How reliable has your DSM been?

[DSMWillyb]

This has been discussed a lot. I highly suggest you search. But be sure to perform a Compression Test, and possibly a leakdown test. You may also want to check the turbo shaft 'play'...

 

[Defiant]

Kind of a lot for that mileage, but the AWDs are pulling some premium prices these days.

If you wind up with it, and it hasn't been done, replace the timing belts the first week.

Oh, and this one seems to have held up fairly well:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=98651

 

[BUCK]

The cars can be very reliable - It's the UNRELIABLE IDIOTS who

"work"

on them that are the real problem!

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by Syndicate
1st gens are all imports , the motors where designed over in japan for us economy .. 2nd gens are a product of chrysler america.

Wrong-O, grasshopper. ALL DSMs were made in Normal, Ill. The DOHC motors and all transmissions are from Japan. The cars are Domestics by virtue of their 70% American content. "JDM" DSMs were all exported there from here. Same for European models.

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by Therrien
What would you guys say is the most reliable a 1G or 2G talon??
and yes this will be getting mods done to it.

Make a choice: reliable OR modded.

 

[Jimmy Jr.]

Originally posted by Defiant
Make a choice: reliable OR modded.

I choose both.

 

[Syndicate]

Originally posted by Defiant
Wrong-O, grasshopper. ALL DSMs were made in Normal, Ill. The DOHC motors and all transmissions are from Japan. The cars are Domestics by virtue of their 70% American content. "JDM" DSMs were all exported there from here. Same for European models.

Then what about the canadian models? .. I realize the cars were not "imported" but i believe the original design was from japan and then later going to the 7 bolt was a chrysler job was it not? if you have info on this subject so i can get my facts straight i would app it

 

[Syndicate]

Originally posted by DSMeclipse4G63
You werw making good points up until the 1g are imports and 2g are chrysler. Fist off not one dsm is imported ion fact they were all exported to japan...only about a few thousand each year were shipped over. But they are domestic even the eclipse. The motor 4g63 or turbo and aslo the non turbo in 1gs is mitsubishi but is built here the most "rice" dsm would be 97-99 when chrysler sold all its shares way before that, and even those are 70%american and 30% japennese making them bonified domestics. So really if these cars were to be cond=sidered imports(which they arent) would be the technically non dsm's 97-99 eclipose and 97-98 talon. But again they are domestic...in other words what I said = stick --->dead horse. Sorry for going off track
Andrew

heheh im confused , like i said in my other reply i just thought that uhm the 2nd gen 7 bolts were designed here

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

Originally posted by Syndicate
uhm here do yourself a favor look at the book value for a eclipse vs a talon .. same year same everything .. the eclipse will always be more because it is considered a import .. durrr.

I dont know what the heck you are talking about with "book value" what I said was that PARTS are the same cost for BOTH cars. I have replaced MANY parts on my car and they usually ALL come from MITSUBISHI not some from Eagle and some from Mitsubishi or whatever. The Jeep Chrystler dealer ship and the Mitsu dealership are right across the street from one another here and I do price comparisons at both to find the cheapest quote. I guess what you dont seem to understand is that anything you can bolt on a 1993 turbo eclipse you can also bolt on a 1993 Eagle Talon TSi. That makes PARTS the same price.

 

[BUCK]

Then what about the canadian models? .. I realize the cars were not "imported" but i believe the original design was from japan and then later going to the 7 bolt was a chrysler job was it not? if you have info on this subject so i can get my facts straight i would app it

like... HELLO? - EVERY DSM is an IMPORT in freaking CANADA!

 

[DSMeclipse4G63]

actually the design was a copetition between mitsu usa in cali and chrysler corp. They took the designs from both(mostly mitsu) and made what our.nothing of what wnet into them is from japan...in fact most all of mitsu is american...so really if the mitsu company were to be judged like a car it would be a domestic company.
Andrew

 

[1sickC5]

Hey guys I am looking into getting an AWD 1st gen eclipse/talon as a daily driver. I know that this has been reveiwed countless times but I have a couple specific questions.

1. Would you honestly reccomend the car as a winter daily driver that would most likely encounter snow? Do you find that it really needs snow tires to get the benefit of AWD?

2. To keep the car reliable enough to use as a daily, what mods are too much? What areas of the car as especially weak, and what are the "stages" as far as build-up?

Thanks for the space, and I hope this whole post isnt a dupe. I have a Z32 300ZX in the for sale section as my trade for one of these bad-boys so check that out if interested.

-Danny

 

[billdo_83]

1) AWD is awesome in snow if the tires can handle it. I would spend the money and get snow tires.

2) Basically you can mod the car so far depending how how you drive it/treat it and how goo dof shape the car is. I would say its pretty good up to dropping large turbos in it like a 20g or something else even bigger.

I consider mine reliable and I"m up to a Evo 16g with all the supporting mods. Just make sure that you do everything right the first time and you should be fine.

 

[1sickC5]

glad to hear that...thanks

 

[WI_99'GST]

Well...if you wanted to keep it even MORE reliable. Since it is your DD, you could always not Mod it. I know that it is hard to do but I would try not to do anything to it.

