Should I buy an evo? If so which one

[Donna w]

Hi guys,

I've just joined the forum to get some feed back on evo's

I have owned a gt4 st205 for 6 years now. I love the car to bits but I fancy something with a bit more power and better handling. My car is running safe power for the standard engine. She is running just over 330. Now here is the dilemma, I really love the car but to get more power I'll be looking at forged rods and pistons. This is going to cost around £6k. So do I spend that money on a 15 year old car or do I buy something a bit newer and a bit faster?
The GT4 is a capable car. It gets a lot of bad press saying its heavy and slow one thing I can say for sure it's defiantly not a bad car. It will show many cars up that's in it's league and beyond.

Any way I was wondering what sort of evo I could buy for around 6k that I will be happy with. So it has to be quicker and more nimble than the GT4. I've always liked the evo but I have now idea what the best models are.

I've seen a lot of evo's for sale running around the 400bhp mark on a standard engine. Are these cars safe to run at that power without stronger internals? I dont want to buy a car that's on it's limits.

Another plus fact about the evo for me is that the parts look easier to get hold of and there are many garages that will happily tune them. The GT4 is a bit of a black art in my local area.

I would be interested if any of you guys have owned a GT4 that has been tuned so I can get a view of both cars. As I've not yet driven an evo it's hard to compre. Before I buy one I will have to drive one first just Incase I don't like it.

Hey if anyone fancies taking me and my bf for a spin to show what they are like they are more than welcome


I'll stop waffling now. Cheers

 

[ST Tom]

Nice!
Still pondering buyin my Evo. Any idea which model? 6K seems to be a limited budget to me?
Won't try giving any advice cos I have zero experience with either...so far

 

[Steveyb_evo3]

Buy an early Evo already forged and turbo upgrade and have fun

Evo 9's can run 400-/400 ish on a standard lump wouldn't like to push it much more to be honest

 

[evoaps]

I had a gt4 and it wouldn't hold a candle to an evo get a test drive in a nicely modded evo and you ll never want to get back into the gt4 again

 

[Donna w]

So if I was to say evo 6-7 what models are best to go for?
What power can I expect on a standard engine? Without risking it?

 

[Simon@NTS]

I personally like the 7-9 models and with stage 1 mods you could easily see 380/380

 

[Donna w]

Just been looking on piston heads and auto trader. The 9 is out of my price range so that's out of the question. I think I prefer the 8. If I could by a standard ish 8 then that may be the way forward. I need to get a test drive first to make sure I'm happy with how the car feels. I'll try and see if I can find any at a garge to take for a spin if they will let me. All cars I have found so far have been around 70 miles away. I would like to find one closer for a test drive.

 

[Steveyb_evo3]

Where r u based

 

[Donna w]

Where r u based

Swindon Wiltshire

 

[evogeof]

Swindon Wiltshire

ah close to castle combe welcome, sell a kidney and buy a 9 :awesome:

 

[Steveyb_evo3]

ah a bit far lol if u was near me you could of tries a 3, 6 and 8 lol

 

[drue1]

Get a nice 5-6 or that price

 

[martinthegooner]

yes id second that,a 5 or 6 would be a good choice.

 

[Donna w]

Yeah that's the one. Combe is not far at all.

Don't tempt me! I wish I had the money. The thing is the GT4 has lost a lot so I doubt I'll get a lot for it even though she is in good nick.

 

[joey]

I have a liking for gt4's,had a big spec st185 gt4 before with anti lag and loved it.Was a very fast car

 

[Donna w]

I have a liking for gt4's,had a big spec st185 gt4 before with anti lag and loved it.Was a very fast car

They are great cars. Most people tend to under estimate the 4.
I'm sure mine will keep up with some evos if not its quicker. but the evo seems to be able to handle a lot more power than the 3sgte engine. If I could forge her myself and not spend ridiculous garage fees then I would be doing that rather than buying another car. I will miss the car no matter what! It also has the rare factor. I see way more evo's on the road than gt4's

 

[Aidy]

Evos are way better than the 3sgte (I used to have an MR2). You should be able to get an VIII on your budget by now. the IX is better, but the VIII is still amazing. At that money I wouldn't go any lower than an VIII.

 

[Simon@NTS]

7/8/9 imo for the look

 

[Billy MR]

I have a 8 MR I love to bits, running just over 400 is perfect for a road car and a every day if needed

 

[Noel80]

I would look at budget and to the future. be it 6,7,8 will you want to get big power? research all the different type's rs,mr, gsr. rs can take more power eg. rear diff, gear box but you dont get a six speed box with one of those if you are up and down motorways