How reliable has your DSM been?

[eboy0]

Coming from someone who has their GSX on jackstand at this minute... you'll probably end up making the GSX your weekend car and the stang your DD

 

[ChunkyLover53]

Coming from someone who has their GSX on jackstand at this minute... you'll probably end up making the GSX your weekend car and the stang your DD

I never thought it would happen, but Eboy is right. After 2 years of owning the Talon, I am considering buying a civic to make my TSI a weekend car. Just a suggestion if you want a GSX but don't want to pay the money, have you considered a Talon? I got mine with 100K for $5300. Have not had any large problems since. I just keep on top of maintenance.

 

[emitsu97]

Talons are definitely a great alternative. We got my brother's TSI AWD for $4,500 with around 80k on the odo.

 

[hectorjr]

im going out on a limb here and say, get an automatic n/t . They get better gas mileage than the turbo eclipses and are often kept in better shape because theyre slower im just saying this because i own a 99 n/t dsm and its reliable as hell. i also have a 90 GSX thats in the shop right now. but thats my fun car. If you want more reliability than performance, get the n/t, wichever way you go, all DSM`s deserve respect.

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

first to say, my turbo dsm has been more reliable and gotten MUCH better gas mileage on the highway mind you than my NT ever was and my NT had 27k miles, my turbo had 57k miles. Although to say that might be a little biased.

The NT had a speed sensor fail, and something else annoying, I forget off the top of my head.

Turbo, overheated a rear diff (autocrossing and road racing on original fluids form the factory except for engine oil, stupid I kno, I thought previou owner had replaced it)
And the alternator was charging a llittle low so I had it replaced....

Thats it, both cars were kept about 2 years, although I sitll have the turbo...

The GSX has seen 25-30 autocrosses and about 2 road racing events and aside from me forgetting to tighten the driveshaft nut/bolts it did perfect. Just had to come in one session as my back end was vibrating bc of the looseness, tightened it up and ran perfect.





The 97+ is ridiculously overpriced, but thats because people are finding out how good cars these are. The 4g63 although loved, never really had a huge spotlight until the evo. Now that people are finding out the potential of the motor and realize that older cars had it an awd, it has driven up demand. Especially because the looks of the 97+ eclipse is far above the Evo in my opinion.

drive one, youll know wether you want one. If you dont, dont get it.

 

[onegeenewbie]

Then on your trip I would say go 2 hours or 200 miles at a time then stop and take a break for about 30 minutes or so. That will extend the life of your car on long trips. Good luck

Why? I've never heard of anybody doing this...

 

[Defiant]

You'd probably not keep your foot out of a turbo. If it's just for DD, go with an N/T. They're still very good cars, and easier on gas. They just don't have the acceleration. Once you're rolling, they're still not slow.

 

[John_GST]

Why? I've never heard of anybody doing this...

Its supposed to be a precaution because long trips can strain engines (my brother crams that crap down my throat ### he is supposedly so much smarter than me) but anyways I go by that rule ever since I was driving from my home town to my school and jumped time. Its about a four hour drive and I was about 3hrs or so into it and a hard kick later and I couple knocks and I had 14 bent valves and two that broke off. Since I bought a new head and replaced all the scarred pistons, and all the valves I go by that rule and I have drove to Michigan, florida, and New York from where I am at and I haven't had a single problem. It works from my standards and I know it wasn't the timing belt that just went because I had replaced that just a month before it happened. Thats just why I use that.

 

[talonracn49]

I drove from Charlotte to Miami straight at 75+ MPH, parked the car for a week, cranked it back up and drove straight back to charlotte. I only shut it down to fill up with gas. This on a 122K miles 2G GST.

Car ran flawlessly the entire time, with the AC on.

 

[red_devil]

Toyota camry or corolla, bmw 325, Mazda 3 or 6, any mercedes, VW GTI (newer ones), Audi A4 (newer ones)

If you can afford a Mustang and another decent car then any mitsubishi is not a good choice for a DD.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

I drove my daily driver GSX from san diego to the bay area, about 6 hour drive, with a pace of 80-90mph average, 119k miles on original motor/timing belt, with an oil leak. When I came back saw that I was driving with less than 4qts of oil. Checked to make sure everything was still good..... everything is still good. Now im at 126k miles, same situation, except I fixed the oil leak.

Never heard of taking breaks for the car, I have heard of taking breaks from driver fatigue

 

[nightspeed87]

http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=261850

Maybe my thread will help your questions some also.

 

[tommiman]

Definitely, not a good choice for a DD… mine spends more time on jack stands then I do drive it… although I only drive it on the weekends… go with a Civic or similar… I have a Chevy Sprint as a DD and it’s reliable and fuel efficient as hell…

As far as long road trip I drove the Talon 8 hours each way at 75MPH from Toronto to Sandusky none stop with 4 – 5 boost leaks (found out this year) without a hitch

 

[Defiant]

Its supposed to be a precaution because long trips can strain engines

Interesting to hear the tales of technology that spring from the rustic hinterlands. Tell us how we know the Earth is banana-shaped.

(my brother crams that crap down my throat ### he is supposedly so much smarter than me)

Um..... no, I musn't.

but anyways I go by that rule ever since I was driving from my home town to my school and jumped time.

That's a matter of too many cumulative hours on the belt, not running for too long a session.
Machines don't wear watches. They don't know how long they run, nor, so long as the lubricant and cooling fluids are in their operating ranges, how far. It's not an issue.

Now, back to the topic, please.

 

[Strm Trpr]

I commute my GSX to the bay area everyday, 100 miles round trip...
well not lately, I've found a bus that will do the trip,
and it's about $300 a month cheaper if I don't have to fill up twice a week.
Mods are in profile.
DSMLink/18g powered boosting 18psi whenever I get on it which is quite often.
When I first got her at 50.5k miles, I drove her for a couple of months with the radio off so I could learn her quirks and quivers.
Put 6k on her, and parked it, put her up on all fours and proceeded to tear her apart.
I properly eliminated the balance shafts and replaced all associated gaskets and seals,
installed prothane suspension bushings, did a timing belt job, installed new undivided O2 Housing,
installed Megan Racing Down Pipe and High Flow Cat, replaced all belts, flushed radiator, new t-stat,
new rad cap, complete prothane motor mounts, installed powdered coated valve cover, new NGK BPR7ES's gapped .028",
new MSD 8.5mm wires, replaced tranny lube, x-case lube, rear end lube, under hood bushings, symborski shifter base bushings,
installed DSMLink, Denso 720's, Aeromotive AFPR, new fuel filter... I think, I think that's about it (in my best Bubba Gump voice).
It took a couple of months of working a couple of hours 2 - 3times a week night, fired her up with an open DP and man did her exhaust pop.
Drove her to the exhaust shop and I haven't looked back.
Been boosting 18psi daily due to 91 craptane gas but other than that I've had absolutely no problems...

I did almost the same exact mods to my late GST and she was beat pretty badly by the last owner.
I ripped her up for about 50k miles, about 110k until her untimely demise.
The only thing that broke was the hard line to the slave cylinder and I replaced both the clutch slave & master cylinders accompanied with a braided clutch line from RRE.

It's all about the maintenance, and lying on your back talking dirty to her, and telling her how bad ass she's gonna be when your done servicing her.

 

[redGT]

I am currently looking to buy a 98 GST 5spd, 95k miles with the following mods:

stock 7 bolt motor
stock head
ported T-25 turbo
custom dn pipe to 3''
apexi exhaust
front mount intercooler
apc intake
tial 50 mm blow off valve
walbro 255 fuel pump
s-afc
greddy spect 2 boost controller
greddy turbo timer
apexi and apc gauges

So ultimately what I'm looking to know is will this be reliable enough to be a DD or should I look for somehting else? It seems like all these mods are pretty much basic boltons with a few exceptions. I had a 2G GS back in the day and hated it now I have 3G GT and that as well now. I have finally realized that what i want is BOOST. Also any info on what usually needs to be replaced around this time would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Defiant]

How bad are you going to be beating on this car? There's your reliability.

Most cars as old as DSMs, that were treated half so harshly as DSMs, have been melted down into other cars by now.

 

[Artago]

If you want reliability find a low km stock GSX or TSi AWD because a car that has been modded by the wrong person may have problems. Try to find a car that was owned by an old lady who drove it to church once a week. Those are the best.

 

[TunaTalon]

Those mods would not by themselves make the car unreliable. With just a T-25 turbo a DSM will be as reliable as the owner is attentive. My 98 TSI went 183,000Miles on the original T-25 with TLC and Mobile One.

However, the mods show that the previous owner was not "expert":
The Walbro 255 fuel pump should have an AFPR behind it.
The FMIC with just a T-25 Turbo is for show only.
The S-AFC with stock injectors is pretty much worthless.

How was it maintained? How was it driven? Those are the questions that can give a clue as to how reliable the car will be.

 

[iziegsx]

I am currently looking to buy a 98 GST 5spd, 95k miles with the following mods:

stock 7 bolt motor
stock head
ported T-25 turbo
custom dn pipe to 3''
apexi exhaust
front mount intercooler
apc intake
tial 50 mm blow off valve
walbro 255 fuel pump
s-afc
greddy spect 2 boost controller
greddy turbo timer
apexi and apc gauges

So ultimately what I'm looking to know is will this be reliable enough to be a DD or should I look for somehting else? It seems like all these mods are pretty much basic boltons with a few exceptions. I had a 2G GS back in the day and hated it now I have 3G GT and that as well now. I have finally realized that what i want is BOOST. Also any info on what usually needs to be replaced around this time would be greatly appreciated.

Hey man. It all depends on what you want to do with this car. Before you actually buy it find out if it has any issues. DSM's can be very high maintenance if you neglect important things. If its not in 100% then the price can be lowered. Also take it for a drive with you as the driver of course, and do some full pulls from 1st to 3rd. If you find any problems then again thats a price negotiation . Take it to a Garage also. Because the worst thing you can do is take your earnings and by a LEMON!! Hope this helps you man.

http://members.shaw.ca/costall/1000Q/

That site has tons of Answers to any question DSM related. Keep us updated as per your choice.

 

[redGT]

thanks guys i really appreciate all the info hopefully this guy is interested in just doin an even trade.

 

[bgreen]

Hi Forum, gentleman i work with is selling a 1st Gen tsi......that im intresting in purchasing ive just been told that..dsm's will make a mechanic out of you due to their maintence..is this something daunting to someone who knows nothing about cars or is it a slight exageration?

 

[RedTalon95]

It is a bit exaggerated, but I would definitely prepare for some wrench time. Any car can be problematic, just so happens that most people looking for a DSM aren't people who enjoy taking their car to a mechanic, or more suitably, paying the price.

It's a very good learning experience at the least, and a lot of fun. Just prepare for it taking over your life .

 

[bgreen]

so u sayin i should just get the tsi and not worry?

 

[Laysher91]

I disagree. My DSM didn't make a mechanic out of me because of maintanence issues. It made me a mechanic because the car was so much fun to drive and the modifying/wrenching to make it faster turned into an exciting hobby.

Will stuff break? Hell yes, it is a 15 year old car. There is a certain satisfaction that comes from wrenching your own car and a pride that comes from not letting anyone else touch your car. And yes it will consume your life, but in a good way Its a passion, not a curse.