350z to Evo - am I mad?
Discussion
I've had my 350 for a year now, and I'm not really gelling with it - had it uprev'd which improved things no end, but it seems a very lazy and uninvolving engine compared to other stuff I've driven.
Can't complain about the build quality etc - its cost nothing but fuel so far.
Anyway, was going to try and liven it up with a exhaust, free flow cats and induction spacer package - but the cost of that seems comparable to swapping to a livlier car.
So far narrowed it down to an E46 M3 and a Mitsy Evo (7 or 8) - am I opening myself up to a world of pain financially and little benefit over the Z?
Always fancied an evo, but getting to try one is non existant, as owners/sellers are reluctant to offer test drives (even though I'm late 30's...)
Whats the advice from those in the know?
Can't complain about the build quality etc - its cost nothing but fuel so far.
Anyway, was going to try and liven it up with a exhaust, free flow cats and induction spacer package - but the cost of that seems comparable to swapping to a livlier car.
So far narrowed it down to an E46 M3 and a Mitsy Evo (7 or 8) - am I opening myself up to a world of pain financially and little benefit over the Z?
Always fancied an evo, but getting to try one is non existant, as owners/sellers are reluctant to offer test drives (even though I'm late 30's...)
Whats the advice from those in the know?
Thanks for the comments so far - leaning towards the evo, seems like a must car to own (if only for a year).
Any dealer recomendations welcome.
Not that Fuels a big consideration with my mileage, but hitting 20-28mpg in the 350z with a mix of B-road and motorway work, is that comparable to an evo?
Any dealer recomendations welcome.
Not that Fuels a big consideration with my mileage, but hitting 20-28mpg in the 350z with a mix of B-road and motorway work, is that comparable to an evo?
Evo will be slightly worse on fuel, but the big cost is insurance. I'd check that before going any further.
Otherwise, just be aware that servicing on the Evo VII/VIII is every 4.5k miles or 6 months and at their age could need some big ticket service items (cam belt at 45k miles/5 years, clutch, AYC pump, etc).
You will find little that can outperform a lightly tweaked one at anything near legal speeds on a UK road though and I'd highly recommend owning one for a short period.
Otherwise, just be aware that servicing on the Evo VII/VIII is every 4.5k miles or 6 months and at their age could need some big ticket service items (cam belt at 45k miles/5 years, clutch, AYC pump, etc).
You will find little that can outperform a lightly tweaked one at anything near legal speeds on a UK road though and I'd highly recommend owning one for a short period.
Ive driven an early 350Z a while ago. But I now own an Evo 8MR with a remap and couple of tweaks, still running standard exhaust and airbox and generating a neck snapping 375hp/350lb ft.
It is the best driving experience ive had, mainly because its nimble, fast and so so capable in any conditions. You can still use full power in the wet which is such fun.
In the wet, you can humble just about any car. Cars with 100 more horsepower just cant put it down when the Evo can.
So reality, as a weekend toy doing 4000 miles per annum I am getting 22-24mpg but when on a run with the PH crew its probably 17-19mpg.
The main difference is that the Mitsi is designed to be modified, everything you might want to change can be done quickly and cheaply, if you want to de-cat, 4 bolts and the cat drops off on its own, a 18" decat pipe for £50 and your sorted. I have mine mapped properly for £200 a time.
The expensive parts are exhausts at £500-£1000 clutches are good for 60,000 miles+ but cost £470 plus fitting.
Mine hasnt cost anything except the stuff ive done to it. Servicing is really cheap, the short 4500 mile service can be done at mitsubishi for £140 and less at independants.
If you get one, whatever spec, have it remapped instantly and it comes alive.
Ive said enough !
It is the best driving experience ive had, mainly because its nimble, fast and so so capable in any conditions. You can still use full power in the wet which is such fun.
In the wet, you can humble just about any car. Cars with 100 more horsepower just cant put it down when the Evo can.
So reality, as a weekend toy doing 4000 miles per annum I am getting 22-24mpg but when on a run with the PH crew its probably 17-19mpg.
The main difference is that the Mitsi is designed to be modified, everything you might want to change can be done quickly and cheaply, if you want to de-cat, 4 bolts and the cat drops off on its own, a 18" decat pipe for £50 and your sorted. I have mine mapped properly for £200 a time.
The expensive parts are exhausts at £500-£1000 clutches are good for 60,000 miles+ but cost £470 plus fitting.
Mine hasnt cost anything except the stuff ive done to it. Servicing is really cheap, the short 4500 mile service can be done at mitsubishi for £140 and less at independants.
