Hi everyone,


I have been looking at purchasing an Evo 7 GSR, Evo 8 GSR or Evo 8 MR, Evo 9 more than a year ago and have always wanted to buy an iconic JDM car once off my probationary license in Vic Australia.


Since COVID came along I have watched the Evo 7 go from 20k to at least 30k and the Evo 8 GSR go from low to mid 30k to at least 40k for 110,000km~ mileage relatively stock cars.


As for Evo 9 AUDM I have heard they used to be 30k but are now considered cheap at 55k+.


I wanted to know if the Evo would be fun or reliable enough to be a daily driven car and the costs involved with maintaining it, whilst keeping it relatively stock... I drive less than twice a week and only go out on 100km trips a few times a year..I also have my girlfriends car if we do go on longer trips or I don't feel like taking my car out.


I also wanted to know why there is a difference in the Australian market Evo prices versus the price it takes to import from Japan? Am I missing something else in my estimate?

I have been both following the Australian market and the listings being sold on the japanese auctions...at one point they were even but right now the Australian prices are still quite high, do you think this will just continue going up?


For example some Evo 8MRs are selling for 2000000jpy in Auctionand I used the JDM Car sales/Jspec spreadsheet as well as Import Monster import calculator and they come to $38500 driveaway in Victoria. Why are these cars of same condition selling at $55,000 to $65,000 here?

Similarly the Evo 9 is $65,000 here but imported is $50,000 - I think maybe it's because Evo 9 JDM cannot be imported to Australia due to its ADM release? Please correct me if I'm wrong... and also please let me know if I'm missing anything with these calculators? I have accounted for Vic fees, Vic stamp duty and everything on the calculators including the quarantine and cleaning fee. If the calculator is accurate I would actually send it straight away...


I've been tossing up if I should send it and get the Evo since it can be considered my dream car...or if I should be more practical and save up for a modern car. I have been looking at used RS3s, brand new i30N, upcoming Nissan Z and Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor AWD. My maximum budget is $50,000 driveaway right now but can definitely save since I have a fully functioning daily car right now. How I see it is I can always purchase those 'modern' cars as a daily in the future when they become cheaper but the same might not be said for the Evo.


The only thing stopping me from getting the Evo is the risk of parts breaking and the current Australian market covid tax...


Lastly I am open to honest opinions... I want to keep this car forever as I believe it will become a collectible.


Hope to hear your guys opinions.

 

Hello / Welcome @Daniesaurs

Yes, the EvO used prices have really accelerated over the last no. of years

Just to key-in on one of your questions regarding the EvO as a daily driver. Some of our members certainly daily the EvO, but its always been my position, even when i bought mine 15 years ago, the EvO is really just a weekend thing for tracking or spirited driving

If you can see fit to buy this as a project car (2nd car), i say go for it

Cheers, Joe

 

The problem with using the EVO as a DD is there are cars out there these days for half the price that easily do 85-90% of what a mildly modded EVO does.
My current DD is one of these, I bought new for about $27K

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

Runs 12.7's with 93 tune only.



With only sway bars and Mich PS4S's, it pulls over a G here and there on a race track



And is pretty darn composed doing it (especially for a Fusion, first time I was ever on a racetrack here)

http://luxjo.supermotors.net/FUSION%.../HLT/00186.mp4

and easily pulls over .9 G's at any time on the street.



http://luxjo.supermotors.net/FUSION%...407-063532.mp4

Also dead quiet (we call it the "couch"), which can be good or bad, depending upon where you are at in your life.

Does it have the character of the EVO, NOPE, not even close. But there is no way you could get me to DD an EVO ever again,
after being in what I have now for a DD, for 4 years.

 

If you keep up with the basic maintenance, the CT9A is as reliable as any other car in terms of daily driving duties. I daily my 9, maybe 2-4 days a week, and the only drawback for me personally is i live in Los Angeles where we have some of the worst drivers and ****tiest people on the planet, so there's occasional stress with the clowns on the road and watching people ding other cars with their doors in parking lots

 

While Americans still get to enjoy somewhat cheap evo prices (for now), the rest of the world needs to pay premiums on cars like the evo 8/9. In Canada 90% of the evo 8/9s here are jdm since they tend to be slightly cheaper, after taxes, currency conversion, shipping ect..you're going to spend 50-60k plus easy on a decent evo 8 or 9. If its lower than that this evo is usually really used up or is going to need significant work. Unless everything else jdm goes down, I don't see evo prices gong down either. In fact in the next 5-6 years I can see a 25% increase based on current trends.

