Evil thoughts of change

[transio]

Um, you can get a G coupe with a six speed.

Good to know... I wasn't aware of that.

Forget the Elise...wait a year or two for the Europa to come out and then just import it from Europe. Sooo hot.

Well, you'll never get it in the US, because it uses the 2.0L engine out of the Opel Speedster, which doesn't meet US emissions laws. Besides that, it is slower, heavier, and less pure than the Elise. It was originally designed for the Malaysian market as a Proton, and has many of their styling cues... I personally think it's ugly. Looks like a cross between an RSX, Stratus, and Crossfire.

[transio]

Chopper, Caterhams are sick cars. I'd like to get one some day (when I'm rich) as a weekend car. It's between that and an Ariel Atom for me.

[WormGod]

Checked out the Evo this weekend. Wow, wow, and wow! After driving this little bugger for 20 mins, I couldnt even look back in the direction of an STi. Problem here however.... it was NOT cheap. I could have about gotten a CLK for the pricetag on this thing.

Interetsing thing happened this weekend though. My grandfather was recently declared legally blind and his MD drivers lisence has been revoked due to it. I was nudged by a family member to check out his car. never thought about really, but I looked into it. Turns out, he has a '93 Chevy Malibu. 4 door, very basic, really not my cup of tea. But after inquiring about it, it turns out it is in "pristine" shape and only has 2,000 miles on it since he bought it new years ago. He was talking $5k. This just might be the perfect "commuter", if you know what I mean. It wont win me any Best of Show awards, but it is a last ditch option. Cant rule it out ya know.

[Joe_Black]

Evo's are cool, but just keep in mind that Mitsubishi will drop your warranty if you even look at the car funny. Subaru, on the other hand, encourages you to have fun.

[mbeach]

SOA will void your warranty in a heartbeat. They are better than Isuzu of America, but they will still laugh you off if they even think that you've been monkeying with their car. Whenever I swung by the stealership to buy oil filters/ washers, the service guys would joke about my "warranty". I guess that the gigantic FMIC tipped them off.

I found it irritating that SoA would supply you with a 1 year membership to the SCCA, but dishonor your warranty if you ever used your car to race (even against the clock).

I was actually sitting in an Evo when I decided to purchase the WRX. The things that stood against the Evo were:
1.) cable shift linkage -my bro's Civic has that, why would I want my pseudo-rally car to have it?
2.) crankwalk. The design of the 4G63 encourages it, and there's no way around it. I've seen a few 600+hp Evos and they all had one thing in common: a spare motor nearby. Maybe that's asking a lot to ask, but it's still a problem.
3.) boost gauge -right next to my shiftin' hand. WTH? Line of sight (without the cop-magnet A-pillar mounts) please.
4.) it just looks too ricey.

It did handle like a dream, but then again, I'm kind've a crappy driver, so I don't need all of that ability.

[transio]

Dude,

You want an Evo, huh?!?

Well you're in LUCK !!!

They rock, but they happen to have AWFUL resale values!

Here are a few fine examples with low low mileage for between $20k (stock) - 35k (track prepped):

2003 Evo VIII 15k miles for $20k: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...light=evo+viii
2003 Evo VIII 20k miles for $20k: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...&highlight=evo
OMG 2005 Evo MR 6k miles for $30k: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...&highlight=evo
2005 Track Prepped Evo RS 1500 miles for $35k: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...&highlight=evo

Look for an Evo forum and I'm sure you can find even better deals!

[Heraclid]

Get a Carver. :-) www.carver.nl

[WormGod]

I will agree that the EVO sells itself to a ricer crowd in the visual dept. I think the only true thing it has going for it there is, you still dont see too many of them around this way.

Narrowing down. WRX or H3. The WRX is winning in every dept so far and there is a GREAT dealer's listing here with some used ones at excellent prices.

Dont know why, but this has been keeping me up at night. I think a lot of it has to do with me just wanting to get the VX off the road and into the garage where it wont blemish.

[mbeach]

I wouldn't fear a used WRX too much. Look for an unmodded one if you have worries. Run away from anything that has or has had a manual boost controller on it (look for new vacuum lines leading into or away from the turbo).

In Ohio, the Evo and WRX were about 50/50 on the street. Since I've moved, I have only seen one Evo in Fairbanks, but there is literally a WRX on every corner.

[MZ-N10]

if like teh sti/wrx take a look at the legacy gt. same 2.5 engine as a sti, but in a slightly bigger(alittle slower) sedan. oh and priced at about 26gs 5 or so less then a sti.

[TEN36VX]

Mini Cooper.... really slick, and as small as it is, I could save money on a casket if I were ever in an accident in it. Just bury me in the wreckage.

Dont discount the Mini. They beat out the Ford F150 in offset frontal crash tests; almost no passenger compartment intrusion. Just a thought. I plan on getting a Mini for a commuter.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Another use for a Mini Cooper!




http://www.motorhomeclub.com/album_s...php?pic_id=142

[WormGod]

ARHG! Hole in the head! I just called a local private seller here about a car I saw on autotrader. '93 Dodge Viper, hahahaha. Ya, talk about needing therapy. But wow, always wanted one. Asking $27k with 43k miles on it. Definately priced to sell. The pics of it look great and he "claims" no body/engine issues. I also prefer that older body styling over the newer, more rounded out one.

BUT.... that would be a mistake. Then again, I am a 32 year old, single, homeowner.... society dictates that, "that is what I am supposed to do".

[shoota77]

How a bout a 2000/2001 M5? A little more practical than the Viper with some crazy performance...similarish price range.

[transio]

Don't get a pre-1997 Viper - they have a button-on top and side curtains (no windows). There are also build-quality issues. If you're gonna do it, get a 97+