Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I was hoping you evo guys could help me out a little bit. I currently have a 2g that seems to run for a couple months tops before something breaks and an '01 audi a4 that has 120k miles on it and I'm just worried that when things start need replacing that I'm going to go broke just doing simple maintenance.

Then the idea came up of parting out the 2g, selling the audi, and then maybe picking up an evo. But I'm not sure if it is the way to go and hope some of the evo guys can give their honest opinion if they had to do it over again if they'd pick an evo or get something else. I'm an evo n00b, so anything you can think of please post it up.

Is there an certain mileage where things start needing to be replaced? I know there is the 60k service with the timing belt, but is there anything else major?

I think I could be happy and content with a 400ish @ DB hp evo on corn. Is that too much to expect out of an evo that would be my daily driver?

Is there anything that I should be looking for when looking at possible ones to buy?

Any other info or help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

400-430awhp on my dyno isn't a problem. It's attainable with bolt-on quick spooling turbos and the stock motor can handle it. The IX is optimal, but they cost a lot more. You want the 5-speed instead of the 6-speed also. The newer the 5-speed the better/more fixes they have. Make sure it shifts smooth, especially into 3rd gear. I have Evos in all the time that grind into 3rd.

They are prone to bent intake valves, so if you have a way to check that... They sometime leak water into the cabin at a harness grommet and then your wiring gets fucked. Schiedes knows all about it.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I have daily driven mine and at 125k I had to do a wheel bearing and a rear control arm bushing but that never made me stranded or anything. Just a quick easy fix. Mine is for sale at a great price too with all the 130k maintenance done!

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Glad to know that a bolt on quick spooling turbo can make that kind of power. Hell I remember I got scared when you drove my car after its first tune and it was making 450. haha

Thanks for all the other tips Shane! How are you and Mara liking your evo?


That's not too bad in maintenance at all for 130k. I'll keep you evo in mind if I do end up parting out my 2g.

Keep em coming guys. I'm kinda really thinking about parting out the 2g.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I bought my IX at 10k miles and sold it at 53k. I honestly can't think of a single issue I had that wasn't caused by an aftermarket parts failure. Keep all the fluids fresh and stay up on the preventative maintenance. Actually wait, at 43k miles I had a leaky rear differential seal but that was covered under warranty and repaired.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

For the love of God, buy a IX.

HTA Green. yummy.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Are you anti X all the sudden, lol.

I think all the Evo's are awesome cars and you can't go wrong with any of them. I guess the thing I would say is treat it like a DD and mod slow...i fail at this and paid the price for it.

Also remember not to push it too hard, Shane knows the limits of the 4G well though, so you are in good hands.

I vote, yes do it. You can get into the 10's on a stock frame turbo too if you are a good driver, or even on the stock turbo if you are crazy like Ron.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I havnt had an issue with my IX ever. As far as anything failing. The occasional boost leak, but im running 30psi through stock IC pipes lol. I should be rolling around to 60k miles by around friday of this week or so. If you plan on making ay power though upgrade the clutch imediatly. Hell my stocker went at 38,xxx miles completely stock. One other thing is if you get an 8 with a stock plastic bov, get a IX metal bov or go SD and a Tial or whateveru like.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Clutch longevity really depends on how it's driven; it's very important to remove the restrictor pill ASAP.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Thanks for all the tips guys!

I'd love to get a 9, but I don't think I can afford it and I don't know if I can justify spending the extra money. I just got out of college recently and with paying back student loans, I don't want to take out a huge car loan. Realistically I think I'd probably be looking for a lower mileage 8, I just want a semi quick daily driver car with everything that works.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Put some nice cams in the 8 and you will love it :)

I'd plan on some winter tires and summer tires as well.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

No problem with that! I just think the IX is optimal. With the VIII you gotta choose your cams well or the power levels don't compare to a IX or X. With the X your combination of parts is almost guaranteed to be breaking new ground and that's too expensive, even for IT guys.

I've never driven an VIII before. Buy one so we can swap cars for a spin. ;)

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

VIII + cams + IX turbo would make for a good lower cost alternative to a IX.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Only thing went on my car was valve seals. Which could be replaced by yourself. Jim did his he said it wasn't bad. I just took Scheides stage 3 head because it was the right choice. My stock clutch was still good when I took it out at 55k. They are good cars. If you wanna drive mine no problem. Same with you mlomker come take it for a spin if you'd like.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

EVO's :drool:

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I would love to take you up on that offer if you're serious, hell even go for a ride would be fun. I've worked on a few evo's but never drove one or really rode in one that I can remember.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1844684096.html

Seems like a really good deal? I wish I didn't have car ADD.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

It doesn't run a 10.7, but you can take it out for a spin..

