Been part of this forum for almost 2 years, but finally might be joining the Evo family, soon enough(well not soon enough). Currently I own a 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer, which I plan on paying off in November(I owe around 6gs, going to pay it off 3 1/2 years early). I am currently deployed out in Iraq, and I'm supposed to redeploy in April of next year. I've wanted an Evo for the past couple years, and I see that this might be the best time to buy one when I get back from Iraq.

By November 09 I will have roughly 7-8gs sitting in my bank account.
I get paid 2400$ a month roughly I sit it out til April when I am supposed to redeploy back to Fort Hood, Texas I should have after bills roughly 19,350$, also the thing is though February 2010 another 10gs of my bonus will hit, this will be tax free considering I am currently OCONUS(which for civilian term is I'm outside of the continental united states; aka Iraq :P), so if I add that to my rough estimate should be 29,350$. Also I had the first set of my bonus hit February of this year, which I was taxed 2500$ of that 10gs, which means I should roughly get around 2gs back from taxes when I do my taxes next year. So we're looking at a rough estimate of 30,000-31,000$ by the end of this tour sitting in my bank.

So the question is, I was looking into buying a VIII or a IX, but also looking into buying a 2008 Evo MR, now to the people who switched from a 8 or 9 to a 10, are you happy for doing it, or do you regret doing it? Who loves the X? Especially can I get some info from the people who have the MR?

I'm thinking hopefully I will have enough to just pay cash when I do purchase the vehicle, if not I will most likely trade in my car, put 10gs down, and have roughly 20gs left to keep. Which would most likely end up spending a little money in the engine as well as the exterior of the vehicle. So if anyone can giv eme a little guidance on what you think I should do it would be very appreciative.

 

I think you should try to drive all 3 if you can and get an impression of what you like the best. I have an X MR and it is my favorite of all of them. I have never owned a car without a clutch until this one but the SST really is extremely fun to drive. I still miss the clutch and stick but I wouldn't trade my SST for it. It is going to come down to personal preference though.

Good luck with the decision!

 

Yea, I love manual although getting the MR and having the SST would be very helpful, considering Fort Hood is a real big base, populated with over 58,000 soldiers alone(not including any family that lives on base), and the city that surrounds Fort Hood, Tx which is Killeen is so small and always so backed up in traffic. Getting off base to get on the highway goes from 2 lanes to try and merge onto 1 lane on the freeway, and the freeway is only 2 lanes. You can hear where I'm coming from when everyone is trying to get off base at 5pm, its backed up and its just horrible. So that might be a plus, especially since I am originally from Phoenix, its always busy down there when I go home on leave. So thats why I am considering the MR, what did you pay for yours?

 

I came from an Evo 8. I loved that car. My X doesn't even compare to it as far as power goes, but it will in time hopefully. I think the X's are a better car in general and although I miss my 8, I love the X and wouldn't go back. It handles much better. Coming from a lancer the power thing won't as noticable to you.

 

traded my ix mr for a x gsr. dont regret it at all. love it alot more then my ix

 

Well hopefully by the time I get back in April, there will be 2008 Evo X MR's on the lot, from what it looks like mitsu is selling them real low off the MSRP. So I'm going to cross my fingers on this one, I will check my home city first once I get back for any MRs as well as Austin/Dallas when I get back, but if worse comes to worse, hopefully Cali will have some MRs left over of the 2008, because I know the 2010 models are going to be knocked up in price to gain what they have already lost. I doubt they will want me to turn around and say no considering no matter what I will be putting down 10gs for a downpayment.

 

depends...

my IX was a much better steerer especially on the track...

I havn't really had that "awesome" connection with the X yet...

I would buy the X over the IX thou... its newer and looks/feels it

 

IMO the VIII and IX are "drivers car's" and the X is for those that are not as well equipped. I own a 9 because it has enough tech before it starts to "take away" from my senses. The 8 would be an excellent buy and you would still have money left over for go fast parts. One major thing I would point out about the X, I was bummed when I hear it was going to have paddle shifting on the MR, but then I though.....how much AMS power will I be able to put into this thing before I am going to have to rebuild a tranny. Not having to deal with Mitsu **** dealers is worth it to me.

