Getting back into the DSM game, need help deciding on a car.

[RicciDSM]

Whatsup everyone? Im finally looking to get back into a DSM. My mustang was hit on saturday and insurance is on their way out to tell me if its totaled (which it is)...

So I went to check out a 1998 GSX. Its automatic which is what I want, 99k miles, everything checks out good on the car, besides the paint. It could use a repainting, which isnt gonna be much since I have a friend who works at a body shop. But other than that, the car is great, how often do you find a black gsx in automatic???? Its going for $3000

My other choice is a 1997 Talon TSi, FWD. Again, its auto, no problems whatsoever BUT the car has 144k miles. The owner is a 43yr old man, whos mother (original owner) gave him the car and allllll of the miles are highway. Literally. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with the car, they took very good care of it. Its going for $2900

So whats everyone think? Im looking to get into an automatic DSM, and theyre very hard to come by (in my area at least) without traveling too far...

Any opinions would be extremely helpful. I know a good amount on these cars but when it comes to choosing, I like taking professional advice


Heres some pics:

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[cookmeup272]

What do you want to use it for? Thats the big question right there.

 

[RicciDSM]

Mainly daily driving. I WILL be doing some modifications though...

 

[cookmeup272]

If your just trying to DD and arent going to go crazy, I would say FWD. A lot of people will disagree but FWD get better gas mileage and less parts to worry about. Also the fact that it was owned by older adults and even has the stock rims and exhaust on it just screams un-molested. 144k miles isnt extremely high especially if its been highway driven. The Eclipse is definitely worth more if you ever planned on reselling it. 1 year newer, much less miles...

 

[RicciDSM]

Well idk about how crazy id be going with it, my buddy has a stock evo 8 turbo/mani/wastegate and stuff hes willing to give me to if id put them on id definitely get it tuned etc etc... Im not 100% on adding that stuff though.

I would soo much rather have the GSX mainly for the fact that its AWD, and it would be good for the snow and all around here. But like you said, the TSi just says the car wasnt beat on or raced. He even said it to me, hes like listen im 43, im not into that kinda stuff and my mom was the original owner and only used it for getting to work. The owner of the GSX is some 18yr old who admitted to me how he got the car up to 125mph (bad move on his part)

So, idk how bad the GSX was beat on or what but it definitely needs paint etc etc...

 

[Guzman08]

who owns the gsx

 

[yungjon23]

the talon seems like a smarter choice. although the gsx to me is more desireable(looks better, AWD) and also it will be easier to resell it in the future since there arent many 2g auto GSX's with that many miles. But honestly, it doesnt seem right to spend 100$ more on a car that you're only going to be spending more money on like the paint job. if the talon needs nothing, go with that. good luck!

 

[Dserge]

I just got a black 97 GST 5 speed yesterday..I LOVE it. GST is great for DD purposes.

 

[emitsu97]

I say buy both, use the TSI for a DD and when the mod bug bites take it out on the X.

 

[Guzman08]

i say gsx. wish i had one.

 

[Tanro]

I would get the TSI for daily purposes.

GSX For Getting sideways on boost !

 

[Dsmj89]

I'd get the talon just for the fact it was always adult owned and never abused, gotta love unmolested cars.

 

[cookmeup272]

I didnt know you were going to be using it in the winter as well. But let me tell you this, I used to own a 98 spyder GST with bald tires that i drove for a winter. I NEVER got stuck and had no problems making it through the snow. I doubt Pennsylvania gets it worse than we do. I say TSi all the way

 

[feedmemustangs]

I agree and say go with the Tsi. If you do go with the gsx, you might be spending more on maintenance since it has been beat on. There is nothing better than a virgin, with absolutely nothing on the car modified you wont have to worry about some ghetto rigged performance mods. Good luck with your choice and glad to see you left the mustang game. DSM- Destroy Some Mustangs =)

 

[RicciDSM]

Hmm.. Well the GSX is owned by some 17-19yr old kid who knew NOTHING about cars. He posted in his ad that it has an aftermarket "blow up valve", but when I went to look at it the motor was bone stock. At least he knew that he had to put premium gas in it . The paint is the only downside, he took a spray can to the fenders because they started fading...yeah.

The TSi on the other hand, always adult owned, garaged for the first 8-9yrs of its life, also bone stock. He had the timing belt/water pump/all other belts and a bunch of other stuff changed recently. He said theres no problems with it at all.

So you guys say your FWD's arent that bad in the snow? Ive never owned a FWD long enough to witness snow. The motor on my Eclipse GS blew just before winter came.

The only thing is, say I have like $5000 to spend... I spend $3000 on gsx, then $1000+ to paint it and im left with nothing. Or I spend $3000 on the TSi and have $2000 to mod and do as I please.

