So I've come to the conclusion with all I've been through with my car that now that its finally running good I think nows the time to try and sell it. Its never ran better, BUT.......The quirks related to driving a 700+ hp car (noise, SD burps, big turbo part boost throttle surges) have got me to a point where I no longer enjoy driving my car (took the fam out this past weekend and I had to damn near yell so my wife and I could talk).

I'll be probably be posting it for sale later today. I know alot of people sell and come back but I honestly think I will not back track on this.

Thus begins finding a car that I will like, modify only a little and will still be able to have fun in. I know its a tall order but the cars I have been looking at so far are:

Evo X/MR: Its a Evo. Nuff said but I know what it could be capable off. I don't know that I have the self control to modify up to a point and leave it alone.

Subaru STi: I've spoken at length about the love I have for my wifes car as a Daily driver. I like the way the 4 doors look. I know they have ringland issues (Some of them), but I put this in the category of the EVO X. How long will it be before I'm trying to go bigger.

Lexus IS-F: I REALLY like this car. V8, looks great, has some of the creature comforts I'm not used to having

Audi A4/S4, M3, Benz C36: Both of these cars look great, BUT, I know they are nightmares to fix and can be costly.

GTR. Must have. Can afford to buy used but I'd be stretching and I'm at a point in my life where I'm not willing to do that anymore. I have more important things going (like my kids).

My next car has to have the following qualities in order for me not to try to come running back screaming:

- 4 Doors
- Decent power from the factory so bolts ons will suffice and I'm not trying to build - the motor to get stupid power (Also so I can do the bolt on stuff myself instead of dealing with a shop).
- Decent looks (Subjective I know)
- Ability to fit some nice offset wheels.
- reliability.


That last one puts the german made cars out of the running as far as I'm concerned and buying a car thats so easy to mod is going to be counter productive.

I have also been toying with the idea of selling my turbo setup, all my gauges, swapping my seats out for factory MR's and going back with a stock frame turbo setup. Selling my turbo setup and getting either a FP Black or BBK-BB, but I'm not sure I'd be happy with that either (knowing what alot of power feels like in this car).

To be honest I don't know if I'm feeling this way because I don't really have anything left to do to the car or if I'm just truly ready to get into a car thats a little easier to drive. I've always had quick cars but this is the first time I've modified almost past the point of no return.

 

I think if you went back to a stock frame turbo setup, factory seats, you could still make 500whp & the car would be a lot more comfortable to drive daily.

If you try selling your car as is you would be lucky to get half the $$ you put into it...if that.

 

For any Evo X guys slumming it in the older platform, lol, or anyone with experience.......How's the MR's transmission. Worth the price admission if the only goal is 400ish HP? Any significant diffrence in the 08 as opposed to the 2010-11 and up? Reliability issues with it?

 

I know if I sell it I won't get anything close to what I put in. I was thinking I might be able to get 30k or best offer for it......think thats wishful thinking?

 

FWIW ... I'd sell the car, then opt for a IS-F or the cleanest, least molested IX you can find. I wouldn't try putting your current Evo back to stock; it's so heavily built that no matter what parts are installed it'll still never equal a factory config and its benefits. If you decide on a stock-like IX, I'd suggest modding it as little as possible and enjoying driving the thing. It's blinding fast on the street. You'll have a totally reliable Evolution that makes as little or as much noise as you prefer. OTOH, if you'd like to have something more luxurious, fast and reliable, the IS-F looks like a fantastic option.

 

Well this kind of sucks to hear, but there's no doubt we give up some creature comforts. I still prefer my Evo though. I'm not sure what you have in regards to an exhaust system but with my boost actuated setup I can carry on a conversation at a normal level and still make plenty of HP since the exhaust only flows when you need it.

If you're serious about selling it, you'd probably be better off parting it out to an extent and then selling. GL

 

I think changing your setup to a stock frame or parting out your car will be more beneficial than selling your car as a whole as funds are tight for many people at the moment.

 

@ FJF its not putting it back to stock but moreso opting for a smaller simpler turbo setup. Less power, less chance of something breaking.

@evilempire I have a Tomei Ti Expreme. I love the exhaust. Just never realized how loud the car was it. I don't mind the dumps when they open up. Just cruising I realize how much sound gets into the cabin trying to have a normal conversation.

 

I would take an inventory of what you need to do to get it back to a level you're comfortable with. If you can afford a used GT-R, you can afford to sell some of your big parts, put more DD-ish parts back on (get rid of solid mounts and twin disk, go back to MAF, get a quieter exhaust, smaller turbo/internal gate, etc...). I'd bet dollars to donuts you can come out ahead and *still* have in your possession a 400+ awhp EVO that is comfortable as can be as a DD. By the way, in my little list up top, I don't even know what you have done, I just know what it probably took to get you to 700 awhp.