If you get one, whatever spec, have it remapped instantly and it comes alive.
Ive said enough !
Bearing in mind that you've posted this in the Jap Chat section, the bias may be skewed a little towards the Mitsy 
What's your budget? You don't mention and that may have large bearing (or if you did, I missed so sorry if that was the case)
For my money the Evo would give the more visceral thrill, being a far sharper tool to drive and so much mechanical grip it will feel like a video game after your Zed. The interior sucks and build quality will feel lower than your Z33 too, but this may not be important to you.
The E46 M3 is one of the nicest all rounders I've driven. Great engine and exhaust note, sweet gearbox, tremendous interior and overall build quality makes you feel like you're driving a far more valuable object than the Evo. Huge amounts of grip in the dry and still pretty good in the wet if it has decent tyres and geo. I love rear wheel drive too.
Both cars have incredible sound tracks thanks to the straight six (M3) and turbo remix (Evo), and both are cars that any performance driver would love to own I'm sure.
The only other thing I'd ponder is where your local specialist is, as that would have a large bearing on things if it were me. I hate the inconvenience of having to traipse miles to see someone who knows what they are doing, and therefore choose cars around the support I know I can count on (don't count my current fleet )
Good luck.
What's your budget? You don't mention and that may have large bearing (or if you did, I missed so sorry if that was the case)
For my money the Evo would give the more visceral thrill, being a far sharper tool to drive and so much mechanical grip it will feel like a video game after your Zed. The interior sucks and build quality will feel lower than your Z33 too, but this may not be important to you.
The E46 M3 is one of the nicest all rounders I've driven. Great engine and exhaust note, sweet gearbox, tremendous interior and overall build quality makes you feel like you're driving a far more valuable object than the Evo. Huge amounts of grip in the dry and still pretty good in the wet if it has decent tyres and geo. I love rear wheel drive too.
Both cars have incredible sound tracks thanks to the straight six (M3) and turbo remix (Evo), and both are cars that any performance driver would love to own I'm sure.
The only other thing I'd ponder is where your local specialist is, as that would have a large bearing on things if it were me. I hate the inconvenience of having to traipse miles to see someone who knows what they are doing, and therefore choose cars around the support I know I can count on (don't count my current fleet
)Good luck.
I have to agree with everything EighteenMPG says, he doesnt post that often, but when he does !!!!!
I looked at the E46 M3 at the same time as the evo. If its a weekend car the evo wins for my needs, if it was a daily driver with 10k+pa then i would probably of gone M3.
The problems I found with the M3 were:
1. Hard to modify much, frankly a £10,000 supercharger package is the only thing of any use.
2. Stress cracks in the chassis and body where it meets the rear cross member were a worry for me and put me off, everybody will say theres doesnt have them ! but BMW are sometimes fixing for free so it must be a known problem.
3. Just looks so boring because you see them everywhere and to most non-car people it looks just like a 316i
All my opinion of course, I guess im just justifying my decision, but im pleased with the one i made.
I looked at the E46 M3 at the same time as the evo. If its a weekend car the evo wins for my needs, if it was a daily driver with 10k+pa then i would probably of gone M3.
The problems I found with the M3 were:
1. Hard to modify much, frankly a £10,000 supercharger package is the only thing of any use.
2. Stress cracks in the chassis and body where it meets the rear cross member were a worry for me and put me off, everybody will say theres doesnt have them ! but BMW are sometimes fixing for free so it must be a known problem.
3. Just looks so boring because you see them everywhere and to most non-car people it looks just like a 316i
All my opinion of course, I guess im just justifying my decision, but im pleased with the one i made.
A friend had an evo9 fq360, he loved it massively, sold it because he thought it attracted too much attention and bought an e46 m3. He really regretted it, the evo was so much more capable.
All this playstation talk comes from someone that has never driven one or has only driven a low powered model, they are easily persuaded into tail out antics and much quicker than the m3. Yes the dashboard is not the nicest but the seats are leagues ahead of the ones in an m3. With 366bhp it is rediculously easy to break traction if you are being silly, so much so he almost crashed it on a roundabout on the way from picking it up.
It needs servicing regularly but it was still cheaper to run than the m3 as he did not have staggered 19inch tyres which cost a grand a set to consider.
Surely there must be a dealer that you can get a testdrive with.
