DSM reliability??

[cotmfk]

Does the DSM have reliability issues, especially for the 97-99 years?

I am looking into buying a 97-99 GSX, so that would be the model I am most interested in.
I currently own a 1992 3000GT VR-4, and it hasn't been very good to my wallet!

I've heard of crank walk, but that was supposedly on only 5% of the cars or something insignificant.

Any advice, info would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[BlackGST]

How about small block Chevy reliability? My dad's old work truck and my brother and me's first vehicle has over 240k on it with no major problems. It was a work truck which means it was used hard and also two teenagers first vehicle which means it saw hell. It still runs strong even after a 45 mph front end collision with a tree. Never even had to loosen a bolt on the engine to fix it either.

My driver now is a 94 1.8 with 140k on it. Got it with 99k. It runs pretty good with a little burning oil sometimes. Not quite 240k but on the way.

 

[Camaro350]

Small Block Chevys can be reliable. Ive ran my camaro pretty hard. Especially when it had the 305 in it. I eventually pulled it at 130k for no reason other than to get a 350. Since the motor has ran like a top but other things are falling apart around me. Like the tranny. I changed that out and I was fighting tranny leaks for a week. (dipstick, lines, pan gasket) Finally fixed that and all is good.

I am about to sell my car and get a 1g DSM. I wasnt going to but my camaro is known all to well. Its been getting me in tons of trouble.

 

[my95tsi]

i've had my 95 tsi for over a year now and i drive it harder than the average car and i've had no problems yet. I just have basic mods like intake, bov, mbc, and exhaust. But i chnage my oil every 3,000 miles with mobil one synthetic and a oem filter and i'm constantly looking over things and making sure everything is ok.

 

[Camaro350]

I would rather have a car that has been ran harder than most but has had maintnance(sp? im tired) done than a car some girl has had. Girls tend to drive cars like babies BUT dont even know what an oil change is.

My buddy just bought a fiero (funny car) and we went to change the oil. It was THICK. Some of it was in clumps. Its terrible. Tranny fluid was also brown. And the car only has 70k on it. Its sad to watch cars die because of improper maintnance.

 

[nutshot]

ZenkaiRacer, your friend with the Supra, is that a 7M-GE or a 5M-GE? I have personally never heard of a 150k+ Supra that does not have bad/weak head gaskets. No fast car is reliable. The driver is reliable. My step-bro has put 60k on a 260k (now) Celica GTS that burns a quart of oil a week. He is religious about taking care of his car (and is slow as hell).

 

[gvr4#1372]

I have had my car for almost 2yr's it has over 150k and it still runs strong...Yeah I have had to do some work on it but for a 13yr old car it has been dame good....I would not trade it for nothing (only for an EVO)....But then again why get in to car payments when this is paid off....

 

[a351must2]

I beat the hell out of my '96 Eclipse GS-T auto with basic mods on my 70 mile round trip to Seattle and back 5 days a week and the only problems I've had so far are spark plugs... I've put 33,000 miles on it in 22months of driving it and have had to replace the spark plugs 5 times and the right front tire twice.

Just passed 100K miles and for general maintenance, it's had the timing belt changed at 60K, auto tranny service at 90K (late), serpentine belt changed at 90K, plug wires changed at 90K, Mobil 1 synthetic oil is changed every 9000 miles with a new Napa Gold filter every 3000 miles.

 

[UNFORGIVEN GSX]

I've had a lot of problems with my 97' GSX. I have taken a huge hit in my wallet, but it has been running pretty well for a while now. It is a Mitsubishi. I expect this kind of stuff.


Rob

 

[ZenkaiRacerDsM]

Originally posted by nutshot
ZenkaiRacer, your friend with the Supra, is that a 7M-GE or a 5M-GE? I have personally never heard of a 150k+ Supra that does not have bad/weak head gaskets. No fast car is reliable. The driver is reliable. My step-bro has put 60k on a 260k (now) Celica GTS that burns a quart of oil a week. He is religious about taking care of his car (and is slow as hell).

