29 here... Guess I should share my story... didn't know we were doing stories! I sorta wrote a book so, sorry about that, XD

I don't really remember when I first really saw the Evo. From what I can remember, sometime in 2003/2004 (was 18 at the time) I was car shopping for my first car. Not really knowing where to start, I started checking out eBay. I found a '92 Eclipse and thought it looked pretty cool. I think it was around $2k. I knew absolutely nothing about makes/models of cars.

It was the only car in my dads allotted price range that I actually liked how it looked, however, it was a stick and I had never driven a stick before -- in fact I didn't even know what that was. My dad said it was harder than an automatic and I'd have to learn it if I got it. So, naturally, I Googled it and did some research and looked up how it worked. After reading about the benefits of a manual transmission I decided I wanted to learn, so I convinced my dad to buy me the car.

After getting it, it took me a while to learn, but once I learned not to stall it from a stand still I did alright. I didn't want to stop there so I looked up more techniques, the first thing I looked up was to find out how to start on a hill without rolling back, followed by other various tips and tricks, like accelerating faster, getting better MPG, etc.

All in all, I really liked the car, and at some point I found myself checking out Mitsubishi's line up on their website. Pretty sure I originally went on to find out what a new Eclipse looked like. That is probably the first time I saw the Evo. It looked really cool, but I didn't know much about it. It was way more than I thought I could ever afford, so I didn't really look into it much, but I did read up on it a little and it sorta stuck with me.

Later when Need For Speed: Carbon came out (2006), both the Eclipse and Evo were in it. Of course I went for the Eclipse first, since I had one, but eventually unlocked the Evo. I decided to try it in the game and it handled amazingly, I started wondering if it could actually do the stuff it did in the game, and that's when I really started researching it and just being simply amazed by the car.

I really wanted one, but it was way over my budget. Later on I sold the Eclipse and got an 04 base Lancer ES, again from eBay but this time with my own money. I had that for a few years, all the while wishing it was an Evo. I didn't mod it or really do anything aside from upgrading the stereo.

Finally then decided I was going to try to get the Evo. I went to the only Mitsubishi dealer in the area and asked about it. They asked me some questions and figured that I would not be able to get one (obviously! I had no credit... dumb kids right) so I somehow left the Mitsubishi dealer with a used 06 Pontiac Grand Prix. I kept the Lancer ES, I didn't really want to part with it because I sorta regretted letting the Eclipse go and I was afraid I'd regret letting the Lancer go too.

Well, I had some financial issues and the Grand Prix got repo'd. Sad, but I actually still had the Lancer ES so I wasn't without a car. Had that for a while and it was starting to have some minor issues, namely the exhaust had a leak so I decided to try again. Went into the dealership, a different one this time because the previous one went out of business.

This time I somehow left with a brand new 2014 Mirage. At least it was a Mitsubishi this time? Lol. But I was pretty ok with that, it would help me rebuild my credit. Well this was in 2013 and I hadn't really looked into Evo's lately so I decided to do some research because I was planning on getting one in 2015, based on what the dealer said about how my credit would build up.

Well, that's when I found out about Mitsubishi dropping the Evo. That 2015 would be the final year. So right then I decided I had to get an Evo in 2015. I started cleaning up my credit in an ASAP mode, paying off stuff I was just gonna leave drop off (like that repo) and getting things deleted. I felt pretty good about my 2015 deadline until I discovered the changes for the 2015 model. That really got me into a panic.

So in July (2014) I started talking to some banks and trying to figure out what I had to do to get approved now, and they basically said I was screwed. Finally I discovered the path to an Evo... I traded the Mirage for a used Camaro. Now the reason I went with the Camaro is I hadn't really ventured outside the Mitsubishi line much and I always thought the new Camaro's looked pretty cool. I had to pick something, so I was like why not... and Camaro.

This closed my Mirage loan in good standing and gave me a real bank instead of a consumer credit bank and raised my credit score nearly 40 points. I then got a credit card which gave me another 30 points. About 3 weeks ago I went to 4 different dealers (1 had no evo's so that was a bust right away) and finally got approved at, oddly enough, the first one which came back and said they got me approved after saying they couldn't. So I just barely got it, but I got it.

So that's my story. I'm like stupidly in debt now, not more than I can handle, I'm fine there, it's just, I owe more on the car than it's worth (negative equity on the Camaro), but to me it's worth it so I figure that's all that matters. I got the car I've wanted for so long and it's everything I hoped and a little more.

I know in a way it's sorta stupid, all in all I spent around 10k that I have nothing to show for it (other than the Evo, but it wasn't directly spent on the Evo, it was spent on getting my credit score up enough to get the approval) just trying to get an Evo. But I didn't want the dream to die. I blame Mitsubishi... why you have to go and kill the car I love huh? lol

tl;dr: Evo for life.

