mmm, thats a good point. A good rule of thumbd and something I have found to be completely true is that your maintenance costs go up with the initial cost of the vehicle as well as the performance bar it sets. IE, my first honda cost nothing to maintain. oil changes. cheap tires due to the size. my WRX cost a bit more. synthetic oil, gear oil, rear end oil, bigger more expensive tires. etc. MY EVO, even more expensive tires. same synth oil, gear oil, transfer case oil, rear dif oil, ACD oil, bigger brembo brakes with more expensive pads. see the trend here? dont let that talk you out of an evo considering you probably roasted tire quite often in the previous vehicle lol. just keep in mind when you purchase one you want to find out what maintenance was done on the car at how many miles. the 30k is a big one. you are possibly looking at plugs ($50), fluid changes, possibly pads if they werent done already. figure about $200 if you do it all yourself. Timing belt at 60K. if you are good with a wrench you can really cut the cost of maintaining this thing

 

All of that stuff would be done by myself, as far as MPG the more the better obviously but I'm not expecting to buy a 35mpg car you know?

As far as insurance, I'll be alright. Jerseydino, what makes the 6spds in these cars so bad that I'd want to steer away? I still haven't totally made up my mind, I can afford a IX, I just don't know if I want to afford one.

I would by no means be living check to check, but just don't know if I want the extra 6-10k....which would simply negate my down payment.

 

6 speed tends to overheat, also more shifiting makes the car slower in the 1/4 mile. While 6 spd owners usually have to shift into 5th, 5 spd owners can ride 4th gear all the way down and not be out of boost.

 

Is there any mechanical difference, like are the synchros junk, the clutch, etc etc., or is it just more of a preference? Also, for an 03 vs 06 I'm looking at 140/month and 150/month. Which is what I pay now for the Mustang (or did, I sold that) and my 06 600RR.

I think the 03 is the way to go for me, to keep costs down. I like to save like half of my paychecks or so. =\

 

I am not really aware of the differences in strength between the 5&6 speed. The IX comes in both. Like u said I think you will be happy either way

 

I think so too, is the open diff. any worse or different in snow etc., than the LSD?

 

traction will definately be affected but when the 03 came out it was the best thing since sliced bread sonits still gonna rock

 

Cool cool, I think I just found one online I'm going to check out this weekend. Red 03 with 52k on it they are asking 18, I bet I can get them down. If it's nice and I can, well. =]

Another thing, how are these motors when it comes to high mileage ala 150k+? Not any I've seen up there, just curious...

 

Double post sorry.

 

there are a few people with higher mileage cars. That I would say you need to at for. These motors are generally tough though. Think how long all the talons and eclipses llasted. Again make sure the car is staight and was not a mod *****. Also try and see about service records if the 30k was done along with condition of all the other wear and tear parts like tires brakes clutch etc. Also noT that it's a huge deal but see if the calipers are beat up or if they are still in good shape. Things like that Long with a good looking engine bay are usually signs that's it was cared for

 

Man, I went and was going to buy an 03 today. Same one I'd previously looked at, they've had it for 2 monthes...well long story I say 19OTD.....49k miles fairly clean...the evolution viii sticker in the back is ****ed up...the front had overspray on it (car is blue by you, overspray is black) wasn't alot but any is enough. hard to see but still.
anyway they the dealer say nope cant do it, so we talk i say ok.....21 otd thats like me paying 19600 + taxes...wouldnt do it, didnt wanna sell a car, got to lookig at some mazdaspeed 6;s....those are nice cars kinda got me thinking on them.

if it was just fing easier to find a nice stock evo around here id have one already. damnit. im drunk, and going to bed.....had to rant. was i in the wrong?

 

Don't give up because of one BAD dealership. There are PLENTY of clean stock EVO's out there. You just have to be patient and the find the one you want. Doesn't sound like you did much research on that car before you to look at it. Try to find a reputable Mitsu. dealership and call before you go down there. Go down there prepared to ask them precise questions about the car and it's maitenance. Good luck!

 

Nah, I did plenty of research on the car. The dealership was just a bunch of McDousche's, I knew it probably wasn't going to move off the lot for a normal asking price.
The sales manager couldn't fathom that real world asking prices are not so many thousands of dollars above book.

The lot beside them had a pretty clean 05, it looked like the previous owner was either Paul Walker or Vin Diesel. Had some gay *** body kit and gold rims, it appeared to be an RS had no wing or any electric windows etc.,

 

If I was you, I'd look at getting a 2005 Evo 8. You'll get the ACD, you'll get the larger turbo, but you won't get the cost of an Evo 9. MiIVEC is nice, but like you have already heard, you can put some cams in the 8 and be close to a 9 without cams. I'd try to get one with HID's though. My first Evo had them, my second one didn't, and my third Evo has them. I don't think I could go back to halogen. It's seriously that important to me.

Stay away from the 03's as they seem to have the majority of the drive train problems. Mine never did, but there's TSB's out for the 2003 Evo's. THey also have the open front differential which will probably be bad news for you since you come from a RWD background.

Buy all of your oils online (Amsoil is what I highly recommend) and that will cut down on your maintenance costs greatly.