Seriously looking at buying a 90 TSI AWD, need some advice before I buy it

[RandyJr]

Okay, I know I have been posting a lot but I don't want to make a mistake and buy the wrong car or pay too much. This would be my first dsm, I don't know much about them but I want one. Here's the specs.
1990 AWD Tsi, everything works, original owner, old lady owned it and her older son drove it, never seen the track. He says the only problem is it smokes a little on high boost, sounds like old rings, they are original, no big deal. It has 136,000 miles, it had the head replaced at 60,000 and the timing belt at 100,000. He says that everything works good including clutch and a/c. Pic's show the car immaculate, it's getting the black repainted as we speak. It's the black over the silver on the bottom. I mean it's sweet looking, wish it has a sunroof though. Here's the mods.

It has 17" American Racing "Twisted Tuner" wheels with 225-45-ZR17 tires on it
It comes with the original "Turbo Swirl" wheels with Goodyear GT+4 tires on them with some tread left
I replaced the speakers with Infinity Kappa speakers
The brakes have been upgraded to the larger cross drilled "Power Stop" rotors with dual piston calipers
The rubber brake lines have been replaced with braided Stainless Steel lines that are DOT approved (all 8 lines were replaced, not just the 4 going to the calipers)
Upon completion of the brake mods, the brake master cylinder was replaced (just insurance!)
The restricted air intake was replaced with an HKS "Super Mega Flow" intake filter and housing
The original spark plug wires were replaced with Vitek performance wires
The original turbo was replaced with a Buschur Racing Sport Upgrade Big 16G turbo that Mach V Motor sports had ported and clipped for me (faster spool up)
I replaced the Oxygen sensor housing with a ported housing
I upgraded the in tank fuel pump and fuel filter
A Buschur Racing Ported 2G exhaust manifold was added
I swapped the exhaust system to a complete (downpipe and cat-back) 2.5" system with a 3" Stainless Steel tip
I bought and still have the 2.5" high flow cat from Buschur racing (it comes with the car)
I changed out the high flow cat with a 2.5" test pipe ("off road use only".....yeah, right!!)
I put a rear strut tower brace on from Buschur Racing
I replaced the original shocks with 4-way-adjustable front, and 8-way-adjustable rear KYB AGX shocks from Mach V Motorsports
In addition to the shocks I replaced the springs with Eibach Pro-Kit Springs from Mach V Motorsports, they lower the car about 1.25 inches from stock
I have a dual gage pod for the A-pillar with a fuel-to-air ratio meter and a mechanical boost gage and all the tubing, this has not been installed yet
I also have a GREDDY PROFEC-B BOOST CONTROL, electronic boost controller and all connecting tubing new in box
The car is wired for a car phone but I have removed the phone handset because it is an old analog type that I am sure no phone company will now service

The car comes with:

Spare headlights (it has aftermarket "Super white" Halogen sealed beams in it)
Spare wiper arm and blades
A set of new Bosch Platinum plugs (I will install these if you want)
As mentioned above, the original wheels with tires on them (wheels are in really good shape)
The original calipers, rotors and pads
And a car cover that is not really made for this particular car but it does cover it


I have no idea what it will run in the quarter, anyone have an idea? How many horses?
Anyhow, the guy is asking $3,500. Sound good? Thanks guys.

 

[Sotarts]

16G with no fuel control or bigger fuel injectors and smokes under boost? How's the transmission? I like the fact that suspension and exhaust are completely taken care of. Don't let people tell you that it really, really needs a 3" exaust. 2.5" is PERFECT!

I bought my TSi with a similar deal. I regret it a little bit, has its unmentioned problems.

Plan for the engine to go soon, just to be realistic. REALLY check the transmission. Try to get it for $3,000 or much less. Although if you HAVE ANOTHER DAILY RELIABLE CAR and don't mind working on the TSi, and transmission is fine, I would get it. AWD is sh*tloads of fun and 90-91 look the best. Consider costs, in case things do go wrong--you have to be realistic about 14-year-old cars, especially turbo cars.

Without proper fuel tuning (which it doesn't have judging from the list), I wouldn't even consider thinking about how many horses or what it would run in a quarter. You will need 550cc injectors and a fuel controller--either GM MAFT or Apexi S-AFC.

 

[RandyJr]

Thanks, this seems like a great deal for the money. Any more thoughts?

 

[Sotarts]

Thanks, this seems like a great deal for the money. Any more thoughts?

Make sure you thoroughly inspect the engine and transmission. Those are the big things you need to worry about.