The Official "What's this DSM worth?" Thread

[joshs1074]

any word on how it turned out?

 

[natertater]

sorry guys, just got back. ok, it is a little ratty, it ran a long time (the auto door lock thing he has wired in activated with the door just sitting on the strike plate), got locked out. while he was out of town, the exhaust manifold cracked...second time it happened (im thinking he never fixed it first time...) and it has new stock turbo. there are some minor defects...the headlight needs to be replaced, its crushed in on the side, the bumper needs to be replaced, got bumped pretty good. hope there is no frame damage. a rear side marker is cracked, but light works. plates from MO just expired, and the front spindle runs really rough and has grinding sound. it has 175k miles on it, doesnt smoke, and still runs strong with only 1-2lbs of boost (thanks, exhaust leak!) so what do you guys think? he dropped price to 1200...i see it as something to work on. its hard to find these around here in good shape, there was a really beat up crapper for 3500 with 140k miles a month ago..

 

[joshs1074]

kinda seems like a money pit to me. id say pass on it

 

[lacroixdp]

I was all for it before you said it was smashed in on the side. Definitely pass on that one IMHO - there's plenty of DSM's that haven't been wrecked and are reasonably priced.

 

[ToughTalon]

kinda seems like a money pit to me. id say pass on it

Yup yup, money pit, even with the body damage, even if the car was babied its whole life it would still need some major maintenance. If you are planning on buying a HUGE project car than get it (still a little pricey for that)...but either way keep in mind this isnt a car your gana buy and drive around for a while, itll need lots of work to be road worthy and fun to drive....

 

[natertater]

its not a smashed in side.... its a pushed in part of bumper and headlight (looks like a volley ball was pushed into the frontmost side part of bumper) and thats it. and yes, i plan on working on it for a little while and not driving it daily anyways. so you would all pass on it? it also has a small dent in the rear hatch top part...im not buying a show car, just a fun toy to fix up over the next 2 3 yrs...and to street it up once i get stuff done. so here are bearing parts...you have to search wishlists for my name/city... stephenson and san diego.

O'Reilly Auto Parts - Shopping

well, 93 bucks at oriellys for new front bearings, inner and outer seals for both wheels (might as well do two instead of one huh?)

 

[natertater]

...and i already was going to upgrade to a 2g, evo style, or better exhaust manny anyways...

 

[Rotten]

you asked everyone for there opinion on if it was a good buy or not, honestly thats up to you, everyones idea of a good buy is gunna be atleast a little different. but they told you to pass and now it seems like your making excuses to get everyone to reasure you that your making the right decision. im not trying to be a dick thats just how it seems to me. It does look like a nice car but with the problems that it has, i wouldnt pay over a $1000 for it.

 

[natertater]

yeah, its just everyone sounds like my wife...again! . she was all cool with it, but that was how she was with the mustang, the camaro, etc. we dont have room, you wont even work on it...etc. its not too bad, mostly just little cosmetic work. not sure how the engine is holding up, but it ran fine when driving (other than exhaust backpressure wasnt there to spool turbo) and no engine problems detected, no burning smoke, no leaky oil spots on driveway...

 

[supermanvick]

im looking to buy a 96 awd tsi but the only issue i have is that it is an automatic! is it easy to do an auto to manual swap and is it worth it?

 

[Doubleot]

Dude if its a good buy get it.
BTW you can get auto trannys more hp with the right tunes...
Mine is auto and everyone i've asked on here said to leave it auto
The choice is yours....

 

[supermanvick]

im s o use to the manual but the car im looking at is for 800 bucks and it has some dings and the tranny went out! what do u think

 

[Doubleot]

800 humm..
Mileage?
Interior condish?
Pics?

 

[Mr PopUps]

Auto cars do not make more hp. Its 'easy' to do the swap, all cars are made for manuals from the factory, so all the mounting points for the parts is there like master cylinder and pedal assy.

 

[supermanvick]

no back seats, just front 2 seats. and motor has 110k but im not worried about that ### already have something in mind im just worried about the auto to manual swap

 

[Doubleot]

Auto cars do not make more hp. Its 'easy' to do the swap, all cars are made for manuals from the factory, so all the mounting points for the parts is there like master cylinder and pedal assy.

The tranny can hold more hp..

 

[Doubleot]

no back seats, just front 2 seats. and motor has 110k but im not worried about that ### already have something in mind im just worried about the auto to manual swap

Humm damn thats kinda rough...
I'm sure it shouldn't be too hard to do the manual swap but I've never done one
I'd say low ball him/her a little more maybe say 600 and see what he/she says
But I'd probably get it you could probably part it out later and get just as much as you paid for it if you decide not to do the swap

 

[Theo90TSIAWD]

I haven't had my car for very long, but so far I'm not impressed by the tranny. I have a manual.

 

[Mr PopUps]

The tranny can hold more hp..

BWaahahahahahahahahaaaaaa.

 

[Lumix315]

I haven't had my car for very long, but so far I'm not impressed by the tranny. I have a manual.

What kind of power are you putting down?? What about the tranny aren't you happy with??

 

[Theo90TSIAWD]

I think it's just an old unhappy mistreated tranny. It shifts hard, grinds, and just seems unhappy in general haha. Just stock power right now.

The car is 100% stock right now. I bought it for $750 not running and it had been sitting for a year broken down until I bought it.

I haven't done any performance mods yet. When I got the car every fluid that you can put in the vehicle was leaking from one place or another and some times many places. It also had electrical problems which were keeping it from running, along with some other small stuff.

I have fixed all of the above problems and then some. Next I will be changing out all the belts and vacuum lines, getting new tires and suspension (probably not lower, just new), and I would like to do some head work on it because it's noisy, old, and leaks a bit of oil out of the top end some where. The head work is something that will be 100% new to me though, I haven't been that deep into a car yet, so it will be an adventure

After that and a boost leak test which I still haven't done, the performance mods will start and it will be grand.

 

[Lumix315]

Oookay! I got ya. Yeah, I was wondering if you were running any significant level of power to where the stock trans would start to be stressed. But, I see that from the condition you say it was in, I would agree with your diagnosis of just being "aged." Nice job on the repairs! Kudos! Keep it up, man.

 

[supermanvick]

ok so can anyone tell me if this is a good buy or is it not worth it? is the swap easy or should i look for a 5spd

 

[Theo90TSIAWD]

ok so can anyone tell me if this is a good buy or is it not worth it? is the swap easy or should i look for a 5spd

For the most part with any projecton a car, if you have to get online and ask: "Is this hard to do? Should I do it?" Then yes, it's going to be hard for you because obviously you have never done it and obviously you don't know how to do it.

If you are willing to put in the wrench time and you have a good mechanical brain I say go for it. I pretty much just dive into my projects and that's how I learn about my car. Some people have a harder time, if you weren't that kid that took everything apart and were able to get it back together, maybe you should just buy a manual tranny?

You are asking the wrong person, you need to be asking your self: "Am I up to the cost and time of swapping a tranny?" And keep in mind the cost of a new tranny and shop install if you screw it all up and have to get a new one.

 

[supermanvick]

ok now your taking the question alittle to far. Ive rebuilt my 91 many times so mechanical skills are not an issue to me. but when it comes to doing a sex change then thats something ive never done. thats were the question came in to play, is this cheaper to do a swap or should i just go and look for a manual car? because i do know that there are more things that need to be put into play when it comes to turning a auto into a manual.