91 Talon FWD Q's before I buy

[04scooby]

I have the oppertunity to buy a 91 Talon FWD(109204 miles, stock) for $500. I test drove it last night and I have a few concerns that maybe you guys can shed some light on.

1. The car idles eratically and high. on cold start it idled at 2-2.5k. The owner was told it might be the Idle air controller. I did searches and found out it was Idle surge issue that is fairly common but it still ldles high just not as high after it is warmed up. All the info I found said it was one thing if the surge was at cold start and another thing after it was warmed, there was nothing for both if the surge is present at both times like my issue.

2. Stock boost guage does not work. Car spools but seems sluggish. Possible vacuum hose unplugged?

3. I noticed the car is kinda sluggish(drove Cobb Stage 2 WRX to test drive so this might be biased) but did pull up to 90 when it seemed it cut out, I was thinking fuel cut until the car died a few seconds later. Thoughts?

4. After getting back I noticed a noise from under the hood. A loud rattling. The turbo that is on the car is the stock one off of the 91 GSX I never got running/sold last year so I know it was going to be needed replaced.

5. The steering is extremely tight. On the verge of almost non-power steering. It might just be the car but I was not used(daily is a 2004 WRX) to feeling that much of the road via Steering wheel.

What are your thoughts on this and do you think I could fix it and make it street worthy for under 200-300 invested? I do not plan on racing only being a daily driver to save miles on the WRX.

Thanks,

Phillip

 

[shaunman1979]

For $500.00 you never can go to wrong. My first laser was $500.00 and it had a bad motor. However I think that with all that you have mentioned you might be in a little more than $200-$300 for a reliable daily driver. The loud ratteling you mentioned under the hood, was this lifter tap or possibly somthing more sevier (sp)? Why is he only selling it for $500? Has there been mantinence done on a regular basis? I think its a good deal and would buy it, but im not looking for a cheap dd. If you are willing to exceed your previous set limit to get this thing safe on the road I would say go for it. Also check into seeing if he has replaced the caps in the ECM. The stock boost gauge is run by the ECM and the caps will definetly leak over time causing problems in there. My car always handeld very tight. I never had any porblems with the power stearing but thats just my car. Really it all boils down to what your willing to take on. These cars need alot of TLC and even more if they havent been taken care of by previous owners.

 

[04scooby]

how much do you think it would take to get it road worthy? The high idle really doesnt bother me so I could live with that. The rattle was definatley not lifter noise was coming from the turbo area. As for maint. the kid has owned it for 3 months and only drove it 2 times. The guy before that I am not sure.

 

[JayRolla]

If the motor seems to run good, and it has good compression, for $500 I would buy it.

 

[OverBoostinGST]

+1 Just like JayRolla said. That is a steal for $500 bucks,

 

[04scooby]

OK I understand that since I sold the GSX I had for 1200 and it wasnt even running. My goal is to get it in proper running condition for around 200-300 bucks. Is this possible? Links to easy fixes for the idle issue since my is diff. from what I found etc is what I am looking for.

Thanks.