Ok, so my dad's in the process of buying a 2003 Evo8 w/ 8200miles on it from North Texas Nissan, a big Nissan dealership with a lot of awesome used cars. It's a really fun car, and appears to be in near mint condition. I just don't want him to get something that has been beat to hell or wrecked, etc. Anyway, the dealership let us take it home over the weekend and here are some pics of said Evo8. Take a look at them and see if there's anything fishy about it. I don't know exactly what to look for. What about the red hood grill thing? I don't think I've seen a red one before (??)






This isn't a test or anything. Like I said, I don't know what to look for when comes to these cars, so if you see anything that looks odd fromt he pics, let me know. Oh, and I know nothing about turbos/boost, etc. How can I tell if the boost is at the right setting or if it's been changed from it's factory setting? How can I tll if the engine's been hacked up? It's looks good to my uneducated eye. Thanks for the help!

 

yea the red vent isnt normal. take a picture of the engine and interior

 

if the dealership is letting you take it home, then they probably gave someone else the same deal. i know if someone gave me their evo for a weekend, i wouldnt baby it like my own.

 

Here's the only picture I have of the interior at this moment. It's go the Recaros, boost gauge, etc. The interior is mint.


edit: Yeah, haven't exactly babied this since we took it home. I assume it's been ragged one before...that's a given, I just don't want it to be something that's been in a wreck or has been extensively ragged on at the track,etc. Or it was somebody else's project car where the took it apart & put it back together again.

 

the red vent signifies the original owner was a ricer. The car should be fine...

 

The only thing I can see from your pictures is the front tire seems to be wearing bad, maybe alignment or camber. Post close up shots of the car and maybe we can look it over. Good luck and test drive it carefull incase you purchase it.

 

That's what I'm hoping it's a case of.

I will try to get some better pictures ASAP.

 

Do the fenders looks alright as far alignment goes? It could just be the lightning. Someone on ClubSi said they looked misaligned or something. I think it may just be the way the fenders flare out and catch light at a different angle. I don't remember them looking out of place when I saw it in person.

And somebody else mentioned something about the wheel gap in the front making it seem like the front suspension may be screwed up.

I realize that's a Honda board and they love to talk ****, so I figure ya'll would know better than them.

 

the only thing i would be afraid of is the boost gauge. He might have actually upped the boost.

 

Well, the thing is, the Evo didn't exactly blow me away when I drove it. My stock S2000 feels faster. I know it shouldn't be though. Then again, I am way more familiar with driving my S2000 than an Evo. And I'm also not used to turbo lag. I'm sure I'll get better at driving the Evo and finding out the best RPM's to be in over time....any input on this? Anyway, if the boost was cranked up previously, I definetly don't think it's still that way.

 

it should lag for a while and then pick up hard

 

hows the clutch on it? that should b able to help some if it feels pretty good it was probly taken care of somewhat due to the fact that people are blowing clutch's in about 5K lol

 

how would you check that though? just wondering so i can check mine.

 

If you can, open up the trunk, pull up the carpet, and take a picture. If it's ever been hit in the rear at all, chances are the metal is crinkled somewhere back there.

 

turn the ac on an listen for rattles
look at the oil pan to check for leaks or dents to make sure it wasnt bottomed out
check the aprons for damage---both fenders should have a vin tag! if it dosent it was replaced. also check to see if the bolts were turned on the fenders and the hood
look along the sides for wavy paint--indicates previous repair
get on your back under the rear bumper facing the sky and check the rear rails for damage---i.e if the bumper does not have a vin tag
put your head inside the trunk and look at the under side of the quarter panels and look for fresh weld marks---if ou do it may have been replaced and thus was rear ended!
check the rockers and trunk floor pan
find a clear strip of road and get up TO SPEED and brake slowly to test the brakes/rotors----if it pulsate the rotors probably needs to be turned
these steps should help you out to find out if the car was hit, repared etc.
they work! do it and you will not regret it

be sure to check for oil leaks from oil pan, head, transfer case, axle; not that it is a problem on the EVO but it is better safe than sorry!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK THIS IS BULL $HIT! LET IT BE KNOWN THAT COMPANIES LIKE HONDA, DCG, GM, GMAC, CAPITAL ONE, NOVEL & CFG
PAY $110 PER CAR TO GET THIS DONE FOR THEIR REMARKETING (i.e. repo, lease turn ins, rentals & fleet!)


GOOD LUCK GUY!