Tips on buying a used EVO
Here's a tip: Don't buy one!! These are performance cars, and people drive them like that. Get one new if you want all your minor worries satisfied. If you have wanted one for so long, just buy it. If you have not saved up the $$$ since the VI came out (said it in your OP), then you do not really want one. Get a new IX and enjoy it.
Nothing wrong with used Evos, hell mine was bought used in 05 with 6000 miles and is currently running like a champ at 17K, daily driven.
A few tips:
- Dont buy used from a dealer. Not only do you NOT know who owned it before, but the dealership in itself is shady.
- Fixed up used models are fine, just make sure the owner knows what he/she is talking about. Examine what mods they have, ask questions about maintenance, and basically determine how much knowledge they have about the car. It's easy picking out people that just dont care or have no clue.
- Buy preferably from an adult or someone who acts like one.
- Go for a test drive but let the owner drive. Is he rev matching? Shifting the notchy *** tranny nicely? Easy on the drivetrain in general?
- Mentioed above already, if the clutch is gone before 20K, they either cant drive or have launched it.
- Paint quality is a good indicator how much care was given. Swirl marks like crazy? Door dings? Check all panels for VIN.
A few tips:
- Dont buy used from a dealer. Not only do you NOT know who owned it before, but the dealership in itself is shady.
- Fixed up used models are fine, just make sure the owner knows what he/she is talking about. Examine what mods they have, ask questions about maintenance, and basically determine how much knowledge they have about the car. It's easy picking out people that just dont care or have no clue.
- Buy preferably from an adult or someone who acts like one.
- Go for a test drive but let the owner drive. Is he rev matching? Shifting the notchy *** tranny nicely? Easy on the drivetrain in general?
- Mentioed above already, if the clutch is gone before 20K, they either cant drive or have launched it.
- Paint quality is a good indicator how much care was given. Swirl marks like crazy? Door dings? Check all panels for VIN.
Agreed both of ours were checked thuroughly Hers only had 6k on it the person couldnot afford it anymore. Her gain. Mine was maintenenced regularly with all documentation. Both shifted like butter (Still do) 
. Saving 10k is my friend. I wouldnt mind a IX though. Oh well. We will keep these two and mabey get X's down the road as DD's
. Saving 10k is my friend. I wouldnt mind a IX though. Oh well. We will keep these two and mabey get X's down the road as DD's
lol at the people telling you to never buy a used EVO. That's just nonsense, unless you KNOW that car was beaten to hell and mistreated...
If you have it checked over by a trusted friend/mechanic/dealership, that should provide you with extra confidence in your purchase. Is it foolproof? No. But will it increase the chances of you not having many problems. More than likely...
I bought my evo used with about 36k and the only thing I'm having a problem with is my brakes...
All numbers match on the panels, clutch seems fine, looks like it was never modded. Only thing is, when I changed my fluids (tranny/tc/rear diff) I could tell everything looked clean underneath there, which means the previous owner may have never changed his tranny fluids. Sure enough, when I drained the TC and Tranny especially, the fluid was pure black. Though, I don't have any issues with the tranny (yet
), nor am I hard on my car.
You don't think problems happen to brand new cars either guys? I know, problems are more likely to occur to a used car, but I think he knows that as well as anyone else thinking about purchasing a used vehicle...
I say go for it, especially if you have some $$$$ laying around just incase things do go bad.
Goodluck man!
If you have it checked over by a trusted friend/mechanic/dealership, that should provide you with extra confidence in your purchase. Is it foolproof? No. But will it increase the chances of you not having many problems. More than likely...
I bought my evo used with about 36k and the only thing I'm having a problem with is my brakes...
All numbers match on the panels, clutch seems fine, looks like it was never modded. Only thing is, when I changed my fluids (tranny/tc/rear diff) I could tell everything looked clean underneath there, which means the previous owner may have never changed his tranny fluids. Sure enough, when I drained the TC and Tranny especially, the fluid was pure black. Though, I don't have any issues with the tranny (yet
), nor am I hard on my car.You don't think problems happen to brand new cars either guys?