Im not sure what motor it is, its a n/a straight six. I cant believe its been going all this time, him and his dad rarely change the oil (most of the time when they see its low they just dump more in instead of changing it), and I dont think they know what preventative mantenance is. The brakes have been making all kinds of squeeking and rubbing noises for the longest time now and everytime I see it I think to myself that the brakes will be gone by the next time I see it, but they just keep working.

He just got a 91 GSX and its oil was really low when he got it. So he goes and does like he does with the supra and just adds more oil. I gave him a lecture about oil and how vital it is in DSM's so hopefully he keeps on top of the oil now. He did go and do a proper change after I gave him the insight.

 

[sphillips91]

These cars have high performance engines. High performance engines arent going to be as reliable as a 120 hp honda civic Running around racing (and beating I might add ) V8s what do you think is going to happen hehe.

Comon you all know you do

Most people that own a turbo car dont even know they shouldnt just shut it off after running it for any extended amount of time.

From my experience the 4g63 is a great, strong motor. Its just everything else that likes to break haha.

 

[TurBoGs-T]

I haven't had too many problems with mine lately :Knocksonwood:

 

[Ðawg]

Have had my 91TSi for almost a year now... and the only things that have broken on it are things that I have broken when racing it (rear diff)... other then that... man, this car runs GREAT...


--Scott

 

[spcebrd]

after owning 3 dsms i can honestly say ive had no prob other than regular maintenance. My next one will be a 1st gen awd. the one I have now 97 gst spyder with 165000 miles. I take care of it and I feel safe driving it anywhere. If you dont know what youre doing when you start modding than you will have problems.

 

[maximage]

In my experience, The 1st gens at least are reliable as any other car. The laser had 191,000 on it before the motor finally started to go. And I drove it like I drive any other car. Foot down head in the seat

As far as Toyotas being reliable, buy a Supra. They require head gaskets as standard maintenance( although I wouldnt trade my MKIII for the world, I LOVE my Supra!!) The 5m-ge and a couple others have the same probs.

But, also keep in mind you are driving a Sports Car. Like any sports car, there are extra steps in maintenance to take to ensure reliability. Here are a few I use personally, and ahve worked great for me.

1) Change oil and filter every 2500-3000 if driven normally, 2000 if driven hard a lot. And always use good quality filters, and of course, synthetic oil. I prefer Amsoil.

2) Also make sure to do reccomended routine maintenance as scheduled, or sooner if driven hard alot- IE- fuel filter, air filter, timing belt, etc.

3) If it comes time to rebuild, GET RID OF THOSE BALANCE SHAFTS! They can actually cause more pain than good in the long run, and the eliminator kit is easy to have installed while the block is apart.(ok, not routine, but just a thought)

They dont have to be babied, but I can tell you putting the hammer down at every stoplight will decrease the longevity of the engine.

 

[metasonic]

hmm.. well, my car has 130K miles, (95gsx), and i've never came across a problem i couldnt fix with my extremely limited knowledge of cars. Then again, my friends got a 1st gen that he absolutely babies.. and he's had problems left and right. (not to mention less than 90K miles).

 

[EricHappyMeal]

say i had about 500whp out of my awd dsm, and i drove around like a jackass. about how long would i expect the engine to last?

 

[jpolizo]

My '97 Spyder has been very reliable and it's over 102K right now. There are definitely things to complain about, like the transmission, but I've never worried about jumping in it and driving to hell and gone.

So far, I've had two significant repairs:

o stock clutch wore out
o head gasket went (misadventure with
electronic boost controler)

All that said, I've never considered it a 200K-mile engine that you could rebuild and get another 200K out of.

 

[xcelr8n]

Originally posted by EricHappyMeal
say i had about 500whp out of my awd dsm, and i drove around like a jackass. about how long would i expect the engine to last?

Ask that again when you have a awd dsm with 500 hp.