What made you decide on an evo?
Hopefully this isn't too large of a post for you. For me it was all about light weight, *real* AWD, the ability for gobs of power without an engine rebuild, and most importantly a manual transmission.
Basically my requirements are easily summed up by this.
1. Factory turbo
2. Full-time AWD
3. Manual transmission
4. Lightweight.
Normal cars get to pick 2 out of 4.
Fun-but-not-serious cars get to pick 3 out of 4.
Evo is 4 out of 4.
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Mustang Cobra (my own car, technically I shopped against keeping it)
Smooth as butter 32 valve DOHC 4.6 V8 with a 7200rpm redline.
Lightweight (gutted to 2750lbs)
Poor handling
Turning Radius that makes the Evo seem nimble.
Even at near stock power, I hated how poorly it was put to the ground without fast wearing rubber.
Awesome mod potential IF you can afford engine rebuild, blower, and transmission rebuild.
Awesome sound and looks, constantly turning heads.
Parked in the rain and snow.
Although Mustangs are cookie cutter, you don't see Cobras every day.
Evo X
I like the car a lot, but at the time only had cash for an IX or an 08 with all the bugs.
Put off by the differential pin issue on stock cars
Put off by the fuel relay issue
Put off by the fact everyone disables AYC and flashing the ACD is better. So why have the weaker rear AYC diff compared to the IX?
Since the colored cluster LCD came out later, I felt even more like the 08 was a bastard year.
2mpg less on both city and highway than the IX. I was planning to DD mine, now of course I'm not.
Put off by the weak plastic clutch master cylinder compared to the nice metal IX unit.
(Despite all the criticism, the 2010s and up look more and more attractive to me)
Audi S4
Too expensive to mod.
Too heavy.
Not as much power potential before rebuilds.
335XI
Out of my price range.
Hated the idea of using my brakes as differentials. (open diffs, with ECU nannies)
Too heavy
Nice luxury however, but just not my thing.
N54 engine makes crap power for what it is.
STI
Far too many stories about popped motors and transmissions to even think about one.
I do love the sound though.
Too cookie cutter, I see many WRXs and STIS every day. Hardly ever see Evos.
I've actually never driven one.
Mazda Speed 3
Never even gave it a glance with FWD. Same for the American Big3 FWD cars.
Mazda Miata
Too much work to get turboed.
Too much work to build the engine.
Although it handles great, it's very submissive looking and too small for safely surviving an accident.
Basically my requirements are easily summed up by this.
1. Factory turbo
2. Full-time AWD
3. Manual transmission
4. Lightweight.
Normal cars get to pick 2 out of 4.
Fun-but-not-serious cars get to pick 3 out of 4.
Evo is 4 out of 4.
--------------------------------------------------
Mustang Cobra (my own car, technically I shopped against keeping it)
Smooth as butter 32 valve DOHC 4.6 V8 with a 7200rpm redline.
Lightweight (gutted to 2750lbs)
Poor handling
Turning Radius that makes the Evo seem nimble.
Even at near stock power, I hated how poorly it was put to the ground without fast wearing rubber.
Awesome mod potential IF you can afford engine rebuild, blower, and transmission rebuild.
Awesome sound and looks, constantly turning heads.
Parked in the rain and snow.
Although Mustangs are cookie cutter, you don't see Cobras every day.
Evo X
I like the car a lot, but at the time only had cash for an IX or an 08 with all the bugs.
Put off by the differential pin issue on stock cars
Put off by the fuel relay issue
Put off by the fact everyone disables AYC and flashing the ACD is better. So why have the weaker rear AYC diff compared to the IX?
Since the colored cluster LCD came out later, I felt even more like the 08 was a bastard year.
2mpg less on both city and highway than the IX. I was planning to DD mine, now of course I'm not.
Put off by the weak plastic clutch master cylinder compared to the nice metal IX unit.
(Despite all the criticism, the 2010s and up look more and more attractive to me)
Audi S4
Too expensive to mod.
Too heavy.
Not as much power potential before rebuilds.
335XI
Out of my price range.
Hated the idea of using my brakes as differentials. (open diffs, with ECU nannies)
Too heavy
Nice luxury however, but just not my thing.
