Excellent vehicle, Lee.
But considering I don't have the resources you do, with all of those
addresses to which to register vehicles, it'd be easier for me to go
find some ex rental car Mirage DE sedan, get a JDM-spec Cyclone 4G63 motor, and then a nice Erebuni or Versus EVO Kit. Yeah, you true EVO
owners would turn your noses up. But I'd have full coverage
insurance, be able to go through the drive thru at Wendy's without
help and be able to drop my clutch at 5000K rpm without having to worry
about juicing a diff. All for about 10-15K. viva la Mirage

 

Actually, I can register my vehicle in any state without any problems. I just don't want the hassle of emmissions, nor pay taxes yet again, although taxes is easily solved, and emmissions is never a problem. I can also have full coverage insurance, which I plan on having once it expires.

Please, you can't even compare, nor place both vehicles in the same league. OK, so you choose the option of taking off at 5k rpms over having AWD with AYC, or a Cusco LSD. So you're worried about problems at pick up windows and toll booths. Come on, if you had my car you would love stretching abit to reach when paying tolls, or picking up your food, it actually makes me feel good when I reach to pay tolls. PLus, I get women looking at me as if I was driving a ferrari, can you say the same for your custom kitted Mirage? Didn't think so...

Also, brakes, suspension, superior engineering (not some local shop doing the conversion but Mitsu engineers from Japan that designed your car), CP9A chassis #, etc...

Are you handicapped, or have any physical probs that would limit you from reaching at a Wendy's drive thru window? You made it seem like you would need help to do such things, when you really can't say that unless you experience it for yourself. I'm sure you never sat inside a right hand drive car, much less ever driven one, so don't knock it until you try it.

no offense...

regards,
Lee

 

jigga,
dude is just healous he can't get a RHS driver's car...every REAL car enthusiast I know would love to get their hands on a japan spec RHS drive anything. Just that alone you get all the attention driving in any streets on U.S. soil.

 

come on jigga, you dun even had to speak, any guy who thinks a evo kit mirage is good enough for them is... mmph... nah i aint gonna say it, but u know what i mean

and GP, dun wanna be mean here, but theres definately something very wrong with your logic, and is quite disrespectful to the Evo lovers and future buyers here, you're talking bout a car some kids will give their left nut for.. hehe

 

Exactly, zeroize and evolsoul, I mean, all we talk about in this forum is Evos, and to quote Tom Cruise in Risky Business, "There are no substitutes," nor any way to re-shape something to resemble it. Evolutions is what I love, I could have had a Skyline VSpec, R33 or even R34, but I chose the Evo, the five being my favorite car of all times, over any Jap car on the market because I love it. Loved how Makinen drove the car, and will love the car for a life time. So, for me, there are no substitutes. Everyone here are waiting for the evo to finally appear in this country, and few want to go the route of taking there existing lancers and transforming it into an evo.

I've seen some real good conversions (mirage to evo), but nothing comes close to the real thing.

yet another thought, keep em rolling...

 

Ha, ha, ha.
It was mostly just an attempt at humor, I really didn't mean to
insult you, but now that I think about it, it might be a fun little project.


No, I didn't say they were in the same league. Just cheaper and easier
to aquire.


Didn't you say earlier how you had to explain to some women exactly
what kind of car it was? No matter, believe me I know a real EVo has
loads more appeal, but I think I could fool most women with it and some
guys too. Although I truly believe an EVO is a better car, I also truly think a guy in a drop top 'Vette or SLK, or Ferrari would get loads more attention then a guy in an EVO, or a kitted Mirage. People just aren't familar with car here. Give it a couple of years and guys with Ferraris and 'Vettes will know better and less likely to try to take an Evo, but women will probably still like 'vette's and Benzes.

No handicaps that I'm aware of, again it was an attempt at levity, but you feel that I have insulted you personally. And you are right, I haven't
been in a RHD car. But I did drive up on the wrong side of a Checkers
one night and had to slide over in my LHD car, bacause the line was
shorter, and I was able to pull it off.

Wrong. If 25K is all it takes to get one, then I could afford one. But I
would truly rather wait for the LHD version that I'm going to be able
to buy for myself early next year. I'm a REAL enthusiast, and I'd prefer
a LHD car because that's what I'm used to and I'm better at it. And
attention isn't all I'm going for when I look for a car.

Again, to recap. As a Mitsubishi enthusiast, I think a kitted Mirage
is no real substitiute for a EVO, but I also think I can get a lot
of attention (if that's what matters most to some) get a lot
of performance out of a turbo 4g3 front drive Mirage. And above
all else...I was kidding.

no offense...

