Hey guys, thanks for the input so far... I guess I should have made 3 options:

1. '05 Evo 8
2. '05 Evo 8 MR
3. '06 Evo 9

But, just a few things.

First, I think a Mitsu hot-rod version (the RS won't cut it), e.g. the MR is in the works. Subaru is likely going to raid the Spec-C/WR1 suspension bin to bring a better handling WRX Sti to compete... They basically lost every head-to-head comparison to Mitsu, and this is definitely a brand image car... they won't go quietly into that good night .

Second, Mitsu has a hit with the Evo 8... it won't stop selling it, or further versions. It basically is a brand image car. It would be suicide to pull the rug from U.S. Evos because it brings people to Mitsu dealers... now they just have to revamp a few things in their auto/suv line-up. Plus, you don't spend 10s of millions of greenbacks to keep a car selling for only 2yrs. That's corporate suicide. Now they just need comercials like Mazda relaying the Evo zoom, zoom and unflappable all-wheel drive is in their other makes.

Third, the commitment to sell has been established and the biggest comercial for Mitsu and Subaru is coming out in June/July '04... That's right GT4. Subaru sells Spec-C and WR1 versions everywhere (except the U.S.), the MR maybe sold soon. Bragging rights go from the game to the driveway. Play the game, then drive one from the dealer. They want to be tops... and they need to be, since Subaru is eating their lunch .

Finally, U.S. awareness of WRC is growing and Mitsu has a new car... again, watch them race and then drive it from the dealer.

My 2cents... keep the input coming,
g

 

grats on joining the Cleveland Evo scene. What dealer did you go to?

 

Quick question, what was the tire and wheel package they sold you? I thought the 17" Enkei's and AVS are standard???

Did you get an aftermarket package or a factory option that I don't know about? Just curious.

Thanks!

Brent

 

i heard that Mitsu only sold 3500 of the 5000 cars they expected to sell by December '03. There have also been some layoffs of US based Mitsubishi staff (supposedly those who run the Evo product line). Now all this stuff is hearsay ... they were hoping to get the same success as the WRX (anticipated 6000 cars a year and sold over 26,000 cars the first year). The market is slightly different once you increase the price by $4-5K per unit.

I love my wrx and I really love my evo, but one has got to go ... and I think we all know which one that will be.

Steve

 

But it is not at all helpful when the people it brings to the dealership are incapable of buying anything because they are young and have poor credit ratings.

The Evo MR and the Evo 9 are just vaporware here in the US right now. No need to get into a mental knot over whether you should wait to buy something that hasn't even been confirmed as coming stateside.

In all reality, I your poll actually reads..

1. Buy an Evo VIII now
2. Sit and wait for something better that might or might not come along

If you make a habit of sitting and waiting for the next best thing to come along, you will never actually buy anything....there is always something better on the horizon.

SC~

 

Waiting is actually the smartest thing to do financially.. You can in the mean time invest in mods like driving schools so when (if, I'll entertain that..) they arrive, the loose nut behind the wheel is up to snuff for such a great car. You save money.. You get to enjoy racing and learning in the mean time.. How is waiting for exactly what you want instead of settling for something now, which for most folks would cost a lot of money and probably make it too expensive to swap in a few months..

Plus waiting helps drive home to Mitsu that they are close, but need to add a few extra things to the mix. cruise, smt, etc..

 

I think if the MR was sold here as it is it would cost 40K, that is why our EVO's is without all the driver aids to help keep cost down. With that the MR will never be brought into our shores.

As for future EVO models who knows...maybe Mitsubishi might just pull the plug with the eight. Mitsubishi is in such finacial problems right now that the future is kinda grim.

Winston

 

GrimDog... Haven't purchased yet, but presently living in Ann Arbor, MI... so may be buying there.

Secret Chimp - Good point, but I think the Evo 8 brings driving enthusiasts to the dealers as well. They want a car that is tamer, but with handling in mind.

CupertinoSteve - Mitsu should have taken a lesson from Subaru. Bring a capable all wheel drive sedan/station wagon, make it affordable, and watch the sales. Instead of the Oz they should have brought an all-wheel drive Lancer with a detuned motor... or non-turbo, bored out 4g. Nicer looking car, similiar handling, they would have a piece of the pie .

Regardless of the future, I have to wait for the next batch of Evos to come stateside.

Anyone a little curious why Mitsu delayed the next model year by 6mnths? Anyone with the inside?

g

 

the evo has to go???
j/k, i'm trying to sell my 03 wrx to get into an evo... it's drivin me nuts!

 

damn, that's hard to believe... either way, i think i'll be doing my own 'pit' work.

 

My local dealership just got a white one in with CF wing and sunroof and qouted me 32500 out the door. Is this a good deal?? I think I can get it for a lot cheaper but am new to buying cars.. any help is appriciated..

 

yeah, here's the thing crazy8, otd prices from state to state are different. so what is the actual price of the car before ttl?
i think $26.5-27 is fair nowadays, and that anything below that is excellent.

 

they said they are selling me the car for 30k

 

i dont know man, that seems pretty high right now... like i said, around here i got a quote from a dealer at $26,995 plus ttl. i've heard of getting them for even less (not much, but still less....)

 

I currently drive an '04 S60R, and I'm considering trading into something a bit sportier. Don't get me wrong, I love the Volvo, it grips along with the best of them, and accelerates extremely well given its weight. Adjustable chassis is nice, and the seats are great. But it isn't a sports car. It's a fairly sporty sedan. It accelerates like a sports car, and corners as well as many sports cars, it stops better than most, but it doesn't feel like one. The chassis and steering are very numb, and beyond that the car feels heavy, and not terribly tossable.
Test drove an Evo yesterday (and boy was it tough to find a dealer that would let me test drive....), and I was blown away. I've been test driving lots of "sports cars", but the Evo has definitely been my favorite so far. Notables have been: E46 M4, 3.2l NSX, Boxster S, C5 (normal one, and a Z06). I found the Evo plain impressive. It seemed to have more character than any of the other besides the Boxster, the steering and chassis were on par with all of them (even the NSX didn't feel any sharper or more precise...and that's saying a lot). Everything about the car came together perfectly. I didn't find the interior cheesy at all. It was "all business", and it wasn't as snazzy as my Volvo, but it was all very well laid out ergonomically speaking, and the Recaros are absolutely top notch Amazingly, it also had more legroom in the back than my S60 when I had the driver's seat in a suitable position. Didn't rev the engine much, as the car had only 15 miles. But even what I felt at 3000-4000 before the shift at part throttle was impressive. Plus, it's not like anyone in their right mind would keep the car stock
anyway... Ride wasn't that bad at all. I could EASILY live with it. Put my Volvo around some of the same ramps I did the Evo on the way back, and I was blown away by the difference, even in "Advanced", the Volvo's "don't use me if the road isn't glass-smooth" chassis setting. This car is easily as fun to drive as anything else I've ever driven, has major character and attitude, and even costs MUCH less than any of the other cars I drove (in some cases, less than 1/2 the price).
Later this week I'm going to go talk to some dealers. If they can cover the price of the Evo (and hopefully a bit more...) with the trade-in on my Volvo, I think it's a done deal. I'm hoping for about $32k trade-in on the Volvo ($43k new, with 12k miles, 5 months old, nearly fully optioned, and limited production numbers), which should cover the price of an Evo/tax/title/licence/etc. after some minor negotiations.
Definitely a Evo lover after my test drive.