After a 5 year hiatus, I'm looking to get back into a EVO IX. I vaguely remember what to look for and I'm hoping the community can help jog my memory:
-Look for notes in the glove box and near the ECU.
-T-case whine
-try to have a leak down/compression test
- do a 4th gear pull and make sure the RPMs climb to test the clutch
Anything else.....

 

Rust
Battery leakage
The tranny wine
Stripped bolt in rear diff, I Just stripped mine lol
Linkages to front wheels
Crunchy gear box
Air bag recall done

 

Deleted - I hit the button twice

 

I have narrowed down my choices
1- WW IX MR 88k (salvage) is 3k cheaper-engine/drive train is good needs timing belt
2- 08 silver sti base w/55k +3k over the evo comes with a 60k warranty

Thoughts

 

08 silver STI: hard to work on, lacks forged pistons, when tuned = bang
Good luck

 

If you are lucky enough to find a "stock" one look over all parts that would be replaced back to stock - missing bolts on timing cover/valve cover, manifold bolts broke lose, gaskets leaking from removing items, gouges in the radiator fins from removing parts. Listen for a whine from the transfer case/trans/diff, check all fluid levels, check for any stop leak left in the trunk or under the seats (only saying it because its happened to me haha) check under the trunk mats for any drilled holes from nitrous (once again, another thing found the hard way) check that all the vins on the chassis and engine match. Sometimes its best to go above and beyond buying one of these cars, so many people tamper with them and sell them because they ruined them. Get a car fax for one you are set on, its worth it.

 

don't get an sti lol

 

I agree. I'm a subaru tech and you see what I'm driving. I can't even tell you how many motors I have replaced on wrx and sti.

 

make sure all lights on dash boards are on no bulbs are out ( you can do this by turning ignition to postion #2 all lights should turn on).

check your throttle body seals they love to leak

make sure your secondary air lines behind the manifold arent hard and crusty (those crack and leak or pops off on your EGR valve)

Make Sure your gas cap works. (Gas cap metal springs go out making it MANUAL to open your cap, very annoying putting a towel under the GAS release LEVER

Holes on the drivers carpet from the "weak" Carpet plastic holders

T-case Death whine is the most common thing you want to check (will sound like a supercharger in your engine lol HAPPENED to me)

check if under-tray is attached

check if Air-ducts for brake system are broken (attached to lower control arms)

CHECKING ALL FLUIDS WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TODO because there arent tranny dips sticks, T-case dip stick, rear diff. (other then oil dip stick, only way to see if your fluids are ok is to drain it, and see if the fluid is BLACK or NICE CLEAR OIL) so all you can do is HOPE they kept of with fluid maintenace


i believe thats all i can think of "things to check before buying evo" if i come up with some more ill edit them in