stock laser or broken talon mod

[vmac]

i have a big problem. i have always wanted a DSM. and now i have 2 people trying to sell me their cars. one is a FWD laser RS with a turbo. it is in good condition. it hasnt been raced or anything. but its a automatic, and i really hate that. but i hear a FWD can beat a AWD after 3 gear. this guy wants $1200 and he will take payments.

the other car, is a talon AWD turbo. it has loads of upgrades. racing seats, 3in pipes, 16h turbo, turbo timer, HKS BOV, and a bunch more. the front end is of a mitsubishi, so im thinking maybe he crashed at some time. he took me for a ride in it. it was fast. really fast. he wants the same price, but he wont take payments. i also herd that AWDs weight more and are just more parts to break. it also made a odd sound going into 2nd, like a grinding noise, he said its just the shift link. i want this car more, but here's the problem. the car has a rod-knock really bad. my friend said we can just get a new bering for it, but i dont know. (his celica had rod-knock last night and then his rod went out the side of his motor, so i cant count on him)

so what would you guys do?

 

[95burgundyesi]

Ask yourself a few things,

How much money do you make? Are they both within your budget? And what is your mechanic skill? What are your plans with a DSM?

These cars are old and will require some TLC. Don't buy something that you think is out of your comfort range. Check the classifieds and Craigslist, 1200 dollars has gotten people killer deals on DSMs. Another option is ask the guy if he is willing to bring it to a mechanic because you are concerned about the knock.

Also check the frequently asked questions in the forums. There is a buyers guide that covers more things to look at when deciding on a car.

 

[vmac]

well i make enough money for sure. i was actually thinking of using the motor from the laser and use the parts from the talon (buy them both) but i just turned 18 and im trying to move out, so id rather not do that. my mechanic skills?-i tell my friend what i want, give him the money and he does it. i know the basics and alot about turbos, but iv never actually done any mods myself.

 

[95burgundyesi]

Friends are good to have, but you definatly want to be able to fix things and do some regular maintence on your own. It will not only make you feel better about your car knowing it's your own hard work, you will find it easier to keep it in better condition because you will learn the car.

I saved forever to pay for my car in cash ,and im 19 so I know how you feel. Accually everyone does. Since you have never worked on one, I would lean towards stock so I wasn't on such a steep learning curve.

Do you have an idea of what you are going to be doing to the car as far as will it be your daily driver, are you going to stick with a stock turbo and some bolt ons?

 

[vmac]

well thats another big thing, i want to move to WA (from NV) in a vew monthes. its about a 689.8 mile drive, and i know it will be hell on a car. and trying to fix the talon might be a risk, unless it was tuned. my plan is to just to drive my truck and upgrade the car like crazy later on in life. but come on, im 18, i need to go fast. and it snows alot in WA, so thats another reason i lean to the talon.

my friend has a 1968 firebird with a 350 chevy and he thinks he's on top of the world (running a 13 in a 1/4 mile) . he told me he like me to find a car that can beat his, and what better car than a DSM. and he even said that the talon could put up a good fight. i just want to see a cheap little import beat his muscle car hes put all his money into.

and the talon has a loud bov, i know it doesnt matter, but i love it to death. nothing like the echo that bounces around the neighborhood making kids run inside their houses.

 

[tkelly27]

A rod knock could require a new crank. A grinding transmission is generally on borrowed time.

From a dig AWD is going to be quicker in the 1/4 mile, pretty much no matter what.

I'd rather have a good running FWD than a poor running AWD personally.

This is not your typical results, but a modified version of the stock turbo in both of those cars can push a DSM into the 10's. That's with FWD as well.

http://www.joebucci.com/RaceCar.htm

Another one of my opinions, it'll be a lot easier (and more fun) to mod the laser than to fix the talon. Additionally, a stock car has probably been beat on less than a modified one.

Ohh, read it's an auto. The turbo and injectors are smaller, but that's easy to fix. Not in the know about auto DSM trannys to guide you in that department either. Maybe hold off and score a good running AWD for somewhere near that price?

 

[vmac]

A rod knock could require a new crank. A grinding transmission is generally on borrowed time.

From a dig AWD is going to be quicker in the 1/4 mile, pretty much no matter what.

I'd rather have a good running FWD than a poor running AWD personally.

This is not your typical results, but a modified version of the stock turbo in both of those cars can push a DSM into the 10's. That's with FWD as well.

http://www.joebucci.com/RaceCar.htm

Another one of my opinions, it'll be a lot easier (and more fun) to mod the laser than to fix the talon. Additionally, a stock car has probably been beat on less than a modified one.

Ohh, read it's an auto. The turbo and injectors are smaller, but that's easy to fix. Not in the know about auto DSM trannys to guide you in that department either. Maybe hold off and score a good running AWD for somewhere near that price?

well my friend seems to think we can fix a rod-knock in no time. and the talon has a load of upgrades. i like the looks of a talon more, but i hate the spoiler. and some people say dont push more than 15 lbs on the stock parts, and some say up to 30< whats the facts of this?

 

[Eclipse98_RS]

From a dig AWD is going to be quicker in the 1/4 mile, pretty much no matter what.

FWD is quicker than AWD. Get your facts straight.
Id go with the AWD Talon and tear apart the engine and give it a new life with some fresh internals. Go over everything with a fine toothed comb and make sure nothing else is wrong with it.

