Hi fellow Evo owners!

My girlfriend just purchased a 03 Black Evo in Boston from Natick Subaru, it had 9,000 miles on it. I test drove it, and visually from what I can tell, the previous owner did some modification work on the car. Everything stock had been put back on, so the car looks stock. But from what I can see.

1. The bolts from the stock filter box has been adjusted, one is missing. (Aftermarket air filter)
2. The rear trunk carpet have areas cut out and the shock towers are exposed. (rear strut bar)
3. The power cut around 5,000 rpm is gone. So it's been flashed
4. One of those car club stickers on the rear bumper of the car. (not sure if that is good news or bad)
5. Brembo brakes are not as sensitive as mine. (worn out pads?)

From what I can tell the car drives fine. Bit more linear power band. Since I'm a Evo owner as well, I told her to see and feel anything different. i.e. noises, shifting problems, clutch noises etc.
She told me the footwell area is pretty warm, Feels like there's heat coming into the cabin?
What's strange is why someone would sell their Evo. around 9,000 miles? either they can't afford the payments or the cars was thrashed hard?

So any suggestions or comments are welcome..... maybe the previous owner is on the forum as well? Northeastern region?

Thanks

 

I would never buy a used EVO because of all the reason you just mentioned. But I am a worry wort. I would start saving for a clutch and transfer case and change all the fluids asap. maybe the fluids can reveal a problem that can be addressed and the dealer will fix it under warranty. (what warrenty) Dont mean to make you feel bad just trying to help after the fact.


When I went on a test drive in a new EVO for the first time the salesman or saleskid took me out in a new EV0 with 25miles on it and drove it very very very did I say very hard to try to impress me and he got the car up to 135mph on a side street at night. scared the poop out of me. I worked after that I had to have the EVO. but waited six months later and demanded a new in wrapper Evo. that was the only way I could be sure that no lot punk had a chance to glaze the clutch ect.

 

Sounds fine. These cars are tough.

What I would do is get an alignment, wheel balance and rotation and have the brakes pads checked. Was or is the car lowered? Check the nuts on the top of the struts for wrench marks.

Have all driveline fluids changed is a must and check the fluid levels on everything else.

Look at the fuel rail for stock injectors and maybe pull the fuel pump and check for an aftermarket one.

Check the ECU wire harness for signs of splicing.

Check the stock boost hoses and any signs of a boost controller that was taken off.

Check and tighten all the IC pipe clamps.

Are the tires the originals. If so, check their condition. If they are in pretty good shape, especially the outer part, the car was probably not driven hard in corners or autocrossed.

The clutch is a wait and see thing unless you want to open it up and look for an aftermarket.

Look for a stainless clutch line. If there is one, it's likely the clutch restrictor was removed also. You might want that put back to stock.

Look for the stock exhaust and all bolts and hangers are in place.

I know these are the things I would look for if buying a used Evo.

 

Thanks for the info. sort of worried with the 9,000 miles on the car. Why would someone sell the car so quickly?

 

Don't look too deep into it. Lots of reasons. Can't afford it, bored of it, bought it out of impulse, not practical anymore. Doesn't mean anything is wrong.

Have a compression check done on the engine if so worried. And make sure it was not in an accident. Check for the original VIN stickers on all body parts including bumpers, hood, trunk, fenders, doors.