Also a valid point, most forget... Bought my evo in cash, so that was no issue? (yes used... but awaited until I had funds to buy it!)

 

To this I say........ B & S..... once a tuner always a tuner Mr. Smike!

 

You probably know what I think of modding for the sake of modding. Too many cars are mangled beyond recognition, chopped-up and filleted in the name of one inane modification or another, then left to die when the owner looses interest or realizes that he can no longer enjoy driving the thing. Then, there's the ill-founded belief that an aftermarket part is better or at least as good as a factory alternative. Most of the time, they're not even close.

 

Evos are meant to be modded....especially for how well they react to the bolt-ons you put on.

Throw that in with the fact that they are geared towards younger drivers...

If you just want somethin fast to daily drive why didnt you just get a bmw for near the same amount of money but way more luxurious.....

just my thoughts on the subject

 

How do you explain the leaps of logic?

 

Maybe, but it's not a rule that you have to do it. The stock performance is already faster than 90% of the cars on the street to begin with, and that's already plenty.

Because the Evo is faster already for less money, and to some people, luxury (especially at BMW price points) isn't a priority.

 

Your definetely right about that. You dont have to do it, it just makes sense to.

And beating 90% of cars on the street is getting closer than you think to being false....I mean Maximas nowadays are hittin high 200s...its only a matter of time my friend.

A stock evo just feels weird now that i have modded, especially if you have a diff turbo...I really dont think i could drive a stock evo and feel satisfied...but again...im just sayin my opinion.....400 horses isnt for everybody i suppose

 

FJF- always good reading your thoughts here...

Perhaps something that should be said, or thought of is: Any modification should have a CLEAR and WELL THOUGHT OUT purpose, not to just the car, but to the driver's use of the car. Take EVOlutionary's (Jarrod) SM turning roadrace car... purpose built and modified... Others run HPDE's, and maybe run SM or BSP or STU and have limitations by class, OR by the fact that it is street driven... Or simply want a fast straight line car, so AWHP all the way, and nothing else matters.

 

Just feel like pointing out for those of us who have had BMW's (M3 here previously) price out replacement parts, maint. parts, and aftermarket parts for an M3... Germans do make good cars, but never been known for affordability, the Japanese can make some cars economical, which is where the Evo fits, as a high performance yet affordable option for many.

Drive an M3, or an M5... the car is nothing like the Evo... just the personality, and characteristics of an AWD sedan, vs. an inline 6 or the 8 in the M series... very unique cars.

Again, just another off-topic observation... C'mon OP... put us back on YOUR intended path of YOUR thread.

 

You're right, but some people are just less compelled to mod, especially here in California, where the rules are a bit stricter than in most other states. Again, 286 hp has been plenty for me over the past four years, and that's even after I rode in a 510 hp Ferrari F430 Scuderia 16M (which actually did change my view on cars).

Well of course... that is true with any car as time goes by, but Evos won't suddenly be eclipsed by even 20% of cars on the road anytime soon, though hopefully you understand that I'm not talking strictly about straight-line acceleration (as the Maximas you mentioned are still slower through the quarter-mile and will get dusted in any other measurable aspect of performance). To elaborate, the current BMW M5 went around the Nurburgring in 8:13, while an Evo IX did it in 8:11... on a DAMP track, which you can tell from the video (and also if you read the translations of what the driver was saying). So in terms of overall performance, its place is pretty solid, though like I said, there will be more significant threats throughout time.

 

Yes!

I appreciate all the banter, but really, I would like to compile a list of mods that have a) Very few drawbacks b) compliment the Evo c) that EVERY one who sits in the car can appreciate (or not whine about)

And of course make the Evo owner happy!

Some I knew of and some just blew me away. Like the rear diff. I am going to an autoX this Sunday so I will see the understeer for myself.

Is there any other similar additions that I might have missed?

 

Well I gave you my top 10 list... and I think it would be hard to argue with that, minus 'personal preference'... Good luck at that autox, I have one on Sunday as well, huge airport concrete!

Be prepared if you have nothing else adjustable to adjust rear tire pressure to try to tame the understeer... Keep me posted for more info or help if interested.

 

I like my car to look mostly stock and sound mostly stock, does that count? I'll mod it on the inside though.

 

Soungs like you need a QTP bigscary....Im unfamiliar with the X though

Lol DeezNuts your right though, if you are into AutoX then this is def the platform to buy other than the german makes... And in no way did I intend to highjack this thread!!

But let me tell you what.....how much were all Evos when they came out??? There is NO WAY im buying an Evo for 35k+ for how it performs stock....just food for thought

 

Well, not necessarily just autocrossing (since there are a lot of other cars that do well, though you will see a lot of BMWs in autocrossing as well)... anything with curves, really.

How much were Evos when they came out? $28,987 (plus $480 if you got one with the carbon fiber wing, which was the case for most Evos at launch). Prices going up for cars is an inevitable trend, and it applies to a lot of other makes and models. But the Evo now starts at $33,590, which is indeed a jump from its original price SEVEN years ago... less than 16%. But compared to its first U.S. variant, there is a lot that has been added on. The interior is much nicer (with cruise control!), 18" Enkeis, bigger brakes, increases of 20 hp and 27 lb-ft, S-AWC (as opposed to the original one having an open front differential, a viscous center LSD and lacking S-AYC in the rear). Those are a lot of changes, if you think about it. The fact that the X GSR was typically getting 0.99 g on the skidpad (though its ratings ranged from 0.97 g to 1.03 g, depending on the publication) speaks volumes of its capabilities. Sure, its quarter-mile times haven't really improved all that much, but again, it's good at it but it's great at other things. But obviously its overall bang-for-the-buck factor has some other competitors that weren't very serious in years past (like the 2011 Mustang GT).

Subaru isn't far off, as the STI now is $34,995 (and the STI Special Edition is $32,995 but is stripped of a few things, so I don't know if you'd want to use that as your basis) but was $30,995 when it was first launched (though remember that it came without floormats or a sound system), which is a roughly 13% change over the same period of time... slightly less but still pretty similar at this price point.

I can't say the same thing for the M3 though. As great of a car it is, I remembered it being a $45k car back in the E46 bodystyle (which was around throughout the U.S. CT9A Evo's lifespan). Look at it now... still awesome, but now $58,400 at the very least That's nearly 30% of an increase over one generation (though the advancements in its engine were huge, going from a 333 hp I-6 to a 414 hp V-8), though remember that its base price doesn't include the mandatory gas guzzler tax that it is now subject to.