1st post. Let me introduce myself first. I have been into DSMs for about 6 years and during that time I have had a...
1998 Eclipse GS
1998 Eagle Talon TSI AWD
1990 Eclipse GSX (Featured in Sport Compact car)
1992 Eagle Talon TSI AWD

I did alot of work to the last 2 including rebuilding the engine, Big brake upgrades, drive shafts, CV axles, clutches, FMICs, exhausts ect... I also have alot of tuning knowlegde behind me with a AFC and PMS units using laptops and pocketloggers, blah, blah. The point I'm trying to make is I'm not new to cars rather a noob to EVO's...So here I am.

I have been looking at 2 of them and it comes down to either a 05 VIII MR or a 06 IX. I can't make up my damb mind and I have taken both for a test drive. Both are in the same price range so money isn't a consideration, though the 06 MR is a bit much. One side of me says get the MR, it has the 6 speed, shocks and cool wheels. The otherside says get the 06, it has the better engine (no flames, what I mean is more power with same mods, plus it has a upgraded timing belt and other revisions that make it a 'better' engine) and looks better. The close ratio 5 speed made the 06 'feel' just as eager as the 6 speed to me as well. I do not plan to mod the car for awile but I do intend to get it into the high 11s like my Talon was. Still I keep going back and forth with this...

Which would you choose?

 

I'd say the IX is definitely worth it especially with the 5 speed. If you are thinking about swapping to a bigger turbo, I'd say to save the money and get a VIII instead.

 

Why not go with the 6-speed? (not specifically the VIII MR, but any 6)

 

The only other 6spd is the 9MR which has ratios of 1-4 very similar to the 1-4 of the 5spd. So unless you are going to track and shift a lot at 100mph, a 6 spd is not as necessarry.

 

evo 9 rs
then with all the savings you have from not getting the mr
buy aftermarket wheels or bbs
an aftermarket suspension (not that hard cause the bilsteins are not all that)
a stereo system (anything is better than the stock stereo)
add a power window kit (if you like the power windows)
and with the money you still have left over (tbe / intake / mbc / flash = like 350whp = blows away the stock mr)

 

if i could do it again i wouldn't have got my MR, I can't sell my wheels (1 was curbed)
I wanted leather - correction my girlfriend wanted leather i mean
The bilsteins float and cause a lot of body lean
with my springs and sway bar(soon) The car will still not be perfectly balanced
Started modding can't stop, damn expensive- i even wish i got an RS at this point
Graphite grey doesn't look "mean" really kind of "Classy" more so

 

The 05 MR really didn't ride any better or worse than the 06 IX...Mmm, well I didn't notice much as the roads were not that bad. Although a 6 speed tranny sounds cool, for some reason I think the extra shifting would get old after awile but then it may not. Doesn't the 6 speed deliver the higher top speed? I really don't think I would ever notice the diff between the rims as the IX has lighter wheels than the 05s, not as light as the BBS on the MR but... I would not consider messing with the suspention on either as I think they handle just fine stock. As far as an RS, though a good option I feel they are abit stripped down. Plus I think you get alot for the jump between the RS and the IX.

It's a tough one indeed, thanx for the input so far My gut is telling me to go with a IX cuz when the moding starts the MR stuff kinda gets in the way. Meaning if one wants to mod the shocks, tranny or wheels the extra money spent for the MR is wasted. On a Eclipse or Talon replacing the shocks, beefing up the tranny and getting better wheels was a given. I would not consider any of those a given with an EVO

 

Go for the RS. DSMer style!

 

I might be the only one who thinks the yellow Bilsteins that come with the MR are extremely good (for stock suspension) but that probably means they suit the roads I drive on better.

Anyway, _specially_ if you're not planning on doing a huge amount to it, I'd suggest the IX. From the dyno pulls i've seen, they respond very well to mods and that will in a round-about way save you money.

As to whether you need/want the 6spd, it really depends on how and where you drive. If you're mainly on highways and fairly relaxed driving, there's really no need for the 6th gear. If you drive a great deal on the track or on twisty stuff, the 6spd will keep you in the powerband more of the time, providing you're putting in the efforts...

 

6 speed is very nice for highway driving

 

IIRC the top gears on both are roughly the same ratio?

 

A big reason I got the 9GSR over the RS is the ABS. Yes you can stop better without ABS, but in the real world it is convenient to just hit the brakes and let the abs do its job.

Helps alot especially in the rain and when the tires are cold.

 

I say get the 9. It has been proven to make more power than the 8s with the same mods.

If you can afford it, get a 9 MR. I love my MR, have NO complaints at all. Didn't want the leather because I am a pretty skinny guy, and I slide around a bit on it. The alcantra/leather combo grips me in and hugs me pretty good.

 

I purchased mine. I have driven all of the models. Have a friend at the Mitsu. Dealer. I can honestly say that the RS version was the most fun to drive. I can actually walk it around corners like a dog and pull myself right out of it. Can't even begin to do that with my mustang. I know it wasn't on your list but if you can find one you should take it for a drive.

 

Honestly I have to say you should go for the IX if you have the chance, because you may regret your decision to not jump on the IX like so many 2005 EVO VIII owners have. Me and you have a similiar situation. I too have been shopping for an EVO, and my top two choices are a 2006 EVO IX RS and a 2005 EVO VIII MR or GSR. My first choice though is the EVO IX RS, why because money is an issue, and to comfortably afford the EVO (which also means money for maintenance) I do not want to go buck wild crazy on my modifications. The IX RS seems like the perfect fit. I do not plan on spending more than $2,000-$2,500 on mods on my car during my first year of ownership and what really attracts me the most about the IX is that $2,000-$2,500 goes a very long way with that car. A reasonable driver with that amount of modifications should easily hit 11s on a well prepared drag strip. So yes the IX is my first choice, but if I can't get the IX for what I feel is a comfortable price for me, then I will not hesistate on the purchase of 2005 EVO VIII. The VIII in it's own right, isn't a bad car at all, actually it's awesome. So for me, the 2006 IX RS is my goal, just in case, the 05 VIII GSR or MR is my back up. Worst case scenerio, 2003-2004 VIII, better than no EVO.