1. Buy a high mile Evo 7 for with a warn out motor for low $$ and pull the motor for a full stroker rebuild and new turbo and invest more $$.

2. Buy a fully built Evo 8 with all mods included ready to go for more $$

3. Buy an original standard Evo 9 with pipe and tune for even more $$

4. Buy an X new and keep it standard?

 

My second time around I bought an 80k mile 8 shell. Dropped in a 2.3 with head work, buschur trans, carbonetic triple, fp black.
Drives so nice, near stock feel til you lay in to it.
A smooth 10 sec DD with a/c is the way to go imo.

 

Probably would have bought an MR for the HIDs and foglights... I know the halogens on the GSR are pretty good, but for some reason I have a sick obsession with HIDs and it's going to be at least $1k to run them with a proper setup..

I also would have not minded the aluminum roof. I've already bought an OEM VG & BBS so I basically have an MR now look wise

When I was originally getting the car, I thought I was going to be running some sick street monster, and to this day the only "performance" mod I have is a catback

 

Still would have bought an 03-04. 35R Variant. 2.3L.

All within a week of ownership.

If I was to do it all again of course

No regrets here though

 

Depends what you want the car for, is it a full time DD or a weekend canyon car or a track car?

 

weekend project, tracking and backup for DD

 

Buy another stock mint evo 9 SE. Tune, Tomei exhaust,SD conversion, Blisten shocks with swift springs, RS-3 tires, shifter bushings, evo 8 3rd,4th,5th gear.

Drive the wheels off it.

 

With that in mind I would go with 1 or 2. Depends on whether you want to have a fun project to work on or not really.

 

"Still would have bought an 03-04. 35R Variant. 2.3L."
And add a decent front Diff and E85!

 

Agreed 100%

 

I probably would have shopped for a car that is already modified close to what I want, but documented and done right. Let somebody else spend the $$ on the mods, and tailor it to fit. It's been awesome to build a car from bone stock to a fully caged track car (all the specs and writeups are here: upshiftracing.com), but the car will never be worth what I have into it to anyone except me.

 

If I could do it again, I would buy a Evo 8 rs with low miles!

 

Thats what im saying i would want a rs light mods

 

What this guy said! That's identical to what I've done. Have the MR versions though

 

I would have bought one years ago when I was first looking at getting one. 2 separate occasions and it just didn't happen. Ended up buying my first one last year and am glad I finally did.