All this playstation talk comes from someone that has never driven one or has only driven a low powered model, they are easily persuaded into tail out antics and much quicker than the m3. Yes the dashboard is not the nicest but the seats are leagues ahead of the ones in an m3. With 366bhp it is rediculously easy to break traction if you are being silly, so much so he almost crashed it on a roundabout on the way from picking it up.
It needs servicing regularly but it was still cheaper to run than the m3 as he did not have staggered 19inch tyres which cost a grand a set to consider.
Surely there must be a dealer that you can get a testdrive with.
I have to say, the Evo is a chunk faster down a b-road but the M3 is more engaging to drive. And the Evo has a terrible engine note compared to the M3.
Two very different cars though so drive them both. Do you want outright pace, or do you want more throttle adjustabiliy at the expense of pace?
Two very different cars though so drive them both. Do you want outright pace, or do you want more throttle adjustabiliy at the expense of pace?
rhinochopig said:
I have to say, the Evo is a chunk faster down a b-road but the M3 is more engaging to drive. And the Evo has a terrible engine note compared to the M3.
I`d say the opposite, I think the evo is far more engaging to drive and the m3 far more sedate 99% of the time unless you fancy getting the rear end out.Engine note is subjective, I personally hate the rasp of the m3, sounds like somethings broken and rattling about in th exhaust to me.
scottp3000 said:
I've had my 350 for a year now, and I'm not really gelling with it - had it uprev'd which improved things no end, but it seems a very lazy and uninvolving engine compared to other stuff I've driven.
Can't complain about the build quality etc - its cost nothing but fuel so far.
Anyway, was going to try and liven it up with a exhaust, free flow cats and induction spacer package - but the cost of that seems comparable to swapping to a livlier car.
So far narrowed it down to an E46 M3 and a Mitsy Evo (7 or 8) - am I opening myself up to a world of pain financially and little benefit over the Z?
Always fancied an evo, but getting to try one is non existant, as owners/sellers are reluctant to offer test drives (even though I'm late 30's...)
Whats the advice from those in the know?
I will strongly suggest you get some more budget togeather and get a E9, preferably with bilstein suspension (meaning OE bilsteins that come on FQ and MR).. Keep it stock with just a fuel pump upgrade, exhaust and remap... That will give you approx 380 bhp which is more than enough for any road, and will mean that running expenses are the same as for a fully stock car.Can't complain about the build quality etc - its cost nothing but fuel so far.
Anyway, was going to try and liven it up with a exhaust, free flow cats and induction spacer package - but the cost of that seems comparable to swapping to a livlier car.
So far narrowed it down to an E46 M3 and a Mitsy Evo (7 or 8) - am I opening myself up to a world of pain financially and little benefit over the Z?
Always fancied an evo, but getting to try one is non existant, as owners/sellers are reluctant to offer test drives (even though I'm late 30's...)
Whats the advice from those in the know?
Having said that, it is a bit more expensive to run than a 350, but use a good specialist, and it is not so bad.
kikiturbo said:
I will strongly suggest you get some more budget togeather and get a E9, preferably with bilstein suspension (meaning OE bilsteins that come on FQ and MR).. Keep it stock with just a fuel pump upgrade, exhaust and remap... That will give you approx 380 bhp which is more than enough for any road, and will mean that running expenses are the same as for a fully stock car.
Exactly what I have done (8 MR has bilsteins too, not just the 9)Anyone remotely interested in cars is doing themselves a disservice by not owning an Evo if the opportunity presents itself...I've been fortunate enough to have had access to a cross-section of expensive and capable cars that most people would drool over, I still have the Evo after 9 years, all the others have come and gone.
It's an impossible car to replace, go for it.
It's an impossible car to replace, go for it.
Heaveho said:
Anyone remotely interested in cars is doing themselves a disservice by not owning an Evo if the opportunity presents itself...I've been fortunate enough to have had access to a cross-section of expensive and capable cars that most people would drool over, I still have the Evo after 9 years, all the others have come and gone.
It's an impossible car to replace, go for it.
My experience exactly, and had mine 12yrs!It's an impossible car to replace, go for it.
don logan said:
Heaveho said:
Anyone remotely interested in cars is doing themselves a disservice by not owning an Evo if the opportunity presents itself...I've been fortunate enough to have had access to a cross-section of expensive and capable cars that most people would drool over, I still have the Evo after 9 years, all the others have come and gone.
It's an impossible car to replace, go for it.
My experience exactly, and had mine 12yrs!It's an impossible car to replace, go for it.
The only thing I would even consider is a GTR with mods but to be honest the rear seats are a joke compared to the evo, so my 2 girls wouldnt thank me for it
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