Evo IX worth the extra $$ over the 03 VIIIs?
if the interior is an issue than i agree with the earlier posts. I picked up pristine evo 9 SE seats, both front and rear, for 700 on the forums. I also picked up the black 9 wheel, including the air bag, for 200. My bro has an 8 and my best friend has a 9. Both handle awesome and are fast enough. It all depends on your goals. I actually prefer the 8 front end. I like the snout look but hate the tails. I think the problem with many evos, whether an 8 or a 9, is finding a clean one that hasnt been beat up.
As I stated on the other forum, since money wasn't an issue for me, I went with the 9. A nicely built 8 with lower mileage can still be had for around $15k which would be a good start for you. Yeah the seats in the 8s are pretty cheap, but they can easily be replaced. Plus by the time you sell yours off, you won't have much invested in the new ones.
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Coopersburg, PA
I should have clarified a few things in my original post:
I really don't plan on doing to much modding, atleast for awhile, only because of school. And the fact that once you start, its like crack....WHichever I buy will be used as my DD and will be driven long distances so reliability is something I want. I will probably do a few minor power mods, but nothing special. I'm both on budget and not, only because I'm moving soon, and I have not decided if I want to spend the majority of my cash without knowing my living arrangments (who needs an apartment, sleep in the evo
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posted this last night at like 3am, and its not 4pm, and this many replies? Thanks everyone, its really helpful. As much as I'd like a IX, I figure in a few years when I'm in my career, and the VIII is paid off I can always buy one and have 2 evos
Still not sure... I'd like to get into an 05, but the 05s are generally in the price range of a IX. So 03/04 is my best bet. Maybe. Kinda. Unsure
MI sucks for evos...
I really don't plan on doing to much modding, atleast for awhile, only because of school. And the fact that once you start, its like crack....WHichever I buy will be used as my DD and will be driven long distances so reliability is something I want. I will probably do a few minor power mods, but nothing special. I'm both on budget and not, only because I'm moving soon, and I have not decided if I want to spend the majority of my cash without knowing my living arrangments (who needs an apartment, sleep in the evo
).posted this last night at like 3am, and its not 4pm, and this many replies? Thanks everyone, its really helpful. As much as I'd like a IX, I figure in a few years when I'm in my career, and the VIII is paid off I can always buy one and have 2 evos
Still not sure... I'd like to get into an 05, but the 05s are generally in the price range of a IX. So 03/04 is my best bet. Maybe. Kinda. Unsure
MI sucks for evos....
I have owned an VIII and a IX. In my opinion the IX just seems to feel more solid. It might have something to do with the crummy interior in the VIII that made it feel cheaper.
If you go through the forums you will come across an I blew my engine thread. It shows a thread of all the different evo owners here who have blown engines and it shows what they had done to them. The least blown engines was the 04. That was my reason for getting my 04. Plus Dave Buschur's Bad Bish 04 Evo RS helped persuade me as well .
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Well crap, now that I'm getting mixed reports I'm going to have to see for myself on a stocker. 4k was higher than I expected but I'd be surprised if it was the same as on the 6-spd.
The MR I test drove was at 2800rpm at 70mph, per the factory gauges. Mathematically an IX 5 speed will be about 300 rpm more (3100rpm) and VIII 5 speed about 150 RPM more (2950rpm) at 70mph.
Put it this way! Do you want the hassle of buying all of the crap for an viii to make it like a ix and installing it? If you have the money get the ix in my opinion its overall a better car for reliability and has more tuning capabilities.
. At this point its just about taste and how much coin you feel like dropping.
