How reliable has your DSM been?

[BlkBird]

I rate em 3. just because..i have an N/T and its in the shop three times as much as everyone i know with TSIs, and GSTs. Which blows my mind..because it has 113k miles on it...and i baby the living hell outta it...she's only seen 6k Rpms once and i felt horrible about it too! haha. SO yea i rate 3. But damn...with my new rims..exhaust...when she's parked...DAMN it's a beautiful car. That's the only thing stopping me from selling it. But hey man, it all depends on the previous owner, so i'd say DSMs are just like any other cars...N/Ts at least...turbo is another story...apparantly, cause i dont have experience with them.

 

[the anti-riced]

i have a 91 n/t with 177k on it, i beat the piss outta it and it runs great


N/T POWAH!!!!!!!

 

[SoCaliEclipse]

114,000 stong reliable miles on my 1998 GS-T

I have no complaints and I am running a 20G turbo. I am sure that something will happen at some point (knock on wood), but it has been great so far and no signs of problems

Brian

PS. Tell momma that you dont give a SH!t what she says and that you want to have some fun

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I've been over this too many times but here goes a quick summary. My car hasn't needed a single thing yet beside routine maintenance even with all of the mods I've done...and they are aplenty, just check my profile. Treat any car with respect and it will return the favor, it's pretty simple. I have yet to have an unreliable car but I know plenty of people with the same kind of car and tons of problems, hmmmm.

Tom

 

[mike250]

only needed to replace 2 belts withing the last 1.5 years....yea i would say that is good.*knocks on wood*

*edit* ...I baby her like a step child too

 

[Kevin90GSX]

Originally posted by Tom Sawyer
I've been over this too many times but here goes a quick summary. My car hasn't needed a single thing yet beside routine maintenance even with all of the mods I've done...and they are aplenty, just check my profile. Treat any car with respect and it will return the favor, it's pretty simple. I have yet to have an unreliable car but I know plenty of people with the same kind of car and tons of problems, hmmmm.

Tom

Preach on brother. Same thing here in Connecticut. If you treat it right and stuff is done right you wont have a problem and it will be as reliable as the next. The kid who had my car was running a 20g and had a bad VPC and blew the head. Fixed the head got rid of the vpc and sold it to me. Ive had it almost a year now and the thing is bulletproof. Its all how you drive and treat the car.

Do stupid stuff or beat the crap out of it expect it not to be reliable. Quite simple.

 

[GreddySpyder]

Originally posted by reveal1123
completely stock.... i gotta convince her man... im dyin over here w/out 1

I have a 97 GST Spyder that is moderately modded and has 87,000 miles and the only thing I've put money into is maintenance stuff like the timing belt and clutch. My sister has a 95 GST that is completely stock and has over 120,000 miles on it and the only thing she has ever replaced is the tires and timing belt and it runs great, she doesn't even maintain her car like i do (ie. fluid changes, etc.) and it hasn't had any probs. So these cars CAN be reliable, mine has never left me stranded.... BUT in all honesty, unless you are going to keep the car stock, a turbo DSM is NOT a good first car, unless you are mechanically inclined and keep up with maintenance like a religion.

 

[BD1]

97-99 are more reliable. 95-96 Turbos get stuff messed up a lot or sometimes die.

 

[Defiant]

DSMs are unreliable like motorcycles are unsafe. Are you grown up enough?

Yes, crankshafts occasionally walk. Motorcycles break chains and will throw you.
DSM transmissions aren't known for strength. How rough are you going to shift? Motorcycles only have two small patches of rubber to hold the road with. How fast are you going to corner?
DSMs and motorcycles have a lot of power, and will go fast. Who's working the throttle?
If you're someone who'll drive too fast and be careless, it won't matter what kind of machine you're moving your ass around in, it'll be trouble. But if you can conduct yourself with a modicum of civility and sensibility, you can be as safe on a motorcycle as you'd be in a Lincoln.

Driving, by a _huge_ margin, is the most dangerous thing any of us will ever do. Stop for a moment when you get to your wheels, and pause to think- that may have been the last walk you'll ever take.

 

[FlyinRyan151]

My 95 ran good for a long time, but my sister had it before me and ran it w/o oil in it. now I face the problem of have a rod sticking out of the side of my block. They are like just about any other car, if you treat the car well, the car will treat you well.

 

[Wilsonman02]

Are DSM's reliable?

.......thats like asking, is the pope catholic?

 

[greyforestgst]

Originally posted by BD1
97-99 are more reliable. 95-96 Turbos get stuff messed up a lot or sometimes die.

 

[greyforestgst]

Originally posted by GreddySpyder
in all honesty, unless you are going to keep the car stock, a turbo DSM is NOT a good first car, unless you are mechanically inclined and keep up with maintenance like a religion.

ill second this but only to an extent...

my turbo dsm is my first car, and id say its been the best training i can get for my career choice. treat it good, it will treat you good back. simple as that.

 

[mitsufrkr]

i just wont see how you guys do with your dsm as daily drivers. I had an 1.8 plymouth laser nothing but troble. now i have an 92 laser rs fwd right now trans trouble ,fuel cut at 4500rpm,idle surge,. and now that i read some of the outher problems you guys are having,and i wonder whats in store for me. i was wondering how many of you use your dsm as daily drivers or own an non dsm daily driver. should i get anouther daily driver NON dsm? Im definatly not geting rid of my 92 laser turbo,but am afraid of blowing the motor up. i would like to drag race my dsm with the problems being fixed first and up grading the turbo and more.

 

[thehyena]

AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! this is a funny thread.... o o i can't.... catch....my ..... breath... ppffffhhhh HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!:laugh:

 

[mike250]

properly maintained they are as reliable as any other car

 

[machgsx]

For now my daily driver is an 02 Ford Ranger Edge. I only drive my DSM on the weekends. She has 82,075 miles on her. Rarely down, unless I'm replacing something needs to be replaced.

 

[mitsufrkr]

i did not mean for it to be funny. mine is 92 with 122K miles .

 

[thehyena]

i know it's just funny mine breaks something every other day

 

[mike250]

Originally posted by thehyena
i know it's just funny mine breaks something every other day

I am suprised

 

[HokieDSM]

How about a third option, DSM but not DSM

I drive my 1.8 most of the time these days, but the Turbo gets its time.

 

[thehyena]

Originally posted by mike250


I am suprised

Hey i have like the fastest all motor 4G37 around here(when it's running) so

 

[HokieDSM]

Originally posted by thehyena

Hey i have like the fastest all motor 4G37 around here(when it's running) so

Actually, I'm quite sure that Ginsu417's 4G37 is a wee bit faster than yours....

 

[thehyena]

my i emphasise the ALL MOTOR part for you
he's got a turbonetics T3/T4 hybrid on that thing

 

[HokieDSM]

Well pardon ME. According to your profile, I didn't see anything of note that would make your "all motor" particularly faster than any other 4G37 with an intake & exhaust. Maybe I was mistaken.

No hard feelings - we dont' need hate for other 4G37'ers (even if we happen to have a 4G63T stowed away too).