Hi,

First post here. I may be in the market for a 2003-2005 Evo but first need to do some research. I have searched around and read many threads (a bunch of them exactly what I was looking for) but others were not so helpful.

It seems 2003 is the most problematic of the three years. We never hear about the 2005's reliability and what not.

Now, I understand with proper care and maintenance any car can last long but these cars are not meant to be granny driven and it seems when driven hard some of them break easily.

Which of these years breaks the most?

2003, 2004, 2005?

We never hear anything about the 2004 but it's been out for a while. We always hear about the problems with the 2003 but everyone says the 2004 is exactly the same thing...nothing changed. How can that be?

Thanks

PS
I read all of the threads that one guy (not sure of his sn) has created but you guys know who I'm talking about. Very helpful threads, imo, even though he was flamed for creating so many question threads over a year's span.

 

They're all very reliable. The 03' did have a couple driveline recalls. They all will eventually have clutch issues. The only reason people pick one over the other is for its features, the 05' has a slightly bigger turbo and ACD, but the 03 and 04 are cheaper.

 

I have an 03 with 32k. Not one problem.

Chage oil every 5k. Changed brake pads at 31k. Still on stock clutch after going to the track about 12+times.

I would go for the 03 since it was the first Evo imported into the states.

 

I own a 2004 EVOVIII an I have not have problems with it at all, is true the 03 have some issus but that is not just because the car, it also depends how harfd or bad you drive your car,i know couple of 05 evo owners with 7k miles on their car and they all ready in their 2 tranny or blow up the motor, but i also know people that dont drive that bad and they still have problems withe the 03! all i know the 04 is has been build a little difrent from yhe 03
and i have never heard 04 owner having problems.If i were you i would get the 04 or the 05,but that is just my opinion,04evo is right *** well,let us know what did youwent for.

 

Awesome. Thanks guys!

 

05,05,05,05.. great year..

 

The 03 were the first year in US. People here were just learning about them, even how to properly drive them. It might appear that the 03 was more problematic but now everyone knows better, they will avoid to do things to break the car. So it might appear that the > 03 are more reliable but are they really???

 

I would think that the 05 is still to new to say it is the best year. I have a 05 and it is still going strong but we will see what the future has in store for it.

 

i like my 03...only prob i have had are:
egr valve(hose came off...no biggie)
clutch went at 20k...my fault...was a little launch happy

other than that...she's been good to me...early oil changes keeps evo gremlins away

...funny...don't hear much complaints about the 04s

 

I don't know, buying a car of this caliber used is risky business! I wouldn't purchase one with out some type of warranty, as most anyone who owns one has road it hard, which in and of itself isn't a big deal, it's whether or not they took care of it. That's why I bought a new 05 and love it!

 

where u at in south florida?