Quote me on this, you won't keep it stock for long
Once you start to mod it you won't be able to stop... Until you go to the bank to take out money and realize you just used the last of it on your evo!

 

I'm thinking of going from 03 VIII to 06 IX. Thanks for your opinoins. Still trying to decide if I should do it or not.

I drove the MR and the difference between tranny smoothness and perciseness was huge. How is the 03 5spd tranny vs the 06 5 spd Tranny though (other then the ratio change)? How does it feel? Can one tell any difference?

I also noticed a difference in suspension on the MR. It seemed to absorbe the bumps better especially under braking. It must be the Bilsteins. How about the 03 vs 06 non MR suspension... does it feel the same?

I do agree that the lack of foglights as an option is lame.... but is there not a way to add them on one's own afterward? The HID's are nice and all but can live without them. If they had just a lights package, I'd get that but I do not want the rest of the stuff that comes with that SSL $3000 package.

So, any other differences between 03 and 06 than the ones listed below (non-MR)?

'03:
- has HIDS
- has fogs
- silver steering wheel vs black
- black/blue seat color
'06:
- ** no HIDS (unless you get SSL package)
- ** no fogs (unless you get SSL package)
- has LSD
- has MIVEC
- bigger turbo 02 housing & TI compressor wheel
- has ACD
- closer ration 5spd with coated shifter cables
- fake CF dash trim
- black steering wheel vs silver
- black/grey seat color
- different front bumper
- different rear wing - what is the diff?
- tinted lights F&R

 

I am telling you, it is not worth the price difference if your car is paid off. My friend just bought a mr for msrp and wrote a check for a little over $39,000 after taxes. That's over $15,000 more than you can sell your car for probably. I am dead serious when I say I like my car just as much. I am going to buy buschur's upgraded IX turbo, because that is the only thing on the IX that I really want. I must say, the IX feels like it handles better, but I have Yokohama all seasons on my 03', so that is probably why.

 

I hate the fact that the IX's don't have fogs or HID's. I also don't see the color change from the wheels. I was a 03 owner for almost 3 years and now I have a IX with 1k in miles.

 

Xtnct you asked some very important questions. Based on some of the responses from fellow evoM members (with 9's), i am beginning to sway towards trading my 03 in for an 06. I like my 03 but would I notice a big improvement with the 06? I wish mitsu dealers were more inclined to offer test drives so I could find out for myself.

 

The wing on the IX has less cf than the one on the VIII. The sides of the wing on the 06's are color matched ABS plastic insted of cf like the 03-05's. It makes no difference to me.

 

your local dealers will not allow you to test drive a IX even though they know you drove up in an VIII I would be pissed

 

I forgot to add the turbo differences to the list.... editing original post..

 

I agree that the DVD is good. But I think you need to watch the DVD again, in it the engineers says, "The new turbo is responsible for the gain in low to mid range torque". Please point me to the magazine that says MIVEC is responsible for the low end torque. Most magazines have the wrong info anyways ... I've seen it on SCC when they do previews on cars not yet released to the US...

 

I liked the interior upgrades, but drove a 10K 05' back to back with a 06' and they felt almost identical, with the 06' being a little quieter since it only had 11 miles. I didn't buy because I have big mod plans and MIVEC may not be condusive to those mods. Plus there is no AEM for it and probably won't be for another 07' I'm told.

I bought the 05' and saved 7K.

 

Thanks for one for you all responding. Mind you, my 03 Evo VIII and my 06 Evo IX, are both stock, and I would not modify them. I got rid of the Evo VIII in 2004 due to a second baby on the way. I got the IX because the opportunity presented itself. Not really sure how I am going to pay for it yet, but I will figure it out. haha. I think both cars were great, and after having both, and driving both I feel that they are both just great cars. I mean come on how can I compare to great cars? haha. As far as the MIVEC, you can't feel it kick in. The car just seems smoother to me over the VIII I had. What that means, I can't explain yet, the Tranny is MUCH better, not sure what else they did to the Tranny, but the Tranny feels MUCH improved. Is it worth more? I think so, because you actually get more electronic gadgets, and more mechanical features, and you really can't put a price on that stuff. I will keep you posted, the new IX only has 250 miles on it, I have to break it in still.........

Jeff