N54 engine makes crap power for what it is.
STI
Far too many stories about popped motors and transmissions to even think about one.
I do love the sound though.
Too cookie cutter, I see many WRXs and STIS every day. Hardly ever see Evos.
I've actually never driven one.
Mazda Speed 3
Never even gave it a glance with FWD. Same for the American Big3 FWD cars.
Mazda Miata
Too much work to get turboed.
Too much work to build the engine.
Although it handles great, it's very submissive looking and too small for safely surviving an accident.
FYI You can get a Miata from the factory with a turbo BTW not sure if you know that, Im with you on the other things you said about it though, I know they handle great supossedly, but I wouldnt want to own one.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Kirkland, WA
For me it was Evo/STi, after doing my homework Evo was definitely the way to go and I haven't looked back. I've got two really good friends with STi's, I've driven one and been in the other, and I love the noise/low end torque they get, but getting past 300-310whp is hard to do unless you've got a lot of money to dump into it. Also paying $300 to get the spark plugs changed isn't the best thing every :P
My Brother has a Speed 3, I gotta say its fast as S*it for a stock car for BUT with the FWD its rough to get the power to the ground and also gets s*itty gas mileage believe it or not, Its is a very nice car though I like it a lot. A similar car with the AWD is the Speed 6, has the same engine as the 3 but with AWD and I believe it has a few more HP too, they stopped making them in 2006 or so I believe, but I looked at a few before I bought my WRX also very nice car they just wanted too much for them, I also dont think the MS6 is that light either.
FYI You can get a Miata from the factory with a turbo BTW not sure if you know that, Im with you on the other things you said about it though, I know they handle great supossedly, but I wouldnt want to own one.
FYI You can get a Miata from the factory with a turbo BTW not sure if you know that, Im with you on the other things you said about it though, I know they handle great supossedly, but I wouldnt want to own one.
About Miata's.... You can't get anything recent with a turbo right? Only that one older 'speed version? Those are hard to find last time I checked and only came with a motor capable of a little more power over stock from what I remember... I haven't looked into them after the new version since I was shopping for a used car to build. There's a few quick as ***** Miata's around here that really impressed me but the Evo motor has it beat before a rebuild which is all that counts in my book. I wanted a fast bolt on car and didn't want to mess with rebuilds and such.
Evolved Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 591
Likes: 0
From: Mesa, Az
I had known about them for a few years before they came to the US in 03. I was into Mustangs at the time, but after a test drive I took with a new Evo VIII, I knew I would have one one day. I bought a 2006 Evo IX in November of 2005; it is by far the best car I have owned.
I had considered an 06 STi, but the Evo felt much better stock as well as modded. I bought it new with 7 miles on it. No regrets whatsoever.
I had considered an 06 STi, but the Evo felt much better stock as well as modded. I bought it new with 7 miles on it. No regrets whatsoever.
bold were the selling factors that would make me buy a car, and what led me to the evo
i wanted a 4-door car (bonus that the evo has baby seat holder things for future)
wanted a car that makes me smile whenever i drive it, evo satisfies that. i had a subaru legacy before this and while nice, it wasn't quite a drivers car. my first car was a 94 mustang cobra so i was a bit tainted on know how quick a car could be
wanted either rwd or awd (would have been happy with the evo if it were rwd)
wanted good gas mileage, but i know this would be at least partly sacraficed for power
wanted something i could do all the maintenance on. this was the biggest seller for the evo. it's such an easy car to work on for being awd (after owning an older subaru legacy with h4, working on a friends toyota alltrac). bmw's i'd been thinking about, but the maintenance and all that on them is so expensive it drove me away
the only thing i'd change would be cruise control, would be nice for me with it being a daily. granted, i'd love better gas mileage, but awd and/or turbos don't lend themselves well to being light sippers on gas
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Its nice to hear all the input.
I was about to buy a new 2011 WRX, but after learning more about its AWD system and differentials, I realized its not totally what I wanted.
I think i've come to the conclusion that what I really want is a brand new 2006 Evo... which of course I can't get.
I was about to buy a new 2011 WRX, but after learning more about its AWD system and differentials, I realized its not totally what I wanted.