Some people are right dont go more than 15 PSI on stock internals if you want to drive it for awhile. If you go over 30 on stock internals you better only be driving it a quarter mile and then junking it.

 

[marsh63]

yeah i would go with the stock one or keep looking for one. cause my expirences with upgraded cars have not been good. most of the time when someone sells their upgraded car it is about to go out on them. thats what happened with my elco bought it drove it a month and then it blew up. i just bought a awd talon this weekend and it was completly stock. the car runs great and has alot of compression. id stick with a stock car over the upgraded one.

 

[voodoogsx]

yeah i would go with the stock one or keep looking for one. cause my expirences with upgraded cars have not been good. most of the time when someone sells their upgraded car it is about to go out on them. thats what happened with my elco bought it drove it a month and then it blew up. i just bought a awd talon this weekend and it was completly stock. the car runs great and has alot of compression. id stick with a stock car over the upgraded one.

I agree with getting the stock car or waiting, though, why not wait till you've moved? You could sell the truck in Wa, and find a car locally. I'm not sure of the emmissions laws in Wa, or how they may differ from NV, but it would be easier to deal with if it was a local car. Also, engine and trans issues don't end up being cheap fixes when they go and without havnig had exp with the car, it might be a better to get something that is in a bit better condition.

My exp wasn't the greatest with a modded car. It cost me 3k just to get the worn damaged parts fixed...it had a broken tc(found this out while driving it a few months later...I don't drag btw) the trans was going out(minor grinding in second 6 months in) and the turbo made a slight chirpy noise every once in a while(the kind of chirp when metal blades rub against metal compressor housing)....thats just a partial list....but it sounded okay when I drove it and I even had to knowledgable dsm'ers with me.....

again I'd wait....you could find great deals on cars all over...I saw 2 the other day, a 90 and 91 both were 500....one was running, one needed work....regardless, great starters...

 

[vmac]

what i think im actually trying to ask is this. is it really as easy as my friend says it is to fix a rod knock, or does a rod knock means the motors done?

im going to go look at the stock laser rs in a few hours. i didnt get to hear it run yet, but im going to see if it has a rod knock (a common prob with dsm's?) and if it doesnt i think im just going to get it. the talon would be nice, i want a car, not someone elses problem. (id rather have a tsi anyday, but not this one)

ill let you guys know how it worked out. but when tkelly27 said "I'd rather have a good running FWD than a poor running AWD personally." it kinda changed my mind. all you guys have been a big help and seem to know alot about DSMs.

and one more thing, when i buy this car (80% chance i will), my friend is going to buy the talon and fix it, so ill need some help on what i need to take him down soon. i plan on upgrading first: high flow intake, Greddy bov, 16g, boost gage, 3in pipes

 

[MountainDew]

Just off personal experience, my bone stock 5.0 Mustang ran perfect. I sold it and bought my modded Talon. Couple weeks later I was pulling the head off.

To this day, 3 months later, I'm still having problems. Still like the car, it's just a pain for a daily driver.

 

[vmac]

ya, i think a TSI awd would be a perfect car to mod, but not a car id trust getting to work. i might just use this car for looks, get some subs or somthing, then later find a TSI i can mess around with

 

[Talonracn50]

Rod knock is not typically an easy fix. To fix it correctly, you would need to disassemble the engine and have it hot-tanked to remove all of the debris from the failing bearing. Driving it right now is only hurting it more -- you are circulating all of that debris through the engine. That engine is done, and would need a complete going-through -- not an easy fix.

 

[vmac]

i never really thought about that. he made it sound like all i have to do is take off the oil pan and my crank and rods are all right there.

 

[TSITuner4Lyfe69]

Get the laser i love myne and its a 6 bolt and its the unique dsm its different than all the other dsm's i love myne

 

[ROOKIE1]

Don't buy either one . You are not sure , we can not decide for you . Make your move and then look for one . You have a vehicle now , so why rush into it . There are better cars than you are looking at . Slight rod knock = no sale . If I get another DSM it will no doubt be AWD . AWD ftw

 

[vmac]

Don't buy either one . You are not sure , we can not decide for you . Make your move and then look for one . You have a vehicle now , so why rush into it . There are better cars than you are looking at . Slight rod knock = no sale . If I get another DSM it will no doubt be AWD . AWD ftw

but i dont have a car. well i did but it fell of a cliff-long story- so i kinda need to be quick about it. why is everyone saying the awd is better? is the laser known as a worse car?

 

[ROOKIE1]

AWD = greater traction .

 

[vmac]

AWD = greater traction .

yes, but there are many downsides, (but i still think it would be worth it to have a awd)

 

[dsmsucks]

I would get the laser man. Its an auto but what the hell. That awd has been beat to HELL. No telling what else is wrong or will go wrong.

 

[vmac]

I would get the laser man. Its an auto but what the hell. That awd has been beat to HELL. No telling what else is wrong or will go wrong.

ya i could see that. the car was built to race for a reason. he has all these modded cars and he says he has no idea whats wrong with it. and he said "i only drive it around the neighborhood now and then" - bull. and when he took my friend out on a test drive, i herd his friends talking to eachother. one said he had a clicking sound coming from his motor, and his other friend said "you better get it up on craig's list" (where i found the talon) and starts laughing. so i think this kid messed up his talon and is trying to pawn it off on some fool. i just wanted the hks bov and the 16g out of it anyways.

anyway, not talking upgrades as much even, but when/if i get the stock one, what shoul i do first? tires? fuel upgrade?