So I've been debating an Evo for a long time now. I'm really feeling the pressure since this is the last year for them.

I currently own a 2008 Eclipse Spyder and a 2011 Outlander Sport. The Eclipse is paid off so I am holding onto that one for a long time (atleast until the wife crashes it). Also cause the value of the car aint worth anything anymore anyways.

We bought the Outlander about 10 months ago. So I still got many years left on that one. But the payments are about $330 a month. So I've been thinking of trading the Outlander in for the Evo.

This is ofcourse going to add on about $250 a month to my payment. I think my insurance will go up about $70 a month. ANd then ofcourse the increase in gas. I am also a little fat and find that the seats kind of cut into my side. I was thinking of sporting a pillow like an old main with hemroids or something until I am able to shed a few pounds.

I need someone to talk some dang sense into me. Why would I want to lose some money on trade in and increase my payment by almost double. And then on top of it, its not as comfortable as the Outlander or as practical.

There is also only 3 dealerships in my city. I wont go to one of them (Gillman Mitsu San Antonio) ever again. The other one I dont like cause they got a smart mouth service manager. So it leaves it only to the third dealership. They are willing to give a little. I am looking at $35,345 on a GSR with no options. They are willing to take off $1000 off that price. Do ya'll also think that $34,345 is a fair price on a 2012 Basic loaded GSR? I was thinking of making them include my Gap and free window tint in that price. And maybe free service fo so many miles.

Someone please talk some sense into me and my Evo addiction. I need help

 

You would be crazy to purposely take on negative equity. On top of that like you said the added insurance and gas is awful. Horrible choice.


Maybe save and look into an older EVO?

 

I'm going to tell you the same thing as I tell most folks in my acquaintance who ask for car advice: Unless you're the sort who reaps a great deal of benefit from the driving experience, itself, where the drive as an entity is paramount, you will hate a car like the Evo. Comfortable and/or practical doesn't even begin to enter into this. Good luck.

 

Older Evo is not an options in my mind. I wont take a risk on a used Evo. I saw an Evo pass by me the otherday. We were getting on the highway and he slingshotted around me. Very impressive accelaration. But he was smoking bad from his exhaust. And this was a newer Evo also. Either 2010 or 2011. You just never know with these cars when they are used. I would never take the gamble unless I bought directly from the Original owner. The car would have to be stock and owned by a mature adult. Good luck finding that around my area.

Also I wont be loosing a whole lot on my trade in cause I bought the Outlander for $18k new. It was stickered at $21.5k. I now owe about $21k. But that is because I bought the extended warranty for $1k and also gap insurance. So if I trade in I will loose about $1 grand or so cause you get the warranty money and Gap money back. Plus you have already paid taxes on the trade in vehicle so instead of paying taxes on $35k Evo, I will be paying taxes on about $17k or so.

I forgot to mention that Mitsu has burnt me pretty bad with warranty work on my Eclipse. But in return I have got Mitsu to offer their $500 off customer loyalty if I purchase the Evo as well.

 

My friend, do not let your "want" become your "need".

When you say, "Please talk me out of it." it is a window to the future that says "BUYER'S REMORSE".

Here's a few points that might sway you back to reality:
1. As Jeremy Clarkson said, it doesn't have a fuel tank. They built the car with a pipette. I average probably 250 miles of on a full tank of PREMIUM gas going around town. On highway, I'll be lucky to get 310.
2. High performance cars require extra maintenance. Stock tires will last you (on average) 15k miles. Oil change every 3k to 5k miles (full synthetic). Tranny and transfer case oil changes. Brake pads, rotors... Bottom line, they will add up.
3. I found mine used with 97 miles and $5k under what the dealer offered me (tax included). It took me time and patience, but I got what I want at the right price.
4. You're going to need the right price to give you cushion for the extra stuff you need. Those uber sticky tires will demand good set of RallyArmor mud flaps ($130) to prevent rock chips. All weather floor mats ($170). What about clear bra (the paint coats are awfully thin), and extra mods? I know tinted windows is a must in TX.
5. How many weeks of paycheck (in addition to the stuff mentioned above) will you lose in depreciation by selling the Outlander less than a year after your purchase?

I strongly suggest you wait.

 

Thanks for the response. To your questions:

1. I dont think the gas price will be a big factor. Atleast not in comparison with the amount of the car payment. Overall I dont drive alot of miles. I work 5 days a week and then have school as well. So the majority of my week is work, school, and the transportation between them. Me and the wife go and run erands on the weekends and take casual drives and stuff. But my 08 Eclipse has 28k miles on it. My Outlander is almost a year old and Ive put 7k miles on it. I drive kind of often but usually its not long distance drives. The Outlander is my DD. Mitsu advertises up to 31mpg on the vehicle but I call BS on that. I have averaged just about 24 mpg since Ive owned it. My Eclipse gets better gas mileage and is by far faster and more fun to drive.

2. I have always done the regular maintenance on my cars. I understand the additional costs of maintenance. Even with the full synthetic. Not really to big of a deal to me.

3. I have been searching for months now. To find a used Evo with under 100 miles will be just sheer luck. I think I might have better odds winning the lottery. I have expanded my search radius but I dont have alot of time to drive to a far away dealership and deal with whatever might come up in that transaction. Plus I really want a brand new one if I buy one. I want to be the original owner.

4. I will get them to throw in the tint for sure. I bought my Eclipse at this dealership and didnt pay for the tint that time either. I would probably get the mudflaps. Not sure about the all weather floor mats though. And how much is that clear cover? Maybe I will get them to through that in also.

5. I figure I will loose between 1 to 2 grand. Im thinking proabably about $1.5. I make about $2500 a month after taxes. Also get $1600 a month in disability. And currently get $1500 a month to go to school. And then my wife makes about $1000 a month. So thats $6.6? I guess it would take me a week or two to earn the money that might be lost. Is that good?

If I wait, what should I be waiting for? This is the last year for them correct? I think there might be a higher want for the ones left as the year goes by. I figure the dealer might be more willing to deal now compared to the end of the year.

I also consider this. Evo seems to hold their value very well. My Eclipse lost about half its value in about 3 years. So the longer I hold on to the Outlander Sport, the less it will be worth. It feels like if I want to trade it in 8 months from now, I will be loosing even more money on trade in. It seems like I should either trade in the Outlander Sport now or very soon, or hold onto it and pay it off.

I wouldnt even consider the Evo if I was going from no car payment to an almost $600 dollar car payment. But payment wise, I will be looking at about $250 more a month. I guess thats a personal decision. Would you (anyone reading this) be willing to pay about $320 a month or so more for an Evo? That is my decision. i believe I can afford it with no problem. I was paying $535 a month for my Eclipse. I look at would I rather spend and addition $300 plus a month on an Evo, or use that money buying other stuff?

 

OP,
I'm not sure if you gotten your EVO yet or still in the hunting process..

However, I suggest you expand your search up to DFW area, because while we were getting our new Outlander Sport we saw our Mitsu dealer here (in Plano) had about 17 2013 Evo MRs still on their lot. I'm sure they dying to have a potential customer look at them, let alone take one off their hands.

But, in all honesty - If you are already asking total strangers to "talk some sense into you.." about your potential purchase, then You know you shouldn't.

A vehicle is for reliable transportation > first & foremost. An EVO in my opinion is for fun and should not be used for daily driving. Just my 2 cents.

Just a side note:
There's a thread on what's achievable in real-world MPGs for the O.Sports, HERE.
You Can hit 32MPGs.

 

Dude. This thread is from 14 months ago. I assume that, by now, Ken has stopped debating inanimate objects and actually bought one.