2006 Evo Values
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 218
Likes: 71
From: Los Angeles
For anyone on the fence regarding selling their car, but have been putting off for fear of regret, I just went through it.
I put a lot of blood sweat and money into my car. New OEM long block, new Shep transmission, new TRE differential, I could go on and on. The only parts with original mileage on that car were the transfer case, shell, and body panels.
Finally decided to let the car go. To be honest, I don't miss it as much as I thought I would. It's nice not having it collect dust in the backyard, for one thing. Even better as having someone who is enjoying it right now the way I used to when I bought my first one. I think it went to a good home and deserves to be where it's at more than my backyard.
Once I finally quit being a big old baby and let the car go, it was actually a little bit of a relief. Now I can focus on new and exciting projects.
It's actually inspired me to sell off one of my other cars to seek One of those projects. Hopefully things work out in the next couple weeks.
Get out there, enjoy driving The car, if you don't anymore, get rid of it. Find something else that excites you. It's a lot of fun being all fired up again
I put a lot of blood sweat and money into my car. New OEM long block, new Shep transmission, new TRE differential, I could go on and on. The only parts with original mileage on that car were the transfer case, shell, and body panels.
Finally decided to let the car go. To be honest, I don't miss it as much as I thought I would. It's nice not having it collect dust in the backyard, for one thing. Even better as having someone who is enjoying it right now the way I used to when I bought my first one. I think it went to a good home and deserves to be where it's at more than my backyard.
Once I finally quit being a big old baby and let the car go, it was actually a little bit of a relief. Now I can focus on new and exciting projects.
It's actually inspired me to sell off one of my other cars to seek One of those projects. Hopefully things work out in the next couple weeks.
Get out there, enjoy driving The car, if you don't anymore, get rid of it. Find something else that excites you. It's a lot of fun being all fired up again
Excited to see your new project!
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 218
Likes: 71
From: Los Angeles
It's been 5 minutes. 
But since this whole thing is about having a good time, once the car becomes a chore or a burden it's probably time to move on. So, that's cool you're all fired up again.
I'm on my third s2000. The first one I sold because the car became a burden. It was an awesome car, but it was difficult to enjoy. The 2nd I sold out of perceived necessity. I went a few years without one and missed the car terribly. I've tried a lot of cars and there are a lot of better cars, I just really like s2000s for a number of reasons. The current one is my favorite so far and I really hope I can hang onto it long term. This time I was pretty careful on how I set it up. It's a blast for HPDE stuff but first and foremost it's a comfortable, reliable street car with AC, comfortable seats, a good stereo and can do 28mpg on pump gas. It's like a normal car. All the chassis stuff that make it great at the track- spherical bearings, aggressive shock tuning, sticky tires with sh!tty manners etc etc detract a bit in certain situations and are the only things bordering on "too much".
Not to get too far off into the philosophical weeds but I think it has something to do with what the car means to the owner. On one end of the spectrum, someone chooses an Evo as a performance tool, to achieve whatever performance goal. A simple means to an end.
On the other extreme, the Evo and its owner have formed some weird deep emotional bond. I think I land somewhere on that side. This year marks 20 years i've been messing with these, and still love em. It's a whole lot of things at this point that keep me interested. If I sold my car, it would only be a matter of time before I started obsessing about finding the next one.
But since this whole thing is about having a good time, once the car becomes a chore or a burden it's probably time to move on. So, that's cool you're all fired up again.
I'm on my third s2000. The first one I sold because the car became a burden. It was an awesome car, but it was difficult to enjoy. The 2nd I sold out of perceived necessity. I went a few years without one and missed the car terribly. I've tried a lot of cars and there are a lot of better cars, I just really like s2000s for a number of reasons. The current one is my favorite so far and I really hope I can hang onto it long term. This time I was pretty careful on how I set it up. It's a blast for HPDE stuff but first and foremost it's a comfortable, reliable street car with AC, comfortable seats, a good stereo and can do 28mpg on pump gas. It's like a normal car. All the chassis stuff that make it great at the track- spherical bearings, aggressive shock tuning, sticky tires with sh!tty manners etc etc detract a bit in certain situations and are the only things bordering on "too much".
Not to get too far off into the philosophical weeds but I think it has something to do with what the car means to the owner. On one end of the spectrum, someone chooses an Evo as a performance tool, to achieve whatever performance goal. A simple means to an end.
On the other extreme, the Evo and its owner have formed some weird deep emotional bond. I think I land somewhere on that side. This year marks 20 years i've been messing with these, and still love em. It's a whole lot of things at this point that keep me interested. If I sold my car, it would only be a matter of time before I started obsessing about finding the next one.
