert back to complete stock, I believe a tune would improve the perfomance with no reliabilty downside. I agree with people saying, TBE, FP, raising the boost a little and tuned. If you want it quite though, even the fuel pump is loud. I have a IX SE and put in MR Bilstiens and Swift Springs, I think it rides smoother than the stock set up and definetly improves the look. Damn I want one of those CBRD radiatiors.

 

HTA green is hardly a big turbo......just saying, And putting a stock exhaust on the car will hurt performance. I'm sure there are exhausts that are quieter then others. I don't really like my car being loud but its fast as **** so I can deal.

 

i have always wanted to try the world sport apexi exhaust or at least muffler because it makes honda's sound good...and it seems that a heavily modded evo sounds like a badly modded honda...lol.

 

Added all the mods I have to my sig.

 

My current Evo was purchased brand new in February 2007, and it's remained completely bone stock ever since. I now have around 33,800 miles. I had purchased some GTworx springs before, but I ended up not installing them just because I liked not having to crawl over speed bumps and dips like I used to when I had a dropped Honda around ten years ago when that was the thing to do. Also, I had wanted to do a tune, but I figured I didn't need it since I just drove my car around for fun, plus I'd rather not have any issues in the event of a warranty claim.

Even to this day, the Evo is plenty of car for me, and I've never begged for more power. I would welcome it, but it's not something that's too crucial, since I haven't exactly pushed my car to its limits... and chances are, a huge percentage of people who have modded their cars haven't either.

While I've paid my Evo off and plan to keep it forever, should I ever choose to sell it, it will probably fetch a lot more than a modded Evo would (especially after you consider how much money a modder had spent in parts relative to the selling price).

 

this is true. my buddy has a front facing hta 35r mild build that has around 600hp. he wants to get 22k for it and has probably 15k in mods after all the changes and different mods that have lead him to where it is now. and he will never get that for an 8 in the current market.

 

I dont ever recall that ever being the thing to do. j/k

 

My car is very mildly modded. The engine bay looks 100% stock sans a boost controller. The drivability is fantastic in no small part thanks to STM's tune. The car is quick, it handles very well, no squeaks and rattles - a pleasure to drive.

 

this is key.

 

I added a VG and I plan to get a flash next time I have it tuned. I will get a JDM rear bumper if the original one gets too chipped from city parallel parking. That's about it.

 

i just sold a JDM rear for 350 local. i think they look so good. but you have to get you exhaust modified usually.

 

 

Pics of what, stock-like Evos?

OK, why not. Here is my stock engine bay with a barely visible black boost controller mounted to the radiator:

 

DEFINITELY a fan of an unmoddified evo, although after buying one for a steal that was modified, I spent my time and effort to get it to a reasonably modified year round daily driver. A few thoughts:

Suspension: If this is a daily driver, and not going to be COMPETITIVELY tracked or autocrossed often... I would stick with the MR Bilstiens, which are OEM.. Just to the MR! Possibly GTWORX, Swift for a VERY MILD drop, and maintain quality of ride and suspension geometry.

Exhaust: I have an AMS TBE... BUT I have a silencer in mine, so 95% of my driving is dead quiet... but uncorked for autoX events, or for a joy ride now and then it is pleasant!! Worth just looking for a silencer for your current exhaust, so if you do want a powerful evo later on, pop out the silencer, and wala...

Engine: to each their own.. I will not give you much in the what you should do department.. IX BOV seems like a good update more than a mod, and it has no downside to speak of.

Exterior: Mud flaps? Good call.. same here for year round Ohio weather.. I liked the understated look of the evo w/o the wing, so I like that I have a rexpeed typeC spoiler off the trunk only... SEEE? my car is just an everyday 4 door sedan..

Interior: Please just do not go gauge crazy, especially if it is a stock evo without being tracked much.

I like the thought of first staying AHEAD on all maintainence, especially when you first get the car, and do not know WHAT to trust has been done, let alone done RIGHT.

ON VALUE: People tend to think since they modded an evo it is worth more... I suggest to those folks to do this exercise: If you add a part to the car (let us just use springs for an example).. sure, add that price to the price of the car, BUT be sure to subtract the OEM price of the springs FROM the car... A car that is sold with all the OEM parts included, may be worth a bit more, since the car could be put back to stock, and the excess parts sold... The issue with a modded car too is that it appeals to less people, since we all do things differently, and tend to like or dislike certain parts. OEM is a clean slate for any person looking to mod, or tune.