2g GST or GSX?

[kohogoalie46]

i just started getting into cars over the past couple years. i currently have a non-turbo 2g and i'm getting ready to sell it so i can finally get a turbo. my question is should i go with a gst or a gsx? gsx is generally more expensive and a little less reliable than a fwd (from what i hear). i'd appreciate anyone's .02.....i don't know a ton about cars but i'm really starting to get into them and want to learn a lot about them........thanks for your help

 

[Boostn4]

When I first was looking at DSM's I just wanted one now, no matter what it was. I was fortunate that the first one I looked at was a 97 TSI AWD, with 59k miles. Do yourself a favor and save for the gsx, you will be fighting wheelspin once you start modding the gst.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

I find the GS-T to be funner. I have owned a couple of both and went back to FWD. It is more fun for daily driving. If all you are going to do is street race and go to the drags then go with AWD but I found that I rarely even used the AWD. I like the fwd because you don't lose the drivetrain loss and you can feather the throttle to reduce a lot of tirespin. With the money you would save from the GSX you could get LSD for a FWD and dramatically reduce your tirespin as well. I put down 407.68fwhp on my last FWD and with LSD tirespin wasn't a terribly big issue because I would just feather the throttle a little in 2nd and by the time I got to 3rd it was pulling hard with no spin. It's also funner for autox type stuff as well. They handle a lot better without gobs of understeer. You just gotta really know how to drive a high hp FWD to really appreciate it.

 

[DSMxTSi]

i just started getting into cars over the past couple years. i currently have a non-turbo 2g and i'm getting ready to sell it so i can finally get a turbo. my question is should i go with a gst or a gsx? gsx is generally more expensive and a little less reliable than a fwd (from what i hear). i'd appreciate anyone's .02.....i don't know a ton about cars but i'm really starting to get into them and want to learn a lot about them........thanks for your help

Depends on what you like. If you love to spin the tires and do burn-outs, get the GS-T. However, if you want the best traction get the GSX. There are pros/cons to either. You will definately go through tires faster with the GS-T. If you live in a wintery climate I'd opt for AWD. The drivetrain in an AWD is not as brittle as most other car fanatics love to suggest. Learn to drive it right and you shouldn't have any problems, but you want to find one that was taken care of and most likely never modded much or raced. You never know how the previous owners drove it.
I prefer AWD and personally can't stand FWD for a drag car. FWD is just ok for "toying" around, but can't hold a candle to AWD or RWD at the track.

Edit: BTW, you must be a hockey fan/player by your SN? I love hockey!

 

[robs90tsi]

GSX, dude in the winter when the grounds covered, and I mean covered, youll love the GSX, just sit there and spin all fours, its soooo much fun to mess around in the winter with AWD, creep along in 1st, cut the wheel, give it some gas, start to 180, then drop it to second, and just keep cutting the wheel and just sit there doin 360's over and over again, youll get realllll dizzy, its too much fun, just get a GSX, youll be happy, better yet, a TSI AWD, they look better in my opinion.

 

[talondude4]

I like being able to break tires loose at 50.

fwd = more of a challenge.(I like the challenge.)

 

[1meanGSX]

Well for one I vote for the GSX, much better all around. Also whoever said the GSX will understeer more than a FWD and will be worse as autocross is smoking some good stuff. Yes FWD is cool that you can burnoff in 2nd but when you get beat by a stock GSX in the quarter you will be mad when you are modded. GSX has much more advantages, cost more but generally hold their price much better.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

All your points are good, but they all refer to if he was buying the car to run at the track all day everyday. Besides the winter thing, I would go with the GSX because of the winter you have to deal with. When I lived in Iowa AWD was nice. but stock for stock suspension FWD is better in autox in my opinion, I have driven both and I have beat a lot of AWD cars with more power at the strip because yeah they have the launch but that's it. It takes talent to be able to handle FWD power and not just light up the tires through all the gears. I just elected on all my FWD cars to get 16 or 17 inch rims with a good sized tire. Not 18's with zero tire. Of course you are going to spin that. If you get a GST get something with some sidewall to flex. With over 400hp I could catch grip before I was out of second with LSD.

 

[Boostn4]

My car feels like over 350awhp, 1st gear is ridiculously fun. Nothing better than sending your cellphone out of the doorhandle slot into the backseat from a 1st gear punch. I find it sometimes hard to shift cause I'm being thrown back in the seat so quick. I forgot to include how much fun snow days are, I actually look forward to them haha. Do yourself a favor and try to find a very nicely taken care of dsm, most rag them out and are sketchy. They are very reliable cars if taken care of and not constantly banged on. I have cut 1.6 60fts on the stock axles, so awd is def not as "brittle" or "unreliable" as most say. I drive my car daily, and have owned it for 4 years, I love it to death. Good luck with your purchase, just sharing my experience.

 

[DSMcamaro]

top 10 FAQ.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7334
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55410

 

[1meanGSX]

Black95 I agree with your points. But generally AWD is going to be superior to FWD at autocross. Yes FWD CAN be made to be fast and do decent at the track, but if you look at this site much more people have successful AWD cars in low 12's or 11's the FWD's. I am not dissing on the FWD but for somebody new into the turbo DSM I would reccomend a AWD, can save your butt too if you are somewhat inexperienced. I have a friend with a modded GST and you have to mod much more heavily and spend much more money to equal a GSX. They are much better in rain and snow and much easier to drive. Plus I see he lives in Pennsylvania and some parts have alot of snow so I think a GSX would suit him better, but its up to him to decide. Derek

 

[DGajre777]

GSX. All wheel drive rules! GSXs are more heavy.

