Modified Evo 8 v Lexus IS-F.
Discussion
My current dilemma. Sell my much loved 50k mile Evo 8 that I've owned since 2003, modifiied with Evo 9 variable valve timing head, Evo 9 turbo and ECU, Bilsteins, AP 6 pots, and various bolt ons mapped to about 400/400.
To potentially be replaced with a standard, similar mileage 2010 IS-F that will require a suspension upgrade to make the ride palatable, but nothing more.
I've just had a genuine offer of 15k for the Evo, which, for a 2003 Jap import GSR seems strong money. I have 2 A4 folders so full of invoices and receipts that I can't close them, and I suspect if I added them all up, I'd need a week in hospital to recover. It's the car I said I'd never sell, but now I'm wondering.
I had a 2008 IS-F with Tein adjustables and ran it alongside the Evo from 2009 - 2011, but sold it because it seemed daft to have 2 four door saloons at the same time. As fantastic as the IS-F was, the Evo won out in that particular instance, as it has done with all comers before and after to date, but I'm older now. It still seems daft to own both, I don't have the space anyway, and the Evo would be an easy sale, so that's where I'm at.
My main concern is that I'm almost physically attached to the Evo, and as sensible as selling it in these circumstances seems at face value, it will feel like losing a limb and possibly replacing it with an artificial one. Emotion over rationale! The Lexus makes more sense in reality.
I need input about this, I'm too close to the action to think clearly about it!
To potentially be replaced with a standard, similar mileage 2010 IS-F that will require a suspension upgrade to make the ride palatable, but nothing more.
I've just had a genuine offer of 15k for the Evo, which, for a 2003 Jap import GSR seems strong money. I have 2 A4 folders so full of invoices and receipts that I can't close them, and I suspect if I added them all up, I'd need a week in hospital to recover. It's the car I said I'd never sell, but now I'm wondering.
I had a 2008 IS-F with Tein adjustables and ran it alongside the Evo from 2009 - 2011, but sold it because it seemed daft to have 2 four door saloons at the same time. As fantastic as the IS-F was, the Evo won out in that particular instance, as it has done with all comers before and after to date, but I'm older now. It still seems daft to own both, I don't have the space anyway, and the Evo would be an easy sale, so that's where I'm at.
My main concern is that I'm almost physically attached to the Evo, and as sensible as selling it in these circumstances seems at face value, it will feel like losing a limb and possibly replacing it with an artificial one. Emotion over rationale! The Lexus makes more sense in reality.
I need input about this, I'm too close to the action to think clearly about it!
griffter said:
I’m not sure I can really help, but I can relate. I spent 7 years putting my life and soul into a TVR Griffith and making memories, then 11 years ago I sold it for a number of reasons.
I would buy it back unseen in an instant, but it recently appeared on BaT (in the States!) so it doesn’t look like I’ll ever see it again.
Simply knowing that is quite disappointing!
Can you not run the two side by side before committing?
Hi, thanks for the reply. I've run both together in the past and in an ideal world would be quite happy to do so again, but I already have 5 vehicles, and all available spaces are taken. I live in the middle of a city centre, I've already altered the house to accommodate a ramp to get 3 cars into a 2 car garage, the other 2 live outside in front of each garage door, so I'm all out of options as far as adding more cars is concerned.I would buy it back unseen in an instant, but it recently appeared on BaT (in the States!) so it doesn’t look like I’ll ever see it again.
Simply knowing that is quite disappointing!
Can you not run the two side by side before committing?
The Evo has had a temporary stay of execution, the offer still stands but I've been asked to wait until March before deciding whether to let it go or not, as the buyer has other immediate commitments, so in a way I'm relieved! However, the Lexus I'm after may come at a price too tempting to disregard. If so, I'll buy it anyway, and deal with the absolute headache it'll cause, somehow. Not least of which is my other half and her impending fury!
Lol, thanks for the replies. The only things that have changed is that I'm older, and the Lexus is a more usable proposition more of the time. Not necessarily enough changes to justify parting with the Evo, to be fair.
Pleasantly surprised by the comments about the offer possibly being low, although I agree that standard cars are probably more sought after now.
It's kind of academic now, the IS-F I was considering caused all sorts of outrage from Mrs Heaveho, especially given that there would have been about a 6 month overlap between it arriving and the Evo leaving, meaning 6 vehicles to find space for! It was a 2010 car that apparently almost reached the reserve, the final bid being less than 15k, making it extremely cheap. I tested the water and told her I was bidding anyway, probably fortunately it didn't go my way in the end.
Pleasantly surprised by the comments about the offer possibly being low, although I agree that standard cars are probably more sought after now.