For me the EVO isn't a dream car or any emotional bond. I really need a 4 door car, and it was a platform I never owned. But now that I have one, I love it. My wife is tired of me saying it is my 4 door Elise, as I celebrated 16 years+ of Elise ownership.
As long as I have a need for a 4 door my Evo will stay. Day I don't need it (about 6 more years), it will be gone or parked, and I will go back to my 2 door cars.
I think you nailed it when you said - if the car speaks to you - that is all that matters. For me Ariel Atoms/Morgans/Elise/MR2/NSX speaks to me. I have had many cars over the years for Luxo barges, to fancy SUV to other things that are very classic, and the directness of the steering, handling, and precise input is what I care about when I get deep down to it.
Thus these days, I try to compromise as little as possible and buy things that only speak to me.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 64
From: San Diego, CA
The only thing I regret selling is my 1993 RX-7 and that's only because with the current prices I probably would never have another. Like someone said earlier, if the car isn't costing you much in money or space and especially if the car is rare it's better to hold on to it IMO.
Would you have been more inclined to keep it if it were stock/streetable? You mentioned that your car just sat and I assume it was because it was a purpose-built racecar that eventually became obsolete once you bought a better replacement. For most of us our Evo's are simply fun street cars with 4 doors and a backseat 
For anyone on the fence regarding selling their car, but have been putting off for fear of regret, I just went through it.
I put a lot of blood sweat and money into my car. New OEM long block, new Shep transmission, new TRE differential, I could go on and on. The only parts with original mileage on that car were the transfer case, shell, and body panels.
Finally decided to let the car go. To be honest, I don't miss it as much as I thought I would. It's nice not having it collect dust in the backyard, for one thing. Even better as having someone who is enjoying it right now the way I used to when I bought my first one. I think it went to a good home and deserves to be where it's at more than my backyard.
Once I finally quit being a big old baby and let the car go, it was actually a little bit of a relief. Now I can focus on new and exciting projects.
It's actually inspired me to sell off one of my other cars to seek One of those projects. Hopefully things work out in the next couple weeks.
Get out there, enjoy driving The car, if you don't anymore, get rid of it. Find something else that excites you. It's a lot of fun being all fired up again
I put a lot of blood sweat and money into my car. New OEM long block, new Shep transmission, new TRE differential, I could go on and on. The only parts with original mileage on that car were the transfer case, shell, and body panels.
Finally decided to let the car go. To be honest, I don't miss it as much as I thought I would. It's nice not having it collect dust in the backyard, for one thing. Even better as having someone who is enjoying it right now the way I used to when I bought my first one. I think it went to a good home and deserves to be where it's at more than my backyard.
Once I finally quit being a big old baby and let the car go, it was actually a little bit of a relief. Now I can focus on new and exciting projects.
It's actually inspired me to sell off one of my other cars to seek One of those projects. Hopefully things work out in the next couple weeks.
Get out there, enjoy driving The car, if you don't anymore, get rid of it. Find something else that excites you. It's a lot of fun being all fired up again
I always wonder why people in the USA don't import from Canada. The fd is still very affordable here..is there some import law I don't know about why you guys don't do it? I laugh at some of the prices you guys pay for jdm cars is literally twice as much sometimes.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 64
From: San Diego, CA
Imported cars have to be 25 years old to get by FMVSS, but then we have a lot of emission hurdles to get it registered since California requires different catalytic converters and other smog control devices like the EGR, air pump, etc. that were not originally equipped on most overseas models. People have successfully imported and gotten their JDM car in full CA compliance, but its expensive. I've heard it can be anywhere from $10k-$20k for CARB to add an EGR, some different CAT's and do all the smog testing. And that's after the already long and complex import process where in most cases you're buying a car sight unseen. In the end it's just much easier and probably not much of a total cost difference to buy a clean US car and run to the DMV with a smog cert and a bill of sale.
Would you have been more inclined to keep it if it were stock/streetable? You mentioned that your car just sat and I assume it was because it was a purpose-built racecar that eventually became obsolete once you bought a better replacement. For most of us our Evo's are simply fun street cars with 4 doors and a backseat
Imported cars have to be 25 years old to get by FMVSS, but then we have a lot of emission hurdles to get it registered since California requires different catalytic converters and other smog control devices like the EGR, air pump, etc. that were not originally equipped on most overseas models. People have successfully imported and gotten their JDM car in full CA compliance, but its expensive. I've heard it can be anywhere from $10k-$20k for CARB to add an EGR, some different CAT's and do all the smog testing. And that's after the already long and complex import process where in most cases you're buying a car sight unseen. In the end it's just much easier and probably not much of a total cost difference to buy a clean US car and run to the DMV with a smog cert and a bill of sale.
