Whats up people. I currently have a 2008 mazdaspeed3 with a GT30r on it and its a quick car but I feel like i've hit my limit with it and it is no longer as fun as it used to be. The shop I associate with deals with mazdaspeed vehicles evos and subis. Of course the big number, big fun, fast cars of the shop are the built evos. After looking at the money I have put in to my car and what they have put in the 4 shop evos I could have 5-600 AWHP vs my 400 to 2 wheels. Then the reliability issue with my car is driving me crazy. I have small issues but its the most annoying thing in the world. After driving my good friends evo 9 around everyday for about the last week I fell in love with traction and how AWD just goes. My car is a little faster on the roll but you can tell my car is working a lot harder while the evo effortlessly hangs with it. Now I want an evo and just want some people to point me in the right direction. I live in the Charlotte, NC area and there are a lot of evo 8s and 9s for sale in the area between 14k and 22. Some stock never modded and other with a lot of bolt ons. After doing my research it looks like getting a 9 is the better choice but if I can get an 8 for 5k less am i really missing out on much. The goal would be about 450-500 hp. I know what my guys at the shop say i can do with the platform but I'm just asking around for advice. I trust them seeing how 2 of them are putting down 800hp and the rest in the mid 500s. Its just new territory because you dont see that in the speed3 world. Then once us mazda guys hit that wall we all go evo any ways. Thanks for the input.

 

The VIII is just as great a car. LAN more towards the 05. It has ACD and LSD. You can get them for a better deal than an IX.