results of the test drive!

[theycallmedalgo]

allright so i just got back from my test drive with the talon tsi awd 5spd i think its a 90 or 91 not sure with 114 on the chassis and like 600 on the rebuild with arp head studs and cometic head gasket along with other stuff but anyways...

i get to the dmv and when he pulls up i heard the idling pulsing so im like hmm (iacv) so we talk for a bit and i look over the car and ask questions and what not then it was time for the drive

the car started up better than my audi ( he had a new battery just put in) and it started smoking from the engine bay and out of the tail pipe. It was oil the smoke was like white i guess but then it stopped after a minute. I saw the oil on the turbo housing but he told me it would need a new turbo due to oil leaking or something which isn't a big deal ( 100 bucks for a 14b ) the clutch felt kinda of sticky and maybe squeaky a little (exedy stage one) but it felt really light and was a lot different than my audi. the idle was fluctuating up and down which he said was the iacv ( happened on my prelude i hated that) but that went away after i drove it for a bit. he also said that due to the oil leaking i should get a knock and ###### a wideband 02 sensor to get accurate fuel distribution. he has a a/f reader in there and it was within spec. the exhaust sounded pretty nice it wasnt really loud but sounded deep at WOT. the bov is recirc but still sounded nasty.

as far as the driving goes it pulled so sexually! it was only at 7-8 psi he said but it was damn fine. brakes were weak and will need replacing as well as the body kit ( eeek! junkyard time gotta take it back to stock ) reverse was hard to get into and the second gear synchro is shot. other than that it drove great i love dsms!


now for what it needs:

im going to find a used shep tranny for like $500 to put in ( well install it since hes a mechanic ) he recommended this and i cant say i disagree, but a good shifting stock tranny would be cheaper no?

a 14b: like 100 bucks

ill do the metal bushings as well: 30 bucks?

iacv: 50 bucks ?

knock sensor, o2 sensor (idk if i need it really ) : 50 -100?

###### needs a cat to pass nj emissions: 100 bucks ( unless you guys know somebody around here

brakes: i get them really cheap so like 150 for pads and rotors all the way around

the coolant light is on ( that little orangy yellow thing on the left of the steering wheel idk what it is ) i think he said it was because something wasnt hooked up but it was fine

and thats about it i guess, it looks kind of rough but im willing to put some work into it ( along with about 1,000 dollars ) and after that it should drive perfect and look deecent. after that ill lower it for as cheap as possible ( found srpings and shocks for 340 used and then maybe do the black with the chrome lip. What do you guys think? i told him to take it off trader because i want to buy it ( $2,000 ) so yea i guess thats about it

my dad has to talk to him about the title though because he doesnt understand whats up....the guy wants me to sign as co-owner and then hell sign something saying i give up all rights to the car or whatever and then dmv could just print up a new title there as long as i have nj insurance ( which i do ) this made sense to me but my dad thinks its real fishy

anywho if that gets straightened out ill probably go ahead and purchase the car and begin the journey of creating a beatiful specimen along with the help of the seller who is a good guy.


what do you guys think? for 3 grand ill have an excelllent running dsm with 114k on it (the odometer says like 399 though ### he bought a new one so ill ask for receipts and carfax it i guess) that shifts perfectly and should run for a long time. of course this will be hard to juggle in between college and work but ill do my best. thanks for reading sorry it was so long im just really excited haha let me know your opinions and concerns


thanks

 

[brute]

If those are the things you know it needs, multiply that by 8 and that'll be how much it really needs. There are always things that need to be done to the car. Whether it be maintenence or undo-ing stuff the other owner did. Not to discourage you, but take that into consideration. You'll be spending a lot just to get it running the way you want it. Don't get yourself in too deep, it sounds like a lot needs to be done already.

 

[theycallmedalgo]

your right man, what do you think i should do ?

