Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

Pic, as requested, after I washed it yesterday. My bone-stock, completely unmodified Evo IX SE.

Originally Posted by Steve_P

Original owner of an IX MR, ~85k miles. I'm an old man at almost 56

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

I'll try to post some photos this weekend, after I wash the car.

I don't think there's a lot to say that probably hasn't already been said time and time again, but I'm happy to repeat it.

Maintenance has always been said to be difficult, but even in my early 20s when I first got it, it really didn't seem like that big of a deal. It's more expensive than most other cars in its price range, including the STI, but it's not too bad at all, considering the performance you're getting, and the types of cars that you'd cross-shop with it, for that same kind of overall ability. I've stuck with the "severe" maintenance schedule pretty religiously through the last 16 years of ownership. I got the oil changed at 1,000 miles (as suggested, due to the breaking-in of the engine) and then at every 3,750 miles, though of course it helped that when I bought mine from South Coast Mitsubishi (back when for a string of years they were selling Evos at below-invoice pricing to EvoM and SoCalEvo forum members), it included free oil changes, though they pulled the plug on that offer officially a number of years ago, though it ironically coincided with when I hit 100k miles, so I got a couple grand worth of them. I always had a shop change the driveline fluids every 15k miles, the serpentine belt every 30k and the timing belt, water pump and spark plugs every 60k.

I've never really had any issues. The only thing that comes to mind was around 2016, I noticed one day after getting home and shutting the car off that there was a fizzing sound, and looking under the hood, there was a small leak on the top of the intercooler (and thankfully not the bottom), so at operating temperatures, there was some bubbling going on where the leak was (where the metal meets the plastic) so I'd lose a little bit of coolant, but I just had the radiator replaced and everything was fine. Also, I remember a year or two ago, my reverse lights were always on (which I didn't know about until my dad pointed it out one time when I visited him and we were driving in separate cars), but it was a quick repair at the shop. Again, nothing ever really major, thankfully. The 1995 Honda Accord EX coupe that I had in high school and throughout most of college gave me more problems (though to be fair, we bought it used and with 104k miles already on it, and I'm sure I could've done some things better as the owner, especially since I was more concerned with modding it, which in the end just made the car less reliable in every way except as a cop magnet).

And on the topic of cop magnets, I was expecting to get hassled, but I rarely did. The times I did get pulled over were for valid reasons, and I almost always got cut a break. I got pulled and ticketed once at night for doing 85 on the freeway, though I fought it... I lost the written Trial By Declaration but then did the Trial De Novo to fight it again but in court and won, because the highway patrol officer didn't show up (though if he did, I was just going to request traffic school to not get the point on my record). Then another time I got pulled over for doing 80 on the freeway in the morning, but the highway patrol officer was cool and was purposely looking for something else instead, and luckily for me, the address on my license was outdated, so he said he would just cite me for that instead. Then another time, I got pulled over for doing 75 in a 45 on PCH (ironically very close to Neptune's Net in Malibu, where the orange Supra pulled into in the first Fast and Furious movie). The cop was an older guy and presumably not the type to cut me a break, but he took interest in my car and asked if I put the seats in myself, and I said they were the stock seats, which was one of the several reasons why I bought this particular car, because I didn't have to change anything. Then he said, "Help me out here, I don't want to give you a speeding ticket, though I've think I've seen these cars before -- these and those Subarus -- and I know a lot of them don't have front plates," then while winking, he continued, "I haven't looked at the front of your car, but if you tell me that you don't have a front plate, I'll take your word for it, and give you that ticket instead." I said I don't have a front plate, so I instead had a $25 fix-it ticket instead of a $280 speeding ticket. And the ticket itself actually did say speeding but he clearly crossed it out to replace it with the front plate. Then we went our separate ways and waved as we went in opposite directions. But I'm always respectful (pull over immediately, turn hazards on, put all windows down, shut off engine, put key on dashboard, sunglasses off, hands on the steering wheel, tell the cop where my license and registration are placed then ask for permission to get them), and that obviously goes a long way, which is helpful in a loud car with a big wing.

