Well, after a year of saving and researching different cars, I finally brought home a 2008 Rally Red GSR with the SSS package with just 11k miles. This has been a long journey for me, and as my first post as an Evo owner, I'll break this post up into sections so you can skip the parts you don't care about.

What cars was I cross-shopping and why did I pick the Evo?

About August of last year I decided that I'd had enough of my current car. Problem was, my bank account was drained and my credit was in shambles due to a cross-country move. Although I had just started at a new job with great pay, there was no way I could get rid of my current vehicle. Knowing that I was going to have to wait, I started researching potential vehicles (in order of when I brought them into my consideration list).

• Subaru WRX
• Evo X
• STi
• 370z
• 135i

I tried really hard to put both of the new Mustangs on this list, but I just couldn't get a firm emotional attachment to the car. The WRX was the first car to come off the list. The power/cost ratio is exceptional, but for the money I was spending, I didn't want to buy the "little brother" version of a more desirable car.

370z came off the list next. I'm an auto-crosser who wants to start going to track days (couldn't in my old convertible) and didn't want to deal with the overheating issues that 370z owners report on their forums. Also wasn't too hot on how many owners considered it in-spec for that engine to burn nearly a quart of oil between oil changes.

HPFP issues and factory detuning during dealership service turned me off from the 135i. For BMW to "ninja edit" performance out of the car, possibly for durability issues, was a show-stopper. Also the car is ugly in my opinion.

The STI came off my list due to the frequency of people reporting blown ringlands on the STI boards. My previous car had a Russian-roulette factory defect (google "mr2 spyder precats"), and I "won." I wasn't going to play that game again.

That left me with the Evo. I registered on the forums and started hardcore lurking. Except for a few days where I brought the 135i back into consideration, I was an Evo guy from then forward.

First impressions driving the Evo

I spent months researching mods, coming up with combinations, comparing dyno charts, coming up with purchasing orders.

Waste. Of. Time.

The power is amazing. Grip-the-wheel, grin-from-ear-to-ear, squeal-even-though-other-people-are-in-the-car kind of power. I was trying to play it cool during the test drive, but at least a 2 "holy ****s" made it out before I could stop them.

The interior is actually nicer than I imagined. The dash area is pretty basic and the plastic "carbon fiber" insert is meh, but the steering wheel is just the right size, there are a ton of buttons that I still haven't figured out (how do you turn on the fog lights?) and the seats feel amazing.

Coming from a mid-engine convertible that is so loud you can't take a cell-phone call, the Evo was nice on the inside. The sound system is suitably loud, though there is still some room for SQ improvement. I am completely stumped by the fast key system, but i'm sure that will come with time. The shifter is smooth and precise, not notchy at all. Rowing through the gears is a pleasure. A 6th gear would have been nice, as there is a bit of drone when doing 80 on the AZ freeway.

Having only driven on the street, I cant tell you too much about handling. There is lots less road feel than my old Spyder, which I was expecting. The Evo feels much lighter than it really is, just like my friend's IX MR that I've driven. Now I instantly understand why Evo drivers I've seen at local SCCA events tend to overdrive their cars; the car is set up so well, it feels light and grippy when there is really more car behind you than you realize.

Gas mileage makes me laugh. I knew I was going to have to pay to play, it's just silly how much fuel the Evo drinks when you're leaning on the loud pedal. If you commute more than 10-15 minutes to work, get something else.

The palpable excitement of being in an Evo is intense. An actual conversation:

Question about some weird noises...

Besides the little things I can work with over time, I have one serious question.

I hear a weird noise coming from the rear of the car between 3000-3300 rpm in first gear only when I am hard on the gas pedal. It sounds like a loud, raspy rattle, like dry gears meshing together or a loud, deep metal-on-metal rattle. It seems to coincide with the center bar growing front and back on the AWC display. I have never owned a car with a locking differential or traction-control, much less the Evo's crazy AWC system, and I am wondering if this a normal noise. No weird lights or chimes from the gauge cluster. ASC is fully on.

