Going to be worth dropping money into this?

[Bluedragondsm]

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That's the car, 98 TSI, 150,000km

Guy who owned its dad bought from factory, the guy knew jack about cars so its completely stock, even the radio. Paint is pretty dinged up, normal wear, rock chips on hood, front lip has scrapes on bottom, couple door dings.

Bought for 6100$ cad

Now here's my question. I could either keep it and mod the hell out of it, or save the mod money and buy an evo/sti down the road in a few years.

The car is going to need a timing belt/water pump, new valve cover as its starting to crack, needs new intercooler pipes just because the old ones are to dirty to bother cleaning after 12 years of no catch can. Here's the kicker, I am no mechanic. Sure I can install bolt on intake parts and IC pipes but timing belts and stuff I am not overly comfortable doing and have no real room to do them.

With this in mind its going to be pricey paying for labor on most mods etc.

Not really sure if its worth dropping money into or leaving stock with normal maintenance and picking up a new car when I save up. I suppose I could learn some backyard mechanics but its going to be 2-3 feet of snow almost all year round and I don't have a garage.



I should add this is my daily driver

 

[LiquidX]

Well you can always find someone local willing to help you out. As for the parts, that's all regular maintenance it seems. If you are honestly wanting an Evo or STI then save the modding for that although it'll be cheaper for power with the DSM.

I have a valve cover for sale, it's in one of my ads. PM me if interested.

 

[Coreyred95]

how much rust? if its save your money.

 

[1995gsx20g]

This choice is all on you, it can be done but are you willing to do it?
but my dsm made me a mechanic. If you are all up to date on timing belts and things of those nature then you can lightly mod it and it will be a reliable DD

 

[gusu]

I was going to get an Evo but to be honest the parts are overly expensive in some cases and in others dirt cheap.

The money I save each month on insurance is close to 300 dollars.. my current insurance is only 75 with my talon. I am a year away from 25 so age is not really a factor that much anymore. I also have a VERY clean driving record with nothing on it AT ALL. I even have the good student/safe driver discounts. I also have full coverage.

With the extra 300 a month you could put new parts on almost every month!

 

[Bluedragondsm]

how much rust? if its save your money.

No rust other then a slight bit of surface on the door jam from rock chips. If I decide to mod it it will be getting a full paint job/once over body work and adding 2ga side skirts. I wouldn't only be getting an evo, I would also be looking at getting something like a 08 GTO, or some other newer performance car.

I am basically wondering should I mod the older talon with all the work it needs or just drive it and save for a near new 07-2011 (depending when I buy the car) Sports compact/sport sedan. Won't be buying anything that doesn't run at LEAST stock 14's to low 15's.

I mean I could try and learn to do a timing but but honestly I could screw it up pretty hard and it would be a driveway job, and I really only have 2 months a year to do work in the driveway

 

[1995gsx20g]

I mean I could try and learn to do a timing but but honestly I could screw it up pretty hard and it would be a driveway job, and I really only have 2 months a year to do work in the driveway

im not saying it was all fun doing a timing belt job in the street in the winter but it can be done.

 

[purewake07]

I like it man, if there really is no rust id say buckle down and change the belt and whatever else it needs. I bought my car stock/hacked and spent the time learning to fix all the little things and i feel like it really paid off. I will probably buy an sti one day too but this is definately a good car to learn on. You will run into issues, you will probably break some things, and you will spend a bit of money... But sure does look like a good platform to go whatever direction you want.

 

[herms99gst]

Just go ahead and replace all the timing components( belt, tensioners, pulleys) even if you have to pay someone to do it. Also replace the water pump and oil pump. Do a compression test on the cylinders, that will help yu decide wether to mod or not. If everything is ok, go for it. Hell their was a guy on past time who had like 225,00 miles on his 1g running a gt30r. If you take care of it itll last forever.

 

[gieri002]

I would personally just save for the evo/sti, there will always be that voice in your head telling you that you could do better...

 

[DSM1G90]

Do the belts and DD the thing. Save some money for the future.

That thing has only 92000 miles (converting Km to Miles) on it making the motor still in great shape.

 

[Bluedragondsm]

Do the belts and DD the thing. Save some money for the future.

That thing has only 92000 miles (converting Km to Miles) on it making the motor still in great shape.

This is kind of the way I see it, I am going to put aluminum IC piping on it, replace the IC with a new stock one, buy a K&N FIPK Kit and a 1g BOV and call it a day I think.

I am debating if I should bother painting it and installing sideskirts just so I can get that much more out of it in the future and have a decent looking car in the meantime.

Seems a shame to mod the hell out of and beat up a stock DSM in such good shape.