But if I had 30k....I would buy a cheap fast car that was already modd'ed by some other person because they are going to take a HUGE loss on the car and then buy a house.

My .02

 

BTW Seifer...............Thank you very much for your service to our country!

 

Thank you , it just sucks, I do want the MR, or at least a 2008 X, but at the same time, would I be taking a long shot, and end up being a ****ty deal, if I decided not to pay off my car, take a flip, and put down a down payment in November, rather than waiting it out? Because from what it seems like, the chance to buy is now!

 

^what this guy said

On the note of the MR i love it its great, but..... part of the reasons why I got the MR was because
1) not planning on doing serious modding (MR tranny cannot handle very large power upgrades w/out a new clutch pack)
2) wife refuses to learn to drive a stick but really likes cars (She loves driving the X MR and is interested in learning to AutoX) and the MR is great because she can learn on how to drive the line without having to think about shifting
3) the MR active yaw control (there are bunch of artiles that rave about it but the best statement I've heard to describe it is playing Grand Tursimo with the driving aids on).

If it were me for the price difference of 12k (msrp which nobody is paying right now) between a base GSR and an MR w/ Navi etc, I would get a base GSR.

Pros of the X over an VIII or IX is it will be underwarranty (Unless you mod it), you know exactly what abuse its been through, I would only buy a used evo from an evo owner that treated it well.

The X has a new engine with "improved features" one of which the X has variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust this permits a wider power band (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

Pros of the VIII or IX:
cheaper, readily modible, tons of info on the Evom formum, and also an awesome car, having just ridden in a IX on a race course (and an X on the same course), the IX having just a tune, I can say that the IX handles great and has enough power to kick you in the pants.

 

Even after the X came out, I wanted a IX. But after searching around, everybody wanted more for their IX than what I was willing to pay AND you never really know how they treated them... I love my X GSR, and the fact that its 1) under warranty (even after a few mods), 2) able to handle many more modifications than the MR, as of now, 3) there's more of a driver/car relationship with the manual (to me) 4) way cheaper off the lot 5) way cheaper in the long run 6) lighter... AND 7) * HKS will soon release its 6-speed tranny upgrade found on the CZ200S X.......... fingers crossed.

But these are all my preference. As far as performance, both will suffice. I, personally, wouldn't get an MR just because of traffic patterns in town. If you have to swerve, dodge, or manuever your MR in slow moving traffic in a sec, that lag in the SST will prevent you everytime (no experience whatsoever in this statement lol). Either way, to a fellow serviceman (USAF), don't blow all your pocketed money at once. I'd throw some in investments, and let it simmer.

Since you're asking for opinions on a plan of action.... I'd get a GSR before the '10 comes out, as ALL the X models will be marked up a bit, at least for a while.

BTW, I agree with the test drives

 

Haha that is the question of concern right now, I know I will be making bank out here in Iraq, my bonus will hit again February. Should I just pay off my car in november trade it in, and put no money down for the 2 weeks of midtour leave I will have, or trade it in take the flip, and put around 4-5gs down. Or just wait it out til next april when I get back.

First two options Ill probably get stuck for a second, but once my bonus hits up again I would probably pay well around 5-6g off the car.

or the third option wait it out, and not know whats going to happen, whether the 08s and 10s get marked up way to high for me to even consider buying, or will they mark down. Damn, its a hard choice.

 

It is up to preference really, but do try to drive all 3. IMO I wouldn't jump on a already modded car because you don't know how the work was put into it. Sure it might have some go-fast parts, but you will have no idea if it was manhandled improperly.

I went through the same deal as you in picking the car. I will say I did not have a chance to drive the X GSR but once I jumped in the X MR I was sold. It was weird at first with no clutch, but it took me 2 weeks to fall inlove with it. Best for in-city driving, period. As it comes with the modding of the SST, time will tell what happens. Right now, the support is not too good since it is still so new to the market. But with time and R&D those things will change.

Also shop around alot too, I scored my X MR for cheap.

 

It really depends what's important to you. I wanted a safer, more comfortable, refined Evo. so I bought the X to replace my 05 Evo as the Daily and kept the 05 to just use for track days since it has more aspects I wanted in a fully serious track only car.