Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR
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There is a generation of kids that grew up with a joystick in hand and an Evo on the screen. Gran Turismo, Colin McRae Rally, later Need for Speed. For that generation Mitsubishi was not a kitchen-appliance brand but a rally monster, a car that handed Tommi Mäkinen four world titles in a row while half of Europe realised that the games console was actually worth taking rather seriously.
And that is precisely where the tragedy of the Evo in Britain lies. We barely got this car officially. While enthusiasts pored over homologation specials with wild spoilers, most people over here were happily commuting up the M6 in a Mondeo. The Evo IX was, and this is no exaggeration, the last of its kind with the legendary 4G63 engine. After that came the Evo X with a completely new block and, well, rather less soul. Those in the know understand: the IX is the end of an era. And the MR is its most fully developed version.
MR stands for Mitsubishi Racing and that is no marketing waffle. You get an aluminium roof (saves weight and lowers the centre of gravity), Bilstein dampers, BBS wheels, and a refined version of the MIVEC variable valve timing on that renowned 4G63. Two litres, turbo, 280 bhp on paper (everyone knows how it really works with that gentlemen's agreement in Japan), permanent four-wheel drive with the legendary Active Center Differential. This is engineering that trickled down from the tarmac of rally specials to the showroom, not the other way round.
Right, back to this particular Evo IX MR. It was delivered new in October 2007 via Autobedrijf Peter Ursem in Zwaag, properly documented with a certificate of conformity and a registration in the service book. In the colour Apex Silver Metallic, which works exactly right on this car: subtle enough not to go down the road like a Christmas tree, but with that enormous rear wing and the aggressive nose it leaves no doubt about what it is.
Trimmed in leather/alcantara, the combination that gives you grip in the corners without leaving you shivering in a racing bucket.
What makes this car so special today is its rarity. An Evo IX MR in this condition, with this history, is no longer found on every street corner. In fact: you hardly find it anywhere any more. Most examples that ever drove around this country have been tuned to power levels the engine was never really built for, or they have by now had a life on the track at Silverstone that you would rather not know about. Not this one. This one has been preserved as intended.
And the driving, that is something else entirely. Where a German saloon wraps you in cotton wool, the Evo talks back to you constantly. You feel the four-wheel drive working, you feel the weight shifting, you feel the turbo arriving like a wave. It is not a car for the connoisseur who seeks comfort. It is a car for someone who understands that a steering wheel is there to steer with and a throttle to do something with. On a dry B-road through open countryside it does things that cars with twice the power can only dream of.
Admittedly, by today's standards the interior is a touch spartan and you will encounter hard plastic in places where a modern premium manufacturer promises you soft materials. But that was never the point. The Evo is an instrument, not a lounge. Every pound that Mitsubishi did not spend on wooden inlays went into that chassis and that drivetrain. And you can tell.
For the enthusiast who considers the nineties and the turn of the century the golden age of Japanese rally homologation, this is one of the holy grails. The Skyline, the Impreza STI, the Evo. Three names you mention in one breath, and one of them is now standing right here. Ready, if you dare, to be properly driven again the way it was meant to be.
This rally monster without a rally has been more patient than any of us. Now it is your turn.
Special features
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR, built 2007
- Delivered new in the Netherlands via Autobedrijf Peter Ursem, Zwaag (2007)
- First owner
- Last generation with the legendary 4G63 turbo engine, 280 bhp
- MR specification: aluminium roof, Bilstein damping, BBS wheels
- Permanent four-wheel drive with Active Center Differential
- Colour Apex Silver Metallic
- Manual gearbox, as it should be
- Interior in leather/alcantara
- 235/45R17 on 17x8.0JJ wheels
- Rare in this condition and with this history
- Margin scheme car
Looking for a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX yourself? What you need to know.
What should you look for when buying a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX?
The Evo IX is mechanically robust, but the model is driven and tuned intensively. The greatest risks lie not in the construction, but in use and history. Our own examples, including a 2007 MR with only 7,678 km, demonstrate what distinguishes an original, unmodified car.
