Newb questions re: owning and driving an Evo

[Sancho]

Hi everyone, I just had a couple of questions about owning a Mitsubishi Evo. Bear with me for this first bit - I'm in my mid-twenties and trying to decide on whether to commit to getting better GCSEs in Maths and Physics so that I can get on a Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair NVQ course or not. The reason being is that I aspire to own an Evo in the next few years but I'm aware that to own one, you really need to know about how the vehicle works, have I got the right idea?

So my first question is basically: was the basic knowledge of how a car works passed down to you by someone who already knew about it, or did you learn through college and/or employers?

And also... when it came to the Evo, how did you find out everything you needed to about the vehicle? In other words, the more specialist knowledge. Can I just say, at this point, I have no idea what percentage of Evo owners work on their own cars and to what extent, I imagine there's some stuff which can only be done by a tuning garage anyway... but in any case, surely the owner needs to know about his car? For instance, to know what work they'd like doing to it for a specific result.

So any replies would be appreciated. I'd really like one of these cars, they look beast but I don't wanna be a silly bloke who gets a car and has no idea what to do with it.


"Too long, didn't read" version: Wondering if you need any qualifications to be able to understand what's going on under an Evo's bonnet or not. Aware that the answer might be pretty simple eventually but would like to hear it anyway. Cheers.

 

[Matt-evo-v]

When I first bought my Evo I had little to No knowledge of them......Now, I just have little knowledge.....

When all said and done, its a turbo charged, 4 door saloon, with really only one trick bit of kit, AYC.....or for the later ones AYC and ACD(think thats right).

And for the AYC and ACD, I am sure most people get them looked at by a specialist.

If you are not planning on owning one for a few years, you have plenty of time to learn about the car via websites like this one.

Regarding what work you would like doing for specific results is fairly straight forward.....More breaking power = up-rate breaks (discs, pads, bigger brake conversions etc etc)
more horse power = browse the forum, ask questions, opinions on what you should be buying for a result that you want, who you are better off taking it too.......

Servicing is pretty much the same as any other car, oil, oil filter, fluids, spark plugs etc etc. But the AYC would be better off in the hands of a specialist IMO

Go with the better GCSE results anyway mate, they will stand you in good stead for the future.

As for me, I learned about my Evo by reading this site and another one, oh and the hard way (breaking something and needing it fixing lol)

Enjoy mate, they're cracking cars to own when they are working right and a pain in the a**e when they're not..........much like a woman :whistling:

 

[gooner8]

mate you already no the answer to both evoowners.co.uk. lot's of people on here to help with all your need's just ask buddy. Knew a bit about car's before the evo, but these aint like normal car's lol they work the same but with loads of other stuff that normal car don't have or need doing. The main thing to know is service every 4.5 k or 6 month's. A must when buying as well. Hope this help's p.s get your gcse's first as these car's like money. Lol

 

[GAZ5EVO]

i got all my info from friends and from websites like this and over the road, also helps if you know guys who own garages and are mitsubishi techs who like building upto 700bhp engines and all other mechanical work.

since owning my car ive done most of my mechanical work, just get stuck in take ya time, if needs be take pics and if really stuck get one of us that is local to help or come on here and we will help ya out.

 

[Matt-evo-v]

mate you already no the answer to both evoowners.co.uk. lot's of people on here to help with all your need's just ask buddy. Knew a bit about car's before the evo, but these aint like normal car's lol they work the same but with loads of other stuff that normal car don't have or need doing. The main thing to know is service every 4.5 k or 6 month's. A must when buying as well. Hope this help's p.s get your gcse's first as these car's like money. Lol

Completely forgot to mention the service intervals in my post lol........ :whistling:

 

[Jonny IX]

services can be done yourself if you have reasonable car knowledge, I wouldnt attemot a cambelt but loads do.....

its already been said that the Evo is a money pit so make sure you can afford it before buying, especially as the modifying bug HITS HARD LOL

Ive modded a CTR and now Im doing the evo so far on parts servicing etc , Im well into 5 figures $$$$$ (cant find pounds symbol on my new airbook LOL)

You can say you wont mod the car but you WILL !!

As for gcse's its up to you, I didnt bother getting any I had the ability but just found partying and women and I now have a awesome job and own my own .com retail company so GCSE's dont make the person or there intelligence just opens doors mate.


