Unfortunately I have been put in the position that I have to trade down to a used car due to unemployment, so out with the fully loaded F-150 and in with whatever I can replace it with. I have always been fascinated by the Evo and saw that I could trade into a 04 Evo VIII. My question for all you guys and girls is: What do I need to be aware of before buying this model year car? I am a mechanic so I am aware of the little things that involve buying a used car, but does anyone here have any advice about that particular generation and model Evo that I should be aware of? It has roughly 60K miles on it and one owner, I don't know if it has been tampered with but I assume that I'll be able to look for the things that are obvious. Thanks for any advice given, I am completely new to this particular car.

 

Unemployment and Evos don't go well together.These cars take a lot of maintenance and money.

 

Ask if its received the 60k scheduled maintenance which includes the timing belt. These cars can take quite a beating as long as they're properly taken care of (drivetrain fluid changes, a proper tune, scheduled maintenance, etc.).

 

Very true. Poor gas mileage and expensive insurance.

 

My payments on the Ford were huge so I'm not worried about maintenance costs, it will equal out for me. Plus I am capable of doing almost all the work required, minus say disassembling the engine ECU. I know the maintenance schedule is rough, I know they eat brakes and tires when driven to the limit, what I don't know is if there are any gremlins associated with this car that would make it a heart breaker of a purchase. I had ( a while ago and I don't want to hear about it cause I can feel a flaming coming ) a big turbo MKIV and am familiar with the *** aches that come with owning a high strung automobile.

 

I noticed that on the service schedul and since it's right under 60K I wondered if it had received it also, I really don't miss cars with timing belts but I was planning on asking about that, thanks.

 

I live in MA too. I would check how the clutch feels first off. Look under the hood for anything crazy. Are you buying from a dealer or private seller? If you know the seller and see how they drive and spool the turbo and they aren't pushing it hard then its ok. A lot of people buy 03-04's because they're cheaper than the newer Evo and its pretty common to find them beat on really bad. Turbo's are like hearts and if you push the heart too hard for too long something is going to fail in it. Ask if anything was replaced and try to get a list of the mods they put on the car. If the clutch was replaced a couple times I wouldn't waste my time either. My 03 has 43K, its my daily driver and I hardly ever spool it (highways). I would try going for a 6speed with ACD if I had to choose again (05-06 Evo's). 3500rpm at 80mph on the highway is pretty loud.

 

It's coming from a dealer, I assume that whoever owned it beat the bag out of it, but I am optimistic cause the engine bay looks completely factory. I'll be test driving it tomorrow and going over it at the dealer, so I'm all about getting as much info as possible about the car before I buy it.

 

I suggest bringing it into a dealership. Around me I got to Walpole Mitsubishi. I went there to have them inspect my car when I bought it, They check all the fluids (or at least they say they do). They can diagnose check engine lights well if you ever get any (mine didn't) Most mechanic shops don't know how to work on evo's specifically. They're aren't too many released each year in the US. I bought a set of used workshop manuals off ebay, its not easy finding a book on this car. Its definately an awesome car and the engines are rock solid for the most part, you can make some great boost with a stock turbo (mine is pushing 22-23 reliable on a stock turbo)

 

If you get funny smells when you shift or any crunches in the tranny or clutch just run.

 

I live out by Worcester and was thinking of bringing it right down to a nearby Mitsu dealer for them to check it over and consult their dealer network to see if and what kind of work got done to it. I was also planning on asking them to put it on a lift, take the wheels off and have a look see myself.

 

evos seem to sniff out your money. if you are unemployed i would not at all recommend buying it lol. you will run into problems insurance is also a *****

 

I have a spotless driving record and contacted my insurance company and inquired about insurance, wasn't any more than my brand new ( 1 year old ) F-150. Does the money start getting spent seriously when you start getting HP hungry or are the maintenance costs that overwhelming that I should consider it cost prohibitive? Also, what kinds of maintenance costs are you referring to? Scheduled, unscheduled, problems with the car?

 

So all I really need to be concerned with so far is how the powertrain feels, acts and sounds while under operation? Keep in mind folks, I'm not buying this thing to mod the hell out of, I'm just buying it because as it stands it's the most interesting used car that I have come across so far in my price range. Maybe in the future it will get make some mild changes, but I won't be shooting for 500whp with this thing.

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...oking-evo.html

That is just one helpful link