 

Jigga: you need to move here to Toledo and go to Rallys. They have drive though windows on both sides of the building. Great when driving a RHD car

(check your pm)

 

otaking, Toledo sounds like my Pleasantville. I would definetely consaider rallys, with some sort of sponsor (at least for parts).

GPTourer, I even get guys that drive ferraris looking at me and smilling. It has everything to do with the fact that I'm sitting on the right hand side when I'm driving. I know women dont know **** about the car, yet they're intrigued and for some reason enfatuated with the fact that the steering wheel is, and I quote, on the wrong side of the car (even though it's on the right side of the car).

Bro, no offense taken. It's just that you said some things that really made no sense. I mean, you would rather have a riced out mirage for the same amount of money that you can purchase an evo. You also said the whole having problems at drive thru when you have no basis or any experience, except for your one backwards encounter. Believe me, you would love every sec of driving an evo, so would everyone on this forum. **** A FERRARI OR A VETTE, just give me an evo and a coke, don't need anything else (girlfriend included in the package).

regards,
LEE

 

I really don't know how much a Miralution would cost to build. I'd imagine 3K for a tired '96-'99 Mirage, 3K for a 4G63, 3K for paint bodywork and about another 3K for miscelleanos type stuff. If I can
get a good used Evolution imported for 12,000 dollars, then you better believe I'd take a used EVO over a Miralution. However, you're
still missing the point, but that's okay - you've got a cool car and you're
proud of it. What bothers me most is how you feel that anybody
with a lesser car then yours doesn't have the right to fix them up because, they'll never be as nice as what you drive. Although
we talk about Evolutions all day on this board, a lot of the contributors
drive USDM lancers. Should we then say, hey guys, don't buy performance parts, don't take pride in your car, don't get enthusastic
about them becuase you'll never have a car as nice as Lee's. (Unless
you sell it and buy a REAL car) I know you aren't really saying that, but it intersting reading your replies to my trite post. If I ever do get around to building the car, and someone asks me about it, don't worry, I'll say, no I'm just a poser, I don't have a car as cool as Lee's, I just had the ingenuity to build something all my own for my own personal enjoyment. Will that make you feel better?
Yes, I am being sarcastic. But seriously.
Although I'm not a big Honda fan, I think it's cool when I see someone
taking a base Civic hatch and putting a Type-R motor in it, I like
seeing Accords with turbo Prelude motors under the hood. They're
building something that isn't available on these shores. I'd just like to
see that same sort of enthusaism for Mitsubishi. That's all.

 

what in the hell are you talking about? where did lee imply anything bout that? you know your pathetic, ur the kinda people who gets so jealous and you start hallucinating and think up these non-existent arguements. lee didnt say anything mention anything bout paying no respect to other tuners, let me put it in my words, what he said to YOU was:
A. its a dumb idea pouring in tons of money trying to match a mirage with Evo performance when getting an import would probably save you more money.
B. you're just being a poser and have no idea what performance is

i mean, i dun know lee personally, so i'm not defending him based on anything other than what i read in this thread. i dun sense arrogance in anything he said, he might be proud, but who wouldnt be, i'm proud even if i have a $500 ****box as a car, coz its still my car.
and YOU brought up the whole deal about Evo kitted mirages, it wasnt even provoked, you just blutted it outta self-pity, furthermore, no one told you that having an imported Evo is the be all and end all, everyone else on this thread are happy for lee, his effort and to the simple marvel of the machine,

and this is getting getting very off topic, and negative, so go start your own thread in the OT section and *****. thank you

 

oh yeah, and if you are going to build a Evo kitted mirage, read my quote under my msgs. its for you

 

believe me, i to would love to have a rhd evo. much props to lee for having the brains, guts and cash to bring his evo 5 here. But unfortunately for me, i don't know the people that lee has or even that type of connections, and the luck. like previously stated man, if your bored, the procedures to bring a rhd evo here would be greatly appreciated, that is if you have time. thanks man

 

WOW, 3K for a fairly new Mirage, that's awesome. 3K for a 4g63 sounds ok, probably cost you more with tranny, ecu, harness, motor/tranny mounts (I'm sure someone has designed or have these)you might need for the conversion, ingenuity, don't really know if the hubs would work (might need to check on that), axles (might need different ones), does it come with rad and intercooler w/ the 3K you mentioned? If not, add this together with the plumbing you'll need, specially concerning downpipe/exhaust work that might need to be customized (unless there's a kit out there for it, surely costs money).
3K for paint and bodywork sounds correct, although this defientely doesn't include the Evo body kit you mentioned on your original post, you might need to add a few dollars for that. 3K for Misc stuff sounds like it would cover mostly everything (interior), if your lucky to get it used, unless you want to go a bit further and add brakes to your project which then might cost 3K on its own.