I know, problems are more likely to occur to a used car, but I think he knows that as well as anyone else thinking about purchasing a used vehicle...I say go for it, especially if you have some $$$$ laying around just incase things do go bad.
Goodluck man!
I bought mine used with 16k and it runs fine today. It's my daily driver too.
My advice is to know the previous owner. I had a ride with the previous owner who drove the car quite hard to show me how the car behaves.
I spend a lot of time to make sure the car was good and well maintained
The owner also got an DSM and a 03 cobra, both fully modded and I bought the car anyway. I still in contact with the owner 1 year afterwards.
EVO can be driven hard as long as you take care of it.
If you do not lauch it, let the engine be at temperature before revving up and make sure that oil, coolant are good. The car should be in good shape.
The only thing I do not like is mods. Make sure, as it was said, that the car was not modded or modded by someone with skills.
So far I do not regret my choice, I would hesitate to buy a car from a dealer except if the car is brand new (less than 8k mi)
My advice is to know the previous owner. I had a ride with the previous owner who drove the car quite hard to show me how the car behaves.
I spend a lot of time to make sure the car was good and well maintained
The owner also got an DSM and a 03 cobra, both fully modded and I bought the car anyway. I still in contact with the owner 1 year afterwards.
EVO can be driven hard as long as you take care of it.
If you do not lauch it, let the engine be at temperature before revving up and make sure that oil, coolant are good. The car should be in good shape.
The only thing I do not like is mods. Make sure, as it was said, that the car was not modded or modded by someone with skills.
So far I do not regret my choice, I would hesitate to buy a car from a dealer except if the car is brand new (less than 8k mi)
soon or later , used evo will have a big demand anyway ,
when the new age japanese super sedans go for $40k +
of coz , most evo destinated to be total loss.... i wonder how many still on the road
when the new age japanese super sedans go for $40k +
of coz , most evo destinated to be total loss.... i wonder how many still on the road
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Florida
Dude that is no BS,...holy smoke, everytime I go inside a grocery store for pete's sake (who is pete anyway) I walk around looking thru the freakin windows to check the car, constantly feeling the need to get out and back in the car worried as hell, Totally OT, but please dont ban, flame, smoke,...just needed to say it, hehehehehe ;-)
Originally Posted by evo1337
Go to the doctor and get a perscription for some anxiety meds so you wont worry about parking it out side of your garage 
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From: Irvine
Originally Posted by High_PSI
I View a used Condom and a used Evolution in the same respect. Will it work? Maybe? Sure as hell taking a big risk.
People need to make sure that they go through a different mechanic to get the car lifted and checked out... the salesman that I've been talking for about 2 weeks before getting my purchase gave me a false sense of security of what I was buying and I never really got into that point.
-Well after I bought the car, 800 miles later the clutch goes out(5k limiter launch once w/ no clutch smell).
-1300 miles later, front right passenger tire blows out, find out later at Kauffman that my camber was set at 1.16 at that side.
-Also a few other things I realized after I had already had the car for about a week was the passenger left taillight was a little bit scratched up, it wasn't bad, but it doesn't look very good if you're looking at it closely. Then with a friend looking at my final papers etc... he looked em over and he saw that they charged me an extra $849 just out of no where. I guess I was just too excited when I was finally signing all the papers that I didn't really look through everything so thorougly.
But after these mistakes I'm sure that I won't be making them again later in the future. Hope this helps others as well...
-Well after I bought the car, 800 miles later the clutch goes out(5k limiter launch once w/ no clutch smell).
-1300 miles later, front right passenger tire blows out, find out later at Kauffman that my camber was set at 1.16 at that side.
-Also a few other things I realized after I had already had the car for about a week was the passenger left taillight was a little bit scratched up, it wasn't bad, but it doesn't look very good if you're looking at it closely. Then with a friend looking at my final papers etc... he looked em over and he saw that they charged me an extra $849 just out of no where. I guess I was just too excited when I was finally signing all the papers that I didn't really look through everything so thorougly.
But after these mistakes I'm sure that I won't be making them again later in the future. Hope this helps others as well
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