CONRAD

I've been a car nut (jap turbos) since the late nineties.. and have owned a considerable lot of them. I've been riding a bike every day (K7 suzuki gsxr750) for the last two years because of parking in town and the love of speed. Previous cars: Supra RS 95 Non Turbo – maybe 100kw Skyline GST 94 – modified – dyno 170kw Subaru WRX MY00- in blue with gold wheels – not modified – dyno 110kw Skyline R32 93 – N1 turbos, ecu, injectors, all the fruit – modified – 260kw 2008 – economic crisis RX7 S4 FC – I purchased a cheap car with the engine blown.. and got it built at REVs in Adelaide – maybe 150kw Mitsubishi Legnum – standard – it felt like 160kw wasn't dyno'd big torque though Mitsubishi Evo 8MR – modified – 230kw – quicker car through roads than the R32 Purchased the bike – clearly the 0-100 blows my other rides out of contention. Have had the bike for a while – but I'm also a Dad now.. so last week just purchased a: Subaru Forester XT MY09 – maybe 120/30 at wheels (its got the 2.5L turbo engine and heavily restricted – so after reading forums and a vf52 turbo later 180kw+ is easily doable, great family sleeper – just like the legnum). My question is, after all these great Jap Turbo cars, I'm thinking of selling the bike.. and what I really want is that grin factor of driving a well balanced car cheekily through corners. You might think I'm crazy, but I've heard of Hondas (ep3, s2000, type r) being fun to drive...are they????? I'm looking at 10/15 grand or actually cheaper the better (bike is only worth 8/9K) – my mates all say get a chaser, FD (both – too expensive) or similar but I'm not looking to spend 20 grand.. but I really want a REALLY fun car you can throw around – think grim factor.. I know the new 86 and BRZ personify this (30k)- but please tell me your experiences of just that fun, grin filled car!!

Deposit now taken. The Evo vs 32GTR - I've already posted about this forum a few times in this forum.. but let me give you my experience. I'll preface this with the Evo cost nearly 30k let that be said. The R32 is 15 years old. Having said that, an 33GTR would would be a better comparison - so lets include it. Money again - I would have to buy an R34 just to complete a boyhood fancy. That was an extra 10-15k.. though as a complete car for the price... imo the Evo - you cant do better The Evo was/is the best car I have ever driven (gtst,gtr,wrx,legnum (waaaay better than the subie),gtir,supra,rx7) to say that the handling was the best thing about it given that it could out accelerate all the aforementioned and BRAKE like it was snapping your neck off - is a veeery good compliment. Look the 8MR is a 'today' modern car that would make most of us a champ through the hills. When I get back into cars I know apart from living out fantasies of an R34 - I'd take an Evo over almost anything. Mine was modded with RDA400 slotted rotors and it was silly quick. I loved the gtr (r32) and that was modded to 250kw - I really did.. but 250kw in a gtr feels nothing like 220/230kw in an Evo - and I'll stand by that any day! The car as a concept of wholeness, traction, stop and go is just off the scale.

I've tried to wade off the timewasters but you just never know. Spoke to a dude the other day - seemed very interested, msgs back and forth. So he comes to inspect the car and rocks up in whats clearly his parents audi with P plates and another lacky friend. He says that he's almost sold his $45,000 Audi (bland boring model, not an rs4 or similar)- I give him the benefit of the doubt as he's one of the first people to inspect, so we go around the block etc... he says he call me back - then sms me with this (I'll type it exactly): "Hey quick question. One day this week, befor Friday, will I be able to... Lets say borrow the Evo for about a day. I want to sort of see how it drives from day to day + my mechanic to see it... Its really important as I am interested in the car but dont want to get it and know that I'll get over it after a week... and as me borrowing it, my car (the audi) can stay with you. let me know. let me know..."

Mitsubishi Evolution 8 MR In the best Colour, with the best wheels. Awesome car on the road. In excellent condition. Location: Adelaide SA (happy to organise transport interstate) Price: $27,900 Mods: Haltech ECU HKS 264 Cams - mild lumpy, no loss of drivability Electronic Boost Controller Aftermarket HID Headlights HD Organic Clutch - excellent condition, no slip Twin Scroll Titanium Turbo Brembo Brakes DBA4000 Rotors All Round Carbon Fibre Spoiler Active Centre Differential LCD TV Sterea with Amp/Sub Lightweight BBS Dropped Forged Rims Ralliart 3" Straight Through Exhaust Active YAW Control Intercooler Water Spray Evo 9 Rear Diffuser Bilstien Suspension Light Weight Aluminium Roof Vortex Generators Mechanically A1 and in great condition. There is a tiny scratch here and there from carparks, slight lip rash on 1/2 rims but easy to get fixed. Otherwise Interior/Exterior in Great Condition - Recaro's have no rips/sides are still firm etc. Brilliant car to drive - Point A to Point B theres not much out there that will touch it. I need to sell now as need the funds elsewhere. Carsales ad: Carsales *** Genuine Interest Please *** Inspections Welcome, I am not interested in dealing with Tyrekickers or Joyriders. If your interested please call me: Michael

Turbo MR2 like this one are on carsales for 5k and similar - snap snap snappy oversteer CRX light, fun - a bit sh*t inside - though BANNNZAIII I've heard good things about these. One of these for 5/6K - love the engine - though don't want people questioning my sexuality