It's kind of academic now, the IS-F I was considering caused all sorts of outrage from Mrs Heaveho, especially given that there would have been about a 6 month overlap between it arriving and the Evo leaving, meaning 6 vehicles to find space for! It was a 2010 car that apparently almost reached the reserve, the final bid being less than 15k, making it extremely cheap. I tested the water and told her I was bidding anyway, probably fortunately it didn't go my way in the end.
Edited by Heaveho on Wednesday 11th November 23:38
don logan said:
I hope you know that I wasn’t being sharp by saying that?
I’m in the same situation as you, ny 6 isn’t standard but the things I’ve done to it have made it my glove
They don’t make / won’t make cars like these again, a 1350kg 4 door homologated saloon? the Yaris GR sounds great but it’s £34k (and happens to be the same weight but much smaller) look at the prices of new cars like Mini Coopers, Golf Rs etc and look what EVOs are worth.
You WILL want another EVO if you sell it, you WILL want YOURS back!
It’s true that mine hasn’t been my only car, but if it had to be, i’d risk it wearing me out!
No worries, I knew what you meant, and I tend to think the same. I’m in the same situation as you, ny 6 isn’t standard but the things I’ve done to it have made it my glove
They don’t make / won’t make cars like these again, a 1350kg 4 door homologated saloon? the Yaris GR sounds great but it’s £34k (and happens to be the same weight but much smaller) look at the prices of new cars like Mini Coopers, Golf Rs etc and look what EVOs are worth.
You WILL want another EVO if you sell it, you WILL want YOURS back!
It’s true that mine hasn’t been my only car, but if it had to be, i’d risk it wearing me out!
ecksjay said:
Interesting dilemma. Very much a first world problem, whichever you do choose.
What are your thoughts on the ISF, even given how they're getting old now? Prices seem to be holding strong, i was hoping they would drop further but seems they're creeping up if anything. A good one is now up to 20k when i believe they did dip for a while. Compare this to the contemporary M3 and the Lexus is virtually double the money if not more, although there are FAR fewer around to compare.
The IS-F is one of the few cars I've had that I would have again. As you say, the values are on the up, with good reason in my opinion. They're reliable, so you tend not to get any untoward surprises, unlike most of the competition. I loved ours, the issues I had with it were utterly crap factory sat nav, and suspension that I just couldn't live with, the ride was worse than my Evo when it was standard. Fensport do various kits now, at the time we had ours Tein was the only option, fortunately it was a great upgrade. Looking at the website, it's only about £700, so not a deal breaker.What are your thoughts on the ISF, even given how they're getting old now? Prices seem to be holding strong, i was hoping they would drop further but seems they're creeping up if anything. A good one is now up to 20k when i believe they did dip for a while. Compare this to the contemporary M3 and the Lexus is virtually double the money if not more, although there are FAR fewer around to compare.
I like cars with very direct steering. In my opinion, you can fix almost anything else you don't like ( stiff suspension, not enough power, poor brakes, etc ), but if the steering isn't right, you're pretty stuffed really. The IS-F was great in that respect, magic to throw down A roads once the suspension was done.
Very rare car now, I wish I could justify another without having to consider selling something else. As you say, very much a first world problem.
don logan said:
Ok, I haven’t changed my mind but the only thing an EVO can’t do that I crave is, low speed, low revs, upside down steering wheel sideways!
Well, you say that, and on the road I'd agree, but I was getting fairly serious oversteer at Croft in the dry the last time I was there. Of course, it rained on the last session of the day, I kept provoking it the way I had been in the dry and threw it off the track at over 100 mph when I let the n/s rear wheel get onto a wet kerb. However great they are, they aren't foolproof if you take liberties.don logan said:
Oof!
That’s kind of what I meant too, they aren’t good at “casual” sideways and the transition to grip isn’t like it is in something like an M3
I’ve got an S63 but I’m too mean to put an LSD in it
Lol, yes, I said that and a bit more on the day!. Very fortunate to end up on the long grass on the infield rather than in the trees on the outside, and other than looking like a dirty lawnmower, the car was unscathed, as was I after a quick visit to the underwear shop! That’s kind of what I meant too, they aren’t good at “casual” sideways and the transition to grip isn’t like it is in something like an M3
I’ve got an S63 but I’m too mean to put an LSD in it
I imagine that S63 to be a bit lively in the wet? We had a 600 brake Kleeman modified SLK55AMG ( well, 2 actually ), and a 730 brake E63, probably the maddest cars I've driven. They seemed a lot wilder than the V10 R8 I owned briefly a little later.
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