Hello all, new here to the forum and Evo.

I am seriously considering getting a 06 Evo IX MR that is modified a bit. My 06 350Z is mostly stock with a few bolt ons and a nice HKS exhaust. I was considering turbo charging or supercharging but the cost is quite high for a good kit. I also think I'm ready for a change. I've had a few STi's in the past but I really like the EVOs as well. Think I should go for it? Which would you pick? This is really just a play/track car and not a daily driver. Sell me on the Evo. Thanks.

 

get an 06 ix non-mr.

 

what he said

 

Evo IX SE = most bling+bang for the buck

 

Why? What do you think is better?
I would really prefer a 6-speed.

 

6 speed is weak.

 

get the evo

 

if you want a performance-oriented car, get the Evo. If you're more into having the "bling" look, keep the 350Z... either ride is decent though...

 

I'll try and give you a good summary of what everyone is saying...

- An Evo can be an ideal fun/track/road course car. Although I would say it's more of road course car than a straight line car.

- If you plan on running the car at a road course the general consensus is don't go with an MR. I personally have a friend who bought an MR and has been having issues with his tranny after only 5000 miles. Now he is pretty hard on his car on the track, but others have had issues with 4th gear getting too hot in an extended road course situation due to the lower oil capacity of the 6-speed. In some cases this had lead to 4th gear failure in the MR's 6-speed transmission. So that issue, and the fact that the 5-speed transmission has a higher rated average load and breaking strength than the 6-speed is why it's recommended instead of the MR 6-speed for a track situation.

- In the handling department the Evo (IX versus '06 Sti) is pretty much understood to handle just a little bit better than the Sti. Tends to under steer less under hard increasing radius turns. Is that difference huge? No, but at the track you usually take any advantage you can get.

- I personally like the styling of the Evo better than the Sti. Although I think a 350z is sexier than either.

- An Evo is easier to work on IMHO and tends to take better to mods... cause you know you'll end up modding it. :P

- If I can say anything negative about the Evo, it's that you really have to keep up with your maintenance if you want it to stay reliable. Especially if you're tracking it. Change your transmission, transfer case, and rear diff oil more often than the manual says just to be safe. Also keep up on the other obvious stuff (oil changes, etc) and the Evo is a pretty solid track car.

- If you can, test drive the Evo... I think you'll see where we're coming from.

 

Man I was in the exact same situation you are in a few months ago. I also had a lightly modded 06 350Z with Injen exhaust. The car was just too small for me and I needed something with a real trunk. I had always liked Evos and STIs but when it came down to trading the Z and geting one or the other, once I test drove the Evo that was the end of it.

Get an Evo preferably an SE, IMO its the best compromise between all the Evo trim lines.

Good luck on your search.

 

Definitely get the Evo. MR's are still great Evo's, I love mine.

 

Thanks all. I appreciate the feedback.

Any one want a sweet Z?

 

Sweet Z. IIRC there was another post here the other day about a guy wanting to trade his Z also and one guy offered his EVO(vendor I think). Maybe a search can bring up his post. Not sure if he was in cali though. Good Luck on the trade. I'm sure someone will want to trade.

Your right about the trunk too. I came from a S2k which didnt exactly have a trunk . 4 doors really helps now too

 

.....you realize this forum is a little biased, right? lol

Im just kidding man, I used to have a G35 and loved it. Until I drove the Evo and I was sold.

 

Put it like this the evo is a all around better car. It is 4 door which makes it nice. It is a great DD. It is a way better perfromance car then the 350z. I went up against a 350z once and he was twin tubocharged and i still had the stock turbo. I beat him at the track by at least a car in a half length. But it's all up to u in the end.