Peeps, I purchased a motorbike at the start of the year and have been loving it - especially the parking benefits and fuel savings. I've had a lot of different imports including a gtr, and the best one I've driven is my current Evo 8mr. I love it to death and not much will touch it through the twisties. Though I am paying a bank loan for it - and now that I'm based in town everyday parking has been a problem.. so I take the bike whenever it's not raining. Meaning that I'm paying a $35k premium for a car that I now only use on the weekends. So I think I'm going to sell her and buy a much cheaper alternative. Though will definately consider buying another one when I'm better financially suited or stretch to a bncR34. Naturally as an enthusist I'm not going to buy a Yaris and am fine living with an older car with a more interesting pedigre. Ideally want something $5k - $10K (rather lower). Cars in that range are GTST's (which I've previously owned), s13's (love the fact that its cheap parts central), 300Z's (which I dont want to touch),soarers (really hate autos though) etc Though I'd like to try something different.. so Honda CRX, Civic with b16a, integra, Toyota MR2 both the aw11 and the later model sw20, Celica GT4, V8 Holden, Starlet GT.. etc etc and others are options. Anyone care to comment on previous experience or what would be the go or suggest any others I've missed. Cheers

And just one thing.. if you are jaded by 2L cars then please contact chef and just try a modern day evo just once. It will pull from the lights quicker than most and then scare your friends with the amount of speed you'll be able to carry through the hills or similar. GTR's have brambos but Evo's have BREMBOS - such a balanced car. And SR's around town town make 250kw so dont just right off 2L's because you need to spend 15k at the rigoli's to make similar!

Granted. but this dude is talking about stard wrx's .. of which I've experienced problems with. Sure an sti is another beast but we are talking the same money to buy a better car.

Oh ok.. then buy a wrx Why are you even asking?

Just face it - buy a standard rex for your missus and you'll always be wondering what its like to spend an extra few thou on a car that can demolish corners reliably, for her not you:p I've owned an archetypal 00 blue with gold wheels wrx and both sklylines gtst and gtr - and my current ride the evo is the pick - especially standard. Oh hang on you just want a decent high millage wrx. Good luck with that. Enjoy being as common as commadores and having nothing after any sort of launch (of which your gear box and clutch will haunt you). Did I mention that having to punch in that stupid security code every time you hop out of the car was farking excrutiating? - no realy take heed! For 10k - get her a chaser, and try to convince her that toyotas are pretty.

Sorry boys but I have to pop in and say that buying an evo was the best purchase I've ever made. Starting with an R33 gtst in the 90's (when they were relatively rare) worked in the usual mods including suspension, an FC RX-7 with a brand new rebuilt engine (paid by me) with a bridge port exhaust boost etc, a GTiR with mods, then a gc8 in wrx in blue, a mitsubishi Legnum (which shat on the wrx - if you couldnt stretch to a 30k evo 8.5/9 then it would be my car of choice, just awesome), an R32 GTR with N1 turbos SARD 700 injectors aftermarket ECU Tune by a really reputable shop fuel pump ohlins suspension and the rest of the works (a tune mid modification made 260kw at all 4). And then a gun metal grey Evo 8MR with zorst, cams ecu and few bolt ons (the best bit is that you don't have to build the engine chasing that power and shit - they dont go pop, like my GTR after after a year (spun bottom end bearing)...... which in my mind tears the other competition apart through the adelaide hills. Sorry.. but those thinking that all evos are 0-100 in 5.6 are in denial. Try mid low 4 seconds (8.5/9 model evo with the usual mods) - seriously. Also there are dudes using E85 with lesser engine mods than mine and making more power than my GTR! Sure you could also just as eay use that fuel to spark the r32, but as a package that GOs, stops and handles... the Evo has it at that price tag. Oh, and the all the carbon pieces from factory, aluminium roof etc never get old. Look the gtr would probably pull infront on a drag strip, but in the real world the evo would chop it off the lights more regularly - unless I was in the gtr and dumping it at 7K and using the last two weeks pay to keep rebuilding clutches. But its in the hills that the BRAKES and HANDLING just absolutly out shine the the other cars I've driven. This is my experience and I'm sure there are R34's out there (built like the Mines car) that would say hang on I'm the faster biaaatch. But for dollar measure and as a long standing and still Nissan fan - I recommend peeps branch out and try and Evo 8MR through the twisties or on the track. I think you may be somewhat surprised. Heres a small snap of mine:

News just in! They've recalled all batches of pressed disks and are delaying the release unitl November 2013.

Will the inspectors go out of their way to remove dash fascias to look for ecu's?

Hey guys, Just purchased an Evo 8 MR from Sydney. It's being transported here right as I type this. Question: Is it better to go to Regency or Lonsdale for the ID check? The car has mods: Full exhaust Haltec Computer Cams HIDS I'm not worried about the cams, but everything else I'm sweatin about. Will I need to take the car to exhaust tech. to have baffles fitted (just a regular turbo back exhaust). The haltec is plug'n'play so I might have to find someone I can borrow a standard computer for a day. Are HID's easily removed for a day - or is it a massive pain in the arse job? Thanks for any help.

+1 talk to chef - though try find a manual (seem to be like hens teeth these days)