Find a GST and GSX, test drive both and buy what you like.

 

[ericbev]

I am quite partial to my AWD. Its the only reason I bought my car and I wouldnt have it any other way.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

GSX. All wheel drive rules! GSXs are more heavy.

Find a GST and GSX, test drive both and buy what you like.

That is going to be the best advice, drive both, see what you like.

 

[kohogoalie46]

thanks everyone i really appreciate it.....i'm really leaning towards the gsx. what are the things i should be lookin for to determine whether or not it's dependable and what is a reasonable price range? thanks

 

[MCDGexx]

I wanted AWD, but ended up getting the FWD because finding a good AWD is gettings slim to none around here.

 

[DGajre777]

I wanted an Eclipse GSX, but my choices were an Eclipse GST or Talon TSi AWD, so I went with the Talon.

 

[EvolvingGST]

be like me buy both

 

[Shane2GSX]

I've had both and prefer the GSX, what I have now. However, finding a GSX can be difficult, especially if you're as picky as I am. I wanted a low milage, unmodded black/blk leather, MT 97-99 GSX. It took me months but I finally found one. I drove 8 hours each way from Kentucky to North Carolina and back to get it and paid nearly $1000 over book, but it was a hell of a find, brand new paint and all other things listed above. I don't regret it.

 

[wolf20043]

be like me buy both

Or you can just buy every one you see like I do. I tell you what, a new car to drive every month is kinda nice .
Mike

 

[EvolvingGST]

Or you can just buy every one you see like I do. I tell you what, a new car to drive every month is kinda nice .
Mike

Yup or just stay away from buying any turboed car >.< they are like crack. I technically own 4.

1995 TSI AWD My most recent addition, engine blown but got it for under 1k getting my 50 trim and buillt engine

1995 GST My first... My baby... Jumped time freak accident, cam angle sensor went into the cam gears causing it to jump time. YEAH... getting a 6bolt and 16G? Turbo TBA

1992 GSX AT Parts car and engine donor for 6bolt rebuild

1991 TSI AWD Winter car for now, gonna be the donor for my GST. and selling shell to friend.

Why not get a blown up GSX/TSI AWD and get an engine swap ready. Makes life fun... You will do it sooner or later anyways...

Do the math... I bought a shell for 1k... build an engine or get bottom end built 2.5k bought built bottom end and like 2k built by machine shop... and rebuild head and port like 1500 total with cams, springs+retainers, and maybe some revised lifters... I mean that is cheaper than what you can buy one for... WHY NOT? AND YOU CAN TAKE ON GOD..

 

[daren_p]

I origionally didn't care if I got a gst or gsx & ended up getting my gst because of the milage/condition. Now that I have it I wouldn't sell it for an awd but if I was starting all over again I'd probably go for the awd. Fwd's can be fast to, but most people who put them down don't have the proper mods such as suspension, tires, lsd etc. C'mon do you really think your going to get traction with one wheel spinning those H rated 205 wide tires your running,? I think one of the reasons you don't see a tonn of fast fwd's is because the guys that own them don't have the proper mods, get fed up with traction and go out & buy an awd.

They both have advantages & disadvantages depends what your looking for. Fwd you have less drive train loss & are lighter for those nice highway pulls, they are also cheeper to maintain & will save you abit in fuel economy. With awd you have amazing traction off the line without any upgrades & is also great in snow & rain. Awd will be harder on things such as clutches and remember you need to replace 4 tires at a time.

 

[turbotalon_]

I wanted a GSX for the longest time and actually bought a 91 Talon TSi AWD but left it with the seller overnight and it got caught in a flood. Seller only refunded me part of the price so I lost 1500. Started out looking again and fwd is so much easier to find. Most of the AWD cars around here are beat to shit and have high mileage. I picked up a STOCK mint 76k mile 96 GST for 4500 less than a month ago and I'm very happy with it. It really comes down to what you can find and what kind of deal you can get. They have their differences but overall any turbo DSM is a great car.

 

[97EclipseGS-T]

I bought a FWD and a very expensive one too... i guess. like 4 years ago I wanted a 91 300 ZX twin turbo. That was my dream car. I went to look at a couple and some were expensive and some weren't. The ones that were in my price range always had something wrong with them. Then one day I had a dream of the 2G Eclipse. It was basically the commerical... kinda weird... but i woke up and wanted one fast. Went online and found one at a Nissan dealership and bought it that day. A 97 Eclipse GS-T. Cost me 8500 with 70K miles on it. I'm loving it each and everyday... even now thats its down in its corner. Either or, i'll tell you... its a DSM and its turbo. Which ever side you take, there is a different skill involved and different applications that you can take. FWD requires skill to take off and if you can pull some nice numbers on a FWD, you can really impress the AWD's. I go to the track once in a while to see what I pull after a few mods. Most of what I do is racing from rolls on the highway or a freeway.

GOODLUCK.... and remember... its turbo

-PAUL

 

[R34GSX]

For me, I'd pick a GS-X. Mostly for the performance. But top end speed on a GS-X kinda sucks. Guess it depends on how you're going to drive your car. If I didn't plan on AutoX and run windy roads, I would had picked a GS-T. Then again, It wouldn't matter cause I just wanted a turbo car to begin with, and found the GS-X first, .