The planned "COVID" crisis is just going to become a spiral effect and it isn't going anywhere. Expect prices continue to rise, bring about more supply shortages, inflation ect..Older Japanese tuners are becoming the new classic muscle cars of the age. Look at those prices and apply that to jdm cars.

 

Honestly, my evo was the most reliable DD i've owned...I drove it daily for 10 years. If you treat it right and don't beat on it, it will be reliable for you.

Similar to one of the posts above, i now DD a ford fusion and when i get in the mode where i think i want to sell the evo because i don't drive it enough, i just take it for a spin and it brings me back to exactly why i still have it and love to drive it.

 

Mate, i spent 34k on mine with 64k on it and I was all over this forum for a year. I weekended it for a couple of years and did a bunch of track days. It started blowing smoke probably due to a hard life from the original owner, it looked clean as. I've just spent 20k on a full build, bolt ons, suspension etc and I did alot of work myself to reduce my costs. So now they are 50k to 130k. If it was now, I am not wanting to lay down 50k on one and another 20k on possible building. I'd rather spend 70k on a M2 or 50k on a M140 BMW and throw 20k of mods at that.

 

Thanks for the welcome mate, my current lifestyle lets me take public transport into work and only drive on the weekends or on some nights for fun. So I've been set on buying an Evo...but I think it's smart to look at other choices too since I am tempted right now looking at more 'practical' daily cars.

That is true that most cars nowadays will be able to provide a great daily drive experience, good performance, amazing turbo/exhaust sounds - And 12.7s is really impressive for a daily looking car that will last a long time. I'm currently eyeing the 2022 i30N Sedan (Elantra N in US) to buy after a year on market but can't decide what to do just yet (I have time to anyway). 5.3s 0 to 100km/h stock in a modern car - chuck in an intake and it already sounds awesome- but the Evo will always be iconic and more of an eye catcher imo...and that it will most likely appreciate whilst the Elantra N will surely depreciate. So unsure right now!

I'm sure there's a thread out there but by basic maintenance you mean keeping on top of oil/air filters, changing clutch/brake fluids, servicing often, etc?

I don't see Evos going down in price except for a slight correction before it keeps going up in the long run. Even if in Australia they bring out carbon tax or some other tax the Evo will just still be a collectible or enthusiast car that will retain value. That's one of the reasons why I want one now rather than later - but I also want to drive it and not be worried that it could break down.

I've been getting the vibe that Evo owners all have a special feeling driving an Evo that even when driving modern cars can't forget and go back to the Evo... however since the cars are mostly 110,000km mileage nowadays do you think it's sensible to try to daily one anymore? It would be sensible to get something modern to daily for the next 10 years...but would that ever be comparable to an Evo? I'm looking at an i30N /Elantra N right now. I know the answer would be to test drive both and report back on how I feel but just looking at some opinions.

I've heard horror stories like that...a mate of mine had an Evo 9 blow on the dyno shortly after he bought it from someone - and had to rebuild it. That's why before diving into it I'm looking for other options, my budget now is 50k AUD though and the M2 isn't a car I could spend 70-80k on. What's the special feeling you get driving a Evo that you wouldn't get buying a more modern reliable car nowadays? Is it worth the tradeoff/risk of the car breaking down/extra costs of maintenance and rebuild eg. 60-70k for a built Evo vs 50k for a brand new car that I can build? Thanks mate

 

yes. before you buy it, you should do a compression check on the motor, and a boost leak down test. if it's good, you're good. first thing you should do if you get it, is flush all the fluids and replace with new. unless you're due for the timing belt service, you're good. just keep up with oil changes and inspect the car regularly.

nothing drives like an Evo. the steering, feedback, suspension geometry, overall balance, overall connection, etc. there's many cars that are faster/more nimble/"better" than an Evo for much cheaper, but nothing has that raw gokart driver experience. maybe a Porsche GT3. E36/E46 M3? MR2? You'll get a varying degree of opinions here. some people just want to mash the gas and go fast and feel nothing from the road, the world is your oyster then in terms of selection. there's that thread going right now with the guy who bought a Supra and said it replaced his Evo and is better in every way, but it's nowhere near the same experience/feeling.

unfortunately, this is all too common because 90% of people who mod cars should have no business doing so, and are ultimately degrading it into a ticking time bomb. just watch random "tuner" videos on youtube. the cringe is 11/10. the best thing you can do to vet a potential evo purchase is the compression check, boost leak down, and have an [evo specific] experienced mechanic inspect the crap out of it.
absolutely. whenever someone asks "oh man, is that an evo?!?!? what's it like????" I just ask if they've ever had sex.

 

Have a look on carsales for evo's and see what you get for 50k