Gas mileage isn't great, but I've had some high peaks. There was a two-year stretch maybe a decade ago where my mom's health was declining, so I was making the drive from where I lived in Orange County to where my family was in Ventura County, which is around a 100-mile trip each way, so I was doing a decent amount of highway driving on the weekends, and I'd always see how high I could get the fuel economy. It wasn't hard to break 25 mpg on that drive on a somewhat regular basis and with some restraint, but there was this one day where I had a random goal to hit 31 mpg (as I had once hit 30 mpg before), and when I gassed up, I did the math and was shocked not just to have done it but got 31.89 mpg. So the problem to me in my head was that I was so close to 32, that I felt like I should be able to do it. And sure enough, the following week, I managed 32.24 mpg, and called it a day and pretty much stopped trying to hyper-mile in the car since I figured that's probably the best it's going to get. I still have my Fuelly account where I logged them, so you can see that peak number, though it looks like it's been around five years since last updating it:

https://www.fuelly.com/car/mitsubish...uuuts83/213105

I think all of those weekend trips over those two years bumped up my then-average still showing on my Fuelly account (which was probably helped by be having less aggressive Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 tires, since I consciously chose those to replace my then-worn Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Specs since I knew I wasn't going to have time to go out on fun drives but would be doing a lot of those longer drives regularly to be with my family), but these days, my average is probably something like 18 mpg mixed driving, or 23 mpg highway (but driving regularly and not hyper-miling like I used to), which I believe coincides with the EPA ratings anyway.

It's just been such a great experience, and I've always considered myself fortunate to have been in a position to get one new when they were out, and am glad that I never got rid of it. The closest I came to doing that was in 2008, when the Evo X first came out. I was at the dealership (who quoted my trade-in at "maybe $23k at most" for my IX SE that at that time had something like 9-10k miles at that time) at night and told an old college fraternity buddy of mine who was also into cars and liked Evos that if he drove down from LA to get one, that I would also buy one with him too. And I very likely would've. But thankfully he said he'd have to pass on it (not because he didn't want to, but it was still a bigger expense for him coming from his 2003 Civic and then having to drive an hour from LA, plus insurance was going to be expensive for him because at the time we were maybe 24 years old, and he was the guy who would get speeding tickets in an automatic Civic, because he drove like an idiot and had those Altezza-style tail lights and a cheap aftermarket exhaust that was too buzzy for his own good. I still remember that test drive, it clearly cornered quicker than my car (which I noticed right away and was my immediate takeaway), though I remember when I left the dealership and drove my car home, it just felt more raw and more visceral. And frankly there's not a lot that's come out since then (at least not anywhere near this price range) that feels like that.

Over the years, there were a few new cars that caught my attention not as replacements (because by then, I had decided I would never get rid of the car, but maybe just drive it less) but as daily drivers. Off the top of my head, there was the current A3 where the design came out a few months before COVID hit and then Audi delayed the release by a full year as a result (though I decided against it, because once you spec it to have the features that you expect, I felt like you might as well just get the S3), then the current S3 (though I again decided against it, because even though the "base" Premium model is pretty well-equipped, especially coming from an Evo IX, the fact that it had AWD, a ~300 hp turbo I-4 and four doors just made me feel like it was dynamically not that different from the Evo, but just new, nicer and with better gas mileage), then the current 330i (though I decided against it, because the 330e wasn't much more but had a nice ~$6k tax credit), then the current 330e (though I decided against it, because its maximum range was something like 290 miles even in its most efficient hybrid mode, which would probably work for me logistically speaking but was lower than my expectations for what was a nearly $50k PHEV, while my brother's 2015 320i has hit around 500 miles on a tank once or twice).

Even here in Orange County, I still get a lot of love. Some random waves and thumbs-ups, and an occasional offer. I remember being followed by a guy in a Tesla, and he eventually pulled up next to me at a night and asked if I wanted to sell it. Another time, I was biking back from the beach and through the gated entrance of where I live, and a guy followed me into my gated community then asked if the Evo in the driveway was my car, and if I was selling. It was weird, because he said earlier in the day, he saw my car parked on the driveway from outside of the gates, and by coincidence he was walking by from having eaten lunch with some friends he was with when I opened the main driveway gate, and he walked in after I biked through, hoping it was my car, otherwise he'd have knocked on the door and just asked whoever answered the door if they were selling the Evo. The only time I ever felt weird about it was a few years back when one of my friends rented a massive house in Temecula for her 30th birthday for all of us to stay in. A lot of her friends were smoking hot blondes but also very successful (as I know a few of them were lawyers and some were in real estate), and I remember when we were all heading out to the wineries (but obviously getting into Ubers and not driving ourselves), one of them saw my car among the ten or so parked on the driveway and snarkily said, "Somebody here drives a Mitsubishi?"

Originally Posted by 91355evo9

STUNNING! Since you are in So Cal (as am I) - we need to meet up sometime. We may the only local stock cars left! Though I have to now look up difference of your SE vs my MR. I do see the cool bottom lip you have. Mine doesn't have that.

