need on advice on buying a dsm

[richard33]

There is a 1991 talon tsi FWD around me that runs but is pushing coolant out the resivour, and leaking oil either out of cylinder 3 or through one of the bolts holding the valve cover down there. The car is owned by someone who doesnt know much about it and just slapped the parts on there. It has a 16g with stock fuel and a boost controller turned up "a little." He also got a blow off valve vented to the atmosphere so the car has never ran right. It has 140,000 miles on it and the body is actually pretty clean. The tranny appears to shift smooth too. Im sure there are other problems too but these are the only ones I saw when I checked out the car.

He wants 800$ for it. Think I should jump on it or spend a little more on a car with less problems. I have access to the tool to change the head gasket and valve cover. Its very tempting to get since its so cheap but I dont know exactly what I would be getting in to.

What do you guys think?

 

[IgotBoost91]

offer a little less you never know what youre getting into

 

[LD25Delta9]

If the body's clean jump on it. 800 for a running 1g shell is a good deal. Considering that I was able to sell a 1g AWD TSi that wasn't running for almost 2 grand, it's a good deal.

 

[motozachl]

Yes that's very cheap so I'd jump on it, although as said above "you never know what your getting into with a DSM" haha

 

[IgotBoost91]

it is a good price, usually people jack prices up

 

[rlacasse1]

Go for it. But, try to offer less first. Haha

 

[kqodprez]

Sounds like he overheated and blew the HG. I'd go low and see if he bites. 800 isn't bad if you are mechanically inclined but if not then be prepared to shell out money for a motor rebuild. But as a dsmr you'll learn that lowballing is in our blood.....

 

[Ethand14]

I'd jump on that. I mean if you have time to fix it and have a place to put it why not. It would be a fun project.

 

[richard33]

Haha well he was asking 1200 so I got him down to 800. I'm thinking about jumping on it and maybe picking up a new head for it or getting some head work done cause I'm sure the head is warped. Another question I have...how to tell if the car has rod knock? It is just an open downpipe so I couldn't really tell te difference at start up so I wasn't sure. Would a compression test be a clue if the block is bad too?

 

[beating4g63s]

you usually can hear rod knock, slap an exhaust on it, if it doesn't have one at all then try and listin as close as possible, compression test won't test for worn bearing. but I'd do a compession test to just check it.

 

[Code504]

800 is not a bad deal. If you have the time, tools and knowledge, I'd say go for it...

 

[richard33]

It was for my friend who wasnt sure and the guy sold it in the mean time. I already have a 95 gst which I am in the middle of building a 6bolt for it.

 

[beihl304]

definately do a compression test to see what your getting into......800 isnt really all that much money and if the body is clean id consider it for sure....

 

[DSMDriver69]

I would say go for it. 800$ for a running shell is a really good deal.

 

[richard33]

it has been resolved...car was sold to someone else.

 

[wkmitsu]

If the body is in really good shape I would jump on the opportunity. Sounds like the problems it has could be fixed fairly easily and for cheap if you're mechanically inclined. Like everyone has said, offer him less at first and see what happens. Good Luck!

 

[Clinical]

guys read his posts , the car's gone