What is the best thing to do. I have been shopping for the right evo 8/9 for almost a year now and plan to keep the car for as long as possible. I am just considering my options. I am realistic about spending around 20k. Which is not bad considering that is the middle point for most evos on the market today. I am inbetween spending a little more like 22-23k on a good example. say an 06 with 30-40k miles. But I have seen trashed 4g63s with only 10k miles so I guess that doesnt say much.

I guess what I am really wondering is if it would be a better idea to go with a clean body and high miles like an 03 with around 100k, rebuild the motor slowly, do suspension and go from there. or just look for an all around good evo, good body, decent motor, decent condition. Obviously i will pay more for all around good condition. But if i plan on replacing internals anyway does it really matter how many miles the motor has pending that it runs decent and not too much wear. Would it make sense to buy an 03 with 90-100k and save 10 grand? or just stick with a later 05-06 with 30-50k miles for obvious reasons like less wear and it will re sell better in case of an emergency? I know it seems pretty obvious to take the all around good but there is a reason we are driving evos and not gt-r's. because money is an object and it feels better when you take a carefully built 03 with 100k that books for 12k zooming past a brand new M3 that is worth half of your house.

I cant spend 23k on an evo and expect to do what I want to it, unless it is already done, but wheres that fun? I could spend 13k on an 03 with 90k and another 10k turning it into a beast. What would you do?

 

depends on how much you are going to mod it. I will never run power that exceeds stock internals, dont even plan on making more power than the stock clutch can handle, therefore i went for the least modded cleanest evo i could find. and found an 06 for 3k less than book value.

if your going to mod the **** out of it, find something thats cheap and has issues.

 

^+1 it depends on how much your modding it. Also if it needs to be your daily or not. If it's not going daily and you want to do serious modding to it, then i say got with high millage cheap one that needs some work. Also, assuming that having 10k left over to do what you want to the car may or may not be enough; depends on how extensive you want to go, especially if your not doing the work yourself.

 

Get one with high mileage but in decent shape. You'll get it cheaper, and be able to do more to the car. That's what I did.

 

i am looking to make the car an extremely faithful reliable DD. as far as mods go i will be honest, a stock evo is fun for me to drive. put it to you this way, i started with an oldmobile, went to a factory supercharged buick park avenue, and unfortunately i am currently in a 92 Cadillac Deville. this was when i valued luxury over performance, but thats not important.

I would be more into the idea of replacing parts that are proven for their longevity and reliablitiy rather than what has the most hp gains. Mods will all be done slowly and as needed, looking to learn the ct9a and 4g63 inside and out, granted this will take some time, since im still somewhat green to tuning and im not afraid to admit when i need help.

The way i see it, i am not looking to have the fastest or the flashiest, i just want to drive an evo, period. and drive it for a longggg time. loyally. I live in a state where STI's reign supreme and are dime a dozen so much so that I cant think of what i see more or on a daily basis, cheap *** mustangs or sti's (not to say the sti isnt an amazing car, but to me it just isnt worth it next to an evo. and why do i want what everyone else has? if that was the case i would just drive a civic) I am just trying to save some money and still have evo status.

I am just being realistic. I know the 06 has many advantages over say an 03, and yes i would love a 10.5 hotside, mivec, ect. but the money i save on the 03 i could almost buy a stroked ams crate engine, then I feel like I would be on top of the world. granted i would re do suspension with coilovers, new fuel system, brakes, ect or do the big block and cylinder heads seperately and work my way from there to essentially have a brand new 8.

Am i crazy? lol. i understand this will require alot of time and commitment, but i have plenty of both. cash will come. just another day of pondering i guess. hopefully some of you can point me in the right direction. I guess i am leaning more towards the all around good evo 9. But damn the money i would save going for an 03 with 90k.... idk

 

In this case, I'd strongly suggest looking for a near-stock IX with as few miles as possible. With an Evo you can either have the most reliable car one could wish for, or the complete opposite with everything in between.

There's no need to replace anything on a IX - other than perhaps adding T-bolt clamps - if reliability is the goal.

Then, buy the best car you can to begin with.

All this sounds great on paper. Now try to make it work, synergistically, with stock-like drivability. You'd be re-engineering the entire car. It's a nice dream to have.

 

100% agree. i searched for about 3 months, and actually purchased the first car i went to see in person. owned by an early 30's enthusiast, with a cone filter, ets ic/licp, full exhaust, and what i later found out to be a garbage tune...but that being said it was pristine inside and out and only had 46k on it.

look at cars to find one with mods you would do and the parts you would use, then see how you feel about the seller. i have not bought/not sold cars to people simply based on them giving me a bad feeling, regardless of how much money they offer me.

 

I appreciate your help more than you know guys, really.

I feel like with serious time and dedication that i can make a reliable evo. I know it wont be easy and it will take a lot of time and money. But i feel its realistic because i am not trying to impress anybody but myself. i am not on any deadlines, or anyones schedule other than my own. I have all the time in the world. I will spare no expense using only the best parts, fluids, oil, ect. It just seems worth it. If i gotta eat ramen noodles for a year so be it lol. I feel like it will work because this will be the biggest investment ive ever made in my life, (I am only 22, i only make around 45k a year... until i become a sales manager and run my own store.) I know that i wouldnt sleep until i knew my evo inside and out.

the only question i am afraid to ask is would it be smart to get like a used lancer or civic manual just to get familiar with mechanics and how things run? I know evos require alot more moving parts with awd and turbo setups, ect. I just think im wasting money spending 5k on a decent civic or lancer. regaurdless i probably wont but just wondering what you guys think.

on another note,

these are evos i am considering. if you guys could take a look at em, check the carfax. see if its beat or not. You guys r the best seriously.

2006 evo rally red mr 12k miles. god its beautiful. more than i wanted to spend but damn i mean come on. 1 owner, good carfax. seems like a no brainer. but 26k is a lil more than i wanted to do. granted its a fine example
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...83&CMP=usedInv

this is an 04 with 60k supposedly putting out 500 hp.. take a look and let me know what you think if this was built correctly. they want like 23 i think

http://www.allcityautosale.com/Deale...98BkaoijUUs%3d

06 evo BBY mr with 52k miles. 3 owners, recent accident. failed emmissions MULTIPLE times. but seems okay. idk check it out guys. it looks clean for 22,887.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...id=AT-12694D12


and this is the 03 i am considering with 65k miles for 18k but id never pay that i would want it for more like 15k.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...id=AT-126D41EB


any help you guys can give would be greatly appreciated.

 

FYI, more than once, posting contact info about desirable cars lead to someone other than the OP buying the thing. You seem sincere, so I'm replying quickly. The 12K mile MR looks stock from here. Given what we see on the forum, it's not an unfair asking price. Someone WILL buy it, possibly very soon.

Choose the other cars, be they as they may, if you want a project. Buy the red MR if you want a good shot at a reliable Evo. If you decide that you do want a project, there are lots of folks here better equipped than myself to discuss its viability. Just outline clearly what it is that you're looking for. Best I can do behind a screen.

 

In my opinion the 2006 mr red would be my choice. low miles and in great shape, no yes its more then want u want to pay for. i would stay away from the 500hp one only because you dont know who built it and if it was done right. i personally like to buy stock and build the car the way i wanted but its stiill your choice. As far as the other two not bad eaither but im not a fan of accident cars because you dont know if anything else got messed up. but Good luck with your findings hope you join the evo owners club soon