Ruined thread in 3.... 2....

 

LOL. OP sounds like you don't the Evo. Sell it and get something else....then regret it and come back.

 

to the OP

I have had my EVO 8 since may 2003.

120K miles later
still have the original FP green on it since about 70K miles and have been pushing 400awhp for about 4 years now. the car currently has 430awhp/400 ft/lbs torque...and that was after i detuned it from 93 to 91 (moved to arizona from CT) and addded kelford 272s.

I am 33 and there isnt a day that goes by that i dont get into my car and smile...to this day i still get turning heads when the turbo spools up

to each their own....if i sell my car, it will strictly be for necessity.

i actually just took my car to get detailed, and the guy offered some nice cash for it...was tempting...but i said no GOODLUCK with whatever path you choose

 

IBTL? The car owners I've met in real life are nowhere near as big of aholes as on car forums. I know someone has written an essay on the dynamics of anonymity, but it still bugs me.

 

Nice! Everything has a price, but it'd have to be a lot of money for me to part with a car after that. A lot more than market value, for sure.

 

Well, I don't think its necessarily the "wrong" cars... it may be the wrong car for them. I know that lots of people would be miserable driving around in my car, but I love it. Some people prioritize driving around in fancy leather, with heated seats, bluetooth, iPod, big stereo, etc...

Then you have people that love driving around in cars with no carpet, no door/roof trim, loud catless exhaust... my Evo puts the worlds biggest smile on my face every single time I drive it. I don't drive it every day, and I do have other cars to drive if its being worked on, but I drive it as often as I can.

 

Well put. That's really the point of this thread I think.

If your car makes you happy, then that is all that matters.

If it's built and unreliable, then mild it down, quiet it down, and drive the crap outta it!

Whenever something bothers you, change it up. In this regard, the Evo is quite similar to a Mustang. There are a lot of options in the direction you take your car, and most parts can be sold used to recoup some of the costs of the change.

 

Throughout most of the world the EVO is a legend. I'll never get rid of my VIII MR and am thinking of buying a second in 2013 when they plan to sell the last ones. Owning a legend that is soon to be retired is something few Car owners in the world can say. We are an elite club, just that puts a smile on my face each time i start her up.

Athanasios

 

<grin> I thought that was self-explanatory.

 

OP - I bought my Evo with the full intention of getting it up to be a 600-700 whp car eating machine. I then realized the EXACT same thing you are going through. I bought this car bone stock with an exhaust and a POS broken MBC for mods, and that is how it will stay (new BC obviously though). I work at a dealership, where people have WRX's, one other Evo 9 MR, CR edition time attack S2000 (so effin nice...) and a couple other "things" I'm forgetting I'm sure. All they ever talk about is going out racing or getting this for more HP. Well the guy with the Evo decided to bite the bullet and did quite a build - nothing huge but nothing small either - and wouldn't you know it, he SMOKED the transmission his first race day. It has been sitting in the same spot in our dealership lot waiting to be fixed because he just dropped a bunch of $$ in parts and tuning. The guy with the WRX? He's been looking for a new transmission ever since he went E85 and decided to race. He's still driving it knowing the trans can blow out at any time. They keep asking me "When you wanna race?" "Let's go race." "What are you gonna do to the car man, get that HP up!" etc...and I keep saying the same thing - this thing is staying stock for a long time because it is the most reliable and fun car I've ever owned, and I know the SECOND I start modding it I'll be paying for it dearly. Did it with my WRX - the second it saw over 350whp I spent $6k+ in ONE YEAR keeping it on the road as my DD.

My plans for the engine are simple - Stock 9 turbo, Stock 9 BOV, 1000cc injectors, Fuel Pump, E85 tune and MAYBE a new FMIC kit. Hopefully this will all happen at 120k when the new timing belt gets done and the car will be at about 380-420 whp.

 

I felt the same way starting 4 weeks ago. Tired of modding ( yet if I keep it I know I will continue), never track car, not as much fun to drive after 4.5 years, ready for something different. Same choices, M3 or Corvette. Didn't want the payment of M3 so went with a C6 Corvette with Z51 package. Everyone said bad choice, you will miss the Evo.Yes it's a great car but the C6 has exceeded my expectations. Nothing but crap eating grins on my face when driving. Handling has a heaver feel, not as much feed back, less go kart like, but handles great, just feels differnt. After driving for a week I can drive the car through the twisties just as fast as the Evo and handling feels great. The motor and exhaust sound amazing. Like the clutch pedal feel better and the 6 speed feels great. Seats are more comfortable but wider and less lateral support so I slide more being skinny. If your daily driving then the C6, even with the Z51 package is loads more comfortable with loads of bells and whistle, ( love the HUD with G-force reading). Bottom line for me is I don't regret my decision at all, you can always get another used Evo just to track/build. From what you have said you should do it, i don't htink you wold be dissapointed in either of your choices. Just my opinion of course.

 

That's a very interesting story! I want to clear up some misconceptions though. I LOVE the EVO. I was doing backflips when I got it home and realized "it's all mine!!" I would totally love to have an EVO with an insane build and a ridiculous amount of HP. The issue lies in the fact that it's just not practical for me right now. If I had a higher salary and a two car garage and two backup cars hen you best believe that I'm turning the EVO into a monster. Maybe someday I'll have those luxuries but I don't right now. I have to be smart for the time being. I got a little ahead of myself by stockpiling all these pArts and I'm just now understanding what lies ahead. That's all this is about. For me at least....

 

OP....why do you think you need a 500whp car to have fun?


I bought my evo to lightly mod nothing more than bolt-ons. No cams, no built motor, no anything I cannot do for fun and with my simple skills. My plans are to fall into the range of 300-350whp no more.

For an AWD car that is quite a bit regardless of what people say that is good for taking on plenty if I decide to do so. Mostly though it will be fun to just take out and drive even if I needed to DD it again for awhile. Great for family (wife and son) or when out by myself.

That is the way I want to do it, why be like others and chase numbers and shoot for large whp and spend more keeping it going because things are constantly breaking? Most of the evos on here could smoke mine, I do not care I have my car my way. Sure their mods might be a bit different but in the end they are not that far apart in difference. So many shoot for the big numbers that they loose sight of just having a great fun car. Even stock the evo is a great car.


Not trying to change your mind do what ever you feel you need to do. I am just giving you another way to look at things. You can still have a great car without modding it to death, getting sick of fixing it all the time and selling it with a sour taste in your mouth.

 

Thank you for posting this. Hopefully, folks will take this to heart.

 

No problem! I have been having this same feeling ever since I found the Craigslist Ad that brought me this car. I make just enough money to get by with everything I have - I don't like like I'm poor, but I probably should, haha - but for me it just seems that people who see an Evo or own one think that it's gotta have 600+ or it's not an Evo...? I don't know, but I just laugh, and it's SO fun to mess with people too! (STORY TIME!)
Out driving with the wife one night and three of the UGLIEST hicks roll up in some POS riced out 92 Integra and start with the "What's it got done, how much HP.." etc... so I look at the wife and she goes "Just make it up!" so what do I do? MAKE IT UP! Me: "It's got 784 whp tuned by RS Motors, fully built with over $40k into the car, why do you ask?" Rocky Dennis look-alike: "Cause we wanna race!" Wife: "STFU you stupid hick, even if he DIDN'T have any mods what makes you think that bone stock riced out POS would even come close to touching this car?" I won't post what happens next, cause I can't, but you know what the outcome is I'm sure!

Bottom line is that (to the OP here) you make enough money to afford a sweet one of a kind machine that you are and will use for a daily driver. Use it and don't ever regret it man!!