 

[brute]

How long have you been looking for a car? My suggestion with buying a DSM is to just be super patient. If you are, eventually the perfect car will fall into your possession. It'll be exactly what you want. I'd say offer him like $1300 cash or so. If he says no, walk. But it all depends on how much you need this car. I'm guessing it's not a necessity, because if you needed it to be a daily driver by next week, you wouldn't look at a car with all these problems.

 

[theycallmedalgo]

ive been looking around since like march but ive been searching like 5 times a day for about a month and a half. i allready have a good reliable dd (my audi) so this car is not a necessity so i really should be patient but its so hard for me. i feel like ill never be able to own a dsm so when i see the oppurtunity to own one i go nuts, know what i mean? i told the guy he could take it off dsmtrader because i was sure i was going to buy it but my dad would probably flip if it drove it home and told him what it needed.

what also sucks is that the guy who's selling it is a really good guy who needs the money, i cant low ball him i just cant. i feel bad that i might not buy it, and i also really want to buy it even though it may not be the best deal

im stuck between a rock in a hard place if thats how the saying goes

 

[tight_tsi]

I waited and waited and waited until something finally showed up that was just what I was looking for. A good, clean body (no rust), clean interior, stock 90 Talon tsi awd with a bad motor. I've always wanted to rebuild an engine so this is my first experience and I'm enjoying it so far. But my point is it was what I was looking for, and I only paid $350 for it!! Patience is the key...

 

[lexx620]

If those are the things you know it needs, multiply that by 8 and that'll be how much it really needs. There are always things that need to be done to the car. Whether it be maintenence or undo-ing stuff the other owner did. Not to discourage you, but take that into consideration. You'll be spending a lot just to get it running the way you want it. Don't get yourself in too deep, it sounds like a lot needs to be done already.

I agree. same thing here when I bought my spyder 7k with a 98 motor with only 52000 miles . Ive put a clutch, slave and master cylinders, rotors and breakpads, ac hoses etc, etc like another $1600 into it and not counting the performance addons

 

[theycallmedalgo]

jeese thats not too good. Everytime i sit in the drivers seat of a dsm i fall in love i just want one to call my own but i guess im going to have to wait until the right one comes along. i feel bad still but i dont want to make a bad decision either. if anyone finds something deecent in pa, ny, or nj let me know (if you dont want to buy it of course) id really appreciate it

THE HUNT CONTINUES!!!

 

[housegsx]

Yeah $3k is way to much, especially with tranny problems and a clutch that doesn't fell 100% right. That's where the big money is at. Figure on spending at least $3k on top of the purchase price to get it running and looking how you want. I'd suggest passing on this one.

 

[theycallmedalgo]

Yeah $3k is way to much, especially with tranny problems and a clutch that doesn't fell 100% right. That's where the big money is at. Figure on spending at least $3k on top of the purchase price to get it running and looking how you want. I'd suggest passing on this one.

the car is 2k as is but still i agree with you if it would cost that much..wanna sell me your car? haha jk

 

[housegsx]

Sorry, yeah I saw 2k after the fact, but it still sounds like a huge project that you're going to spend a lot more than you think getting it running well. And that's before fun mods.
And the numbers that you listed for parts seem optimistic. $500 for a used shep tranny etc. Not likely.
Sell you my car!?!WTF Make an offer..haha. Alright, no classifieds here. I don't wanna get banned.

 

[AWD 90 Tsi]

yea man there are better deals out there, mabye you can talk him dowm if you really want it, but like everyone else is saying there is ALWAYS more things to do down the road...

 

[brute]

I'll sell you my car... $33,000.

 

[theycallmedalgo]

I'll sell you my car... $33,000.

thats pocket change


ill talk to him and tell him the guys on dsmtuners dont want me to get it for that price but said instead to offer 1,300 because it does need a tranny and turbo and a bunch of other stuff.


o yea and there IS a used shep tranny for 500, its on dsmtrader


thanks for the help guys ill keep the details of my quest updated