Mitsubishi Evo8 fq300
Discussion
Really loving the idea of having an evo recently. I've driven many cars, reasonably fast and slow but never an Evo!
Anyway, looking at the evo8 fq300s..
How good are they? Apart from AYC issues, are there any other bits to really look out for?
WHAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WORTH? 70-90K MILES ON THE CLOCK. SOME MODS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER?
Anyway, looking at the evo8 fq300s..
How good are they? Apart from AYC issues, are there any other bits to really look out for?
WHAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WORTH? 70-90K MILES ON THE CLOCK. SOME MODS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER?
I owned one for as few years. This is still the only car I have owned that would make me look forward to rain and wet roads.
I had virtually no issues with mine. The rear diff went, but this was due to (according to the technician) a badly fitted seal in the factory and Mitsubishi got me a new one FOC.
Economy is frankly atrocious, but not as bad as some other cars.
Some people say they are too easy to drive, they are safe and you can push it hard. But it is only because it is such an accomplished road car that is seems as though it is too easy.
As was said, join the MLR and if you buy an EVO pay the annual sub too. It pays for itself with discounts, tyres etc...
Any specific questions let me know and I will try to help.
I had virtually no issues with mine. The rear diff went, but this was due to (according to the technician) a badly fitted seal in the factory and Mitsubishi got me a new one FOC.
Economy is frankly atrocious, but not as bad as some other cars.
Some people say they are too easy to drive, they are safe and you can push it hard. But it is only because it is such an accomplished road car that is seems as though it is too easy.
As was said, join the MLR and if you buy an EVO pay the annual sub too. It pays for itself with discounts, tyres etc...
Any specific questions let me know and I will try to help.
Hi, I've had my 8 for nearly 10 years, it'll be expensive to maintain and run if you use it on a daily basis, but mine's been ultra reliable, however it's only done 37k!
If you buy a standard or stage 1 modded car, and it has a decent history, it'll be the best thing you could buy for the money in my opinion. The 6 speed box feels notchy, and can have issues ( 4th gear usually, and usually on cars making a lot more torque than standard ) and the box must have a high quality oil to keep the notchiness to a minimum, front top mounts are sometimes prone to knocking ( haven't had this on mine ), very heavy on fuel ( never seen 20 mpg! ), and as you've already noted the AYC can go awol.
If you can stretch to an MR I would, however for me, the main benefit to that theory is that they have the Bilstein suspension......it's an easy, cheap and worthwhile upgrade to do with 2nd hand parts on an earlier model, and I did exactly that.....no downsides whatsoever, just a significantly better ride. Mine went through 3 sets of tyres in 15k miles, however, I blame that on my own exuberance, I drove it very hard when I first got it!
If it's had a hard life and needs a clutch, budget for a flywheel also.
If you can possibly justify it, buy one, there's really nothing quite like a well set-up Evo. Just to ad, 8k should but a really nice early 8 these days....don't dismiss a modded 260, they can make the same power as the other models with the right mods, and have the ( arguably ) better, certainly stronger 5 speed box.
If you buy a standard or stage 1 modded car, and it has a decent history, it'll be the best thing you could buy for the money in my opinion. The 6 speed box feels notchy, and can have issues ( 4th gear usually, and usually on cars making a lot more torque than standard ) and the box must have a high quality oil to keep the notchiness to a minimum, front top mounts are sometimes prone to knocking ( haven't had this on mine ), very heavy on fuel ( never seen 20 mpg! ), and as you've already noted the AYC can go awol.
If you can stretch to an MR I would, however for me, the main benefit to that theory is that they have the Bilstein suspension......it's an easy, cheap and worthwhile upgrade to do with 2nd hand parts on an earlier model, and I did exactly that.....no downsides whatsoever, just a significantly better ride. Mine went through 3 sets of tyres in 15k miles, however, I blame that on my own exuberance, I drove it very hard when I first got it!
If it's had a hard life and needs a clutch, budget for a flywheel also.
If you can possibly justify it, buy one, there's really nothing quite like a well set-up Evo. Just to ad, 8k should but a really nice early 8 these days....don't dismiss a modded 260, they can make the same power as the other models with the right mods, and have the ( arguably ) better, certainly stronger 5 speed box.
Edited by Heaveho on Tuesday 11th December 19:40
Had my 8 since May of this year. Was origionally an FQ300
Its slightly modded now and was RR at 384bhp.
Its ridiculous what it'll do, you throw it at a corner at speeds you wouldn't consider possible and it just does what you ask of it.
In a straight line its just keeps going, and going and going.
Economy isn't that bad either.....
On my commute - which is only about 5 miles of crap roads I average 20 - 22 mpg.
On a recent run to Wales I managed to average 28 mpg on the way back on the motorway.
The way down I probably got 25.
While I was down there..... prob not worth thinking about.
Servicing costs aren't too horrendous, as long as nothing goes wrong.
Sincve I bought mine i've had a new prop shaft (bought with a problem so knew about it) at £100 plus fitting, and a set of pads and discs. which might have cost about £400 all in.
I had it undersealed to keep it nice and rust free.
Interior - Nowhere near as bad as people make out. Quite well specced - christ i've even got a mini disc player
With petrol prices only going one way there will never be a cheaper time to own one
Oh and as everyone above has said - join the MLR.
I bought mine from a member on there and will when the time comes probabaly sell it on on there as well.
