Yes, a stock evo 9 with under 6k miles is worth 28k+.

As for reliability, how do you plan on using the car? All cars require upkeep, and the Evo requires a bit more than most.

If you are buying the car use as a daily driver, you should test drive an Evo X. Most agree they make a better DD, and if you are going to plop down near 30K and intend to keep it stock, you might as well have a warranty.

IMO, a very low mileage Evo 9 (like the 2-6k mileage car you are considering) should be a weekend/nice weather car so it retains its value.

 

It would be a DD. It will be left stock. I baby everything, and would have it religiously serviced.

Who are the best people to take these to for service? Anyone in Ohio Akron area, that is reputable?

 

Since you are in OH, I would HIGHLY suggest Buschur Racing. He is one of the top Evo tuners/shops in the country and is well worth the hour or so drive from Akron to his shop in Wakeman. http://www.buschurracing.com/

 

Thank you! I spoke with them. Very nice group.

 

Let us know what you decide to get. I still think its a crime to daily a super low mileage IX. Buy a the evo AND a cheap commuter car for daily use.

 

You are missing the point of buying an evo if you need a second car to drive as a daily IMO...

 

Exceptions being cargo related, of course. But this is true with any small car. Pickup truck, minivan/SUV, etc. Evo is an amazing DD, but not very good if you need to bring a lot of stuff.

The only other way evo would be a bad DD is upkeep. Tires can be pricey, brake pads, gas, etc.

If fuel efficiency is your goal, I had a 14 mirage and got 47 mpg driving normal and 38 driving it "like I stole it." It's a little zippy if you get a 5 speed. CVT always goes for mpg and has no power. Throw on a set of sway bars and it can corner pretty well despite not being awd. I would catch up to mustangs (tons of those here) in the twisties with no effort.

Mirage base is like 13k brand new. Cheap enough to get both. I traded mine when I got wind the evo was going away, bought a new X. I'll pick up a mirage again though. Hopefully by then they'll have one with a turbo.

 

The CT9A is simply not the ideal commuter car. OP is talking about spending 28k a sub 6K mile stock evo IX (a car which will hold or gain value if preserved) and using it as a daily driver.

So he will have a new car sized car payment, higher than average upkeep costs, lower than average mpg, and NO warranty. /shrug

 

Yea I'm sorry but people who daily the ct9a are kinda foolish lol. Seriously makes a horrible daily. This wasn't the intention for producing the evo by mitsu. I could go on all day about why but hey, it's your money to waste lol

 

Ow and lets not forget about high insurance rates.

 

I wouldn't say it makes for a HORRIBLE daily, especially when is kept stock or stockish. I love driving mine around town and rarely have issues (but I also commute to work via public transportation)

If you have a built engine with a 8 puck quartermaster clutch, then yes....it's not a good DD

 

again it's your money, hell you can daily a lambo if that's what your heart desired, provided you can afford it. But that too would be a waste of money, only on a much larger scale

 

Evo's are fun to drive. Get one if you want the commute to be fun, if there are back roads, lots of curves, etc. If the commute is all city and/or highway or you care about saving money, honestly, get something else... something with good fuel mileage.

Either way you go -- fun or efficiency -- go extreme, don't go jack of all trades. Either get a really fun car (whatever car that happens to be) or get a very economical car. If you try to go in the middle you'll most likely regret it. You'll either compare it to the Evo and think it sucks, or compare it to something more efficient and think it sucks. Either way, you won't really be happy in any area.

When I had a Mirage, I put dual 12" MTX subs pushing 800W RMS and a Kicker 70Wx4 amp pushing the speakers and it didn't bat an eye (no voltage drop, it's only an I3 and it has the lancers alternator). You can make the Mirage a very good DD. It doesn't have a lot of power but I'd just take it to the red line (10 year 100k mile warranty ftw). FWD makes it respectable in the snow.

The Mirage has low cost of ownership, 47mpg on country roads, cheap insurance. I mean really, it was probably one of the most economical cars I've ever owned, but at the same time it wasn't really "fun" to drive. It was a car, it went from point A to point B and it did it very cheaply. I used less than a gallon of regular to get to work, now it takes almost 2 gallons of super premium in the Evo.

I do miss the savings the Mirage offered. When I checked out cars for saving money, the Mirage made the most sense. Even the more fuel efficient hybrids can't really compare in terms of saving money because they cost significantly more, about 30-40k more. It'll take a long time for a hybrid to pay back that money in gas savings.

With that said, I wouldn't give up the Evo for anything, and I don't have the Mirage anymore. So as it happens, I'd rather pay more for my DD and have fun rather than be economical. I could get a Mirage... but I'd never really use it except on very long commutes... so it doesn't seem worth it. The Evo is just so much fun I'd always choose it over the Mirage with them both sitting there. But I can't recommend the Mirage enough if you really need a fuel efficient car. Besides, if you have a bit a self control (unlike me) and could actually make yourself drive it, it's reasonable to have both because of how cheap a new Mirage is.

Here is my "old" 2014 Mirage (got it in 2013, now traded):

 

I bought my evo 9 MR back in 2009 with 32,000 miles, and i daily drove my car. I replaced my oil every 3 months even though I didn't reach 3000 miles. 5 1/2 years later I've got about 56,000 miles on my baby now and *knock on wood* I haven't had any problems yet.

I do spirited driving once in a while, specially on the on and off ramps they're fun!! lol...I recently bought a Honda pilot because of my son, so now the evo stays in the garage. My wife has a 2009 GTI and that car is fun to drive also, but it's not the evo. Good luck with whatever you choose to get.