Also, I was putting something into the trunk when my girlfriend started the car and I heard a mechanical noise, like an electric motor turning, for about 3 seconds right after start up. Sound seemed to come from underneath the car in the rear. Normal? Wondering if it is worth asking the dealer about it, as they referred to the AWC fluid in the trunk as "power steering" fluid...

Does an idiot light reliably come on when there is an issue with S-AWC? Does everyone else pronounce that like "sauce?" because we totally should.

 

Quote:
Me to GF: Do you know what I see in the rear view mirror?

GF to me (annoyed because she's heard nothing but Evo for months): What?

Me: An Evo's wing. Do you know why?

GF: Because you're driving an Evo?

Me: BECAUSE I'M DRIVING AN EVO!


Priceless!!! sounds like my wife and I on the way home after i purchased mine. she heard nothing but evo for the 4 -5 prior months.

as far as all the little clunks and wierd noises. i have only owned awd turbo cars from a 91 awd talon to an 06 then an 08 sti, to the evo now. if you concentrate on every single little noise you will drive youself crazy..enjoy the ride and good luck!!

 

Congrats bro! Post some pics. Did you get a good deal if you don't mind me asking? Enjoy and be safe!

 

I hear that noise now and again as well. Nothing has ever gone wrong with my car and it's nearing 50k miles so I figure it's nothing to worry about... (knock on wood) haha

Grats on purchase man, welcome to the family! Evo owners have always got another owners back.

 

Good to hear you have an evo. In fact I did the same exact research as you did, narrowing it down to the EXACT same cars for months and months and months. Being a professional installer I also wanted a car I could customize the crap out of and this is DEFINITELY the one for that. Not only for audio/security stuff but the aftermarket parts available for this car are immense.

Those noises:

I have the same thing with the metal on metal noise in the rear. Nothing to worry about IMHO but I feel like I hear it louder when I really get up on the pedal rather than going softly.

That pump you hear is the ACD pump (IIRC) in the rear right of the vehicle underneath the bumper. The fluid resevoir for it is directly above that in the trunk in the little opening. It'll go down when you're driving it so don't be worried, it'll fill back up after you let it sit for a while.

Honestly I think the only thing that mitsu could do to make this car more solid from the factory is upgrade the dash and kick panel material. In addition to that I think they need to also work slightly on panel alignment as there are some inconsistancies here and there. The interior DESIGN; however, I believe works very well with the style of the car. I have an MR (yes hate on me but it is still an EVO), and it has the phantom black trim. A huge step forward but I think it needs to be softer plastic/vinyls than what is currently on there (like newer hondas). The seats (especially in my MR and the '11 GSRs/MR-T with leather) are very nice! The cheap plastic racing seatbelt inserts should be changed out for better materials though.

Gas mileage does suck hardcore. I feel like I get 17mpg no matter how I drive it, unless I'm really wailing on it for the whole tank which is not something I really ever do. I'll get anywhere from 170-200 miles on a tank before the DING of the gas light chimes on. Anyways glad to have you as another evo owner on the forums

 

Sadly, I'm stuck in Orange County on business all week, so I won't have any pics until next weekend.

I paid $30,415, which includes dealer tag and title fees. Tax is different in AZ, you don't pay tax on the vehicle purchase, but when you get your tag/renew it each year.

In a normal sense, I think I got an awesome deal on a fully loaded GSR with might-as-well-be-new miles.

Unfortunately, I was upside-down on my trade in (first car note, car was in awful condition, awful interest rate) so I brought a bunch of negative equity over to the Evo loan. Gonna eat ramen for awhile to make big payments and bring the Evo right-side-up. Now that I've driven it, I am perfectly happy to auto-x the evo bone stock this year. Tint and a shorter antenna are the only "mods" I see in the immediate future.

 

Pics, as requested. I know, ick with the front plate.

 

Great story. I remember how excited I was when I bought my Evo. I couldn't sleep at all the night before. The day I bought it, I averaged 6 miles to the gallon.

 

lol awesome story, my wife is in the same sitch right now, listening to me ramble on about the upcoming evo purchase... do i care? not really

grats on the purchase, i had similar break down of vehicles to choose from, however being a previous 350z owner i steered away from the 370