GT4/WRX STI/EVO, Next Car Conundrum Options

[yarik83]

To buy or not to buy, that is the question.
Imagine yourself in the year 2010, credit cards are paid off and ability to pay $600/mo into car payments. Imagine yourself having to choose between 3 car brands: Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi.
Cars up for consideration: GT-4 Celica, Subaru WRX STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

GT-4 Celica
1994-1995 approximate mileage 60,000 miles approximate cost $10,000 USD
Pro: Sentimental Value
Con: Average lifespan of a car is about 20 years and vehicle is already 15-16 years old; being pulled over all the time

Subaru WRX STI
2005-2007 approximate mileage 30,000-60,000 miles approximate cost $20,000 USD
Pro: 4 door sedan on steroids
Con: Thousands on the street
2008-2010 approximate mileage 0-20,000 miles approximate cost $25,000 USD
Pro: 5 door models could be used to transport large® objects when necessary
Con: Higher Purchase Cost

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2003-2005 approximate mileage 50,000-70,000 miles approximate cost $20,000 USD
Pro: 4 door sedan on steroids
Con: Thousands on the street
2005-2007 approximate mileage 30,000-50,000 miles approximate cost $25,000 USD
Pro: 4 door sedan on steroids
Con: Thousands on the street

2008-2010 approximate mileage 0-20,000 miles approximate cost $25,000 USD
Pro: 4 door sedan on steroids
Con: High(er) Insurance Rates
So question is: to buy or not to buy?
I know I know… but GT-4 is not legal in the states and yada yada. Let’s close our eyes on legal issues for a second. After all taking a risk is part of the game.
I am window shopping early; obviously it would be silly to walk around with a big check for $25,000 and expect to make a right decision when the time comes. Having Toyota in my DNA, I think it is very hard, mentally, to get away from having one. After all myself and Toyota has been “married” since 1998. Divorce is certainly an option but since Supra was the last performance model and celica was the last appealing model, I doubt that I have anything to look forward to with exception of FT-86 model which is nice but not that nice. So looking back in time I spent nearly 10 years of my life dreaming about GT-4.. so I got myself the closest thing (engine swap) but having been surrounded by AWD Subaru and Evolution cars.. I feel that I don’t quite fit in. Then of course GT-4 has made itself available, at least to our Northern neighbors and getting one to Florida became that much easier. Legal aspects aside… I could be driving one here in the states, legally or not come February. But then vehicle age and limitations have to be considered. Even with lower mileage car is already 15 years old and it is a 2 door bundle of joy that will probably get pulled over every other day. Of course I could spend a little more cash and get myself an evo or a sti and have no legal issues at all, I could have a sedan or a 5 door and probably higher insurance but I would be driving either car until at least 2025-2030. Those cars, of course have advanced AWD system with upgraded electronics and yada yada but the curves are gone, rarity is missing and aside from practical use of having 4 or 5 doors and lasting a whole 10 or so years longer than a GT-4 would… they are not that special. Of course 2008+ models look different from previous models but that is kind of expected. In either case purchase of those would be expected come Summer.
What would you do?

[yarik83]

I got a letter from one of brokers here in usa with unconfirmed report that national highway traffic safety administration has issued an order to crack down on all drivers who are driving kit cars that do not fall into category of street legal kit cars. He did not elaborate but from what I could research a kit car is allowed for as long as car was produced in usa at some point in time. Example being shelby cars. If car is not at least 25 years old then it must go through legal channels in which they (even without crashtesting) can approve the car under temporary exemption (ie importation for limited amount of time for car show/car race). But then of course if you have enough money you can be driving a gt4 celica tomorrow. I got enough feedback from brokers to conclude that if I had 30 grand I could be driving car of my dreams legally.

On the flip side of the coin bringing a gt-4 to usa illegally would cost less than or equal to $10K.

[blu94gt]

I got a letter from one of brokers here in usa with unconfirmed report that national highway traffic safety administration has issued an order to crack down on all drivers who are driving kit cars that do not fall into category of street legal kit cars. He did not elaborate but from what I could research a kit car is allowed for as long as car was produced in usa at some point in time. Example being shelby cars. If car is not at least 25 years old then it must go through legal channels in which they (even without crashtesting) can approve the car under temporary exemption (ie importation for limited amount of time for car show/car race). But then of course if you have enough money you can be driving a gt4 celica tomorrow. I got enough feedback from brokers to conclude that if I had 30 grand I could be driving car of my dreams legally.

On the flip side of the coin bringing a gt-4 to usa illegally would cost less than or equal to $10K.

There have been a few Skylines impounded in California that were registered as kit cars, I'll see if I can find the article it was in. I would definitely consider the risk of losing your car.

One other thing I would consider against the GT4 is maintenance. Since it's not a USDM car, you can't exactly just go to Autozone and get parts for it (I know we have the 3sgte in the MR2, but everything else on the car is different). Most Toyota dealers won't get parts for it, and no techs will really know what to do with some of it, so you'll be ordering your own parts overseas and doing your own wrenching.

All in all, I'd say go STi. The GT4 is a hot car, and we all love the Celica, but seriously, it's a 16 year old car that you'd have to drive illegally. Go drive an STi and an Evo, you'll be THRILLED to own either one. With some easy mods you can give either one some serious power, and even though they are "everywhere" that's a good thing: lots of aftermarket support, local clubs and support, etc.