Need help on buying a 1Gen

[DSMLoverFromUA]

Hi.
There is this 90 Talon TSI AWD and it costs 3300 5speed. It has 103K miles on it and the dealer said it is in good condition. So here is my question since i will go there to see it today....Is is a good deal if it is actualy in good condition? How many miles can a average talon handel without big mods or zero mods...what to look for? The reason why i ask is because i got screwed few times already and people lie about the condition of the cars so i just want to know what to look for. And one more question....do 1gen really brake that much? Need the reply asap.

Thanks Mike

 

[DSM90AWD]

Milage seems low. Get the VIN# and get a CARFAX report.
I'd definitely have a mechanic look it over prior to purchase to check for low compression, oil leaks, transmission shifting issues, ECU Error Codes.

My 1990 has been reliable save for the XFER case issue (which has a recall and the CARFAX report should note if was performed). Other reliability issues are more due to my mods and stupidity.

btw.. popup lights will get you laid

 

[DSMLoverFromUA]

popup lights will get me laid? alright its been awhile.

But seriously this car is in dealership and i dont think he will let me go with it to the mechanic with it. But i just want to know if 103K miles is bad or not for a 15 years old car. My 95 galant has 134K and i see some problems here and there with it. Any tips what to look for or just do compression test and carfex on it

THanks mike

 

[DSMLoverFromUA]

How many miles your 1gen DSM had when you got it? Please guys post..make me feel better about this car.

 

[e g - s i x]

i'm in the same boat as you trying to get this 91 talon tsi awd but has about 141k on it err but yea it would be nice to find out some problems to look for ..

 

[i1nk83]

mine had 212k when i got it no real problems

 

[sonicnofadz]

I can also vouch for this

btw.. popup lights will get you laid

 

[LaserDad91]

How many miles your 1gen DSM had when you got it? Please guys post..make me feel better about this car.

My 91 Laser had 73K on it. I replaced the timing belt on it when I first got it. Replaced brake pads and rotors on front. Did normal maintenance and detailing. It has been a great car, but it is not a Turbo, so, it is not "stressed" as much.

You will want to know if the timing belt has been changed. I would assume it has been since car has 103K on it and they only rate the belt for 60 -70K. If it has not been changed, don’t drive it too long if you buy it!!

Ask the dealer and check the glove box for receipts or maintenance records. See if you can find out who the previous owner was and talk to him. Just give it a good overall hard look and a decent test drive to fully warm up the car, watching for vibrations, noises, steering wheel movement, etc.

Look under the car and see what the exhaust looks like, rusty, holes, or decent. When you apply the brakes, listen for squeals or grinding, scraping noises, and vibration (latter indicates warped rotors). Take your time, go park it and check out all lights, AC, and accessories to make sure they function. Pull dipsticks and check how the engine oil looks. Do the same for the ATF if it has one. If a manual, rev it some while holding brake, and let out the clutch slowly to see if it grabs or starts slipping. Does tranny have smooth shifts or jerky, notchy shifting. Just some general stuff. Push done on the front and rear of the car, and watch how many times it “bounces”. If struts are OK, it should only bounce once. You will also notice this when you drive over bumps. And don’t forget to kick the tires……….

If you don’t know much about cars, then yes, take it to your mechanic and have him check it out, (compression test), or, take him with you to car lot.

That’s about it for general stuff. Someone else help him on turbo checks!

As far as if it is a good deal, not real sure, seems a little high on price, but if it really good shape......

Good luck!

 

[DSM90AWD]

How many miles your 1gen DSM had when you got it? Please guys post..make me feel better about this car.

I bought my 1990 AWD new.. so 5 miles

I only hint at the odometer as mine (which has prol seen 3K mile sin the past 3 years) has 130K on the odometer. The CarFax will show the milage each time it was registered by each of the previous owners. Yes there is the chance that someone's grandma owned it and only drove to church.

 

[DSMLoverFromUA]

I just went to see it and i found few problems.
One was that it had exhasut leak
Two is had some vibrations and all the panels were making noise
Three it had some idle problems..like when you release the gas pedal the rpms would just drop and it is almost like stoling but then it comes back strong without problems..i just dont like the fact that it is almost stoling bc maybe there is some problem in the head or something or maybe it is boost leak. Anyweys i got very excited and i cant type. He gave me a ride in it and i had a smile n my face the whole time. If anyone has any idea on what could the idle problem be please let me know that next time i go there and see if thats the case. If it is not that big of a problem then i am buying it. I also want to see under the car if it has any oil leaks anywhere bc i hate when my oil leaks(my galant is loosing oil very bad and the whole street is in my oil)
thanks for help any comments are welcome
Mike

 

[DSM90AWD]

I just went to see it and i found few problems.
One was that it had exhasut leak

Leaking from where? If cracked manifold then ~$175 to replace. If a gasket then much cheeper.

Two is had some vibrations and all the panels were making noise

Either a poorly balanced wheel, bent rim or bad wheel bearing.

Three it had some idle problems..like when you release the gas pedal the rpms would just drop and it is almost like stoling but then it comes back strong without problems..

Could be many things.. likely a bad ISC motor.

If the guy gives you a warranty or will allow you to return if turns out to be a turd then go for it.

May also want to take a look on DSMTrader.com to see what DSMs others in your area are selling for.