Originally Posted by 91355evo9

Thank you for the photos and the great post.

I just did all the fluids, and T belt and water pump and other pulleys and belts. Which shop do you use for all the fluids every 15k? OEM fluids?

I try to be well behaved in the Evo- esp with the wing etc. But it encourages such bad behavior! I just try to keep the fun to the turns and onramps mostly.

I have never hit 31MPG. 27MPG was my best from Portland to Los angeles. I get pretty constant 21-22MPG with lots of city drivign on mine.

I was on the 101 the other day, CTR passes me, and then passenger rolls down window and gives thumbs up. People do appreciatae the EVO - if you know you know.

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment. There haven’t been many. The guys at SCM have said that I’m one of three that their dealership sees, though that was years ago. It may be down to fewer by now, especially since they said one was an VIII owned by an older lady who worked for Mitsubishi corporate. I’m not sure if she’d still have hers.

The main differences are going to be the obvious ones (yours will have the MR add-ons like the zero lift kit or whatever it’s called, the six-speed, the Bilsteins, gauges, metal shift knob and e-brake handle), though the SE adds on the aluminum roof and BBS wheels that you have that weren’t on the regular IX (though mine are in the SE-specific “Diamond Black” color) and the front SE lip that you pointed out and also the SE-specific red interior stitching.

I can’t remember if I mentioned it before, but prior to this one, I did have another Evo, and when replacing it (literally one day away from it being exactly 16 years ago), I was pretty set on either a IX SE or the IX MR SE (though I think it was officially called the MR Appearance Package), and figured I again didn’t need to spend the extra money on the MR variant. Again, not knocking it, I just didn’t think it was worth the difference to me, especially considering they looked and performed nearly the same, plus I knew if I ever decided to mod and/or race (which never happened), I’d have fewer durability concerns. Plus I figured if I ever needed to replace the shocks, I could then get Bilsteins, since they’d eventually wear out one day, probably when I’d lean more toward a little more of a comfortable ride.

Yet here I am, a day shy of 16 years from the day I got it, turning 40 years old later this year and still on the original clutch and suspension (and everything else, but that’s not the point) with 138k miles on the clock. Yet my back feels just fine… so it always made me wonder about the auto journalists who back then would complain about how harsh the car rides.

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

Off the top of my head, I think I did the both first 15k and the first 30k service at the dealership (SCM), though I decided to go elsewhere after that, since I had a bit of a disagreement about what their EvoM/SoCalEvo “special” service pricing included after the fact, since their online posts at that time just called it that and listed a price but not what was included, even though some things were expected to have been changed and certainly part of the owners manual/maintenance guide… water under the bridge though (plus I still go there for my oil changes, and they remember me and treat me well). After that, I was just going to Massimo Power in Corona for the remaining bigger service intervals, which included the more significant 60k and 120k services (which were the same), and I just had them also replace the water pump too each time. I was hoping to go there again for my most recent service (which would’ve been the 15k one at 135k), but I think that they permanently closed their doors during COVID. I took it to some other shop in Huntington Beach instead since it wasn’t far from where I live, but I can’t remember the name. They’ve always used OEM fluids with my car, but I think this last place might’ve used Royal Purple oil and Motul driveline fluids, though I’d have to look for my invoice to be sure.

Those 30+ mpg tanks happened but were very rare, needing a lot of restraint and a lot of luck, because the two best ones (where I got 31.89 and 32.24) involved leaving the gas station after a fill-up and fortunately never hitting a red light or even downshifting until exiting the freeway to gas up again. Plus I left early in the morning (which was my plan anyway, to maximize time spent with my family), so there wasn’t any traffic and it was cool enough to not need the A/C at all during the trip.

People have generally been pretty cool, especially in more recent years. When I first got it years ago and lived on the peninsula in Newport, it was mixed… I remember one time, a guy in a really awesome classic Shelby Mustang pulled up next to me and gave me a thumbs up and said nice car, while another time, someone drew a swastika on my hood on my first Evo (though it was just with their fingers on the wet hood after it collected late night dew, so whatever… it washed off). Oh and another time, my first Evo got peed on, but I deduced it was by the boyfriend of this girl I had slept with. And he drove a black WRX. The favor was returned, many times, so I think I was the real winner in that one. Oh to be young again.

Originally Posted by 91355evo9

I ended up having KT do my full 60k service. Did the water pump as well, though it was pricey. I was debating between KT and RRE and a few other local shops, so ended up going to one where I felt most comfortable, and I am a super **** owner of the car.

