The 992 comes away with 55% of the vote, making it as close as I thought it would be. This week, I’d like keep the theme of “Experience over speed”, and show you a car you might have forgotten about – the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX RS. The RS is what makes it special, and spartan. But I’m not going to take it easy on you – I’m bringing an M6 to the party.
The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX RS vs the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe
This is a crazy time to be in the car market. The mere fact that a 20-year-old economy car (de-contented, mind you) can be worth more than a modern BMW M is fascinating to me. But it goes to show you that speed and experience are not one and the same.
Let’s start with the Evo. This is generation IX (9), which is confusing because here in America, we only started to get the Evo for generation eight. VIII and IX look very similar, but the IX is more rare. Also more rare is finding an unmolested example with low miles. The one I’m bringing to you is indeed clean, and the RS means it’s actually a super stripper, like the final boss at Go-Go-Rama. I’m talking no keyless entry, no CD player, no power mirrors, windows, and door locks. Hell, even the door handles are unpainted.
Against the Evo is a car that will probably end up costing around the same. This M6 is a Gran Coupe, meaning four doors, so it matches up well with the Mitsu. With nearly 100k miles and tons of mods, I feel as if problems will be on the menu.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s strap into the Evo first.
The 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX RS
You want raw? This is the poster child for driving without a condom. I wouldn’t call any Mitsubishi Evo a luxury driving experience, but this RS is basically a four-wheel sport bike. Aside from what’s mentioned above, the RS says goodbye to the standard model’s sound-deadening material, trunk lining, anti-lock brake system, rear wing, rear-window wiper, high-intensity-discharge headlamps, and just about every interior practicality, including the vanity mirrors, rear assist grips, and map lights.
For your sacrifice you reduce curb weight by 234 pounds, for a sweet 3,175 grand total. Remember, an M3 CS is just 39 pounds lighter than its xDrive stablemate and 1,000 pounds more than the Evo. This example is special:
- 11,700 miles
- Phoenix Red over Black
- Five-speed manual
- 286 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque from that turbo four
- A few good mods, like Evo MR wheels and a GSR wing (really, you need to complete the look)
- But also some scratches throughout, and the seller makes note of heavy rust on the exhaust.
- Front and rear ends have been resprayed.
- Tires with dates from 2014
- Bid to $36,000 so far
- Clean CarFax, and has lived in Nevada, Florida, Arizona and Washington State
Feels like a lot of wear for a car with such low mileage, but a good RS example is quite rare, and this Evo has the potential to hit above $40k. Remember, this thing was $27,000 in 2005. How’s that for an investment?
But this M6…
2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe
This is admittedly a gross example. Let me show you:
- 98,000 miles
- Bid to $7,500 so far
- Black Sapphire Metallic over Black leather
- Clean CarFax
- Warm-climate owned
- The mods, sigh. 20-inch Vossen wheels, a Bootmod3 Stage 2 tune, VR Speed Factory (VRSF) downpipes, H&R lowering springs, carbon fiber exterior trim, and a carbon fiber steering wheel. Note the red on the wheel.
- It is fully loaded, with the Bang & Olufsen sound system and carbon ceramic brakes
Now, the price. Here’s a comparable example that sold for less than the Evo is already at. If this were a post-LCI, clean example with a stick, M6s can still go for well beyond $50k. But as this one stands, you’ll have plenty left over to fix whatever issues crop up.
There’s no doubt which car is faster, and which is more pure. The Evo is a car meant just for you – I can’t imagine your significant other enjoying the experience, and you won’t get car show clout because people assume you’re driving a Mitsubishi Lancer with unpainted door handles. The M6 is much (much) nicer inside, the ultimate grand touring sedan. But that soul only wakes up beyond 100 mph.
Who knew the Evo would be be the “More than you can afford, pal” car over an M6?
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