 

Just like many I started from a FWD platform. The enthusiast in me kicked in, so I modified some of it. Started modding my n.a B13 before, then came the turbo engine swap. Loved it to bits. But when I was a P.Station boy my dream car has always been a skyline GT-R. I fell in love more when I learned about its motorsports records and pedigree from a friend in Japan. So yeah, after years of looking I finally got a fresh one.

But now in my 30s, and having my own family. I wanted a still "quick" car that can carry my family. The GT-R, 2 door, is more of a "date" car and weekend warrior. Sunny has 4 doors but is not that spacious, and my kid doesn't like to ride it (custom NeoVVL SR too loud for her taste). Then I started the hunt for that spacious 4 door "quick" car. CT9A Evo was the first thing in mind! Because its AWD + Turbo like the Nissan, and I know a thing or 2 on how good the car was. But I still checked an Sti and even a very mint Silvia (forgot I'm looking for a 4 door lol). But coming from an SR, and RB26, I think the outcome is expected... Chose the Evo! Like all of us, I too encountered some situations with it. I even compare it sometimes with its stable mates! But heck owning this is all worth it, its such a nice fun car!

I understand where your coming from, epecially since you got used to the Evo and AWD. Supra is also fun, which reminds me of my also inline 6 - GT-R. But you know what, if you ever let go of the Evo. I'm sure you'll miss how it makes that grin on your face, and might even regret doing so. As for myself, I have NO plans on letting it go anytime soon, so yeah maybe we got a lifer here. hehe.

 

Always been a honda fan boy, started from an integra gsr to an s2000. Wasn't too much of a fan of the rwd so I thought i'd try the evo. After a test drive i fell in love with the awd and turbo. Don't know how much longer i'd keep the evo, but if i were to get something else it would be a gtr like the guy above

 

Got my first Evo as soon as I could in 2003, I was 26 at the time. Got another one in 2006, drove that until 2010. Then I took a brief break with a 335i, had it for six months, then realized that I was an Evo guy through and through. Got the X MR in 2010 and haven't looked back.

Now that I'm in my late 30's, I can afford to pay cash for anything I want, and there's nothing I want more than my Evo. That says something. Supras are great cars but the design and engineering are 20 years old now. I suspect that as with NSXs, the Supra is a better car in our memories and dreams than it is in real life.

 

Nice! Do yourself a favor and don't fall in love with any other cars, and you'll come out ok.

 

Man, I coulda kept going but I think this gets the point across. 35 y/o myself and I honestly never thought there were so many of us "old guys" (heavy sarcasm) driving "boy racer" Evolutions. I love hearing about the guy getting out of his CT9A in a suit and tie! To the gent in his late fifties driving his Evo - you, sir, are a rock star.

I swear my IX is gonna be the car I restore in 2046. It simply does everything well. This is it's last season as my winter warrior and I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of it for decades to come.

 

I am 38 and got a new black 2013 GSR in Feb. 2013. I traded in a 2007 Cayman that I got in Jan 2009. Before that I had a new 2006 A3 2.0. My first car was a 1969 VW Bus that I had in 1997-2000 in college (didn't have a car from 2000 to 2006 as was living in downtown DC and NYC). I miss my old porsche on occasion but the evo is so much more fun to drive, and no regrets. My dream car is the E63 AMG Wagon.

 

After I get my X pretty well paid off I might get a used one to go mod crazy with.

 

Very cool, man... You should post a picture of that GT-R!

 

Hello. My name is Anthony. I'm 34 years olds, and I'm an Evo Lifer.

I'm a car enthusiast because of my dad. He was a muscle car kinda guy growing up. He's a mechanic by trade, and his genes naturally made me the person I am today. Countless times I remember watching my dad service our families vehicles. From full engine to re-builds, to simple maintenance. I was always hanging out with him in the garage, intrigued by the mechanics.

I got my license the day I turned 16 (1996). I opted for a mid-90s Celica since it was sporty and what my family could afford. A year or so later, I met a friend named Brad. He was the son of a Judge..came from a wealthy family. Brad drove an '89 Mazda MX6 2.2 Turbo, modified, and fast as hell! Thats when it all changed. I was introduced to a Turbo and the invigorating Boost that came with it. I had to have one..at least the turbo part of it.

