I agree. I've owned and daily-driven my Evo for almost five years and have managed to stay completely bone stock (with the exception of wear-and-tear items like brake pads and tires). I've been tempted to mod the car only once it is outside of its warranty period (which at this rate will take forever since I barely hit 45k miles last week), but even in that case, I may change my mind and just keep it stock. Perhaps these will be more valuable some day, perhaps not to the same extent as a bone stock Supra Turbo but at least along the same lines. I really would like to own this car forever, though I think if I've made it this far without doing anything, I might as well just keep it stock forever.

 

Perhaps a tune might be a good idea, especially as you're in California with its 91 fuel. The stock tune knock a bit on 93. You'd get better drivability, more power, and possibly a better stance in terms of overall longevity. Something to consider.

 

It had crossed my mind before, but again, since I do have a bone stock car, I figured I wouldn't mind leaving it alone for the sake of not worrying about any issues in the event of a warranty claim... though I understand that it's highly unlikely to be discovered unless they are actually looking for it, as I'd assume that they'd have to pull the map from the ECU itself and compare it to a stock map.

That being said, do you really think it would help much with overall longevity? I figure it'll lean out the ratios where necessary (since the cars do run on the rich side) which isn't a bad thing, but I wouldn't really expect much of an improvement in terms of reliability... though feel free to enlighten me.

I wouldn't mind the extra punch though (or the better mpg which some have said is also a result), but I don't really need it so much.

 

Truth be told, I don't know for sure. I think that having less knock is a benefit in terms of longevity, but how much knock is too much, where is the line between the practical and the theoretical, and how is that threshold crossed? I have no idea. This being said, I can say from personal experience that good tune can make a night and day difference in drivability and the overall enjoyment of the car.

 

I think if the tune is done by reputable and they understand your goals, Tune will help the car last long. Don't turn up the boost but just make sure that the car is running the right amount of timing and fuel. A lot of fuel isn't good for the car either and also as far as timing.. the car is very aggressive from the factory for 91 Octane.

Get a Basic.. Not aggressive tune.. it will help

 

I haven't really given it too much thought, but when I was considering it, I was in touch with a reputable tuner who had done a lot of Evos here in Southern California, though he had only done one bone-stock car (and that was an Evo X GSR) that saw good gains, though he did point out that it had a really bad tune to begin with (and he meant bad, compared to what the tune should be stock), but as a result, it saw some solid gains.

 

I wish i can afford another evo. If i could i would like to find a bone stock MR and DD it and continue modding the RS.

Sometimes i wish i kept my stock but i do like the added power and fun factor now

 

just because a car can makes say 600hp doesn't mean you can't dd it, not like you're going to be pushing it everywhere you go less your a ricer. Like stated above it is in the tune and parts quality on the car that is gonna make it reliable.

 

Cool story?

 

All I will say is, its what you make of it. Having been on this forum for over 5 years, I've seen countless times when a few people have proven the masses wrong. In my own experience, my car is at 140k now. I'm still on the original trans and tc, which everyone seem to claim was weak when I first bought the car. My car reached 100k while being tuned on the dyno, when a lot of people say it was too old to continue modding. I have autox and tracked for 2 years, sometimes with 2 drivers doing back to back sessions at the track in it. I still daily drive the car and do 2-3 hour trips on a weekly basis for work. Some of my friend make 500hp on fully stock motor, not even ARP studs, and run them for 2-3 years now. There has been a few posts with owners having over 200k in their original motors. IMO, it is entirely up to the owner to the car care for his/her investment.

 

In all fairness, when discussing longevity, high mileage over a relatively short period of time doesn't necessarily figure into the equation. Thing start looking different 15-20 year into ownership. Too, there's the degree of "original goodness," if you will, that isn't a transferable property. By that I mean, an Evo isn't an Evo isn't an Evo. Using myself as an example, I know that my IX is the absolute single cleanest CT9A Evolution I have ever seen. Contrast that with a typical older, modded Evolution and a very different set of expectations falls into place. Now, if you can come back and tell us about your and your friends' cars ~10 years from now, we'll talk. I'm willing to put money, right now, today, on none of those cars being around in 2022. That's the beginning of longevity as a concept. Are you in?

 

You make a good point, but by 2022, I would have already move on, and wouldn't care about an freaking 4 banger of our age. I'm already thinking ahead. In terms of longevity, I think more in terms of reliability for the type of abuse I put the car through. Not your way of thinking, as will these cars last to 2022. Frankly, if my neighbor can keep a 1970s Toyota running, and in perfect shape, why couldn't I do it with one built in 2003 if I really wanted to? To your point though, my buddy has a 2001 Evo VII here in the Northeast that you can eat off of. Its only got about 30k miles. To me however, that's not a test of reliability.

 

<grin> While I'm not really sure what this says about you as an automotive enthusiast, this thread is about the exact opposite. If the car won't survive the next 10 years, the idea of longevity is moot by definition.

 

It say everything about ME as an enthusiast. It says Im willing to adapt to new technology, and want to be the fastest guy on the track that the rules will allow.

Your idea of longevity really has to do more with the owners self control than the car itself. Think about my point for a bit. My buddy with the 2001 Evo VII that has only 30k on it. Its near the end of 2011, making the car 10 years old. Will it last another 10, sure, why shouldn't it! The guy barely drives the damn thing. It never has a spec of dirt on it. Its clearly a great example of a car of its time. Am I impress? Sure.

 

I wonder if another issue, related to longevity,
is preverving the charachter of a car
you want to drive