That's a responsible decision. One I didn't make. Bought the Evo before my last semester in college (while not working mind you) and am in debt for it until forever. Then got a house a year out of school. Fortunately with today's housing market, you don't need much of a down payment and you can get into something for a reasonable price in jersey if you don't mind a bit of a commute.

It's a very tough decision to make. It's one I don't think I could make unless absolutely necessary. I thought about it seriously at a point but I figured if I were to trade it in for another new car that was cheaper, it would still cost me about the same b/c of what's left on my loan would be just about the amount I would have to take out on another car anyways. Good luck with your decision.

 

you live in colorado, there's a HUGE difference between virtually anywhere else in the US and NJ

 

If I have an Evo I would downgrade to a 2009 Lancer Ralliart.

 

I upgraded from a Lancer OZ to a MazdaSpeed 3. The only thing this car is lacking is AWD. Other than that, the car is great. Plus the MS3 can almost be called a sleeper.

 

I definitely hear you on that, most people don't even know they are boosted.

 

i remember paying $580 for my evo being only 18yrs old...i'm 22 now with the evo being long gone. Having my savings acct go up rapidly is more satisfying than driving an evo. Like others said,(ESP AS A COLLEGE STUDENT), give it up and buy an evo after you've graduated and can comfortably afford it. The general rule of thumb is your car shouldnt exceed 20-30% of your monthly income. I can comfortably afford an evo now and i still won't do it because i rather save for 1 1/2yrs and drive a z06

 

i also have a 240, if i absolutely had to i would get rid of the evo, pay off the 240, and make the 240 fun (it's already ok)

 

My downgrade is a used WRX. They are fun to drive, easy to upgrade with STI parts (turbo, tmic, exhaust, seats, brembos, bbs rims, etc) or after market if you where so inclined. Its a little cheaper to insure and have much better crash test scores than an Evo. You could get an 02 - 03 bugeye for like $10k. Only drawback is the tranny can't handle much more then 330whp with out serious upgrades.

 

if i were to downgrade...id get a Smart car...they're like 16grand fully loaded...and they are gas sippers...lol...

 

Well if you want good alternatives;

Mazda Rx8, Audi S4/A4, Mazda Speed6, Honda S2000, Porsche Boxster, Ford Mustang, Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi OZ Lancer.

Thats all I can think of right now.

 

The main problem here is this... (I also had an 04 and just traded it in.) Your 04 is worth roughly $20-24,000 at the most. You probably still owe about $8,000 on the car. 20-8 is 12,000. That's what you will have towards a new car. To buy anything close to an Evo you'll be spending over $20 grand. So let's say you get an 08 WRX for $26,000 - $12,000 down and you still have to finance $14,000 over the next 3-6 years. That's not a whole lot, but think about the fact that you will have your evo paid off pretty soon, I'd imagine. Just wait it out if you have less than 2 years on the loan. I'm also a student working full time.

Unless you're looking into used cars, then thats a different story. I do not like used cars, especially performance cars unless you know for sure they were never modded. Plus, you don't get a great warranty and you'll have to pay for all repairs out of pocket. You're better off keeping the 04 as long as it's mechanically sound.

 

i would get a honda civic..

 

I have my Evo IX for the summer days, but have a 2008.5 Mazda 3 5 Door as a DD. Great handling car, great room, quality, comfort, fuel economy, and the performance isn't that bad. Point, get something cheaper, better quality and something that you'll like driving.

 

Best Answer:

Get a 05 -06 Suzuki GSXR-600, pay cash like $6k - 7K and now you're even faster than an EVO.


I DD my Evo and it's hella fun, but when I want to really accelerate and go fast, I jump on my GSXR-1000.

I have the title for the bike in hand, I own it free and clear! It's not required to run insurance in the state of Florida for bikes. Each month I only pay for gas and it's a blast !!!


/thread.

 

I wouldnt use a bike as a Daily Driver on crowded citys/areas,but otherwise youre right:great acceleration and good MPG all day long....