 

[Dert]

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

That's the car, 98 TSI, 150,000km

Guy who owned its dad bought from factory, the guy knew jack about cars so its completely stock, even the radio. Paint is pretty dinged up, normal wear, rock chips on hood, front lip has scrapes on bottom, couple door dings.

Bought for 6100$ cad

Now here's my question. I could either keep it and mod the hell out of it, or save the mod money and buy an evo/sti down the road in a few years.

The car is going to need a timing belt/water pump, new valve cover as its starting to crack, needs new intercooler pipes just because the old ones are to dirty to bother cleaning after 12 years of no catch can. Here's the kicker, I am no mechanic. Sure I can install bolt on intake parts and IC pipes but timing belts and stuff I am not overly comfortable doing and have no real room to do them.

With this in mind its going to be pricey paying for labor on most mods etc.

Not really sure if its worth dropping money into or leaving stock with normal maintenance and picking up a new car when I save up. I suppose I could learn some backyard mechanics but its going to be 2-3 feet of snow almost all year round and I don't have a garage.



I should add this is my daily driver

I assume you live in canada as you said you paid in cndn funds, I live in Lethbridge alberta and had my water pump, timing belt and balance shaft belts done at the local mitsu dealer and had it all done incl taxes and labor for $714, every shop I went to for a quote quoted me over $1100 so dont be scared to inquire at the local mistu dealer as it wont really break the bank, now keep in mind if you get a mechanically inclined friend to help you, you can do it for 1/4 the cost

 

[Zdrummer15]

Since you said it's a 98 TSi, I'm assuming it's a fwd TSi. This would probably be the deciding factor for me if I were you. A low mileage awd car would be worth putting money into in my opinion, but if you really want an Evo or STi just do maintenance and basic mods and have a fun dd until you buy your next one. With those miles it should easily last a few years. I don't know what you drove before, but it would also be a nice transition into turbo cars (if left close to stock) to get you ready for a modded Evo or whatever (if you plan to mod that).

 

[Coreyred95]

No rust other then a slight bit of surface on the door jam from rock chips. If I decide to mod it it will be getting a full paint job/once over body work and adding 2ga side skirts. I wouldn't only be getting an evo, I would also be looking at getting something like a 08 GTO, or some other newer performance car.

Haha you think a lot like me man, I was going to put the 2Ga side skirts on the 97 TSi AWD i just bought, that one only has 55k tho haha. My 95 TSi has 180k on a 100% stock engine that has never even been removed from the car, so they can last along time. I've seen a lot of them with well over 200k. The way i see it the high mileage makes it a good car for modding.

BTW i just love the look of the 2Gb's wether its an eclipse or talon. I say mod her. I think 25 yrs from now these cars will be like a muscle car is today. The whole reason muscle cars are so spendy today is because they were cheap cars you could get big power out of for relatively cheap so all the young people had one. Now everyone who had one back then is 40-50 years old now with money and is willing to drop big bucks for a ride back in time to the good old days haha.

 

[AK Maniak]

Since you said it's a 98 TSi, I'm assuming it's a fwd TSi. This would probably be the deciding factor for me if I were you. A low mileage awd car would be worth putting money into in my opinion, but if you really want an Evo or STi just do maintenance and basic mods and have a fun dd until you buy your next one. With those miles it should easily last a few years. I don't know what you drove before, but it would also be a nice transition into turbo cars (if left close to stock) to get you ready for a modded Evo or whatever (if you plan to mod that).

my thoughts exactly

 

[Bluedragondsm]

Its AWD

 

[Killian]

I say light mods, enjoy it, take care of it, and pass it on to someone deserving when the time comes.

 

[97-gst]

idk man, i think you should make this decision on your own. If you mod this car your prob not gonna get anymore cash than 6100$ when you go to sell it. I mean evo's and STi's are nice cars but IMO too rich for my blood. Idk much about canadian money but here evo's and STi's cost like $16,000. Lets just say that you spent $6k american on your car. Thats a $10k price difference. You could spend $10k in mods on your talon and make it Scream. All i know is the worlds gonna end 2012, better make your decision fast. Times-a-wastin

 

[AK Maniak]

idk man, i think you should make this decision on your own. If you mod this car your prob not gonna get anymore cash than 6100$ when you go to sell it. I mean evo's and STi's are nice cars but IMO too rich for my blood. Idk much about canadian money but here evo's and STi's cost like $16,000. Lets just say that you spent $6k american on your car. Thats a $10k price difference. You could spend $10k in mods on your talon and make it Scream. All i know is the worlds gonna end 2012, better make your decision fast. Times-a-wastin

haha very true. Evos are sick and all but if you spent the difference in price between an evo and your talon on modding your talon it would absolutey destroy a stock evo or sti. oh and 97 gst makes a good point, you've got less than two years so i would hurry up and decide