Is buying a 2003 EVO a bad idea?
It's either going to be a $20,000 EVO ($15,000 ish down and the rest financed) an 01-03 s2000 with 40-60,000 on it well maintained and for $15-16,000 (paid with cash) a nice low mileage well taken care of clean LS1 SS/WS6 (paid with cash)
Those are the best choices for below $20,000 but I want the EVO... even if extra cost went in to maintaining the car and even if I never exceeded minor bolt ons and cosmetics it is the car I want. I just hear so much from people as if once it hits 50,000 they no longer have interest in them and avoid them like the plauge. I don't want this car if it's going to be a PITA. I want to be able to enjoy it and I do not plan on cutting corners on things.
What I am afraid of is that is, like buying a Supra if you do not have enough to spend on the right car, it will cause you problems and be a hassle and you will not enjoy it ($23,000 is not enough but $30,000 can get you a good one kind of scenario)
I hope the EVO is not that car...
I don't see how people can buy a 2003 with 20,000 miles on it... and drive it until 100,000 and it's ok. I hear good things.
but buying one with 50-60,000 used is a HOLY CRAP WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WHY DON'T you start having sex with used condoms kind of risk.
Can $20,000 get me a nice 2003 or 2004? with decent mileage?
Those are the best choices for below $20,000 but I want the EVO... even if extra cost went in to maintaining the car and even if I never exceeded minor bolt ons and cosmetics it is the car I want. I just hear so much from people as if once it hits 50,000 they no longer have interest in them and avoid them like the plauge. I don't want this car if it's going to be a PITA. I want to be able to enjoy it and I do not plan on cutting corners on things.
What I am afraid of is that is, like buying a Supra if you do not have enough to spend on the right car, it will cause you problems and be a hassle and you will not enjoy it ($23,000 is not enough but $30,000 can get you a good one kind of scenario)
I hope the EVO is not that car...
I don't see how people can buy a 2003 with 20,000 miles on it... and drive it until 100,000 and it's ok. I hear good things.
but buying one with 50-60,000 used is a HOLY CRAP WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WHY DON'T you start having sex with used condoms kind of risk.
Can $20,000 get me a nice 2003 or 2004? with decent mileage?
I bought my 04 evo with 15,500 miles for 20k 1-1/2 year ago. (i got lucky)
a financing note, i would finance more than 5k as you will get a better rate for financing a little more and as a plus you would have some money left over to mod, rebuild or save. money in the bank is a good thing
. i don't know where you live but i live in ohio and daily drive mine, have 2 sets of tires and love it. i also need a back seat so an s2000 would have been out of the question for me.
STevo
yup. def buy an evo. i have an 03 evo. Dont let mileage scare you. there are plenty of evos out there that have 80k on them that are in wayyy better shape than some with 20k. low miles could mean it was mostly just tracked which= one hell of a beat car. as long as its under 100k go for it. take a chance.
Evolving Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Ohio / Montreal
Newbie
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Kissimmee, FL
My advice is to try to buy an EVO from a private owner. They can give you the best idea of how the car was maintained and driven. All a dealer has to go by most times is a carfax report. Now I'm not saying DON'T buy one from a dealer, all i know is that i bought mine from a private owner, got a great deal ($18,500 for a 2003 w/ 38,000 miles) and i knew he took great care of it. Also, be prepared to replace the cluth and flywheel. That's usually the first thing to go. It did in mine and set me back another $1300 for an ACT cluth and Flywheel installed. So there ya go. Oh, and keep us all posted on what ya end up doin