I need some opinions, I live in Canada and own an Evo VI which I imported a year ago. Don't get me wrong I love the car, and I LOVE driving the car, it's an absolute beast. But....since I've owned it there's always been something that needs fixed on it and it's my dd. First it was some diff bolts, then the clutch, radiator, battery, exhaust... and now I'm having issues with a caliper, it just never seems to end. I know many of you out there know my pain. I just want the repairs to end, I figured out that last year I spent about $5,000 on repairs and that's just the parts. I've done all the labour myself often without my car, having to pedal bike to work. I'm just tired of the repairs and I figure there's about another $1,000 that should be done to it, including a long overdue tune (with an 8 hour drive) since it has come to Canada.

So, I'm not sure, do I continue the fixing? Will the fixes ever end, I don't know. The money I've spent on maintenance could have taken me on a really nice trip somewhere.

Do I sell the car? I know for a fact I'd miss the exhilarating driving, and I've spent so much blood sweat and hours fixing it that it would be so hard to see it go. Instead I think I'd buy a CRV to have a reliable dd and a dual sport bike for the joy riding (I couldn't just quit cold turkey )

And here she is

 

Not sure about your financial and living situation but, couldn't you just have 2 cars?

 

There is no way in heck I'd sell a VI if I had one. That's my desert island car and I'd keep it till I kicked the bucket.

 

Lots of things to consider when it come to changing cars. If you want something reliable, you're likely talking new/newer, and that might mean payments. If you buy a newer used car, you might be talking about payments AND possible repairs. Plus, the heavy expenses will likely not continue as often as they did last year, so you're considering tossing your VI for potential savings, not known savings.
Then comes in the intangible stuff, like your feelings toward your car. Working on it yourself really makes it yours, and selling it might give you thoughts of regret (think post-partum depression). I work on my own, and honestly unless it catches fire or tries to kill me, I won't let go of it.
Slightly off topic, but I don't care much for the newer cars out there. Too many gizmos and electronic wizzardry to suit my tastes. DFI, TPMS, electronic throttle, stability control, the list goes on. When that stuff breaks, who's gonna fix that stuff in their driveway! I like my car for it's sophisticated simplicity. Just enough to keep it current/adjustable, not so much to drive you crazy.
Just a few thoughts to ponder on. Good luck with whatever you choose, and I hope it doesn't bite you in the behind.

 

Spend some on a beater, pretend you sold the evo and discover the sadness. I had a dream I sold my car and it was a wake up with sweat dream! Don't ducking do it!

 

I wish you the best with your decision...Coming from The 'States, I think most responses will be to "KEEP THE CAR", being that they are not allowed on the street here just yet. The obvious to consider: Yes, she is 'bleeding you dry'. Keep in mind that your car is way over ten years old, and 'things' are going to happen and the car is needy right now. Do you have ANY history on the car/previous owners? If not, you can only imagine what she was put thru, being a rally car...Secondly, she is a very rare car in North America.

You know what's going to happen an hour after you sell her. Your going to wish you never did it, ESPECIALLY after driving a HONDUH CRV...Do you need that 'sport bike' right now? Instead of getting that 'Bike, and a CRV, is there a possibly of getting a some what reliable daily beater, so you can do the repairs on your VI, slowly, in a way that's not devastating all at once?

Sadly, this is the 'price some have to pay' to have such an exotic car. Just talk to any Ferrari, etc. owner! In the end, you have to do what is best for you. Again, I wish you luck with your very tough decision...Let us know what happens! (My vote is to KEEP her)

 

I could afford 2 cars but it would seriously cut into saving for a future investments, i.e a house.

I would be buying an older CRV, gen 1 1999-2001 era, so no crazy gismos. And I agree all the new stuff is too much, and much harder to fix. I want something simply. I'd be able to buy an older CRV straight up so no car payments, and lets say the CRV repairs are as often as the Evo, still cheaper since parts will be about half the price, and readily available. I won't have to get them shipped from the UK. I do agree with you about the intangibles, it would definitely be very painful to see the car go.

Agreed, I'm sure a lot of people from the States are fairly biased towards me keeping it, but just remember that up here these cars are rare, but not that rare. There's a handful of them always for sale on kijiji, and more are constantly being imported.

I could get a cheap beater to go with the Evo, but then I'm left with 2 possibly unreliable cars plus registration costs. The crv + bike combo = only 1 possible unreliable car since the bike would be brand new and under warranty.

The more I think about it, the more certain I am with selling it. C'mon, we all know an Evo is NOT a smart financial decision, and a house generally is (though not all the time). Money today is worth more than money in the future, if I save up and buy a house early, I'll just be able to buy an even sweeter Evo in the future! The Evo is awesome, but the potential for huge costs on repairs lurks in the back of my mind, I will be in a better financial situation in a few years once I own a house and am getting paid much more.

Without a doubt I'll own another sweet sports car someday, and thanks for all your suggestions/opinions!

 

If you have to ask people whether you should keep it, then clearly you do not love it.

Sell it.

 

I don't get why you'd go from one dubiously reliable vehicle and go to another vehicle which will require constant maintenance/repairs to keep running. Yeah it's nice to have the more readily available parts, but you're still dealing with downtime and headaches.

Why that particular vehicle?

So as a different suggestion, why not buy a cheap bike to keep you mobile when the Evo needs work? Heck, if you don't mind the emasculation factor, a Honda scooter would be cheap and reliable.

 

Getting rid of it would be like breaking up with a Supermodel for no reason.....

 

But she keeps asking that he treats her like one, it's so difficult and unfair!

 

Why not just keep the car. And borrow a small loan against it to do allllll the neccesary maintenance items to bring it up to par and so it would then stop nickel and dimeing you to death.

 

Pretty sure it would be the other way around, if I didn't love it then it would be an easy decision and I wouldn't be asking you.

Breaking up with a needy and expensive supermodel mind you.....but it is a good comparison

Well I think pound for pound a CRV is more reliable and cheaper to maintain than an imported EVO. It would be an older CRV no doubt, so things would go on it, wheel bearings etc... But it would still be a cheaper fix.

Really part of the reason I want to sell and buy a small suv because I love the outdoors, and there are a ton of logging trails around here, but my car can't get to them. An awd suv like a crv or forester would really come in handy lugging gear around. Mind you for a sports car the Evo is about as practical as you can get. I just ran into a guy today who is getting rid of his 2015 STi for the same reason.

 

I you really loved it, you would not even contemplate getting rid of it. Or would you sell your dog because it was expensive too?

 

What is this additional $1k you feel it needs?

And for the tune, contact TScompusa. He does remote/email tuning, so if you have a laptop and a tactrix cable (which anyone that owns an Evo should), you can get it road-tuned without the 8 hr drive..