Anyway, coming from a 10s DSM that I got to the point that I just did not look forward to driving it despite the fact it was very fast, I am now in an EVO and I'm using two things to "trick" myself into not heavily modding - keeping the stock 6 speed and staying with a stock clutch. I may go to a Competition stage 1 when my stocker is dead but that's it.

Here's the thing - you'll never be done with this hobby entirely. Trust me I - and many others I've met - have tried. What you have to do is figure out how to balance it with your everyday life. For me, that involved getting a stock-ish IX and I'm working towards a goal of 375 whp on straight pump gas. I may never get there, but at least I feel like I'm working on something. I can do all the maintenance, light mods like FMIC, wideband, etc... and still get my "fix." In short, I think you'll regret selling the car as soon as it drives away and from what you're saying, the car actually fits your criteria still, you just went a little overboard on it. Why throw away all that money you spent if you don't have to?

 

Yea I know the recession sucks and I don't think anyone will offer me close to what i think is reasonable....thats why I'm considering going with a tamer setup as a distant 3rd option.

I'm not motivated by financial constraints. This isn't like the car is needing major repairs and I'm tapped out. This is not emotional decision since I've been able to get back on the road thanks to Spec-Ops. This is purely a calculated decision. Getting out while the getting is good. Knowing when to fold them. Most fun i had in the car was with my BBK-Full on E85. It was the fastest thing I had driven at the time and it was a blast.

I miss that. Had I never gone to a HKS setup and blown the motor due to other reasons I would still be at that point maybe contemplating a bigger stock frame turbo.

 

I understand what SmurfZilla is talking about. When you have a family the hardcore stuff gets old quick when you want to take a nice trip together. My car is lightly modded with a 3" turbo back and even that gets annoying forwife family. Also the stock seats are not comfortable for long trips. Let's face it the Evo VIII/IX are not comfortable even stock. The X MR might be a good choice.

You have to be real BMW enthusiast to put up with the M3 cost of ownership but the 4door M3 is a really nice car with 400hp stock.

 

Why is now the time to fold 'em? Are you afraid it will break? At that point it's not emotional, but it is definitely psychological - feeling like you *might* be driving a ticking time bomb is no fun at all. Just trying to make sure I understand what you mean.

 

You are close on the mod list. I'm currently on a Front Facing T4 setup with a 6265 BB turbo. I could theoretically sell the entire setup for a decent price and come out with money to either get a ported stock exhaust manifold or if I still want a little bit of uniqueness get a front facing stock frame setup (since I'm already setup for front facing) and probably break even. Sell my entire gauge setup and just get boost and AFR and try to find a orbital kit so I can get navigation.

Realistically speaking whatever I can sell the car for to get into something else I'll have to add cash. If I can get 30k for it then I'll have to add 5-10k for a decent IS-F or break even on a relatively un-molested Evo X (and thats a big "if" I can get what I want for it). Then I'll want to put some wheels suspension and some bolt-ons on it which will be altogether at least anywhere from 5k to 10k depending on platform and parts choice.

I'm not walking away from cars. I know me and i will want to get right back in it. What I'm looking for is some balance (FJF said it). The Evo is the PERFECT car. I just don't know if I'll be ok after getting to the proverbial horsepower mountaintop and then coming down halfway and being ok with it.

 

I dont have the time to read all the posts but the OP smurf.

Here is my idea for ya

Sell the parts making your car to much for a street car you can enjoy.

Put a bbk bb on it
nice exhaust (not to loud) Something you can still enjoy
Stock bilsteins with swift springs
Take the monster clutch out and put a exedy twin in its place
Put it on pump gas run 25psi

And of course, just enjoy the car.


I can relate to exactly what your feeling because I drove my car around for years on the Fp black, crapping tune bucking and shaking, heavy clutch, straight pipe exhaust, and a million other things that made daily driving it a nightmare.

Then I picked up a bone stock Evo 8 and still to this day when I start it up, I'm blown away how good it runs, how the exhaust makes no sounds, and most of all how much I enjoy driven it.

This is my advice to you. Last thing, toxicfab stock frame manifold of course.

Collin

 

That has some to do with it. Lately I've been feeling like its a chore to drive moreso then fun. Clutch is kinda hard to get used to (weird for me since I'm pretty good at driving stick and I still don't feel comfortable with this 8 leg Quarter master). It has some part boost throttle surging which I've been told is part Speed Density quirk part big turbo quirk. Its not bad but enough to be annoying for me. When I stab the pedal it def. all makes sense but I don't really do that all that much because I'm not trying to get a misdemeanor (In Raleigh anything over 15 is a misdemeanor). Too old to be getting speeding tickets all the time.

I love the way the car looks. I have a standing deal to swap seats for some MR's. I'm engaging Spec-Ops about assisting me in getting things a little saner and some of the ICE stuff I would like.