 

[boostedinaz]

I cant answer the snow thing cause I live in AZ. I dont know what snow is. The DD thing I can. It all depends on how you drive the car. You could have a large by huge turbo, full supporting mods and drive like a grandma and it will live for a long time. You could also be stock and beat the tar out of it and it wont last for 6 months, its all up to you. IMO I would go with a 20G or 50 trim and the supporting mods and that would make the perfect DD for me. It would fast enough that I could have the occasional race but still he nice to go to work everyday. Again, just my opinion.

Cars are like girls. Treat them right and they will be good to you. Treat then bad and they will crush you.

Michael

 

[1sickC5]

Good advice... this would be my first turbo car so I am a bit clueless late in the game. I guess I am just looking for a car hat is as fast as the Vette was nearly stock so I don't miss it so much in the winter and might even have more fun in due to the AWD. Thanks again

 

[AL92]

The first gens have got mileage on them and you will likely be spending quite a bit on expensive stuff.If you don't well you will likely get a few nasty surprises.Some may be well maintained and many will be neglected.
I bought one with 130,000 miles at auction.It ran terrible woudn't go wot ,sputtered and nearly stalled every light etc.I did the cheap things like plugs,wires,fuel filter,oil change,pcv,etc.And it also took some not so cheap things like coilpacks..they are pricey and can be near death in 1g cars with say 100,000 mies.Fuel pump got changed.Then did a bunch of mods and right before could install them a simple wheel bearing went on me.Got it to shop as soon as heard it but it was too late..over 700 US to fix stuff..and if had got parts new it would have been like 3000 US or more.And many parts are discontinued.It was at shop two weeks while I searched the world trying to find what I needed to fix it.That wheel bearing took out trailing arm..500 US..stubby axle..like 300 US,flange..120 US,caliper,caliper bracket..discontinued supposedly,brake pad and rotor.One litte wheel bearing.

And one broken timing belt or balance belt can cost thousands if you don't do the work yourself or have the time to wait for parts.

These things aren't cheap to fix or maintain.Leaving it stock might help.

Anyway I am not selling it ,I really like it but evne though its supposed to be my all year round daily driver I am lucky to have lot of other vehicles to drive.

And awd is ok in snow but useless on ice without some decent snow/ice tires.And on really bad ice only studs really help.On wet roads its great and decent in snow if you remember they aren't that high a vehicle compared to trucks and you will get stuck with awd and hung up due to the car not being very high .But they handle decent and go like litte raped apes...

 

[Jason84]

my car setup right now i think would be a really nice daily driver(look in my profile).. i live in wisconsin(lots of snow) and i have continental contiextremecontacts and i must say those tires + an awd dsm are beyond what youd expect in a car in winter.. my friends would drive with me and be like dang....

me and a bunch of my friends also always go to play in big parking lots. and this one has a really steep hill. most of the FWDs or rwds have to get up to like 20 mph to make it up it and floor it pretty much. but i can go from adead stop at the bottom and fly by the guys trying to get up it... just pretty funny.

and those tires are also really really good in rain and on dry pavement.

my car is also just setup for winter atm... soon its getting the motor rebuilt. dogbox tranny put in and an fp3065... hopefully be in the 10s this summer but my goal is mid 9s with no spray.

 

[14.5 drift]

My car runs perfectly and always has (could get better milage) but I was just wondering what you guys think?
From reading car reports from consumer reports and msn they give the eclipse a 5 out of 5 on over all reliability. Here you can agree with or disagree with there high dollar test findings and lend some of your real world hands on opinion.

I give mine a 5. At 65k on original timing belt I haven't ever had a problem with mine.

 

[boostaddictgsx]

I have owned my GSX for 4 months this sunday, and I haven't had a problem with it, it has 102k miles, and is stock, the only things that have gone wrong were a leaky water pump(it needed to go!) and a few accessory belts(both home jobs) but other than that, nothing has gone wrong, it has the reliability of a honda, only faster, much faster!! and AWD!!

5 out of 5

 

[14.5 drift]

dont be shy guys, I see 21 views and only 3 votes

 

[frogman1286]

I voted, gave it a 3, just because mine needs some work at the moment. Tho i will say this, they are pretty easy to work on if they do "break"

 

[1993TalonTsiAWD]

My car runs perfectly and always has (could get better milage) but I was just wondering what you guys think?
From reading car reports from consumer reports and msn they give the eclipse a 5 out of 5 on over all reliability. Here you can agree with or disagree with there high dollar test findings and lend some of your real world hands on opinion.

I give mine a 5. At 65k on original timing belt I haven't ever had a problem with mine.

If your at 65k the you need to replace your t-belt or pay 1000-2500 to get it fixed when it breaks.

Derek

 

[HokieDSM]

I'll say that they are relable, I voted 5.

Reason being that they work fine as long as they're properly taken care of, just like anything. My Eclipse 1.8 runs great, although it's got a lot of miles and is only now starting to show problems - its been a beast for 12 years. My Talon runs fantastic - the problems I've had are stupid ones, not really regular maintinence issues, just random weird problems that aren't really something that's showing inferior quality, just something usually resulting from how I've driven the car (hard, usually).