This is my first post on this forum and I'm interested in getting an EVO and had some questions. First off right now, I drive an M3 coupe and my wife has a WS6. We're about to have a baby, so the WS6 is on its way out and we're looking for a suitable replacement. Our basic requirements for a car is AWD + manual and something sporty/fun. At this time I'm less inclined to go for an SUV although it is probably the most practical thing to do. My ideal budget is in the mid $20K's, and here are the cars I've been considering:

Volvo S60R: A sleeper car that looks pretty nice with its Sport Kit, and has nice turbo kick and is fun to drive. This was the car I was most interested in, but it is relatively uncommon and I've had trouble finding one with the colors/options I like. Of course, the safety factor for the kid is also a nice sell. For the price I'm looking at, most of them have over 25K miles and 1-2 yrs of warranty remaining.

Audi S4: Probably the "classiest" of the bunch and an all-around great car. I really like this one, but ones in my price range are out of warranty and have relatively high mileage. I might grab one if its a steal, but its highly unlikely.

EVO 9 MR: In addition to this being an all around great car, I think its the cheapest of the bunch so it will have alot of warranty and low mileage. I really like the look of it, but haven't gotten to test drive it yet--altho everything I hear about it, it's phenomenal. I went to a dealership and they did not allow anybody to test drive it because it was expensive ($38K) whereas the Audi S4 was $55K and they were insisting I go for an aggressive run .

Here are my questions:

1) How well does a car seat fit in? I took mine there and it looks like it will slip into the middle fine but its too big if behind passenger seat unless someobdy is really short. Is this practical and does anybody have any experience with this?

2) Is the 9 MR the best version to get or something else? I'm not vell-versed in the different brandings and the benefits/drawbacks of each kind. The little I do know is that the MR is the most race-tuned/fastest(?) and considered top-of-the-line. What would you recommend?

3) What are things to look out for when purchasing? Any particular issues with this car or model years to avoid? I'm assuming its best to go for an unmodified version--I want to keep the warranty as long as it lasts before tinkering or trying to make high power.

4) How is the pricing on lightly used ones? Are they selling like hotcakes or is the market dry and can I expect to negotiate quite a bit? What could I buy for say $27-28K?

Thanks all

 

How are those cars on your list if your budget is mid 20k? I guess you said "ideal" budget, but those first two are way out of that range, and the IX MR is above that range, too, unless it's been damaged.

1) I'm sure you searched for threads where we show our car seats before asking this right? The rules mandate you search before posting, so I know you already saw all of us with our cool Recaro baby seats in the back. There's PLENTY of room. I drive my kid in my highly-modded Evo to daycare all the time.

2) IX SE is the best. Again, please research before posting. There are tons of threads with tons of information regarding this question. Why post the question before reading all of that first? No, the MR is not the most "race-tuned" or fastest. Not sure where you'd get that idea.

3) There are countless threads asking about and answering the question about what to look for when purchasing an Evo. Please read them.

4) Look at the for sale forum and online car sales places maybe? IXs are no longer in production, so there are not a lot to go around.

 

MR being the best and fastest I got off the Mitsu website:

http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/j...ms.do#trimsTab

Lancer Evolution MR

The ultimate Lancer Evolution comes standard with the kind of technology that pushes the absolute limits of street and track performance. Take everything available on the Lancer Evolution IX and add one-piece forged aluminum BBS® wheels to save a little more rotational weight. Add a close-ratio six-speed gearbox to keep you in the fattest part of the powerband. Let the revolutionary Vortex Generator funnel air to the rear wing and then give the wing a wickerbill extension to increase downforce. Throw on some inverted Bilstein® shocks to push lateral-acceleration (g-force) numbers to the limit. Add an aluminum roof to lower the center of gravity for even better cornering performance, and you've got an MR that can go head to head with just about anything in production. And win.

But as you can see, opinions differ, that's why I posed that question. As for the other cars, I'm looking into USED hence the variable mileage and warranty. It seems like car seats can fit in...and sounds like they do offer practicality which is a good thing--that was one of my primary concerns.

 

As posted above IX's are slowly disappearing from the lots day by day...one left within two hours of me.

I personally love my evo to death but I feel that with a wife and daughter it isnt a safe family travel vehicle...SUV for that!

I borrowed this pic from "Kay@KaceWork.com" 's previous post about being T-boned not so long ago...

you can read about it here:

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=278459

 

i think you should get the Volvo, it seems like best car in this situation.

 

You might also want to look at the sti. You can find them in your price range and they are a little less egdy compared to the evo.

 

That's a bunch of fluff about the extra features of the MR, but none of it has to do with the car being more powerful. It's "faster" by milliseconds, because it has the same powerplant with those extra features while being a little heavier.

 

I actually tried sitting in an STi last year and found it lacked alot legroom. Plus, it's less aesthetically appealing (to me).

 

s60 R all the way. I would'nt want to drive my kid around all the time in my evo.

 

i personally love my evo with the family. Theres only a rare occasion that i go out without them. I haul around 2 kids, my daughter is 3 years and son is 9 months and all the carseat "stages" have fit along the way even with me being 6'8"! Nothing but praise for the rear cup holder and armrest aswell as my daughter loves playing with it and storing things in the holes lol. We also play games when at grandmas house peeking through the harness holes of the seats, it always gets a laugh. Sure it doesnt have side airbags but i didnt mind it not having it that much. When i was looking it was the usual STI vs evo debate having kids i wanted a car with potential and ive always had turbo cars in the past coming from the 4dr dodge SRT-4 that left me with FWD which i didnt want the natural upgrade was an evo. I didnt get the subie because i really dont like there motors or trannys and ive had 6 dsms in the past so it was an obvious choice for me. If your looking for an all out family car with some kick idk if it would be your choice but im big into cars and i wasent going to let a family dampen my love for modifying cars sense there is options these days for 4 dr monsters.

 

It doesn't look like it has been brought up, but what about the Subaru Forester turbo? My mom has a base Forester, and it handles well, looks decent, has a great warranty, and great crash test ratings. The turbo version has 225hp and sells in the mid $20K range.

Just an idea.

 

Get the Volvo