What's up guys, I've been searching around some before I joined to see the power possibiltys of an Evo. I'm getting ready to turn 18 (about a month) and I'm looking into getting an Evo or an STi but really leaning towards Evo. I know I have to check about insurance before I go buying anything. Do y'all have any advice or tips? BTW does anyone know of any Evo's for sale in the NC area?

 

How about don't get an Evo, at 18, your insurence is going to be nuts. That goes for the STi as well, start out with a newer raliart or a WRX. Lower power so you get a chance to learn to drive it. I'm only 25 and I've already been through a 2007 WRX, and 3 03 Evo's since the time I was 18 and got my car. And no one is going to believe you if you say "I'm 18, I wont drive crazy." Some people here are twice my age + some and even they do stupid things and mess around, and don't take offense to this, but an 18 Y.O. with FAR less driving experience and lower maturity is more likely to do it.

Edit: Forgot to add, another big reason you should go for a RA or a WRX over an Evo or STi is your lack of driving experience in these types of cars. Learn on the RA and WRX, do some auto crosses in them, then upgrade, trust me, it works out better this way.

The newer raliart is still AWD and turbo charged, same with the WRX, so it's not all that bad.

To add to this, one of my favorite quotes I ever saw on here "The technology and AWD system of the car still can't fix stupid." <<< I love that saying and I'm standing proof it can't fix stupid. Hahah

 

^He didn't ask for a lecture and a life story, he just asked for advice.

Chase if you want an evo or sti then get one. Just be prepared for having no money and if you don't know much about fixing cars, then an evo/sti isn't a good car to start learning on. That being said finding an evo (assuming 03' because their the cheapest) is going to be hard, especially one that's not modded. You have a better chance finding a clean bugeye or blobeyed sti or wrx for a good price.

 

I am also 17 soon to 18 and have an evo.
Evo's arnt a bad car as long as you keep it stock to start out with as you learn to handle and drive "fast cars" you could say. And if you keep it stock the maintenance prices arnt to expensive, and they're easy to maintain. But once you start modding it its like you cant stop it lol.

 

Wow, you mad, bro? Sounds a little butt hurt to me. I gave advice with reason, you want to see it as a lecture, fine. In the end, this guy is going to do what he wants to do, reguardless of what we say.

You do have a point though and so does the other guy, they aren't cheap to maintain, even more so after you start to mod.\

 

When you say "evo's and Sti's always need fixing" what are typical issues? And fixin cars won't be anything new because I drive a lifted jeep ATM. And Zerokei, I'm not gonna say that I'm not going to drive stupid because I'm going to. But with that said, I can handle a car and have avoided many collisions since I've had my liscence. But I'm not trying to sound ignorant saying that, but I've grown up around all kind of cars and race cars and my dad taught me to drive at an early age.

 

Yeah, you're not the only one. But anyway, as for typical issues, it really depends on how the car was taken care of, if it was put back to stock and yadda yadda stuff you've already heard. I guess a few main things you should be checking are the timing belt, make sure the 60K service was done if buying one over that milage, check drive train fluids... Hmm on older Evos, listen for the transfercase death whine, you can youtube that for the sound. That's pretty much the basics, the rest is just common wear and tear, the more you push it and build it, the more money you have to spend to replace things. Like the other kid said, if you keep it mostly stock, your bill will be far smaller then if you go ***** to the walls. When you mod, it always feels like something is broken or inadiquate. Hence why "they always need to be fixed".

Edit afterthought: If you can, check the compression and do a leak down test, make sure head gasket isn't blown or anything else crazy hasn't gone on.

 

I thank you for that advice.

 

Another one of these threads.

I got my Evo when I was 18. I'm 21 now.

Best advice I can give you is read, read, research and find some Evo owners that will give you advice. Join up in their meets and keep your mouth closed and your ears open. Experience and knowledge help tremendously. Then go from there.

 

im in the same basic situation as you but 2 years older. I'm 19 and am looking for an evo or sti and from what I've heard and researched is:
Evo 8: better overall platform, easier to perform engine work, cheaper to mod, makes better numbers with equal mods, overall it looks better (IMO)
STi: sounds much better (again IMO i love the boxer rumble) the 6 speed tranny is nearly bulletproof, more "done up" interior, more daily driver friendly
the other thing to consider is Subaru was rated the 2nd most reliable car manufacturer of 2010, however take into consideration this isn't concentrated around STi's and Wrx's

i personally am going to go with an evo for the exact reasons i listed..
because even when your in a reliable sti, every time you see an evo drive by your going to feel like you ****ed up ahaha I'm going to go with an evo for the love of it.. if your not ready to be spending more time fixing it then you are driving it DO NOT get either of these cars, especially as a younger kid. were not stupid your going to be launching it and driving it hard. these cars aren't invincible you will have problems. make sure you read a lot through these forums, learn from others mistakes and read the threads about what to look for when buying a car, (example: bent radiator fins, warped rotors)

good luck with your purchase

 

im 17 turning 18 also looking into an evo ive wanted one for so long and have the money for it but cant use it until im 18 :/

 

Ha! I wish I could get an Evo when I'm 18 (about a year away). In Australia I need to go through 3 years of having a provisional license, which restricts 8cyl+, 200kw+ of power (around 270hp), and no forced induction. I'm about a month off getting my P's. Gives me a few years to save for a good one.

 

Great advise, but really---how often does that happen when your 18? He may wake up at 25 and find out you were rt...but not until then my friend.

 

Go for it, I'd say. I bought my STI right when I turned 18, and my X when I was almost 20(I'm 20 now). Every time I see these threads, people always try and scare young owners off. These cars( in my experience) are not expensive to maintain. When I sold my STI it had 65k miles, and all I did was changed fluids, replace tires, and brakes. Really not that expensive, especially when spread out. Yes modding is expensive, to some degree, but basic bolt-on's are not too bad.

Now on the other hand if you go mod crazy and blow a your motor, or your tranny/TC then YES it will be expensive. My advice to own this car if modded past bolt-on's is have atleast several thousand laying around to fix any potential problems. The more power you have, the more problems you will have, generally speaking.

You will drive the car stupid, there is no doubt, I know I did, but while doing it I became a much better driver. Seriously though, just stay within your limits, and don't street race or speed through traffic or heavy populated areas(obviously), it will be very hard to resist especially when there is another car egging you on, but seriously a giant speeding ticket, or worse wrecking your car or life is not worth it. Be smart as a bolt-on Evo is a pretty quick car for someone your age or new to that kind of power. Heck I opened my STI up too double the speed limit several times a day in the first few months I had it, but after maturing I realized that is retarded and it is only a matter of time before I got arrested.

 

I'm 18, insurance is a ***** , but so worth it. Just don't go crazy on mods, and know your limits of the car, and be prepared for a good amount of your (measly in my case) income going to your car.