How reliable has your DSM been?

[zhjiln]

if you find a unmolested gsx ... than yes go for it .. but that is really rare ...

i bought my stock 98 GSX over a year ago (or at least the previous owner claimed)... i didn't know better then, because it came with a 14B turbo and a bunch of boost leaks, oil inside intake, IC pipe... so not stock t-25 and not maintained too well.

 

[ampm27]

Yeah I agree with all these guys about finding a good well maintained GSX and you should be fine. Also, if you are looking for spend 5-8k, you should be able to find a clean, mainly stock 2g GSX, just be careful and pay attention to the axles, CV joint and rear diff, as I had problems with these in my RIGHT after I bought my GSX... just a thought. Good luck.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Money you will need, and tools, and the time to fix it, if you own this car youll have to learn how to fix it when it goes down. It can happen a lot thats how i learned.So now i know how to fix just about everything on this car, through lots of money and doing. Its a car take care of it.

 

[GsXtC21]

Honestly man, i would look else where... Yes you may find a stock well kept gsx but fact is these cars simply are not one of the "most" reliable cars out there... These cars require alot of time and knowhow and given the fact that your a college student w/ limited time and money, i myself would definately look elsewhere... Save yourself the headache bro...

If i were you i'd be looking for a honda, if you want something that is reliable and decently quick, try considering something like a swapped hatchback... A modded gsr eg hatchback (all motor) can easily pull high 13's all day long and still have that reliable factor to it... (i know i know im a diehard dsm'er but facts are facts)

Either way bro i hope your happy with whatever route you choose to take and goodluck to you...!

 

[GsXdSmKingGsX]

DSM's are notorious for having problems period. No car is assured to not have mechanical problems so if you want something reliable or along those lines get a Ford Festiva or something.

 

[jrohner]

DSM's are notorious for having problems period. No car is assured to not have mechanical problems so if you want something reliable or along those lines get a Ford Festiva or something.

The guy wants a DSM and you're recommending a Kia, can't get much opposite than that.



If I had a GOOD tranny (instead of attempting to save money), I wouldn't have really had any trouble yet with my car.

 

[Richrx_tsi]

I would get a reliable car now, then when you graudate buy your self a nice gift

 

[NovaBrad]

Thanks guys. Lets say that I can't find an unmolested GSX. What would be some good back-up vehicles for me to consider buying?

 

[GsXtC21]

eg hatch w/ a gsr i love mine

 

[Blurred Talon]

Look the car over, really really really well. Be picky about things, look for any lights on on the cluster (battery, oil light, engine). Look under the hood for anything out of the ordinary.

I looked at a few cars before buying mine. First impressions are a big thing, if the exterior looks like shit or is modified, be weary. The first car I looked at had rims and a mismatched bumper. Popped the hood and the stock CBV was vented plus the guy had to jump start the car.
I ran like hell from that car.

 

[Blurred Talon]

eg hatch w/ a gsr i love mine

Coming from the Honda world to DSMs. I will highly recommend a Honda from a reliability stand point. Even with the swapped engine they are pretty good. Fun to drive too.

DSMs are a completely different beast though.

 

[GsXtC21]

Coming from the Honda world to DSMs. I will highly recommend a Honda from a reliability stand point. Even with the swapped engine they are pretty good. Fun to drive too.

DSMs are a completely different beast though.

This man speaks truth...

Just stay away from ls/b20 vtec setups... as they have proven not to be very reliabe, and you should be good...!

 

[NovaBrad]

Coming from the Honda world to DSMs. I will highly recommend a Honda from a reliability stand point. Even with the swapped engine they are pretty good. Fun to drive too.

DSMs are a completely different beast though.

If I'm looking for a Honda, what model/year/engine should I look for?

 

[GsXtC21]

If I'm looking for a Honda, what model/year/engine should I look for?

Really that depends on personal preference and what you like... If you want power, look for something lightweight like a hatchback (92-95) or crx w/ a swap of course, hit up the honda sites and you'll find a galore of info and pics to help you decide if thats whats best for you...