BUY THE EVO,DRIVE THE EVO,FIX THE EVO, LOVE THE EVO !!!

oh and most importantly LOVE YOUR FLAGS !!!

 

[Ikiru1981]

Hiya

I know nothing about my car except how to drive it, but I have a partner who is a mechanic and for the bits he doesn't know or isnt sure about he looks around on here and the net.

I'd definately go for the GCSEs, who knows what the future will provide but if you can get some basic knowledge to build on you'll have more of an idea when trying to deal with the mechanical side.
Plus its cheaper if you can do things yourself, and that'll save money for enjoying your evo

 

[gooner8]

Completely forgot to mention the service intervals in my post lol........ :whistling:

i forgive you Matt lol

 

[m7gsr]

Hi and welcome

 

[scratcher]

I learned the basics from older turbo cars... Well, Renault 5 GT Turbos. From bringing one back from the dead to rebuilding engines for friends. Once you understand how a turbo charged engine works, you can grasp the basic principle of most.
It's engine management thats the hardest part, but from a good mate on here who know the ins and outs of it it's under control. And as has been mentioned before, the servicing of the AYC is something best keft to a specialist.

Oh, and after an Evo... Mine's for sale

 

[Sancho]

Thanks for all the replies lads. First of all, allow me to say that I didn't mean to offend anyone by suggesting that you were all auto techs or whatever, I really had no idea as to what level of knowledge you needed to be considered a credible Evo owner. The question was brought about by an Auto Trader ad for an Evo that I saw, that said "no time wasters" or summat and it made me think "that's the point, how am I gonna know if there's anything wrong in the test drive it without knowing how it works?" But to be honest, your replies have put me at ease about the whole thing. What I might do is spend a few months learning about how cars work in a basic way and build up my knowledge from there. It might take a while but I've probably got enough time to learn.

Well that was my main concern anyway, but as a general rule, I was wondering what sort of money you spend on an Evo, on a regular basis? Just to maintain it, keep it taxed and insured, etc. Say, an average figure for monthly upkeep and also yearly. No need for anything really specific, just so I've got a general idea of what I'd be looking at.

scratcher: Might be a couple of years yet before I can afford one mate! Nice plug tho By the way, when you say engine management, what do you mean by that? Is it tuning and whatnot?

Jonny: What are the flags that you mentioned then? Sounds interesting

So basically I'm gonna be looking at doing some serious learning because I really wanna be able to service my own vehicle, not least to keep costs down. I'll do what scratcher said by getting an old car with a turbo charged engine, stripping it down and re-assembling it from scratch. I can't think of any, but could there be any pitfalls with this plan?

 

[Matt-evo-v]

i forgive you Matt lol

lol, thank you



Sancho, the best way you're going to learn about the Evo is to be asking questions on here, no question too silly (unless you ask how many wheels they have lol)

As for the cost of owning and maintaining the car, I would have to guess that mine has come in at (owning for 30months) roughly £350 a month (on average, fuel, service and insurance) but having said that, I have also replaced the clutch, engine and rear diff at an additional cost of £6500(approx),so if things don't go well, it can be expensive.

Replacing the engine is not too common and could have been prevented, the clutch, well that just boils down to wear and tear and some launches, the rear diff, well s**t happens hahaha

The only pitfall of your plan (rebuilding a turbo car) is that it could get expensive and that money you could put towards saving for an evo.

Enjoy the learning period, like I say, just ask away and you will get your answers........they have 4 wheels by the way (plus a steering wheel and a space saver)

 

[Sancho]

lol yeah, cheers for that, I was wondering actually... haha, just kidding

Nah, all I meant was dismantling the whole engine (it'd have to be one section at a time, due to not having much space to work with) and then re-assembling it with the help of a manual and of course asking people on here. It sounds like that would otherwise be a good way to learn, is that right?

Just for your information by the way, the car itself would be the cheapest suitable one I could find, and I definitely hear what you're saying about saving money.

 

[LINDA]

just had my evo 8 servised and new cambelt done now seems to have lost power anyone help

 

[RsvRob]

just had my evo 8 servised and new cambelt done now seems to have lost power anyone help

What you meen lost power? Bit more info would be good ....

Boost?

A newbie post might help aswell :whistling: