Hard Decision

[Pro3racer]

I have the chance to buy a 92 tsi(i already changed my profile). I own a 1991 talon non-turbo right now. The tsi is black, a mint body, good running motor, but the motor is dirty as hell, and the interior will need a lot of work. I am friends with the owner, and am also friends with the man who works on the car, the car has a swapped 6-bolt, new tranny, new turbo(new as in about 100,000, the body has 155,000). I have the money right now for the car, if i sell my non-turbo. The cars for sale for $3000, i already got him down from 3500, so i can't go any lower. Should i buy this car now, or keep saving money until late spring, and buy a amzing car then. I really want to get rid of my non-turbo, because everytime i drive it, i'm afraid something will start making noises, . It either i get the tsi now....keep my non-turbo until i'm done with high school....or buy a awd in the summer?? Insurance is not an problem, i pay my own, and can afford the insurance. Some help on this one. If you need any questions answered, i can do that for ya.

 

[TurboGeoff]

Id wait and save, 100k on a 4g63 is not a new motor. Also a tsi is gunna make more noises than a non-turbo.

 

[Pro3racer]

i have $2000 right now in pocket(well bank), and my non-turbo can get $1300 around here, i've gotten many offers, before i even thought of selling it. So by may, i'll have around $4000, that good for awd turbo perfect conditon?? btw, it would be a 1g, i love 1g's so much, i don't really like 2g's.

 

[marcmsj]

you could probably find a really good 1st gen with 4 grand. or one with lots of mods if that's what you want

 

[blackGSX2g]

Agreed...4k could get you an excellent condition 1g AWD. Check eBay for local auctions as well as Autotrader or people on this site. I've even seen some ok looking 2g turbos for around 4k.

 

[Pro3racer]

I don't want to get a 2g, there to much of a show car for me, i like the just plain fast look. I would like a stock tsi awd, but finding one that is completely stock, and a 5-speed, is how to come by, .

 

[marcmsj]

I don't want to get a 2g, there to much of a show car for me, i like the just plain fast look. I would like a stock tsi awd, but finding one that is completely stock, and a 5-speed, is how to come by, .

true, but there's still a few out there that are stock or close to stock.. just a matter of being patient and waiting for one to pop up.. but definately check those sites.

 

[Pro3racer]

Bad question, but is there any faster cars other than dsm's that i can get for $4000, i love dsm's, but i want to make sure i'm not being blind to other cars.

 

[91Bomb]

i have $2000 right now in pocket(well bank), and my non-turbo can get $1300 around here, i've gotten many offers, before i even thought of selling it. So by may, i'll have around $4000, that good for awd turbo perfect conditon?? btw, it would be a 1g, i love 1g's so much, i don't really like 2g's.

It might be kinda tricky finding a stock 1g in 'Perfect condition'. The '94's are now over 11 yrs old so finding one with perfect paint, body, interior, and motor is going to be about impossible unless you're willing to travel anywhere in the country to find one and even that presents it own problems.
More likely is you'll find one that's in really good shape but dumping a good amount of money into it over time is just as likely too -- reliability isn't a turbo dsm's strong point.

The 'Perfect condition' DSM doesn't and has never existed -- it is a mythical creature. Even when brand new these cars are not perfect. They run for awhile, breakdown, run some more, break down... They're very fun to drive but come with a lot of headaches -- some days you'll swear they're 'perfect' and some you'll swear they're a POS.

I might be looking for a 2g soon and am in the same boat as you -- but having owned a 1g tsi for the past 8 yrs has taught me that no matter how much money I spend I'm not going to find a perfect car. My strategy would be to find one that has been well taken care of which would include having very good paint and a clean body with no major flaws. If the interior looks good I'd pop the hood and do a compression test. I'd test drive it and if I'm still interested I'd take it to my local dsm shop to have it checked out some more (there's one about 10 miles from my house
I'd negotiate the price based on the above.
With the purchase of a solid car I would still have a good amount of money in reserve in case a major problem occurs such as with the engine, trans, turbo, broken t-belt, etc.

Good luck.



*edit*

I'd do a compression chk on the engine of your friend's '92 tsi and if the #'s are solid I'd be If the trans is good I'd be FWD saves you 250 lbs over AWD and gets better fuel mileage. A black '92 tsi in mint condition from owner you know and ?trust? = I'd jump on it. Is it a 5-spd or auto? I might be interested.

 

[Pro3racer]

Oh, well, my non-turbo was in mint condition until a woodpile fell on it(don't ask), now the passenger side is messed up, so it doesn't have that "look" anymore. The tsi, i will do some compression checks, but i'm a little weary, because of it having a motor swap, tranny swap, so somebody has been in there and done stuff, even though i know the person that did the work. The car needs major interior work though, the interior is kind of falling apart to say the least. The motor is dirty as hell, which i don't like very much, because it hides potential problems.