1990 Talon TSi AWD - Pricing

[thermanlee]

Hey, glad to find a very active forum! This is my first attempt into a turbo car, so forgive my ineptitude. I found what might be a decent price on a 90 Talon TSi AWD. However, I want to know what you all think is a fair price, so I'll tell you what I found on my test drive today:

• Maroon/silver, grey interior
• Orange Peel on hood only, not 'too' awful
• Body in good shape
• Interior dirty, but not ripped – only think broken is the driver side reclin-o-handle
• 150XXX miles
• Has receipts on parts/service since 1999
• Only mods seem to have been a radio (now removed, stock put back in), K&N filter, and aftermarket wheels
• Needs new front left tire (50%, has a knot), front right is 50%, two rear tires new, but all match (replaced 2 at a time?)
• Needs valve cover gasket
• Needs timing belt? (noisy rattle on driver's side of engine under cover, only between ~800-2000 rpm, diminishes slightly after warm up)
• Drives well, no noises/vibrations other than the aforementioned rattle/tire knot
• Clutch (pedal?) needs adjustment, engages WAAAAY down at the floor, but clutch was recently replaced
• Needs freon, but blower works – heater works like the flames of hades

Yes, I plan to take it to a mechanic to have it looked over before buying, but I wanted some preliminary opinions. I'm in NE Oklahoma, and while not 'rare', I haven't seen very many 1G AWDs (or even TSi/GSXs) for sale around here.

Thanks in advance for your help and opinions!

 

[iwannagofast89]

it might be something other then the Timing Belt.

 

[NATAS]

IMHO buying a 90 DSM with maintenance problems is like committing financial suicide, but at least it's all stock. I wouldn't pay more than $700 for it.

 

[thermanlee]

IMHO buying a 90 DSM with maintenance problems is like committing financial suicide, but at least it's all stock. I wouldn't pay more than $700 for it.

That's what I was afraid of. I don't wanna buy a money sink, no matter how cheap it is. I guess some labor cost would be saved doing the valve cover gasket and timing belt at the same time, though, right?

 

[nate97GSX]

Definitely take it your mechanic before you make an offer.

 

[pwayzjellyroll]

I know mine was sure as hell financial suicide. Wish I knew more when I first picked the car up, it needed ALOT of T.L.C. from the second owners neglect. Mine had full receipts from the first all the factory recalls performed, parts and such. The second owner, really kept nothing and had the head replaced on the car since he hopped the timing belt on it redlining it like an idiot. I ended up doing, a timing belt, cam seals, valve cover gasket, alternator, starter, ps pump. It's had its share of problems, and has definitely cost me more then the $1500 I paid for it. Make sure whoever you have look at it really knows what they're doing because it's no fun to get something and have it broken all the time. I'm finally to the point now where it's becoming reliable again without many issues, but if I could do it all again I wouldn't and I would have kept my 1.8L laser .

 

[ROOKIE1]

Depends on your financial means and mechanical skill . Older cars regardless of model , make , require work . What is the asking price ? Any pics of car ?

 

[iwannagofast89]

90's do suck I have had problem gellor, I'm suprised it didnt blow up when I unplugged the wastegate to see what 20 psi felt like

 

[Twinky-Ninja]

Basically what it boils down to, is whats your reason to purchase the talon is. If it's to commute back and forth to work during the week, you'll most likely be happier with another car. If your looking for a project, or something to take out on the weekend, and are willing to Do Some Maintance when needed, by all means you'll love it. I've put alot of money into my talon just to get it somewhat reliable. But I'd do it all over again if I had to. Starting with a bone stock 1g is a treat in my eyes. From your description it sounds like it'll need alittle maintenance, but if you really want a 1g dsm, I would definitly go for it.

 

[V8notENUF]

I'm suprised it didnt blow up when I unplugged the wastegate to see what 20 psi felt like

Could explain some of the problems your experiencing...

 

[iwannagofast89]

Well i haven't really had a lot of problems but I bought had a blown tranny replaced that with a 93 n/t tranny, then I thought I had a blown head gasket so I bought a cheap ebay head gasket set(from CNS Auto (don't buy from there!!!)) turns out I didn't have a blown head gasket, put the new one in and I got 47 miles and then Truly did have a blown head gasket. Then bought .020in. bigger then stock one from Auto zone.....come to find out after that I bent valves. Now I have the rebuild motor back in the car and the cam timing it off when it was dead on before I put the motor in. Somewhere it jumped a tooth..oh and when trying to start the car it makes this godawful metal to metal noise. But in a sense I kinda had it coming because i didn't really treat it good

 

[keslerkaiyu]

Try www.modifiedautotrader.com they have very decent cars for sale. Both modifed and stock.

 

[10_seconds_2luv]

Welp.......no one has had a '90 AWD Talon than me........I bought mine brand new in August 1989........ '90 was the first year and the most trouble (like most new model cars) The transmissions are the worst, and brakes are weak being a single piston caliper, plus 3 bolt rear axles connected to an "open" differenial If you are planning on racing the car.......you need alot of money and ambition to get the car right. You car has 150,000 miles on it so it probably needs tons of work to be reliable. Everything just depends on what you want out of the car and how much you are willing to work on the car.

 

[DontStartModdin]

+1 '90=

 

[1gcrazy]

Yeah, I had a 90 tsi awd... it rusted to death. They're pretty good for parts...

 

[1AWD90]

Yeah, '90s suck I paid 300 for mine in running and moving condition.... 4K later and well it made it 800 miles to school but it still has every week head ackes but if you ask around thats with any modified dsm. However '90s do have some parts that are all by them selfs and make them more work. But if you want a great building block and want to learn alot about dsm's then jump in on the dsm addiction...

 

[V8notENUF]

then I thought I had a blown head gasket so I bought a cheap ebay head gasket set

From my experiences, goin cheap will get you nowhere.

turns out I didn't have a blown head gasket, put the new one in and I got 47 miles and then Truly did have a blown head gasket.

Did you replace the head bolts when you changed gaskets? This is a must anytime the head comes off.

Now I have the rebuild motor back in the car and the cam timing it off when it was dead on before I put the motor in. Somewhere it jumped a tooth

I'm guessin it's the exhaust cam. When I had the head off, replaced cams, etc. I had to learn the hard way!!

oh and when trying to start the car it makes this godawful metal to metal noise.

I'd start with the starter/flywheel.

Ten Seconds 2 luv... Looks like you got her runnin good now!!! 624.0bhp

 

[iwannagofast89]

yeah i got ARP head studs and I'm pretty sure it's the flywheel because I just put a brand new starter in

 

[kottyking]

90's do suck I have had problem gellor, I'm suprised it didnt blow up when I unplugged the wastegate to see what 20 psi felt like

The year 90 had nothing to do with it, its how well it was maintained in its lifetime. to you for the comment.

 

[rass1313]

i have a 90 gsx, it's a love/hate relationship

 

[iwannagofast89]

The year 90 had nothing to do with it, its how well it was maintained in its lifetime. to you for the comment.

yeah well you gotta have fun with your car sometimes, also beat a turbo wrx while doing it

 

[Boosted19]

yeah well you gotta have fun with your car sometimes, also beat a turbo wrx while doing it

hey hey be nice with the wrx comment!

 

[93blueGS]

I didn't know they made a non turbo Wrx..

 

[allwheelTSI]

yeah well you gotta have fun with your car sometimes, also beat a turbo wrx while doing it

You should've been able to do that with alot less than 20 lbs.. WRX's are pretty heavy compared to a 90 Laser.