mainly just how you treat the car, treat it nice and it will be nice to you too : D
I have my EVO for 2 yrs now, other than the damages I did to the car before and made me put my dreams of modding on hold for a while, other than that it is a great car. if you love turbo charged awd power with excellent handling. My stock clutch started to slip a little, not that noticeable yet. (Have my exedy twin HD clutch ready to be installed). Clutch going out is common for cars that has high torque. EVO is affordable sports car, once you have a chance to sit on the driver seat controlling the steering wheel and hit the gas pedal, then you will know if this car you want. If not there always the next one you might like. That just my opinion.

 

thanks for the info guys. i really did want the evo, then I read all these stories. I don't know if I misread, but the thread about the grinding gears from the syncros being out of wack, it seemed that was happening to people who weren't launching or racing their evos. It just kinda.......happened. Err. The thing is, that's fine if the car was under warranty; However, since the car is a 2005, they were telling me if I got the car, it'd only be under warranty for 1 more year. Hmmm

18,500$ is a great price for the evo that is being sold, ahhhhhhhh just gotta keep thinking about it

 

dont buy it, find something else, you arent ready

 

MRs are known for that. Mitsubishi put in that extra gear and made all gears thinner or few gears thinner. Stock MR tranny is good when engine is stock. GSRs are the ones you might want to look into if you worry about it. No offense, warranty to me just a word of mouth after getting turned down by most of the stealerships. I recommend any EVO 9 GSR if you planning to modd. $18500 is a great price still. I bought my 9 $34k out of the door after evil CA tax and reg 2 years ago. Last white brand new on lot

 

thanks for the advice, I have been reading that the IXs are the way to go..

 

I like the Xs too : D but I cant let go my IX. I love EVOs in general. If you love the car enough, just get it if you can afford it of course : D 2 years ago I kept thinking that I couldnt afford a brand new EVO. Then I went to the stealership and just to see one, salesperson really wanted to make a sale, he just had let me drive the car. After I drove it, loved it. In my mind, I was thinking how to pay for this car already while still on road test driving the car. Somehow, my credit was good enough get a loan and it was easier to get approved that time. went back 3 days after and claimed it as mine "DO NOT TOUCH!" then took it out of the lot but hey man good luck on your car hunting.

 

update! Well i decided not to get the evoVIII; however, there is a black 2006 evo 9 with only 15,000 miles on it! Supposedly no fading calipers, no bad brakes, no slipping clutch, no grinding gears!

He wants 24k for it. I offerred $21,500. He's going to check his bank tomorrow and let me know tomorrow afternoon.

Hope he agrees, then I can check out/test drive the car!

 

WOOO.. Black! hard color to maintain but love the color. If you could get it for that price and that low of mileage. Thats a deal. He basically garaged that car for almost last 2-3yrs. Is it GSR?

 

If GSR means the black leather/sunroof/premium sounds, I don't think it is....

Yah, he said he only drove it to and from work. He is located on the military base here, so I assume it's a G.I. Those guys buy cars left and right.

 

Sounds like a deal, just make sure you do all your homework.

 

Thats a SSL packaged GSR (thats what I got), its got sunroof, leather recaro seats, sound systems, and HID. Also IX GSR, RS, SE are equipped with 5 speeds tranny and they are the models you might want to look into if you're worrying about tranny problems in the future. But MRs are really nice as well, just a bit costly when buying it brand new and its the fastest model when all EVOs are bone stock. All models are using the same engine w/ MIVEC and same turbo, just the MR has different tranny which 6 spds.

These are IX models basic descriptions:
* Standard (GSR) - revised 5-speed, standard model
* RS - ralli sport, revised 5-speed, aluminum roof, gauge pack, minimal interior, also no radio
* SE - Special Edition, aluminum roof/hood, and front fenders, split seven-spoke forged aluminum BBS wheels in "diamond black" finish, HID headlights with integrated fog lights, red-stitched Recaro seats
* MR - 6-speed, Bilstein monotube shocks, split seven-spoke forged aluminum BBS wheels, aluminum roof, hood, and front fenders, gauge pack, HID headlights with integrated fog lights, vortex generator, and custom MR badging.

Hope these infos might help.

 

I just bought an '04 EVO VIII all stock for 10k and 16k miles (I live in Japan). MY question is from the above. I assumed mine is a GSR but has a 6 speed trans. Is there a quick link to what years carried what, etc? I'm a Supra junkie who happened to buy an EVO to see what the hype was about. Impressed thus far.

 

Those are USDM models.

JDM GSR is equivalent to USDM MR.

 

GSR are listed for standard models in some U.S markets but most of market just call it standard models IXs. and I like to call her GSR : P

 

WOW! good luck! sounds like a sweet deal if he agrees to 21,500