Engine and drivetrain
- De 4G63T is uiterst betrouwbaar in volledig standaard vorm; de meeste problemen ontstaan bij modificatie, waaronder balansas-, klepstoter- en koppakkingsproblemen. Crankwalk (te veel axiale speling van de krukas) treft vooral de latere 7-bolt-motoren en komt in practice vrijwel uitsluitend voor bij gemodificeerde of verwaarloosde motoren.
- Always check the timing belt history: failure leads to catastrophic damage due to the interference design. A belt replacement with water pump is advisable where the history is unknown.
- The 4G63's head bolts are relatively short and, at significantly increased output, can give rise to head lift and head gasket failure; ARP studs are frequently fitted when tuning. For this reason, look for signs of tuning above standard output.
- At higher mileages, watch for oil consumption, turbo wear and head gasket integrity; a compression test and visual inspection are essential.
- Test the ACD system (tarmac/gravel/snow) for correct operation.
Bodywork and rust spots
- Check the wheel arches, sills, tailgate around the spoiler mounting and the floor pan. Track use and road salt take their toll.
- Watch for stone chips and paintwork damage on the front bumper and bonnet with functional cooling vent.
- Check for accident damage: inspect panel gaps, headlamp alignment and overspray. Driveline damage following crashes is a genuine risk.
Interior and electrics
- Inspect the Recaro seats (MR) for wear on the driver's side bolster; a common wear spot.
- Test all switches, the window operation, the heating and the instrumentation including the rev counter.
- Check whether both keys, the tool kit and the original documentation are present.
History and documentation
- Request a complete service file with invoices. For this model, a documented, unbroken history is decisive for the value.
- Verify the chassis number (VIN) and originality; check that power output, ECU and turbo are standard.
- A low, verifiable mileage justifies a substantial premium, but only with conclusive proof.
Advice: with this model, always favour an original, unmodified car over a powerful but tuned build. The latter category is harder to appraise and carries higher risks.
Which Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX suits you?
Which version suits you depends on your purpose. If you mainly want driving, then a well-maintained GSR or a standard MR with usable mileage is the logical choice: raw, fast and relatively affordable. Do you want collect, richt u dan op een originele, ongewijzigde MR of een genummerde FQ-special met lage kilometerstand en sluitende historie; dat is het segment dat waarde vasthoudt. De IX is als vierdeurs sedan geleverd (op de Japanse markt bestond daarnaast een stationversie), met handbak in alle uitvoeringen. Alleen de MR kreeg een zesversnellingsbak; de overige versies hadden een vijfbak. Een automaat is voor dit model niet aan de orde; de handgeschakelde aandrijflijn hoort bij het karakter.
Torn between driving and collecting, or between a standard and a tuned car? HooG is happy to think along with you, without obligation, and help you make the right choice.
What does a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX cost?
The price picture for 2026 is widely spread and is determined by originality, mileage, specification and documentation. For common examples a lower limit of around €25,000 applies. Tidy FQ and MR examples with reasonable history generally sit above that; hard-driven or modified cars are sometimes cheaper, but carry higher risks.
De top van de markt wordt gevormd door gave, originele en lage-kilometer MR-exemplaren. Een Evo IX MR uit 2006 met slechts 461 afgelegde mijlen bracht in december 2024 $161.000 op via Bring a Trailer — een uitzonderlijke uitschieter die de wil van enkele verzamelaars weerspiegelt, niet de gangbare marktwaarde. Onze eigen MR uit 2007 met 7,678 km, aangeboden voor €79,950, past in dit hoogste segment. Ter oriëntatie: de gemiddelde verkoopprijs volgens Classic.com bedraagt $41.946. Prijsbepalend zijn vooral: bewezen lage kilometerstand, ongewijzigde standaardspecificatie, compleet onderhoudsdossier en de gewilde MR- of FQ-uitvoering.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX — traded by us and in the collection
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