I think on more straight roads I can do 30MPG. Oregon to LA was lots of hilly areas so had to boost and downshift, which ruined some MPG I am sure.

What was your other EVO?

Ah yeah... young again sleeping with women.. hehe...

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

I feel like changing the water pump at 60k is always worth it, and a must, unless you want to roll the dice and try to make it to 120k. It goes without saying, but you might as well do it, every time the timing belt gets changed, since they’re already right there. I’d rather enjoy the peace of mind for 4-5 years instead of it potentially need to get changed at a time when you’re going to pay for the labor for it on its own, outside of a normal service interval. I’ll gladly pay the extra $100+ or whatever it was, not have to deal with whatever it would inevitably cost by itself with labor.

I had thought about RRE, though I can’t remember why I didn’t go. I know I was contacting a few shops but a lot of them oddly weren’t responding. Maybe I just didn’t feel like driving to RRE when there was a closer shop to me with comparable prices (or better).

The first Evo was an Evo IX also, but the regular version. I had a mishap with that one, ironically the morning after a long night with another girl who lived on 45th St. in Newport. I think was a little too giddy on that rainy drive home the next morning, particularly when getting onto the on-ramp from PCH onto Newport Blvd. (northbound, toward the 55). Had it towed to SCM to get repaired, but instead left with the IX SE that I wanted (as it wasn’t out when I bought my first one but I knew it was so much better when it was first announced).

Originally Posted by 91355evo9

I dont know if I am jealous of your car more, or you reminding me of the escapades with women back in the day...

Agree piece of mind is important. Mine had original belts, and for piece of mind I swapped it out. It looked excellent, though serpentine belts had some cracks on it. I swapped out the water pump, as you said, for piece of mind for next 60 k miles. I really want to take care of it, but also enjoy it. It is not sitting in garage wiped by diaper.

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

I briefly mentioned a 30k service issue with the dealership. To elaborate on that, I paid for it (and at the special pricing of $399.95 or whatever it was), but when getting the paperwork back, it didn’t reference the serpentine belt. I asked if it was replaced, and they said no, because it’s “not part of the SoCalEvo 30k service deal,” which on one hand they could get away with, since their advertisement for it on the forum didn’t list what was included, though it’s a safe assumption to think it coincided with the 30k service items in the manual (though I think they went by the regular one and not the severe one)… so basically it was a more expensive but virtually identical 15k mile service (but with “inspections” of parts, which rarely yields anything but certainly wouldn’t warrant the $160 premium over the 15k service). I wanted to continue to support the dealership but was really displeased by that, so I just went for oil changes but did the bigger services elsewhere.

With that, the serpentine belt was something on my mind a lot, especially since I didn’t want to just pay for it separately or unnecessarily, so I just kept an eye on it and when I noticed minor cracks once in the 50k mile range (though I had a mechanic friend verify the severity of it, and he said while it was starting to crack, it still safe to drive at least for another year), I did the 60k mile service one oil change early, so around 56-57k miles.

Originally Posted by WalkerWakaWaka

The serpentine is really easy to replace if you decide to do it yourself. Just need to take the passenger wheel off, one cover in the wheel well comes off and then put a large socket wrench on the idler pulley. Release tension and the twist it off around the other pulleys then reinstall new. Plenty of videos.

Now, the water pump and timing belt are a whole different story. Did that myself and it requires some extra tools, time and a friends...that and if you have 3 arms to get the tensioner tight that would help.

Originally Posted by DeeezNuuuts83

I briefly mentioned a 30k service issue with the dealership. To elaborate on that, I paid for it (and at the special pricing of $399.95 or whatever it was), but when getting the paperwork back, it didn’t reference the serpentine belt. I asked if it was replaced, and they said no, because it’s “not part of the SoCalEvo 30k service deal,” which on one hand they could get away with, since their advertisement for it on the forum didn’t list what was included, though it’s a safe assumption to think it coincided with the 30k service items in the manual (though I think they went by the regular one and not the severe one)… so basically it was a more expensive but virtually identical 15k mile service (but with “inspections” of parts, which rarely yields anything but certainly wouldn’t warrant the $160 premium over the 15k service). I wanted to continue to support the dealership but was really displeased by that, so I just went for oil changes but did the bigger services elsewhere.

With that, the serpentine belt was something on my mind a lot, especially since I didn’t want to just pay for it separately or unnecessarily, so I just kept an eye on it and when I noticed minor cracks once in the 50k mile range (though I had a mechanic friend verify the severity of it, and he said while it was starting to crack, it still safe to drive at least for another year), I did the 60k mile service one oil change early, so around 56-57k miles.