I currently own a 1992 3000GT VR4 with BPU mods. I have owned this car since June 2003. I have never really had this car running at its full potential. There seems to always be something wrong with it, whether it is something little or something big. I am getting to the point where I might sell the car and cut my loses. If I sell the car, I want to get something that is pretty comparable in performance, and it would be nice to have a warranty. I pretty much want a turbocharged car, and awd. I have been searching this forum for the past couple days and looking other places online. I was looking into the prices of a used 03 evo. I found on this forum that it seems that the weak point of this car is the clutch/transmisison, which seems to be the same with the 1st gen 3000gt vr4s (transfer case). Now I have read that if you drive the car normal and not launch the hell of the car than the tranny/transfer case/clutch will be fine. But how do I know the person who owned the 03 evo before me hasnt done that? Now if I do get an evo, I would not constantly launch the hell out of it. But I will most likely be tempted to go to the 1/4 mile track, not often but maybe a couple times. I have a pretty good idea on how to launch and drive an awd car without putting too much stress on the driveline, so I was wondering would 1 or 2 trips to the track really make me regret going to the track? Another thing, I couldnt really find any info on how long the 03 and 04 evos warranty lasts, I know the 05s are 10year 100000 for the first owner. I would probably be doing basic mods to the evo as well, as long as they would not void the warranty. I just wanna see if the evo can be a reliable car I can trust, unlinke my current car, while still be able to have the performance. The reason I would get an 03 or 04 evo is because it would be much cheaper, an 05 evo would be tough for me to get because of the higher price. I may not even get an evo, I may not even sell my car, Im just trying to get some info just in case I do. Thanks in advance.
-Randy

 

I was in your shoes 6 months ago. I bought the Evo and never looked back. I was undecided reading all the articles, forums, and listening to owners. So I went for a test drive and that was it. I enjoy it all year round in all types of weather. You can buy a used one, but I guess you'd always be worried about how the past owner treated it. This is one of those cars you don't want to buy used because it was meant for performance and most previous owners most likely beat the crap out of it, not caring about it since they're trading it in. For a little more than used you can purchase a brand, new Evo RS for 26K. So I advise taking it for a test drive along with some other cars and then deciding. If you're going to mod it, and something breaks, don't be surprised to have your warranty claim denied. The technicians at the dealership know who beats on their cars and who takes care of them. Good luck and let us know what you choose buying if you do.

 

Yea a test drive is probably a good idea. The one thing that worries me the most on how the previous driver was towards the car, because that is pretty much the situation I am in right now. My car was not cared very well by the previous owner, and I have been trying to fix her up because of what the previous owner had caused. So getting a new 05 evo will probably give me a way better peace of mind. If I were to mod the car, I would most likely just do full exhaust, bov, prolly upper ic pipe, and a reflash with the ecu, I would prolly try and buy another stock ecu and have one ecu that was reflased, and a stock ecu, so if I ever had to take the car in I would just swap the ecus, so that they couldnt say anything about the ecu being modded. The evo RS is priced very well, but I have been driving my car w/o the A/C working and it gets very annoying especially in the summer here in FL, and the wing on the evo just makes the body flow so much nicer, I know these both are options with the RS as well, I guess I will have to talk to a dealer to get in depth about every option.

 

dude, i was a honda boy before i bought this car and so were a few other guys on this forum. only thing i can tell you is try it out, like the other guy said before me i totally argee with him test drive it and then you'll be sold.

 

For sure Evo is the way to go. Here is a pretty good used '03 F/S
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW

 

Lol, that 03 looks pretty nice, wonder if its still got a warranty

 

Just so you know, AC comes standard on all RS models. But you're definately in the market at the right time. With the impending release of the IX, I'm sure you could negotiate a nice price on an '05. There are even some reports of a few new 04's in some lots still so that's always an option as well.

Good luck!

 

A/C is really a standard on the RS? Awesome, is that every year they were made? Because I remember reading in sport compact car that a/c wasnt standard, but if you get like a "jungle package" it comes with a/c and power locks and some other things. What else is standard on the RS? Is there a radio and cd player? power locks and windows? thats pretty much all i car really car about other than what is standard.

 

RS has A/C, thats really weird???!!!

 

do your research if you can handle the car then do it

 

its wired for a sterio but there are no speakers nor a head unit.

 

Anyone got any info on the warranties of the 03-04s, and any info on the transfercase issue?

 

This will not work the key code will not allow two Ecu's to work in the same car unless you have two of the transponders that the key code can recognize and switch it out with the Ecu at the same time but then you would need to have the other Key as well. The code is stored in this unit as well as the Ecu for each car. The only real way is to have the dealer flash your second Ecu for the the same key code and then you would have to explain it to them and you warranty would be voided then.

Back on topic you can always have a mechanic check the clutch out but you'll never know for sure. But a good inspection before hand is always wise. If you can afford it get a new one you should be able to pick up an VIII for a steal once the IX comes out.
I came from being a Gearhead v-8 mussle car driver to now an Evo owner and have never looked back. I have had other fast cars but none that did everything so well as my Evo.

 

Hey Shawtime, how much money are you willing to spend for the car and mods? To tell you the truth if you had 25k I would simply buy a used and replace the clutch and flywheel . Although you could get a fresh one from the dealer with 0 mileage and have a great time with it. BTW how much do 2003 Evo's cost at dealerships?

 

Well the reason I would prefer to get a new one rather than a used is because of a warranty, I really dont know how much I will have to spend, I would have to sell my 92 vr4 and use the money as a down payment, then have to get a job and pay the resy off which might get pretty tough because I am a full time college student. As for mods, they would have to wait until I got some extra money after the car payment and some money for either my rent or to live. So they wouldnt be for a while, but they would just be the basics, full exhaust, boost gauge, bov, IC pipe, ecu flash, maybe a datalogger and some type of knock alert system, just to stay safe. So I would keep the stock turbo for a while and keep those mods for a while and try to take it easy on the stock clutch. If I got the evo I wouldnt want to have to pay 1000+ more as soon as I buy the car to replace the clutch because it wouldnt be covered under the warranty, I would rather get a brand new one, and let myself blow the clutch if it were to happen, the 10 year warranty is what interests me very much, never had a warranty before, I want to be able to trust a car.