 

[DSMLoverFromUA]

The exhaust leak really does not botter me nor does the vibration but what does botter me is that it almost stolls out when at idle and you give it gas and the realse it. The rmps go really low and it sounds like the car will die but then it comes back alive. I just did a quick search and i found out that it could be few things like ISC or somethign with F.i lost it already or a vacuum leak but what does scares me now if it could be ECU. Because some people found out that the ECU was going bad on them when they started having idle problems. I like the car and i really want to get it but this idle thing scares me now.

I did check on autotrader but if i do find somethings then its auto or it is far awey or the person does not reply for 3 days.

Thanks for the help though...we will inspect the car on saturday morning closer.
Mike

 

[LaserDad91]

Take a good look at all the hoses and vacume lines and make sure all are connected. The stalling could be the ISC and they are not cheap ~ $100 for a rebuilt one. Exhaust is not cheap either. ~$200 - $600+ depending on what / where you buy.

I would definatly be talking him down to offset the possible repair costs, or, demand they be fixed before you buy. Vibrations could be bad steering components too, also not cheap.

From what you have stated, you could easily dump a grand into the car. Not trying to discourage you, but just be realistic.

One word of advice. Try to act like you really don't give a #$% if you buy it or not, helps with the price negotiations. Also, there are always other cars for sale, you will find one, be patient!

 

[shoddywood]

i bought my 91 gs last april with 92,000 miles on the clock.possibly 192k,or even 292k.id assume its 92,000 though,it still drives tight and feels better than cars half its age when out driving around.i replaced all belts and hoses,one tie rod end.all pads and turned the rotors.all 4 struts.and plugs and wires mainly just to make sure nothing went out while i was driving it.the transmission was also replaced but that was only because i was duped into buying it by taking a short test drive and it was bad when i bought the car.i checked the timing belt,but all looked well so i didnt replace it.
i love the pop up lights.but cant vouch for their appeal to the opposite sex,the wife says my car is ugly.

 

[its_hey_ma]

I bought a 91 Laser RST FWD with 160k and it ran fine for another 10k, then I started 'upgrading' and its still on jack stands to this day. I'm sure it'd have gone at least another 30k without probs. Just make sure you do regular maintenance. My aunt has a 90 eagle summit, basically the NA version of the turbo motor and it has 293K on it and still running strong.

 

[LaserDad91]

i love the pop up lights.but cant vouch for their appeal to the opposite sex,the wife says my car is ugly.

Thats a good thing, she won't want to drive it then!! :laugh:

 

[talonted1]

Hope this makes you feel better...

I just turned 227,000 on my 91 Tsi awd. Never replaced so much as a valve cover gasket. Sure some other stuff has broken since I bought it 6 years ago with 96,000, but rock solid engine, boosted to 14 lbs.

 

[shoddywood]

you're telling me,she ran my saturn into a parked medical waste truck that was 15 ft tall and red!

 

[LaserDad91]

you're telling me,she ran my saturn into a parked medical waste truck that was 15 ft tall and red!

:laugh: Maybe she needs glasses!!

 

[falcone4g63]

i think the motor should be good to at least 200k, or more. i bought my 91 at 167,000 and now it has 209,000 miles and never had a problem with the motor itself, just the small stuff. starter, alternator, tps, cracked ex. manifold, burns oil on start up but thats just valve seals. id say if you get it, check the timing belt for wear. it should have been done at 60,000 miles but you never know.

 

[DSMLoverFromUA]

Thanks for the info guys. It make me feel a lot better about DSM now because so many of you guys bought such a high milage cars and you guys still drive it hard. But with my luck i could not of bought the car because it was sold yesterday. This is the 5th car that i wanted to buy and it got sold. I am just not lucky period. Any of you guys know of a AWD DSM 5 Speed for sale in NJ then let me know
Thanks.
Mike

 

[speedracer91]

my car has 98,000 (92,000 when i got it) and i got it for $2,400! it had minor maintenace (sp?) problems...water pump, thermostat, ecu caps leaked, and my crank pukley cracked and made my alt belt break but i just got a new motor with 68,000 on it cuz the old one blew due to a timing belt hop AND a failed oil pump (got clogged) so i was screwed ....wow sorry for the life story.

 

[sytrus]

i bought my laser with a brand new motor (400 miles) on it for 2600. But, it cost me about 900 to replace the alternator, the fuel pump, injectors, belts, and now clutch! . All in good time, you just gotta expect to spend some repair money at first. Get the bugs worked out.

As for pop up lights getting you laid... its oh so true.

and uhm... did they make vr4s in 95?

 

[ben90tsi]

Well if you ask me , the miles on an engine mean nothing , but when you talk about past owners and their care for the car-that's what i would be more concerned about. Make sure you do a compression test. Oh and if you do buy it, it will change your life, it may not seem good at first because it might give you some grief, but later youll be glad you bought it.

 

[DevilSperm]

did u say 3300 for a 90? bad idea....i paid 2500 for my talon, it has 160 on the clock...turns out it had been rolled back but since then ive bought a 90 gst for $250, ran great, using the motor from it to race with right now and its fast...and i just bought a 90 talon awd for $250...body is damn near perfect, just needs some tranny work but its perfectly driveable....dont bend over and get fuct man, wait for the right car