I agree and say go with the Tsi. If you do go with the gsx, you might be spending more on maintenance since it has been beat on. There is nothing better than a virgin, with absolutely nothing on the car modified you wont have to worry about some ghetto rigged performance mods. Good luck with your choice and glad to see you left the mustang game. DSM- Destroy Some Mustangs =)

AGREED! I sold my 92 Z28 and got an 01 V6 Mustang, boy was that the biggest mistake I ever made... That thing is SOOOO slow. At least with the TSi/GSX id be picking up a little more power for less.

 

[emitsu97]

You could always just flat black the X too.

 

[talon1616]

Go with the tsi. Better owned and thats good and they look better to. I would buy the tsi without even thinking about it

 

[TJCTalon]

Go with the talon. Old people owned it so you know that no 19 yr old punk was beating on it.
FWD will save gas on your dd

And the 2gb body style of the talon is by far the best look on our dsm's in my opinion.

 

[gieri002]

GSX for sure, no question about it.

 

[RicciDSM]

Ahhh so many pros and cons of each car . It all comes down to whether insurance decides to total out my mustang which im hoping they do, or they could dick me over and want to fix it.

Im leaning more towards the TSi. It was adult owned and taken care of all its life and needs nothing at all.

On another note, I didnt realize how loud the stock turbo/bov is on gsx's! I got on it a little bit when I drove it, well I took it into a parking lot and floored it, and that thing spools pretty loud for stock! Im hoping all GSX/GST/TSi are like that?

One more question! Are parts for the GST and TSi FWD interchangeable? Say if I buy a GST catback, it should fit the TSi am I right? I plan on doing a good amount of stuff to the car when I get it. Exhaust, Intake, BOV, Turbo Timer etc etc...

 

[dsmtun3r98gst]

The owner of the GSX is some 18yr old who admitted to me how he got the car up to 125mph (bad move on his part)

So, idk how bad the GSX was beat on or what but it definitely needs paint etc etc...

Why was it a bad move to go up to that speed????? I once went 135 mph on my GS-T when all it had was a K&N and a exhaust and I didn't think It was a bad move so Idk ..... well maybe it was cus I would have gotten a mean a$$ ticket if caught by the cops

 

[RicciDSM]

Why was it a bad move to go up to that speed????? I once went 135 mph on my GS-T when all it had was a K&N and a exhaust and I didn't think It was a bad move so Idk ..... well maybe it was cus I would have gotten a mean a$$ ticket if caught by the cops

I meant bad move on his part for TELLING me that. That right there just shows me what type of driver he really is if hes willing to get up to such speeds. Theres no doubt that he beat the balls off the car. Idk what im gonna do yet, just the fact that its a black auto gsx is really catching my attention, but the TSi needs no work whatsoever...

Ill have to go check out the Talon first and then compare them afterwards. Hopefully insurance comes tomorrow and get this process moving.

 

[dsmtun3r98gst]

Well out of the 2 I would definetly go for the GSX..... but then again the TSi seems to be 100% unmolested...... Just take a good look at the GSX maybe ask the guy to let you borrow it for a while and take it for a good drive to make sure its driving just fine.

 

[emitsu97]

On another note, I didnt realize how loud the stock turbo/bov is on gsx's! I got on it a little bit when I drove it, well I took it into a parking lot and floored it, and that thing spools pretty loud for stock! Im hoping all GSX/GST/TSi are like that?

Stock turbo/BOV's are not loud. Didn't you mention something about the X having an aftermarket BOV?

One more question! Are parts for the GST and TSi FWD interchangeable? Say if I buy a GST catback, it should fit the TSi am I right? I plan on doing a good amount of stuff to the car when I get it. Exhaust, Intake, BOV, Turbo Timer etc etc...

Mechanically they're the same exact car.

 

[dsm-onster]

GSX. . .It has a 1998+ecu which when you do small mods like run cheap larger evo 560cc injectors, and upgrade to a 14b from a 1g 5speed car, and get a cheap evo fuel pump you can simply reflash the ecu already in there. $300 total for the injectors/pump/14b, another $125 for evoscan and the nice cable to log/flash your 1998 ecu, plus a boost gauge and boost controller and jpipe with oil lines; And you're right on $500 for a very RELIABLE factory parts 300hp setup. Nothing wild, but a good kick when you want it. And the auto tranny can take that abuse all day every day. It seams as if it already has an upgrade bypass valve; which would be neccesary even for SLIGHT modifications like simply upping the boost a little on the stock turbo. The stock 2g bypass valve is garbage.

The moment you want to do a budget reliable very mild upgrade setup on the 97 car, you will need the 1998+ ecu or an safc plus a 1g bypass valve and the connection hardware for it. So you're coming out ahead with the 98 car the moment you buy it.

The 98 car will get slightly less gas mileage. But it will have more winter traction and more summer fun traction. It has less miles on it too.

It's more difficult to beat up the car if it has an auto tranny, IMO. Unless he makes a practice of doing neutral bombs. Autos: less drivetrain shock.