if compression is good
if car looks clean, interior and exterior (which means it wasn't neglected)
if clutch is not slipping
no TC whine
no grinding of tranny gears
less than 40k miles
evo IX

What are potential problems buying a previously modded car. I'm sure all evos have been "driven" spiritedly. The car's designed to do so. If all the above checks out, it should be fine?

 

depends on what it was returned to stock from.....

If it ran high 9's on the stock bottom end 6 times then got put back to stock, then its a bad buy. I have seen that happen too.

 

I agree. this one's around ~330whp/wtq for about 25k miles. the other 15k miles were bone stock. stock block with bolt-ons. e.g. TBE, O2 housing, MBC, U/L pipes, intake, fuel pump, fmic, throttle body, exh manifold

 

If the car was in good condition and had good compression/leak down numbers, I wouldn't care if it ran 7's. As long as the engine is in good shape, the transmission shifts smooth, and it is in good physical condition.

 

I don't see why not. Most every evo these days see's WOT at least twice a week, so you can't buy one and expect to know all thats happened to it. The evo is like the **** of the motorsport world, always getting hammered on.

 

+1 i would have to agree that also made me laugh lol

 

I agree with what's been said. If engine has good compression/leakdown, no tc whine, no grinds w/ transmission, clutch holds, then it's probably ok. Also totally agree that these arent your typical accord or camry, so evo's are gonna be pushed more day to day than the avg car

 

Also something to point out, it's got low mileage and it was a small upgrade, so it should be fine and if the warranty is still good on the car it shouldn't matter.

And yes evo's are very slutty giggity

 

I see no reason not too, 330 whp is not a crazy build, just a few bolt ons and a tune.

 

I personally don't like the idea of buying a car that was put back to stock. If you want to buy a stock Evo, but one that has always been stock. If you want to buy a modified Evo, buy one that was modified and is still that way.

 

I agree with Kracka.

To me, putting it back to stock makes it seem like they might be trying to hide something. Sure, they might just be cashing out on all of that aftermarket bling, but without knowing how it was modded and who did the install (and removal in this case) you really don't know the history.

However, you will probably be fairly hard pressed to find a truly stock evo if that's what you're in the market for. No matter how you slice it, it's a gamble.

 

just get it on the lift if its possible to see what is going on with the car. If not buying used sports car is like russian rullete lol