At the same time, I started a subscription to Sport Compact Car Magazine. Suddenly I was introduced to some of the world's best cars. The Evo and Sti were naturally always featured. And then Subaru did the amazing, brought the WRX stateside. A year later, the Evolution VIII was here..and of course out of my budget with the dealer mark-ups. The amazingness continued..2004 would offer the RS model, priced at less than 30 grand, and that I could afford. So I put name on the waiting list for a white RS model. A few months later, the car arrived. I raced down to the dealership. The car was still wrapped in its plastic. However, they wanted 29k plus an additional 4k due to exclusivity. No way. I told the salesman, talk to your boss. I'll give you 29k minus 3k for my Celica. And like that, the deal was done on June 4, 2004. One of the happiest days of my life. I had gotten my dream car.

Three years later(2007 and 27yrs old) my daughter was born. I instantly thought back to a past SCC article(Sep '04). "So it's a perfectly practical family sedan that also just happens to have the best seats, the best steering, the best brakes, the best suspension, and the best drivetrain ever to grace a real car." My daughter, now 7yrs old, loves the Evo. Throttle blips here and there, its all very fun. I can honestly say that I won't ever get rid of my Evo. I just love her too much. And more importantly than the fun factor is the sentimental memories. Quality time spent with my dad working on the car is irreplaceable. The Evo was also the car used to take my daughter home from the hospital when she was born. I won't ever forgot the look on the Nurses faces as they inspected my babies car seat. Some boy racer they suspected. If only they knew. "The only real problem is explaining this car to normal people."

So while I love my car, I did get another vehicle a few years ago. A used 2005 Ram 1500 4x4 6 seater Hemi. I needed variety. I craved power doors, windows..power everything really. I wanted a cruiser, an automatic. A quite vehicle not lacking muscle. So now I alternate between the two, helping keep the miles down on the Evo.

Thanks for reading. And to the OP. Supras are bad ***! I think you're maybe feeling as I did a few years ago..wanting some variety. Theres nothing wrong with having two vehicles in case you don't want to let go. I think the Evo is more practical especially when a family is involved, but only you know what path to take. Best of luck!

 

Might be the most honest thing I've read in a long time, heh.

 

I've often thought the very same. Do you ever get too old for an evo? I don't think so. I too am in my late 30's and on my 2nd evo. I had an '05MR that I never would have let go but unfortunately fell asleep coming home late one night and barreled rolled it off a highway. Then drove 11 miles home where my buddy met me at my house with a wrecker. After looking around for just a couple days I came to the conclusion I would have to go with an evo x. Have had it since new and little by little plan on modding it to keep up (or ahead of) all the new rides on the road. I don't plan on getting rid of it.

 

Never. However, when I get so old that it looks like, as a co-worker put it when talking about him getting a sports car, a "mid-life crisis car", I'll just dewing it.

Honestly, that is so true. People that know me know I had a Camaro before (for a mere 3 months) and I get asked ALL the time why I would trade "a Camaro for that" -- with some "wtf?" emphasis on "that" ...

When I tell them it's better in general and it's faster in every way, they get a total attitude of disbelief. I tell them the specs and they still don't believe me. I told one guy the horsepower and 0-60, and he asked if it was "a V6 or V8?" and I said "a straight 4" and he at first he thought I was kidding, then said I was lying or exaggerating!

I told someone I was getting snow tires put on and got asked why... First of all, snow tires can and should be put on any car around here and one of the reason I see people sliding all over the place is they don't get snow tires and then drive around like they did. But that aside, he (SUV driver) said "that little toy car, how will snow tires do anything for it in the snow haha" ... I showed him one of the videos on YouTube and he was just "Wow. Ok. Yeah. Sweet."

In some ways, it's cool that no one outside a few know what it is. With the Camaro, I had everyone always coming up to me at gas stations asking me about the car. Asking how fast it was, if I modded it (people don't even mod the new camaros much, except maybe an exhaust and a supercharger), etc. That's all gone now, which is good because that was annoying. I didn't mind it once in a while but it was almost every time. Though, in other ways, it's annoying that no one knows, mostly when trying to actually tell someone how good it really is and having them not believe you.

/rant

 

Holy novel chapters, BatMan!

 

Just turned 30
Bought the 2005 Evo in my early 20s.
I was never really into Evos, I rode in a friends and like the interior space.
Test drove one and had to have it. That roller coaster feeling of getting on it. I remember feeling completely out of control, just hanging on for dear life. I figure I'll need a bike to feel that again at this point.
It came with 30k miles on it, now its just over 90k miles of carting kids around, running errands and track time.

I currently drive an HHR SS. Dorky car, but with the interior space, gas mileage, and turbo its hard to find a reason to get rid of it... Its too practical.

Previous cars were an 89 jetta GLI, 98 maxima, and a 2006 sentra spec v. That particular sentra was garbage, 2 motors and I traded it in with 35k on it.

Next car is going to be electric driven. Either a Volt or the Tesla III. Unless mitsubishi comes out with an electric Evo, then I'll get that.