Yah and adjusting cam timing is common for every car I know to get a decent idle....

Somone's been breathing to much NAWS...

 

As mentioned elsewhere, Be sure to correctly factor in all the costs of ownership.

if you drive an avg of 20k miles year and can get 10k miles out of a set of tires you're looking at an additional $2400 a yer in tires alone, that's $200 extra month.

Avg mo cost for this car without any repair costs, mods, or tickets.

550 Car payment
150 Insurance
150 Gas
200 Tires
50 Brakes
25 Oil
15 Registration

That's over 1100 a month. Surprised? You shouldn't be.

 

I never realized that, hehe. Of course, my monthly payments are much lower, so is my insurance .

 

What's your monthly car payment $450? $400? Insurance $100?

That's great, but TCOs ( Total Cost of Ownership) are rarely figured on large purchases in the US. Must be our great education system.

 

$2400 for tires??? Dude, you need to shop around. Last time I checked they were $209 each (about $900 shipped for four) from Tire Rack. And I am over 11,000 miles with more than half the tread still there. I think you should be able to get closer to 15-20,000 miles from the stock tires.

 

I have a friend at work that just bought a 350Z. He feel in love with my Evo after driving it. In fact he liked it so much that he wished he didn't buy his 350Z. I love my Evo so much that I want another one so I can have two Evos!

 

Monthly payment on car is $290, insurance is $125/month.

 

That's great Theo, must have been with a healthy downpayment. One of my friends put $18,000 down and you must have put something similar down. Though for the avg person, it's still very important to do a complete TCO to understand just how expensive any purchase really is.

Initial Outlay, Maintenance, Repairs, Insurance, Financing. Most people try to make a purchase sound inexpensive with a low monthly payment. Many factors need to be addressesed.

My TCO for my MR2 was high enough that it saved me money buying a new car for daily driving. It's going to stick around as the daily driver as well when an Evo shows up with bits I am looking for.

 

I skipped over the middle section of this thread so I may be repeating what someone has already said, but maintenance costs are a little more than an average car. Not out of line but, still something to think about. With that in mind I don't think you would be at all dissapionted in the Evo, it is the most functional sports car in the world. There is room for three friends, no worries in the snow, has a usable trunk, and hauls ***. What else could you ask for at $30,000.

 

If you can't drift an RWD around in snow, you'll want to be careful with an AWD. The AWD's limits are higher, but once you reach them, things get very ugly very quickly.

Also note that you cannot use the stock tires in winter. You'll need to budget for winter tires and for either a winter set of rims or the price to remount tires twice a year.

The EVO is a "maximum performance" car. Which typically means that it will have issues, as it puts more strain on its parts than an econobox sitting in gridlock does.

You might want to consider going for a cheaper car, and putting some money into a Bondurant or other driving school for a nice vacation.

On the other hand, who am I to talk? I put myself in deep, shortly out of college, to buy a brand new Alfa Romeo. I still own it.

 

I currently own a '98 Black Base Type Prelude with 41xxxk miles on it. I love it, but I can't stand not having boost and my friends are all DSM freaks so this is reasonable. I've always loved the evolutions, ever since the V, VII's, and espicially the VII's but I always thought that wasn't going to happen.

I don't have alot of money, but I am up and coming on a 20 hour/week $10/hr job, so I'll have a little flow.

I live in Illinois and would love to be able to trade in my lude for more than $12k, but I don't think that's gonna happen. I can pay off a loan and go to college, that is no problem.

I guess my question is, what would be my best route to the Evo? Selling my car privately, but only after a thousand or 2 of tune ups, or trading my car in and taking what they give me? With a 48 month plan, I think I can get the Evo for less than $600/month. Any ideas on what would be the best route? I know I probably don't have the right idea. Any input is highly appreciated.



BTW, I love your cars.

 

Jayarr,

According to edmunds.com, your car still worth about $12k for private sale or $10k for trade in.

If you can get 10k for your trade and for 60 months plan, you payment will be around $400+. If you think you strap for cash flow, choose a 72 months plan if available.

I'll think trading in is the easiest way to dealt with. I learned that whenever you trade your car, you are only liable for the tax on the remaining amount on your new car. For example,

30000 (new evo) - 10000 (trade) = 20000 (taxable)

Not sure the tax for IL, but in MA, that's 5% of 10000 = 500 saving.

In additional, I use this link to help me negotiates my trades.
http://www.mitsubishicars.com/tradei...x.html?1113001
Since I quote from mitsubishi website, I can get the trade in value as close as listed.

Hope this help.

 

I also am thinking of getting an evo but I am worried that I they might come out w/ one w/ AYC and ACD. Should I wait? Does any body know when that might be an option?

 

Dude, you have a nice car. Just wait until you're finish with school then get the EVO.

If you're set on the EVO, then definitely sell your car privately. You can really pick up a killer deal on a barely used EVO around here ($26K~)

 

As above, an Evo would cost you $400 per month for the loan. Insurance will be $150-200appx per month. If you drive 1000 miles per month, you'll be spending appx $100 on gas per month for the required 93 octane. this adds up to $650-700 per month.

If your job is $10 per hour for 20 hours per week. You will gross $800 per month. After taxes, that will be more like $600 per month.

And remember, the Evo comes with Summer only tires. You live up north and will have to buy a $1000 set of winter tires within a month of your Evo purchase. And if you bash the car, you can be in need of a new $2500 clutch install within weeks of getting the car.

So owning an Evo would cost you more per month than you even bring home from your job.

I suggest you wait till after college or until after you get a better paying job before you buy another car. But if your Mom and Dad subsidize your life still......