Evo X as a daily .
Discussion
Hi all
Considering an Evo X as my daily driver.
I’ve seen a lightly modified fq300 sst.
I’ve had 8 imprezas but never an Evo.
The gearbox has been rebuilt and I’m waiting on other proof of additional maintenance.
I just wondered what people’s thoughts are on having one of these as a daily. Pitfalls? Risks?
I have watched a few review videos and the opinions are so varied from excellent to ruinous.
Any opinions from owners past/present would be appreciated.
Thanks
Considering an Evo X as my daily driver.
I’ve seen a lightly modified fq300 sst.
I’ve had 8 imprezas but never an Evo.
The gearbox has been rebuilt and I’m waiting on other proof of additional maintenance.
I just wondered what people’s thoughts are on having one of these as a daily. Pitfalls? Risks?
I have watched a few review videos and the opinions are so varied from excellent to ruinous.
Any opinions from owners past/present would be appreciated.
Thanks
Whatever your expectations are with regard to running costs, in my experience of 21 years of Evo 8 ownership, if you intend to drive it hard, add a third extra to your annual bills fund. I did 14k miles in the first year I had mine, so 3 services, 3 sets of tyres, and spectacular fuel bills.
My understanding is that the SST can be problematic, this seemingly borne out if the one you're looking at has already been rebuilt. The X engine is completely different to all that went before it, so obviously that means that you'll need to source parts specific to that model, whereas it was a bit easier with the earlier models, as there was a crossover between the 789 and a significant amount of parts sharing.
Not sure how well that model takes miles, but if I was considering it as a daily, I'd be wanting a pretty cast iron service history, and evidence of a diligent owner, matched tyres, reasonably clean engine bay, etc. Google the reg, I got lucky doing that with something I was considering recently, and found enough evidence of it's past life to talk myself out of it. And if you're still keen, talk to an established Indy. Evotune in Durham know Evos inside out. Good luck.
My understanding is that the SST can be problematic, this seemingly borne out if the one you're looking at has already been rebuilt. The X engine is completely different to all that went before it, so obviously that means that you'll need to source parts specific to that model, whereas it was a bit easier with the earlier models, as there was a crossover between the 789 and a significant amount of parts sharing.
Not sure how well that model takes miles, but if I was considering it as a daily, I'd be wanting a pretty cast iron service history, and evidence of a diligent owner, matched tyres, reasonably clean engine bay, etc. Google the reg, I got lucky doing that with something I was considering recently, and found enough evidence of it's past life to talk myself out of it. And if you're still keen, talk to an established Indy. Evotune in Durham know Evos inside out. Good luck.
Heaveho said:
Whatever your expectations are with regard to running costs, in my experience of 21 years of Evo 8 ownership, if you intend to drive it hard, add a third extra to your annual bills fund. I did 14k miles in the first year I had mine, so 3 services, 3 sets of tyres, and spectacular fuel bills.
My understanding is that the SST can be problematic, this seemingly borne out if the one you're looking at has already been rebuilt. The X engine is completely different to all that went before it, so obviously that means that you'll need to source parts specific to that model, whereas it was a bit easier with the earlier models, as there was a crossover between the 789 and a significant amount of parts sharing.
Not sure how well that model takes miles, but if I was considering it as a daily, I'd be wanting a pretty cast iron service history, and evidence of a diligent owner, matched tyres, reasonably clean engine bay, etc. Google the reg, I got lucky doing that with something I was considering recently, and found enough evidence of it's past life to talk myself out of it. And if you're still keen, talk to an established Indy. Evotune in Durham know Evos inside out. Good luck.
Thanks for the insight. General consensus is polarising on the Evo X but it does feel like the weight is coming down on the stay away as they are quite bespoke and problematic. My understanding is that the SST can be problematic, this seemingly borne out if the one you're looking at has already been rebuilt. The X engine is completely different to all that went before it, so obviously that means that you'll need to source parts specific to that model, whereas it was a bit easier with the earlier models, as there was a crossover between the 789 and a significant amount of parts sharing.
Not sure how well that model takes miles, but if I was considering it as a daily, I'd be wanting a pretty cast iron service history, and evidence of a diligent owner, matched tyres, reasonably clean engine bay, etc. Google the reg, I got lucky doing that with something I was considering recently, and found enough evidence of it's past life to talk myself out of it. And if you're still keen, talk to an established Indy. Evotune in Durham know Evos inside out. Good luck.
stevekoz said:
Heaveho said:
Whatever your expectations are with regard to running costs, in my experience of 21 years of Evo 8 ownership, if you intend to drive it hard, add a third extra to your annual bills fund. I did 14k miles in the first year I had mine, so 3 services, 3 sets of tyres, and spectacular fuel bills.
My understanding is that the SST can be problematic, this seemingly borne out if the one you're looking at has already been rebuilt. The X engine is completely different to all that went before it, so obviously that means that you'll need to source parts specific to that model, whereas it was a bit easier with the earlier models, as there was a crossover between the 789 and a significant amount of parts sharing.