I think i've come to the conclusion that what I really want is a brand new 2006 Evo... which of course I can't get.
So, I wanted a car with some torque (coming from Honduhs 
I had a Type-R that I drove as my DD, but never tracked it) so I started looking at turbocharged cars. After seeing an STI go from 70-90+ on the freeway in a fraction of a second one night and having my ***** shrink almost immediately, I knew it was time to upgrade. 
I did about six months of research, reading about WRX/STIs and Evos, it was no question that the 4G63 was tried and true. These motors can take a beating for sure, not to mention the USDM Evo was GREATLY down-tuned. That just meant it was waiting to be unlocked.
Seeing guys gain like 70whp after ONLY upgrading their exhaust to a TBE and dynotune I was sold. Those sorts of gains are unheard of when we're talking about Hondas, which are almost already at the limit when they leave the factory.
I had a Type-R that I drove as my DD, but never tracked it) so I started looking at turbocharged cars. After seeing an STI go from 70-90+ on the freeway in a fraction of a second one night and having my ***** shrink almost immediately, I knew it was time to upgrade. I did about six months of research, reading about WRX/STIs and Evos, it was no question that the 4G63 was tried and true. These motors can take a beating for sure, not to mention the USDM Evo was GREATLY down-tuned. That just meant it was waiting to be unlocked.
Seeing guys gain like 70whp after ONLY upgrading their exhaust to a TBE and dynotune I was sold. Those sorts of gains are unheard of when we're talking about Hondas, which are almost already at the limit when they leave the factory.
Been following the evo bandwagon since i seen a evo 3 @ the pikes peak hill climb lonnng ago. Watched alot of wrc when i was growing up. What sealed the deal was going for a early morning hike in gardenof the gods ( ironic huh) when i get to the parking lot i see a big white semi /car hauler....hmm wtf so i go to the other side an bam....3 jdm evos with sensors hanging off every corner along with a half dozen Japenesse mitsubishi engineers getting ready for some testing. So i go up to an engineer and ask him what they were doing. The gentlemen says pointing to pikes peak...." we do testing going up and down"....and " manitou has good road an elevation change"
This was in 2002 so i told myself " self you can't buy one brand new....but i sure as hell am going to buy one later down the road" 5 years later i found a BBY 03' traded in my 94' rx7 and have been in love since.....no regerets!
It also helped that i knew the 4g63 from all the DSM's owned before the evo came state side....4g63 ftw!
Sorry for the long story......boost on fellas!
This was in 2002 so i told myself " self you can't buy one brand new....but i sure as hell am going to buy one later down the road" 5 years later i found a BBY 03' traded in my 94' rx7 and have been in love since.....no regerets!
It also helped that i knew the 4g63 from all the DSM's owned before the evo came state side....4g63 ftw!
Sorry for the long story......boost on fellas!
Last edited by BoostINurI; Aug 12, 2011 at 10:13 AM.
Its nice to hear all the input.
I was about to buy a new 2011 WRX, but after learning more about its AWD system and differentials, I realized its not totally what I wanted.
I think i've come to the conclusion that what I really want is a brand new 2006 Evo... which of course I can't get.
I was about to buy a new 2011 WRX, but after learning more about its AWD system and differentials, I realized its not totally what I wanted.
I think i've come to the conclusion that what I really want is a brand new 2006 Evo... which of course I can't get.
I swear you can read the features backwards and it sounds right.....
Now introducing the 2006 Lancer Evolution IX, replacing the 2008 Evolution X.
* Weight has dropped 242lbs from the outgoing model (3285 compared to 3527)
* A new 6spd manual replaces the outgoing 6spd auto.
* The 5spd everyone loves is still available.
* Clutch master cylinder has been upgraded from Plastic to Metal for durability with aftermarket clutches.
* Despite the major weight loss, the engine has gained 22lbs of weight by switching to a stronger Closed-Deck Iron block that will hold much more power without sleeving.
* The price of the vehicle has been lowered for all models. No more $40K+ for a fully optioned MR.
* The differential pin issue has been resolved. They no longer back out on this model.
* The fuel relay issue was fixed on this model. No more popped motors from a blown relay.