I have a friend in Chicago that has a fully converted a mirage to an E4, and it cost him about 20K + car to do it right...

Maybe a 2, if your lucky enough a 3.

WOW bro, I'm really sorry if this is what you think of me. I've promised myself I would never post again on this forum due to an incident a month ago http://www.lancerforums.com/forums/t2312.html
I have friends that post on this forum on a regular basis, and I think my opinion and comments are appreciated especially to everyone that has sent me personal messages over the past few weeks. I started this post because I know people would be interested to know that someone has sucessfully imported and legalized an evo in the States, I wasn't trying to show off or impose a sense of superiority. I'm a very humble person, yet I have an extensive knowledge on importation/exportation because that is what I do for a living. I was hoping that with the information I've offered I would inspire people to fufill their dreams of owning their dream car, not to humiliate or embarass anyone. I've offered people ideas (those that have emailed me privately), and I have helped one person get his E5 road legal in VA with my advices. I only hope you'll change your mind and revert your opinions and come to your senses, I know I will.


If you would have read what I have said before, you wouldn't be telling me this. I will quote myself here for you:

regards,
LEE



P.S. Next time overwhelm me with knowledge of cars, not girlie scratch me with your long nails talk (get enough of that at home).

 

Steve_C, I will answer this question yet again, although I hope this is the last time I'll put myself through this.

OK, first thing is pick out the car you want. Different evos vary in price, so for the purposes of this explanation, I'll use a 5 like mine. In the UK, you can find one just like mine for about 15K quid (21K dollars), maybe less if your lucky and patient. I suggest travelling to see the car, one week in England is really all you need, will cost you about 600 bucks for a round trip fare (hotwire.com), and in my case, I stayed with friends.

Then comes the logistics. You'll need to transport it on a sealed container, or use a ConEx box. You'll need to fill form HS-7 for US Customs, and pay taxes entering the States (2.5%). Takes around 3-4 weeks to arrive. Figure 2,000 to 2,500 for a 20ft container, plus couple of hundred bucks for someone to do the paperwork for you, and you can calculate the taxes yourself.

Now the trick is titling the vehicle. I mean, this is the only problem one would have, otherwise everything else is cake. In that form (HS-7) there are different options one can go about when importing: if you were in the military, if your bringing it in for racing and show purposes only (must have approval by appropriate offices), if your foreign and want to drive the car here for a period of one year (unless your from Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, you get the point), or if your vehicle is one that's legal for importation into the US (definetely not the evo, certainly the mirage and galant). For the last one there are other boxes to fill out, and you'll probably need a registered importer to do it for you. For a list of importers, look it up on the NHTSA site (lots of useful information).

OH, if you get your car from the UK, and you have a brittish citizen import it for you, then you need to prep the car with certain emmissions ans safety bull****, including cnversion of speedo and some ecu work would be reccomended (considering evos love 100 octane fuel).

Still, none of this helps you to get it titled, and I can't explain to you how I did it because it really wouldn't work for you. Just to let you know, my favorite way of importing it is to have someone foreign buy the vehicle for you, bring it in as if he/she was going to drive it here for a period of one year, then pursue your attempts to legalizing the vehicle, and if it doesn't work you can always send the car elsewhere and sell it. Yes, very risky, and can be very costly if things don't go your way. I've sucessfully been able to import a few vehicles in the past (3 skylines, 2 evos, 2 FTOs, 1 celica AWD) for people, without including military vehicles (much easier and cheaper considering no tax, as long as the BATF approves the paperwork).

If and when you get it titled, then you'll pay state taxes (6% in FL, 8.25 in NY, etc.), insure it (easy), well registration fees, plates, you know the routine.

Please do not use this as a rule of thumb, nor do I recommend anyone trying this. If you do, do not blame me if **** goes wrong, nor come to me for further advice. This is the info I can offer, but if your serious about it, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, DON"T JUST DEPEND ON WHAT OTHERS TELL YOU. Mistakes can be costly!

regards,
LEE

 

hey lee, thanks for the insight/tips. didn't mean to put you through the whole process just to bug ya, but i'm fairly new to this forum, and curiosity kept knawing at the back of my mind. anyways, appreciated the time and explaination.

steve_c