Hello,
I have been stalking the forums for a while trying to decide on this issue. With the prices falling to an affordable range on the VIII and IX Evo's i am planning on making a purchase in the next few months but without having driven either, i cant decide (I will be trying to get some test drives at FL dealers but i am on the panhandle, not many Evo's around).

Here is what i am thinking: The difference between a nice 2003 and 2006 is around 6-7k. If i buy the IX as my daily driver, is the mid range torque and spool response THAT much better to justify the price difference ( I know about the other differences but i do not drive hard enough to see a difference in the ACD or new LSD)? Its not exactly night and day (as in pulling 2 car lengths in 1/8) from what i have read .

Lastly, can I tune the VIII for half that $$ to make it drive more like the IX (With bolt on's , no new turbo)?

For what its worth I am looking at the GSR's only, not MR or RS.

Thanks.

 

:facepalm:

 

OP search around a bit. I think you will find the answers you are looking for.

 

Dude, the VIII or the IX will be fine for daily driving. Doesn't really matter. What does matter is how much can you afford. If the 2003 Evo VIII is in your price range, im sure it will satisfy your needs.

As far as making it faster (or as fast as the IX), that simply depends on how deep your pockets are. With a few simply bolt ons and a tune, you can make an VIII significantly faster than its stock form. As said above tho, search and read more.

 

cams even out the mivec, simple bolt ons make it faster than a 9 in stock for, once you replace the turbo or go 10.5 hotside nothing matters anymore anyway. i have an 8 an DD the crap out of it and love evey second of it. just a matter of pockets

 

if you go for daily driving
i suggest going for the IX
better drivability due to mivec
plus the interior is much nicer(in my opinion)
and resale value would be much better than the 8
lower depreciation for the 9

 

Keep your Prius for DD and get a IX as a hobby car.

 

for daily driving go get a MS3. I stopped using stick shifts for DD a long time, it gets old as does posts like this.

 

How? MIVEC (mostly) impacts the bottom of the range, while cams work on top.