Crazy that you buy a car that actually was sold here, but then have to spend five figures to make it legal.
Imported cars have to be 25 years old to get by FMVSS, but then we have a lot of emission hurdles to get it registered since California requires different catalytic converters and other smog control devices like the EGR, air pump, etc. that were not originally equipped on most overseas models. People have successfully imported and gotten their JDM car in full CA compliance, but its expensive. I've heard it can be anywhere from $10k-$20k for CARB to add an EGR, some different CAT's and do all the smog testing. And that's after the already long and complex import process where in most cases you're buying a car sight unseen. In the end it's just much easier and probably not much of a total cost difference to buy a clean US car and run to the DMV with a smog cert and a bill of sale.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 64
From: San Diego, CA
I wanted a R32 GTR, but when it was all said and done I was looking at ~$50k to get an old stock Nissan with a CA plate. And Iits probably a lot more now. If I lived in another state without strict emissions laws thing would be completely different.
I instead just got the USDM Evo 9 and it has quenched that JDM car desire at a much lower cost with about the same performance.
I instead just got the USDM Evo 9 and it has quenched that JDM car desire at a much lower cost with about the same performance.
I wanted a R32 GTR, but when it was all said and done I was looking at ~$50k to get an old stock Nissan with a CA plate. And Iits probably a lot more now. If I lived in another state without strict emissions laws thing would be completely different.
I instead just got the USDM Evo 9 and it has quenched that JDM car desire at a much lower cost with about the same performance.
I instead just got the USDM Evo 9 and it has quenched that JDM car desire at a much lower cost with about the same performance.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 64
From: San Diego, CA
was the other way around for my friend, who back in 2012 had an r33 gtr but wanted an evo 9, then he sold that and got an fd3s owned it for 3 years..sold it and now he has a 93 civic si hatch. Id say you made the right choice older gtr's are no fun stock and the evo 9 far outperforms them in stock form. He still never got the evo 9 he wanted but he lives the dream through me haha. Importing one from the usa isn't cheap for us, probably the same as jdm imports for you guys after currency conversion, taxes, shipping ect..
Most people who have driven old stock GTR's overall seem to be disappointed lol. Maybe its the overrated hype around them. An R34 would be nice, but those are deep in the 6 figure range by now.
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 218
Likes: 71
From: Los Angeles
I wanted a R32 GTR, but when it was all said and done I was looking at ~$50k to get an old stock Nissan with a CA plate. And Iits probably a lot more now. If I lived in another state without strict emissions laws thing would be completely different.
I instead just got the USDM Evo 9 and it has quenched that JDM car desire at a much lower cost with about the same performance.
I instead just got the USDM Evo 9 and it has quenched that JDM car desire at a much lower cost with about the same performance.
I recently looked into an R32 GTR and as badly as I would want one, same thing. WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too much money for a 30 year old car, not to mention finding parts is a nightmare and also crazy $$$$.
Also, I honestly think there are much much much better cars for the money now that I really researched R32's. They where pretty cool when we didn't have access to many cool cars. Now, meh.
Also, I honestly think there are much much much better cars for the money now that I really researched R32's. They where pretty cool when we didn't have access to many cool cars. Now, meh.
Sounds like he went backwards lol, but I can honestly see why the Honda was appealing after owning an FD. The rotay is cool, but is just too much damn maintenance with very little margin for error. Any knock or an overheating situation usually results in a full engine rebuild.
Most people who have driven old stock GTR's overall seem to be disappointed lol. Maybe its the overrated hype around them. An R34 would be nice, but those are deep in the 6 figure range by now.
Most people who have driven old stock GTR's overall seem to be disappointed lol. Maybe its the overrated hype around them. An R34 would be nice, but those are deep in the 6 figure range by now.
They're not all they're hyped up to be and I feel like making them cost more just made them more dull because modifying them is what made them interesting, especially with the r34 gtr. After paying over 100k for one, most are left stock and that's just no fun and people paying anything over 20k for a non gtr just makes me cringe.
I recently looked into an R32 GTR and as badly as I would want one, same thing. WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too much money for a 30 year old car, not to mention finding parts is a nightmare and also crazy $$$$.
Also, I honestly think there are much much much better cars for the money now that I really researched R32's. They where pretty cool when we didn't have access to many cool cars. Now, meh.
Also, I honestly think there are much much much better cars for the money now that I really researched R32's. They where pretty cool when we didn't have access to many cool cars. Now, meh.
So, I decided to go classic.