97 GSX Test Drive Impressions

[DanaT]

I test the drove the ’97 GSX that I am considering buying.

I don’t want to start a flame war so take my observations for what they are. They are a comparison. That doesn’t mean good or bad but different. This was a STOCK gsx.
Power Delivery: The GSX did not feel like a turbo car. The boost came on very early and didn’t have a big spike. It was very linear feeling. It was not what I would describe as “fast” nor would I call it “slow”. I would call acceleration “decent”. It feels about the same on acceleration as my Grand Cherokee with a Hemi. The car could use 100 or 200 more hp

Handling: The handling was 70% of a good handling car. Turning was slow but decent grip. A little bit of excessive body roll and the defiantly a front biased weight distribution. The car had a feeling of understeer. In general, I would say that its an easy car for an non-experienced driver to drive reasonably quick, but the limits are quickly approached. However, it seems to be a good compromise between nice riding and handling; It is not punishing to ride in. I think given the AWD it would do well in bad weather. It does feel somewhat like FWD though.

Brakes: Those were what I would call a joke. They feel no different than a typical mid level car. I think the small brakes would be quickly taxed on any road race course. They are simply small brakes with not overly great feel. The small tires also don’t help grip on braking nor do the soft springs. Of course the soft springs make the ride nice.
It seemed to have Japanese quality. This means that it is good build quality but does not have a European type of finish.

So overall, I think I will probably buy the car. It seems to do what I want it to do. I will have a hard time keeping it stock but it will be acceptable for what I need. So my assessment of 70% of a sport car is not a knock but a compliment. When I compare to sports cars, I am comparing to hard edged sports cars that are definitely track biased (I am comparing it to my car that I can’t ship to Europe because half the car would have to be returned to stock and that would cost a fortune and make the car not so much fun.) and are in a different class of automobile.

-Dana

 

[one_bad_7]

well the problem was the car is STOCK. i like the looks of the 2g eclipse and talons, but i love the race car feel of the 1g.

i hope you like the car and lets see some pics

 

[gsxeclipse97]

Agreed that the problem was it is stock. It is a great car for what it was designed to do but just changing the t25 to a 14b would make a world of difference to this car along with a boost controller.. It would then give you the turbo charged feeling that you are saying it lacks. also changing the blow off valve to a 1g or evo mr would greatly help as well.

 

[xxShaneOmac]

A 11 year 20k car in its stock form, sounds about right,

Get some money into it, Do the

Big Break Upgrade
Lowered with some stiffer springs
Stiffen up with strut tower bars

Upgrade the turbo turn up the PSI and you will feel it excel, then for more just do what you would to any other car.

full upgrade!!

 

[pboglio]

Its going to take a lot to make a 97 GSX "feel" like a sports car, and even then there are limits. I use my 05 STi as a comparison, the amount of mods to even approach what that car comes with stock and dialed in from the factory would approach $10,000-$15,000 in mods on my 97 GSX. Active differentials, bullet proof tranny, big displacement motor, forged wheels, sticky tires, stiff suspension, brembo brakes, etc. etc. Even then the 97 GSX simply can't do what my STi does, power on oversteer and telepathic steering response. I do things in that car I wouldn't dream of doing in my GSX.

I'm using my STi as a benchmark to get my GSX close to it but its a tall order. Sway bars and suspension bushings are next, but the lag in steering response drives me nuts. If I had to do it over again, I'd have gone with suspension mods/braking mods from day one on my 97 GSX. Only engine mod I'd get right off the bat is DSMLink and maybe a boost controller, the difference in driveability would be night and day. Everything would go into suspension/braking mods/chassis stiffening mods.

 

[DanaT]

It will have MINOR (read one that a person cant easily see and that I can get away with Europe). I doubt there are any TUV approved big break upgrades.

But there brakes would be nice...

http://danat.mesanetworks.net/Brakes.jpg

Those are 322mmx32mm (12.7" rotors) with 4 piston calipers (36/44mm pistons). Those types of brakes work well, but again, not approved and too easy to spot.

I think I would just put on some H&R spring (TUV approved), a stock looking bigger turbo (maybe a big 16G or the EVOIII 16G turbo) and a boost controller. Some better pads and maybe brembo rotors in stock size would give the brakes more bite.

The 'ring would fry those brakes though. I will probably have to fry them

-Dana

 

[pboglio]

I run a T28 which is undetectable from the stock T25 on the outside. Brakes I use Porterfield RS4 pads which when properly bed in can stand the car up on the front wheels and pull the rears in the air, stock rotors too.

 

[gsxeclipse97]

Its going to take a lot to make a 97 GSX "feel" like a sports car, and even then there are limits. I use my 05 STi as a comparison, the amount of mods to even approach what that car comes with stock and dialed in from the factory would approach $10,000-$15,000 in mods on my 97 GSX. Active differentials, bullet proof tranny, big displacement motor, forged wheels, sticky tires, stiff suspension, brembo brakes, etc. etc. Even then the 97 GSX simply can't do what my STi does, power on oversteer and telepathic steering response. I do things in that car I wouldn't dream of doing in my GSX.

I'm using my STi as a benchmark to get my GSX close to it but its a tall order. Sway bars and suspension bushings are next, but the lag in steering response drives me nuts. If I had to do it over again, I'd have gone with suspension mods/braking mods from day one on my 97 GSX. Only engine mod I'd get right off the bat is DSMLink and maybe a boost controller, the difference in driveability would be night and day. Everything would go into suspension/braking mods/chassis stiffening mods.

This is like comparing apples to oranges here. Clearly not a fair fight, a rally based car versus a watered down 4g63 for the US market you don't need a big bore engine as the evo 7 8 9 clearly demonstrait. As far as brembos go those are manageable to pull off. I do know that if mitsu made an active center diff for us I would be first on that list to buy one or even if they had a better one for us.

 

[DSMsOwnYourV8]

Depends on what your goals are, I bought my talon for $3400 and after $7000 in mods including a bullet proof tranny, I walk Sti's all day. I don't race on a road course though, it's a drag/street car.

 

[daren_p]

I would say your impressions are pretty accurate. The stock turbo is tiny, ie no big turbo hit or lag. They don't feel all that quick stock but the power is pretty linear, so its hard to notice unless your up against something else. They do understeer from the factory, Mitsu probably did this on purpose so everyone could drive the car without getting into trouble. Brakes, they should be pretty descent, not a huge rotor by todays standards but with the two piston calipers & a descent pad, they should haul the car down fairly well. Someone could have easily swapped a worse then stock compount pad on, which is why performance wasn't that great.

All these issues can be fixed & you have to keep in mind this is an 11 year old car, with 11 year old technology.

 

[brian9397gsx]

that is what i thought when i bought my 97 gsx. but after the 16g exhaust greddy piping and turbonetics bov its a different car. ill agree with the brakes though an upgrade in pads and rotors worked oput great on my 93 sure thats all it would take for the second gen. its been a great car i love driving it everyday.

 

[99 GST-R]

Yep, after a few small upgrades its a different animal. Even after a intake and exhaust upgrade its way different. Have you thought of having your other car shipped over as a "track only" car? Or is it to late? Its an awesome car when you get to know it.

 

[DanaT]

To the end the saga, the test drive ended up being a purchase. I bought the car today.

The "track car" thing doesn't really work in Europe. The problem is to get plates, the car must go through the government inspection. They know what they are looking for. One drop of oil leaking is a no-go for plates.

Yes, I realize this is an 11 year old car. The brakes in the picture I posted were installed from the factory as early as 1992 (on the C2 Turbo).

I think this will make a nice daily driver with some very minro upgrades that I can get away with.

-Dana