about reliability

[fids05]

hey guys, im thinkin bout buyin a 1st gen tsi fwd, i was jus curiuos i talked to a few other guys and they say dsm's are not that reliable, i want a nice fast reliable car cuz i dont have alot of money to put into it, but would u say these cars are pretty reliable???? and when stuff does break is it expensive???, thx everyone

 

[98GSX_MTX]

Most of these cars are over 10 years old and have more than 100k on them. Most of them have been abused and neglected. As with all older cars there are issues.

That being said I have 140K on my 98 with original 7 bolt motor and it still has great compression. The only problems I have had are stock turbo died at 128k and stock tranny started to pop out of gear at 130k.

If you dont beat the snot out of the car and perform needed maintenance it will probably last you a long time. Just be sure you know the history of the car before you buy it.

Hopefully you do your own work when parts need fixing. The junk yard has just about any part you will need.

 

[spirol]

it would be if your not willing to work on your car. Approx 70-80% of the owners that I know work on their car. Parts are widely available.

 

[fids05]

yeah i can do some of thework im no mechanic but i kno somestuff bout cars andworkin on them, how long do trannys usually last around? and like drive axels and all that junk

 

[fids05]

anyone else have a opinion?

 

[paranoidTSi]

If you can find one that a grandma or grandpa drove around the life of the vehicle to pick up grocheries at the local store then you MIGHT pick up a reliable DSM..but unfortunately that is HARDLY the case because you will more than likely pick up a DSM from someone that beat the snot out of it, and doesn't even know that the motor requires oil...if you get my drift.

In other words..yes I believe it is ENTIRELY possible to pick up a DSM that is reliable, but that would be few and far between.

Also realize..no matter what car you have..you race it and reliability goes down period..thats just the way it works. Especially when you start getting into upgrades..

You want a fun ride that you plan on only keeping the vehicle for a little while (or your pocket is loaded and you are prepared to repair the beast) then a DSM is for you..if you want reliability get a Honda/Acura or a Toyota.

I've been in muscle cars, I've been in Imports, but out of all of them I seriously enjoy my AWD DSM because the feeling of your car INSTANTLY powering off the line and the turbo pushing you back in your seat..there is nothing like it.

 

[kyledykstra]

I bought my first talon (1990 TSi AWD) in 2002 with 126K on original everything (even the timing belt), I changed the timing belt and waterpump right away. I changed the valve-cover gasket around 145K when I did the clutch. Then my car got rear-ended to I pulled the motor at 180K. I changed the headgasket and belt again while it was out, and had the head rebuilt. Since then I've put 5k on the car, so I've got 185K on the bottom end/turbo, 5K on the head, 113K on this body/trans. I have never had a part break on me. I did my maintance, which costs money, but a DSM is no different than any other car, take care of it, replace the worn out parts, and it'll keep you happy.

(until you start going nuts with mods, as with any car, as you increase HP, stock parts start to break)

 

[Defiant]

Reliability issues? Naw. There'd be some kind of online mutual-help site if they were beaten to death by every clueless kid who can break a battleship with a bottle-opener, and can't work a search engine.

The car's going to treat you the way you treat it. Or, the way every previous owner has treated it. Choose carefully.

 

[GeneralChaos]

most of the people who claim "dsm's are unreliable and thats that" are morons. If you watch over them, they break any car they touch.

If you do the proper maintenance and dont drag race it everytime you stop, it will be nice to you.

If you mod it, mod it right.....this is where the problems come for most.

My friend danny doesnt have things like the internet all that much, so he just takes other idiots words. He goes and spends all this money for a low 12 second setup, installs it, and NOT following my advice he goes and races the car WITHOUT TUNING IT. less then 2 days later, his engine is toast and he selling everything and buying a grand prix GTP because its reliable.....well the other day guess what I found out? he blew a whole in his automatic trans....so realiable. :thumbdown

Its all in the owners, do everything your supposed to and do it right. dont cheap out and dont take shortcuts....things will happen but like stated already these cars are getting really old.


If you got some extra money and bit of know-how, and actually re-SEARCH things, you will be fine.