Well, a few days ago I went and looked at an 03 Evo 8. Drove clean, liked it and hes not asking nothing crazy. Just don't like the cloth Evo Blue ricer looking seats thats the VIIIs have. Still want to check out more.

But regardless, I can't get around wanting a IX. Just looks more refined, or clean to me. So the question is, is the IX worth the extra 5-8k$???

 

I think there are some hints in your question. Do you really want the blue insert seats? Do you like the "cleaner" look on the IX? You could swap the seats and do a nose chop with the money saved and you'd be almost there in that dept.

The IX has mivec, and likely lower miles. Some of the VIIIs have better gears. If the mileage is good for what you'd like to pick up and the VIII is in good shape I say go for it.

 

thats a nice logical answer above. a evo is a evo man. what your talking about is cosmetics. you can pull all that crap out the 8 if you dont like it and buy a whole 9 interior off this site for like 1500 haaa. there you go why spend another 8k on a loan when its not needed. want to counter the mivec. Drop cams in the evo 8 there you go. cams cost you 550+install. so we are talking 2500 more. you can get a evo 8 with 9 interior spring and retainer upgrade with cams. Get you a tune for it for 250 bam you faster then the 9 and you have that look. You also might want to go ahead and upgrade to at least a 9 turbo ported or go fp red/htagreen ,bbk full,tomei route.Thats my opinion i think people put way to much or look way to much in its a evo 9 and it MIGHT have lower miles i have seen plenty of evo 8 with stupid low miles for sale. so forget that its a matter of taste but when you mod it will be cheaper on the evo 8 but the end of the day a evo is a evo save yourself all the money you can in this screw up economy.

 

RockmanX beat me to it but...

Depends on your expectations, and the end result you are trying to accomplish with the car...

The seats, if you don't like the blue inserts you can always spray them with fabric paint, or just get an aftermarket set, hell even buy a set of used IX seats.

The VIII's not having mivec... a set of good cams in the VIII will make up for the mivec.

The front bumber... you could do a nose job on the VIII, or just buy a used IX front bumper...

In the end it is all about what you want out of the car...

 

Don't forget the 03's did not have ACD. I don't know if that matters to the OP either.

 

screw ACD. lol every time i hear acd and evo in same sentence its followed by issues or problems with it. not really needed. majority of your fast evos are 8s. now if you want the acd then cool beans im all for it hook it up but as i explained above its about finding the best deal OVERALL not the moment.

 

I wouldn't call anything that Recaro makes "ricer". True, the blue material on the seats don't go with anything else in the interior. The 8's taillights are a different story, you can call those "ricer" all day long. Just consider yourself lucky to have an Evo at all, most people who really want them can't afford them.

 

No, it's about finding what the OP wants for the best deal. If he doesn't want the blue seats, VIII nose and does want Mivec and ACD (not saying he does, just if) that means regardless of how good a deal is on an 03 VIII he probably shouldn't buy it.

 

Functionally, IX has:

• ACD
• Better stock cams + MIVEC
• Better stock plugs
• Better stock head gasket
• Better stock ECU
• Worse gear ratios for drag racing

The IX ECU is better only because it has larger maps and is more well-defined and well-modded by disassemblers. With the advent of TephraMOD v7 the difference between VIII and IX ECU is less apparent.

 

All this sounds great, except for the questions of drivability and reliability.

Let's keep in mind that an individual is asking for advice relating to a substantial purchase. It might be nice to relay points based on personal experience, in lieu of relying on conjecture and reciting forum hearsay.

 

If you plan on spending alot of money on mods, I think an 8 is a good start, but you do have to spend quite a bit of money. If you're looking for basic upgrades, I think a 9 would be a better choice. I hear 8's have more potential, but it takes alot of work (and money).

 

u can replace the stock 8 seat with bride if u want it to look gd
if u are looking for 400hp
the IX is the one to go
but if u are looking for a fully built evo running over 500hp
get the evo 8

 

[QUOTE=recompile;7689640]Functionally, IX has:

• ACD
• Better stock cams + MIVEC
• Better stock plugs
• Better stock head gasket
• Better stock ECU
• Worse gear ratios for drag racing

all of those stock things that are better get swapped out anyway when making power(except the ecu) and u get a better gear ratio imo.i had the pleasure of owning both 8 and 9 and a 9 mr.. drivability is exactly the same. i never used the acd or even noticed a difference when switching between the three modes. only thing in question is seats ,bumper and some interior peices.

i drive a 8 now so u know where i stand.

 

why is a 8 better if ur going to build it then the 9???

 

I would get the 8, and buy parts with the difference if you plan on really modding the car.



I have an 04 8 with leather recaros and interior. They are a little harder to find.