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Looks to be a good deal.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Now that scheides has a X, there's often one of every generation at the Wednesday night meets.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

good read. I'm also in the same boat. I've got student loans to pay and I'm wondering if I could afford it. Maybe next year though. I've been looking for an Evo also and it seems that the good ones are the more expensive ones, obviously. But the "alright" ones have some mods here and there, are lowered price but they obviously are the ones that have been beaten on. I sort of trust the Evos that get babied more. I've been reading that the Evo's transfer case also likes to go out also. Changing the trans, t-case and rear end pretty often would save the drive train from it's destruction.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I bought my car with 46k, now has 106k. Aside from the leaking exhaust valves causing the car to be hard to start in the winter the car hasn't let me down. 5th gear grinds a bit, right rear wheel bearing needs replacing, and ball joints or something up front make a little noise over slow bumps, driveshaft or something rattles on high speed decel (which I have never been able to solve) and those are my only complaints. This car has over 2 dozen autocross events on it (well over 100 runs) and it keeps taking it like a champ.

You are welcome to take it for a spin any time you want.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

This is my plan for the coming spring if all works out right. :) but I'm keeping the 1g.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I've always wanted to come to the Weds night meets, but I volunteer every Weds till 8 and I don't know if everybody would still be there when I got done. Maybe I'll skip out early one night and head down there.

Thanks again for all your advice guys! Its really making me lean towards an evo. Although anybody that really knows me doesn't believe me when I say I'll be happy with 400hp. Time to make some hard decisions pretty quick here.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

The car will be slow. It won't be a 600awhp light ass 2G like you have. The Evos are really good at running 11s and 10s in the 1/4 easy, but when you are trying to run 9s or 8s, there isn't much advantage over a DSM.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Holy shit! He might have to try a motorsport that involves turning.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

Brad doesn't turn, too dangerous to have the wheel turned when he hits the 100 shot of nitrous. Brad can't have a car without NOStrous on it!

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I think low 11s in a daily would be pretty fun/cool/maybe fast enough. I guess my bike runs 11.0 and although it feels kinda slow sometimes, it can feel fast sometimes as well. I guess it depends on the day. I do think it'll feel slow though, I've become a little spoiled on whats "normal" over the past couple years.

haha the bike and the audi don't have nitrous on them ;)

mlomker - I would love to road race, but I'm far too poor for upkeep and the parts to be competitive. I also hate losing so I try not to do things where I don't think I'll have a chance. I'll stick to 1/4 or having fun on some back roads I take my bike on.

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

You own an Audi and are asking if an EVO is reliable? :D

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

This. My Audi B5 S4 blew goats, to be clever. Loads of maintenance and more on the horizon before I sold it. I spent $1500/ month on maintenance and repair. for three months in a row.

My biggest thing is to be honest about what the car is. I wanted a fun, relatively more reliable DD, so I got a IX. If I was going to mod it to the hilt and drive it competitively, I would've gone for the slightly cheaper VIII.

Without stirring the pot or starting another VIII vs IX vs X debate, here's why I chose a IX after 8+ months of (casual) researching and driving at least 7 Evos:

- word is the IX has a slightly better interior quality-- supposedly a couple more staples and whatnot to help with rattles. Not sure if I believe this, but still.
- MIVEC
- better stock turbo than the VIII's
- ACD was a big one for me, what with winters here
- I generally like the last model year of a generation as they tend to have more of the bugs worked out
-being newer, most IX's will have lower mileage

Anyway, I know you said IX's might be out of budget but those are at least things to consider. If you do stick with an VIII, I think most would agree to look for 05's. They have the 10.5 hotside, ACD, and the available SSL package.

Sorry for the novel. :)

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

I'm in the same boat as well. Jump on the bandwagon, abandon my love of 1Gs for a car that everyone else has (for all the right reasons!).

Re: Evo - a quick reliable daily driver?
 

After being in all of the evos, and the fact the weakest part of a DSM has been basically solved I see no reason not to go to an Evo apart from budget.

I hope to pick a 9 up someday.