* A new RS model for those who just want to go fast without all the creature comforts. Available for the first time under $30 grand.
* The turbo has been moved in front of the engine for easy access to perform turbo swaps and boost leak tests. We know you'll want a forward facing kit someday anyways.....
* Despite all the weight loss, the battery has been moved back to the engine compartment. You can *still* move it back to the trunk and further improve weight distribution!
* Since everyone preferred to tune the ACD and disable AYC, the AYC system was removed to allow a more durable rear differential to be used.
* Side airbags are removed to save weight. We know you'll remove the others when racing anyway.
* Styling has improved majorly. We no longer rip off the GTR front end.
* Removed the need for Mode23 when tuning. Just plug in and go with this model.
Flame away X owners. It still reads like a devolution to me...... Or better yet, a different model of car that's strikingly similar. A strikingly similar car that I actually also like and would buy if there was no such thing as an IX. Of course that means someday I will probably own an X too when I wear out my 9.
Last edited by acidtonic; Aug 12, 2011 at 01:08 PM.
^^ lol damn thats cold...but I suppose the truth hurts?
I needed a car that I could talk the wife into. I wanted a car that looked nice, had AWD, had a great aftermarket support, made power easily, and last but not least was 4 door so I can justify it as being a "family mans car" to my wife -_- it worked and I got my Evo IX with a nice baby seat for my daughter.
Didnt really look into any other cars. just the Evo...
regrets? non with the car. just the situation that I have been in with it thus far. got the car with a "blown" motor, the rebuilt motor blew in 180 something miles and now I'm going for broke with a new set up. other than that? nothing at all! you have to pay to play and I can dig the game.
I needed a car that I could talk the wife into. I wanted a car that looked nice, had AWD, had a great aftermarket support, made power easily, and last but not least was 4 door so I can justify it as being a "family mans car" to my wife -_- it worked and I got my Evo IX with a nice baby seat for my daughter.
Didnt really look into any other cars. just the Evo...
regrets? non with the car. just the situation that I have been in with it thus far. got the car with a "blown" motor, the rebuilt motor blew in 180 something miles and now I'm going for broke with a new set up. other than that? nothing at all! you have to pay to play and I can dig the game.
I never really noticed Evo's until they came here in '03. The more I read about them the more amazing they sounded. I went to the dealership and looked at them, but was told I couldn't test drive one. I was almost ready to sell my pride and joy '69 Chevelle to buy one. Then I came to my senses and realized that wasn't a smart idea, for how much I have invested in it. Even the Mitsu sales guy said don't do that. Fast forward to me finishing college and I was in a position to buy a new car and for some reason I bypassed the Evo and STi and bought an '06 350Z brand new. Enjoyed it for a year and then got tired of it and realized I should have bought an Evo or STi all along. Went to look at STi's but was disappointed in the way they drove. I had only driven and ridden in modded STi's to this point and stock it just wasn't impressive and I didn't have any plans to mod it at that time. Plus the salesman were kind of rude. Ok off to the Mitsu dealer, this was in Dec. 2007 and they had 2 brand new IX's left. I went for the IX SE as the MR was way too expensive. After a lot of haggling and a test drive which sealed the deal for me, I traded the 350 and bought the SE. Greatly enjoy the car and its abilities, but the only regret I have is not getting a better loan on the car. Oh well, still happy with my choice almost 4 years later. 
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16
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From: Chicago
As the title says, what made you decide on buying an evo?
AWD, 2.0L turbo, 4 door, Fast.
What else did you consider when you were buying?
car that i can drive in winter
Did you buy it new or used?
New
And do you have any regrets?
yea spend too much money on modified...
AWD, 2.0L turbo, 4 door, Fast.
What else did you consider when you were buying?
car that i can drive in winter
Did you buy it new or used?
New
And do you have any regrets?
yea spend too much money on modified...
Always liked how hard they looked, loved the concept of AWD + TURBO, but the real go decision maker was all the guys i knew and had gone to school with were getting WRX's, so not to join the bandwagon, I'm now in search of a clean evo.
+ I just get the feeling that I will love it way more than i would if i got a wrx/sti
+ I just get the feeling that I will love it way more than i would if i got a wrx/sti