question about buying an 'ex-modded' TSi AWD

[Gleason]

I'm currently looking into purchasing a 1st gen '94 TSi. The car used to have a big16G and a few other mods[exhuast, boost controller, upgraded fuel pump, a freemod MAF mod]. Its now back with stock 14b, but still retains exhuast and boost controller. IT has had a bunch of maintentince done[ according to the ad ] and the price seems good, but i'm just wondering if an ex modded talon , reverted back to 'bpu' is any less reliable. I haven't met the owner personally, but so far it definatly seems like he knew what he was doing.

IF i get the car i WILL NOT be beating the piss out of it. It's not my driving style, maybe i will accelerate hard once or twice in a week but i'm not an agressive driver, nor do i like beating my car senseless[ 2.33 for gas does that hehe]. I'm just wondering how reliable a seemingly well modded TSi would be. I've heard they are really good reliability-wise with proper owners and care and i fully believe that. I'm just double checking with more owners for your opinons.

I really want this car, but my parents are a bit skeptical [so am i] just the fact it was modded with a 16G the owner might have driven it really hard and frequently. If he did, would it make it any less reliable if still taken proper care of? I know the engines are very strong internally. And the tranny has no grinds or any noted problems with shifting so that apparently seems fine so far...

I think thats all, feel free to post any ideas/opinons etc.

 

[Lunch_Box]

Usually when people return a car back to stock it is so they can get the most return for what they have put into it.

 

[TurboGeoff]

It depends on the price, but i would look elsewhere.

 

[IamCool]

i'm skeptical about it too when i was looking at a modded tsi. I decided to just not get it because it had probably been raced with and imagine all the wire that had been spliced and return back to normal. THere could be wires laying around that is loose. It is just not the same. You may never know what kind of wire goes to where. I had that experience with my first car. It could lead to larger problems in the future.

 

[R3dR]

BAH!

I say do a compression test on it check the oil, look for leaks, look to see it there are signs that the motor was tore down ( IE permatext etc.)

Test drive it and slam the gears and make sure to down shift so you can check syncros both ways.

Pull the tranny plug and see what the fluid looks like.

Just go over the car and see if its in good condition.

Wires are simple to deal with , if you get it go over the wires there are only a few things that are done to these cars with the wires.

Just my 2cents

 

[IamCool]

Make sure there isn't no vaccum leak...whoaa...that would be kinda hard to look for.

 

[R3dR]

Vac testing + vac pump from Auto Zone 15.00

 

[Gleason]

It depends on the price, but i would look elsewhere.

it is only 3,400 which seems like a good deal on a 94. Most TSi's and GSX,s are overpriced in my area. [ like one guy who wants almost 6k for a stock 92-93 GSX ....w0w ].

anyways, i'm going to see if the guy has done / can do a compression test. I'll also definatly check the syncros.

If there is a vacumm leak wouldn't that be something i would notice power wise? like not reaching full boost or a slight power loss?[or am i thinking about something different ]

 

[R3dR]

yeah you will MOST LIKELY here the leak or notice it in the idle