Not sure how well that model takes miles, but if I was considering it as a daily, I'd be wanting a pretty cast iron service history, and evidence of a diligent owner, matched tyres, reasonably clean engine bay, etc. Google the reg, I got lucky doing that with something I was considering recently, and found enough evidence of it's past life to talk myself out of it. And if you're still keen, talk to an established Indy. Evotune in Durham know Evos inside out. Good luck.
Thanks for the insight. General consensus is polarising on the Evo X but it does feel like the weight is coming down on the stay away as they are quite bespoke and problematic. My understanding is that the SST can be problematic, this seemingly borne out if the one you're looking at has already been rebuilt. The X engine is completely different to all that went before it, so obviously that means that you'll need to source parts specific to that model, whereas it was a bit easier with the earlier models, as there was a crossover between the 789 and a significant amount of parts sharing.
Not sure how well that model takes miles, but if I was considering it as a daily, I'd be wanting a pretty cast iron service history, and evidence of a diligent owner, matched tyres, reasonably clean engine bay, etc. Google the reg, I got lucky doing that with something I was considering recently, and found enough evidence of it's past life to talk myself out of it. And if you're still keen, talk to an established Indy. Evotune in Durham know Evos inside out. Good luck.
I have been daily driving an Evo 9 for the last three years, I did around 150/ 200 miles a week and had zero issues. Mostly motorway driving, it was always fun. Two services a year and the fuel was around £60/ £70 a week.
The Evo is one of the most reliable cars I've had.
You only live once, go do it!
The Evo is one of the most reliable cars I've had.
You only live once, go do it!
Can't advice you on the EVO part, but I can on the daily driver part. I've had an RX8 for the last 5 years as a second car. Never really enjoyed it to the fullest, until I started using it as much (or even more) as my daily. If I would only have one car, it would have to be something fun and engaging. So, give it a shot and as other have said, make sure you can back it up financially.
stevekoz said:
Hi all
Considering an Evo X as my daily driver.
I ve seen a lightly modified fq300 sst.
I ve had 8 imprezas but never an Evo.
The gearbox has been rebuilt and I m waiting on other proof of additional maintenance.
I just wondered what people s thoughts are on having one of these as a daily. Pitfalls? Risks?
I have watched a few review videos and the opinions are so varied from excellent to ruinous.
Any opinions from owners past/present would be appreciated.
Thanks
Thinking about the same in 2025 🤔Considering an Evo X as my daily driver.
I ve seen a lightly modified fq300 sst.
I ve had 8 imprezas but never an Evo.
The gearbox has been rebuilt and I m waiting on other proof of additional maintenance.
I just wondered what people s thoughts are on having one of these as a daily. Pitfalls? Risks?
I have watched a few review videos and the opinions are so varied from excellent to ruinous.
Any opinions from owners past/present would be appreciated.
Thanks
Dailied a VIII for 5 years, don't even want to begin thinking what I spent on it. I'd do it all over again, if I won the lottery.
Don't think it's a problem with the X (iirc) the 6 monthly services were a ballache, not so much the cost, the time, especially as the guy I trusted wasn't local.
Biggest problem for me was the "something to prove" brigade. That'll be S3, VXR, ST, Cupra etc. By and large Porsche, properly fast Audis, even scoobies will leave you alone, as they know you could be running big power, and get their arse handed to them.
I got rid as tin worm was like playing whack-a-mole, and there were other constant niggles, such as calloused knuckles from replacing ABS sensors God knows how many times.
The thing about an Evo is, you never really get to the bottom of it or master it, that's why I'm in this subforum, reminiscing.
One last opinion; I wouldn't own an X, despite its name, it's missing something that x factor. That's my opinion, if I went back I'd have a IX or a VI, I'm not s
tting on your choice, just go into it with your eyes wide open, and at any one time have minimum of a £2k fund spare for bits and pieces.
Don't think it's a problem with the X (iirc) the 6 monthly services were a ballache, not so much the cost, the time, especially as the guy I trusted wasn't local.
Biggest problem for me was the "something to prove" brigade. That'll be S3, VXR, ST, Cupra etc. By and large Porsche, properly fast Audis, even scoobies will leave you alone, as they know you could be running big power, and get their arse handed to them.
I got rid as tin worm was like playing whack-a-mole, and there were other constant niggles, such as calloused knuckles from replacing ABS sensors God knows how many times.
The thing about an Evo is, you never really get to the bottom of it or master it, that's why I'm in this subforum, reminiscing.
One last opinion; I wouldn't own an X, despite its name, it's missing something that x factor. That's my opinion, if I went back I'd have a IX or a VI, I'm not s
tting on your choice, just go into it with your eyes wide open, and at any one time have minimum of a £2k fund spare for bits and pieces.Forums | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff