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blaknoize

10+ Year Contributor
39
0
Mar 30, 2010
Columbus, Ohio
This is more of a general, not-related-to-tuning question for someone elses opinion on the following prelude and question.

I travel alot, a whole lot and I own a 1990 FWD T DSM. I've had it for 1.5yrs and it has given me no issues whatsoever (broke a belt and a guide pulley though). It came all stock and has remained all stock, I bought it with 183k and it now has 222k and has lived in GA for 10months till returning back to Ohio.

I am wondering... should I repair it to a somewhat new condition? (It needs front axles, brakes (master and slave cylinders), wheels bearing, exhaust, misc front end pieces, suspension, clutch and throwout bearing, turbo or seals on the oil inlet side? and new wheels) or would it be better to just sell it off and pick up a newer car (of whatever make and model) since I don't personally modify anything.

Would it be better in the long run to keep a car I have no payment on and just set aside maybe $150 or so a pay period to restore it or sell it and buy another car? I have not done a compression test to see the health of the motor itself, but it seems great (doesnt miss a high boost) and idles as it should. Do you all think it would be best to compression test it then make a determination on letting it live it's life in the hands of an actual tuner?

I'm STILL a probationary member?? Wow!
 
Well I do like it. I've had to of the exact same car. I'd like an AWD, but it's been great. I got it from the 1st owner who bought it in 1989 and all I do it drive it. I am leaning toward just getting a daily, but I dont have the means to put THIS car up and take it apart at the moment.
 
My opinion. Take from it what you want. :D
If you like working on cars (or paying someone to) then keep it. If you don't want to deal with the 222k miles on all the parts, just hold onto it until you find a good deal on something a little younger that'll last you a while. This is were you balance the fun to drive/looks aspect with the price and reliability factors.
 
Is this your only car? Because if it is you got understand there's gonna be down time working on a car as old as this. Bolts brake, parts rust a simple brake job could turn into a 2 day ordeal if something goes wrong. But I think that's the fun in owning cars like these.
 
If you like it then keep it and do all your maintenance, but if regular transportation is all your worried about then get something newer than a 21 year old car, don't get me wrong i love DSM's, but i enjoy them to play with them, there more like toys.......LOL
 
It has been very reliable. Once I got it, it got a full clean up. New Timing Belt, water pump, balance shaft belt and oil pump pulley, plugs wires etc. But it needs quite a bit of work to bring it back to "nearly new" condition. Now... if I could come over to one of your places and get work done and pay you and you show me and I help a bit (like I did for my first timing belt replacement) that would be great. I'd keep it and just get another car in time.

Is this your only car? Because if it is you got understand there's gonna be down time working on a car as old as this. Bolts brake, parts rust a simple brake job could turn into a 2 day ordeal if something goes wrong. But I think that's the fun in owning cars like these.

Yea it's my only car. It was down for 2 days on my timing belt replacement but we did that over the weekend. Someone told me my car defied odds or something, since I would guess I should be on my 3rd transmission and 2nd motor. LOL
 
defied odds or something, since I would guess I should be on my 3rd transmission and 2nd motor. LOL

"Defied odds"? Bah! My mom's 1990 Mazda , which she got new, is still on the original tranny at 257k (I did swap the motor to a larger version at 249k, but only 'cause I wanted to, the OE motor probably would've kept going).

I say you keep the Eclipse and run it until it dies, then fix it. Of course I'm biased, and so is everyone else on here. Given the chance, none of us would part with our beloved DSMs. But I understand it's just a DD to you.

220k may be getting up there, but it sounds like you and the PO have taken good care of it. With continued maintenance, it might last another 80k. It's hard to tell. Then again, it might not.

This is really going to be up to you :)
 
"Defied odds"? Bah! My mom's 1990 Mazda , which she got new, is still on the original tranny at 257k (I did swap the motor to a larger version at 249k, but only 'cause I wanted to, the OE motor probably would've kept going).

I'm talking about it as a DSM. I mean I've had Honda's that have had very high mileage for my income level and hardly maintaining it at the time. The 93 Accord I had I purchased with 180k, drove it to 301k and sold and my CRX I got with 125k drove it to 283k and it threw a rod.

I dont want to get rid of mine since I know... if it DOES break, I can just either mod it myself (try to anyway) or get it built and then go out and crazy. Just looking for what everyone else would think in this and so far, it's keep. :)
 
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If you do plan on restoring it save money for a daily driver first. Then you could start restoring it back to new if thats really what you want.

Things to consider if you try and restore it yourself.
-Money
-Time
-Space to work
-Tools
-Commitment

Good luck making up your mind :thumb:
 
Well if anyone is looking to purchase this for say... 1700? It's a 2nd owner car (I'm the 2nd) Everything works, all electronics, A/C and P/S. It's completely unmodded and, as the last owner did, I rarely get on it. I could build a for-sale thread if enough interest is in it and add a pic (somehow). I'm on a corp PC so I cant connect my camera or BB.

BUT, you can just randomly txt me if you're interested. I'll drive it to you within a state or two distance (KY, IN, MI, TN, WV/VA, PA and MAYBE IL)

If anyone is for whatever reason interested, I can send pics, txt me, just let me know you're from dsmtuners:

7407279306
-Andreas
 
wish i was closer...

Well I'm amazed you haven't seen it, I moved away about 4 weeks ago. I lived in Lithonia for 10months, worked in Duluth. I mean, I could get it back to you but there would be a delay. I'd have to schedule a trip up here with my aunt, she'd have to help me return home. But it's possible.
 
You disappoint me. All you need to do is wait til I;m in the new house and I will relieve you of this problem child. And yes this car has defied reason. Broken balance shaft belt, and split crank gear should have killed this thing a long time ago.
 
You disappoint me. All you need to do is wait til I;m in the new house and I will relieve you of this problem child. And yes this car has defied reason. Broken balance shaft belt, and split crank gear should have killed this thing a long time ago.

THIS guy shows up LOL. It should of been destroyed years ago I know. I'm trying to stall out on letting it go. Hurry up and move then so we can get this thing together!
 
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