You Absolutely Shouldn’t Pay $125k for a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
There really isn’t a bad year for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. Although like many high-performance cars, it requires careful maintenance, the Evo is arguably more reliable than its Subaru rival. However, owing to its Fast and Furious credentials, many ended up tuned to destruction or crashed. As a result, all Mitsubishi Lancer Evo models hold their value well, especially low-mileage examples. But paying $124,888 for a 2015 Final Edition is more than a little extreme.
The $125k 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Final Editions
When the 10th and final Mitsubishi Lancer Evo left production in 2015, the automaker wanted to give it a proper send-off. So, it created the Lancer Evo Final Edition. 1000 were made for Japan, Motor Trend reports, and 1600 for the US. At the time, the MSRP was $37,995. The very last one sold on eBay in 2016 for $76,400—just about twice the sticker price. However, the Final Editions at San Jose-based Stevens Creek Subaru are listed at quite a bit more.
As of this writing, Stevens Creek Subaru has 2 Final Editions available, one blue and one white. They’re both listed at $124,888; that’s over three times the original sticker price. That’s brand-new Porsche 911 money. The reason for the high price is likely their extremely-low mileage.
The blue has only been driven 650 miles from new; the white has 100 miles more. For the blue Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, that works out to 12.5 miles driven per month. While low-mileage cars do command a premium, such few miles may leave future owners with a maintenance headache. And nostalgia aside, even a mint-condition Lancer Evo Final Edition isn’t worth almost $125,000.
Is the Lancer Evo Final Edition worth considering?
That’s not to say the 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Final Edition is a bad car. Yes, the interior is full of hard plastic, and the only USB port is hidden in the glovebox, Car and Driver reports. The stock seats aren’t really bolstered for fast driving, The Drive reports. The ride is also fairly stiff, Automobile reports, and both the interior and engine buzz a bit at highway speeds. And the back seats don’t fold down, limiting practicality somewhat.
However, as a sports car, the Lancer Evo Final Edition shines. It got the most powerful engine in the Lancer’s history, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 303 hp and 305 lb-ft. The mid-range torque contributes heavily to the sense of speed. The manual may only have 5 speeds, but Car and Driver reports it shifts “with the certainty of a guillotine.”
The steering is extremely communicative, and the Brembo brakes are very easy to modulate. While the Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers are stiff, they make for sharp handling with minimal body roll. And even though its all-wheel-drive system makes for excellent grip, with the traction control turned off, the Final Edition will drift easily and controllably.
Also, if you’re after a daily-drivable Lancer Evo, the X is actually the best and most modern option. The earlier VIII and IX are even rawer.
Cheaper examples
Luckily, there are cheaper, more-regularly-driven Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Final Editions available. San Diego-based Iconic Coach lists one with 20,770 miles for $37,888. And a 16,000-mile one sold on Bring a Trailer in April 2020 for $26,500.
There are also slightly more sedate, even cheaper Lancer Evo X models available. The GSR trim, MT reports, didn’t have the Eibach and Bilstein suspension components. But it did offer a Premium Package with heated Recaro front seats, upgraded stereo system, and keyless entry. And it still had Brembo brakes and Mitsubishi’s adjustable AWD, with stability and yaw control. It’s also only down about 12 hp.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Final Edition may be good, but it’s not $125,000 good.
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