 

[NovaBrad]

Really that depends on personal preference and what you like... If you want power, look for something lightweight like a hatchback (92-95) or crx w/ a swap of course, hit up the honda sites and you'll find a galore of info and pics to help you decide if thats whats best for you...

Thanks a bunch, I appreciate it guys.

 

[7"exhaust_tip]

You'd better look into a honda.

 

[jrohner]

You'd better look into a honda.

Honda's cost way more than they should be worth.

 

[MichaelSuch]

If you're looking for a DSM in the Carbondale area, good luck... All I have found are old, beat up 1g's. I never find any nice clean 2g's on ebay/craigslist let alone an AWD. You're best bet is looking in the STL area. There's a storm of them up there.

I would recommend a stock GSX over a Honda (maybe not an S2000 though) any day considering all aspects. Get yourself a low mileage car with no mods preferably owned by an older couple and you're set.

Any other car I would consider might be a Miata (lots of potential), or a Nissan 300ZX (they have a twin turbo version). Both of which are RWD, if you really want AWD you might be able to find a 3000GT VR4 or Stealth RTTT in your price range if your lucky.

 

[NovaBrad]

If you're looking for a DSM in the Carbondale area, good luck... All I have found are old, beat up 1g's. I never find any nice clean 2g's on ebay/craigslist let alone an AWD. You're best bet is looking in the STL area. There's a storm of them up there.

I would recommend a stock GSX over a Honda (maybe not an S2000 though) any day considering all aspects. Get yourself a low mileage car with no mods preferably owned by an older couple and you're set.

Any other car I would consider might be a Miata (lots of potential), or a Nissan 300ZX (they have a twin turbo version). Both of which are RWD, if you really want AWD you might be able to find a 3000GT VR4 or Stealth RTTT in your price range if your lucky.

Thanks for the suggestions, they are all the type of thing I'm looking for.

 

[knochgoon24]

I drive my car about 125 miles to school. I make the trip home and back usually once, sometimes twice a month. It really doesn't give me too many problems, only the ones I create. I've had no worries driving my car to my roommate's place (about 225 miles each way) and or doing the 750 mile round-trip-of-western-PA trip that I did on a whim one weekend this year.

 

[lacroixdp]

If you're looking for a reliable car that will never let you down, then you should be looking at something like a Ford Taurus or a Ford Focus. DSM's have a reputation for being horribly unreliable because most of the owners beat them without doing regular maintenance. Also, they are all at least over 10 years old now. However, it's a performance car, and performance cars are going to need more maintenance than a economy car - that's just how it is. When I was in college back in the stone age, I had a '85 CRX because it got 45MPG and I didn't have to put a penny into it. In college, your car breaking down and needing parts is the last thing you want to deal with. I'd personally stick with a more economical car. There's plenty of people on here that daily drive a DSM though - so YMMV.

 

[DSM IN MN]

Ok, I need some people to help me sum up DSM's for my parents. The car I'm looking into buy THIS TIME is a preatty good one. The engine AT THIS TIME has a "miss" which the guy said the plugs and plug wires need to be changed, my dad thinks that may be causing it.

I just need to know how to explain to them, DSM's aren't fix 'em drive 'em forever. From what I have heard, not the case.

IDK, you guys know becaus eyou own the cars. Help me sum it up so it's easy to understand..............

 

[turbo90gsx]

As long as you don't beat the shit out of them, these cars are pretty reliable. The one thing you don't know is the history on the car. It probably has been through hell. Expect to pay some decent money to get the car running right and catching up on long lost maintenance. Don't by the car, and bi*** about how many things are wrong with it, because there's probably a lot. Treat these cars well and they will treat you well.

 

[whe3ls]

hear is what i have to say about dsm's. fast,, temperamental, and will break and leak oil unexplainably

 

[DSM IN MN]

As long as you don't beat the shit out of them, these cars are pretty reliable. The one thing you don't know is the history on the car. It probably has been through hell. Expect to pay some decent money to get the car running right and catching up on long lost maintenance. Don't by the car, and bi*** about how many things are wrong with it, because there's probably a lot. Treat these cars well and they will treat you well.

In other words you PROBABLY will put more money into it then you paid.....? (More then likely).