Its slightly modded now and was RR at 384bhp.
Its ridiculous what it'll do, you throw it at a corner at speeds you wouldn't consider possible and it just does what you ask of it.
In a straight line its just keeps going, and going and going.
Economy isn't that bad either.....
On my commute - which is only about 5 miles of crap roads I average 20 - 22 mpg.
On a recent run to Wales I managed to average 28 mpg on the way back on the motorway.
The way down I probably got 25.
While I was down there..... prob not worth thinking about.
Servicing costs aren't too horrendous, as long as nothing goes wrong.
Sincve I bought mine i've had a new prop shaft (bought with a problem so knew about it) at £100 plus fitting, and a set of pads and discs. which might have cost about £400 all in.
I had it undersealed to keep it nice and rust free.
Interior - Nowhere near as bad as people make out. Quite well specced - christ i've even got a mini disc player
With petrol prices only going one way there will never be a cheaper time to own one
Oh and as everyone above has said - join the MLR.
I bought mine from a member on there and will when the time comes probabaly sell it on on there as well.
All above comments are great, i second them.
I have an 8MR, the MR has more changes over an 8 than there are from an 8MR to a 9. They include T10.5 turbo housing, aluminium roof, ali bonnet & wings, different cam profiles, Bilstein shocks etc etc
To be honest tho, they do charge a premium over a standard 8 and you will still get 96% of the driving thrills with a standard 8 and save yourself 2k. Personally the resale of the MR made it worthwhile.
Mine is mapped to stage 1 with 374hp/349lbft - im soon adding a 3" turbo back exhaust, air intake and 750cc injectors which will see it being restricted to 420hp. You cant go any further without forged engine parts and a £5k withdrawl from your wallet.
Buy one, you will never regret it......or want to sell it !
Nothing can touch it on a wet road, and not alot on a dry one.
Think of this, mine is faster than a 911 GT3, a ferrari 360 and many Astons..... Cost me £11k
As far as cheap thrills go, it doesnt get better than this.
All the parts are cheap too, so dont worry if things go wrong.
I have an 8MR, the MR has more changes over an 8 than there are from an 8MR to a 9. They include T10.5 turbo housing, aluminium roof, ali bonnet & wings, different cam profiles, Bilstein shocks etc etc
To be honest tho, they do charge a premium over a standard 8 and you will still get 96% of the driving thrills with a standard 8 and save yourself 2k. Personally the resale of the MR made it worthwhile.
Mine is mapped to stage 1 with 374hp/349lbft - im soon adding a 3" turbo back exhaust, air intake and 750cc injectors which will see it being restricted to 420hp. You cant go any further without forged engine parts and a £5k withdrawl from your wallet.
Buy one, you will never regret it......or want to sell it !
Nothing can touch it on a wet road, and not alot on a dry one.
Think of this, mine is faster than a 911 GT3, a ferrari 360 and many Astons..... Cost me £11k
As far as cheap thrills go, it doesnt get better than this.
All the parts are cheap too, so dont worry if things go wrong.
And find an independent specialist, the dealers are truly crap in my experience....I'n not kidding, the " Ralliart approved " Mitsi dealer I used in Southampton ( only the once mind ) fitted the balancer shaft belt 180 degrees out, and needed the car back for 4 days to figure out why it was running rough! Justice was done though, they went under soon afterwards.
The one word I would caution is that I must see one thread every couple of months on the MLR about dodgy tuners, personal sellers and their practices; there's one running now which is horrific. Despite buying from a supposedly reputable dealer I got stung with mine.
The advice I would give is keep it relatively stock, and enjoy it for what it is. And when buying get it inspected. Try not to get sucked into the power race either, as there are just too many shyster willing to lift your leg.
The advice I would give is keep it relatively stock, and enjoy it for what it is. And when buying get it inspected. Try not to get sucked into the power race either, as there are just too many shyster willing to lift your leg.
rhinochopig said:
The one word I would caution is that I must see one thread every couple of months on the MLR about dodgy tuners, personal sellers and their practices; there's one running now which is horrific. Despite buying from a supposedly reputable dealer I got stung with mine.
The advice I would give is keep it relatively stock, and enjoy it for what it is. And when buying get it inspected. Try not to get sucked into the power race either, as there are just too many shyster willing to lift your leg.
Yeah, I would say Stage 1 is the perfect balance. 360-400bhp, add some upgraded brake discs and pads and away you go.The advice I would give is keep it relatively stock, and enjoy it for what it is. And when buying get it inspected. Try not to get sucked into the power race either, as there are just too many shyster willing to lift your leg.
As above, if it were me, I'd get as low a mileage VIII MR as you can, budget for a clutch replacement and AYC rebuild and then swap the exhaust for decatted 3", upgrade the fuel pump, have it remapped, upgrade brake pads, discs and fluid and then leave it - it will be plenty fast on the road with minimal compromise to the reliability.
Just to correct one of the posts above - all of the CT9A Evos (VII to IX MR) have aluminium bonnets and the same wings, don't think they are aluminium though.
The VIII MR and later cars have aluminium roofs and lighter side impact bars to give a c. 10kg weight saving over the VII and VIII.
Just to correct one of the posts above - all of the CT9A Evos (VII to IX MR) have aluminium bonnets and the same wings, don't think they are aluminium though.
The VIII MR and later cars have aluminium roofs and lighter side impact bars to give a c. 10kg weight saving over the VII and VIII.
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