To buy or not to buy 95 talon ESI

[kert]

Well, a little background about me. I'm currently driving a 2000 Explorer Sport, I love the car, but I'm going to be driving about 100miles/day (mostly hyway) this summer with my job, so I've been looking for a smaller/more effiecient car to drive. I'm looking at a 95 eagle talon ESI with like 167k, I know it's a lot of miles, supposively its engine was replaced or rebuilt 60k ago. It's in really good shape concidering the miles. Little/no rust. I'm just looking for something cheap/reliable/good mpg. The owner claims it gets 30+ mpg. I only plan on putting a high flow air filter in it, stereo, and maybe other mild stuff.

Anything I should really look at before I buy this? What is the lifespan of a 2nd gen DSM? What is a good price to offer?

Thanks for the help


edit: forgot to add, it is an auto. There is one at a dealership with 150k with a manual too. Are the manuals know for lasting longer than autos, like most cars?

 

[oneyedfatguy]

Replace the timing belt if the current owner hasn't replaced it. While you are at it, you may as well replace all the other belts on the engine. Follow the procedure outlined in the manual and you will have it on the money with little or no drama. Don't follow the procedure and you will more than likely bend some valves.

 

[Defiant]

The non-turbo is a very nice little car, especially for long commuting. Gas mileage is good, the cars are comfortable, and of course they look great. Have a mechanic look it over, heed the cam belt advice, and enjoy it.

 

[95burgundyesi]

I have a 1995 esi with about 104xxxK on it. Mine is an auto, and though its not as fast as a turbo dsm mine has been a great car. You probably already know its a 420a, I know bummer, but you do get the good look of the 2g dsms.

I got mine with the block seized up so everything as far as internals and belts and tentioners only have about 20k on them. Even my trans was replaced right before the warenty was up by the dealer so I think it makes a great DD. It does get good gas milage and is comfortable.

The only things that I dont like about my car is the no power window/door lock option. Also the engine has horrible turbo like lag until about 2500rmps. A drop in K&N helps big time. Theres a tread here that tells about the auto transmissions on the 2g non-turbos. When you test drive I would try and let it shfift at different points because in the article it says they havea tendency to shift really hard, which is a big sign things are worn out.

Um Ive seen non-turbo 2ga go for 1000 to 3000. But just look over it real well and replace the belts and you should be fine. GL!

 

[95TalonOwner]

If you want the best mileage, then get the 5 speed one. On long hwy drives, I get around 38 mpg on my 2gnt. If you maintain them and treat them nicely, they will last a long time.

 

[Locke]

Inspect the wire loom that runs near the engine on the driver side, under the intake tract, for heat damage.

Note the the idle rpm, and its quality. For an auto, i'm thinking it should hold around 900ish (please correct me if I am wrong) and rock steady.

As mentioned, replace the cam belt, and is best to do the tensioner and idlers while you are at it. Great time for a new water pump.

Also the engine has horrible turbo like lag until about 2500rmps.

While the 2gnt does suffer a lack of low end grunt, if you feel it is anything like turbo lag, your motor may not be in the best state of tune.

 

[95burgundyesi]

My idle is from 700 to 900.

And I guess you can not compair the low end lack of the 420a to turbo lag, but you understand what I ment.

 

[kert]

Thanks for the info guys. I'll make sure I check all that out, along with a compression test, since that seems to be mentioned a lot on here.

If you want the best mileage, then get the 5 speed one. On long hwy drives, I get around 38 mpg on my 2gnt. If you maintain them and treat them nicely, they will last a long time.

Do you have any mods to increase your mileage? Says online that hwy mpg is 31... not that I mind because it would be great if it would get that high.

 

[95TalonOwner]

I have a cold air intake, 4-1 header, test pipe, and fart can. I removed the stock resonator so it is pretty much straight pipe until the fart can. I also have MSD coil pack and plug wires.

 

[Defiant]

Do you have any mods to increase your mileage? Says online that hwy mpg is 31... not that I mind because it would be great if it would get that high.

The most effective, #1 mileage mod: drive ten miles an hour slower, and take twice as long to get there.


I'd rather just waste gas, but I'm trying to catch up.

 

[kert]

The most effective, #1 mileage mod: drive ten miles an hour slower, and take twice as long to get there.


I'd rather just waste gas, but I'm trying to catch up.

Ya, I've learned to control myself with the explorer....There's literally at least a 2mpg loss from going 65 to 75 mph... and whene you're only getting 18mpg hyw 2mpg is a decent loss.

 

[Locke]

I average 32mpg during the summer. Sometimes 34-35, sometimes 28-29, mostly depends on how I drive it.

If I cruised through an entire tank of fuel at 1100rpm in 5th (about 25mph) I could probably get over 45mpg. Not that I would care to, or ever have the opportunity to.

 

[John_GST]

I have had a 95 GS as a comuter car for college and an everyday driver for while now. mine has 190,000 on it and it is still a perfectly good car. It has been the most reliable car I have owned ever since i started driving and I bought the GS for 800 dollars. I am familiar with the explorer sport as well and it seems like they get no where compared to my eclipse (gas mileage wise). But anyways I have no complaints about the GS or ESI and they make great daily drivers. good luck.

 

[kert]

Ya, so I went to look at both of the cars. Neither of them were in very good condition (I know they arn't going to be perfect b/c of thier age, ect..) One of them had a crazy buck to it at highway speeds and the other one was really beat up looking and had some electrical problem so it wouldn't even start...

So, anyone know of any one whos selling a base model esi or gs who's in Iowa or the surrounding states (since I can't post in the wanted section yet)?

 

[John_GST]

Ya, so I went to look at both of the cars. Neither of them were in very good condition (I know they arn't going to be perfect b/c of thier age, ect..) One of them had a crazy buck to it at highway speeds and the other one was really beat up looking and had some electrical problem so it wouldn't even start...

So, anyone know of any one whos selling a base model esi or gs who's in Iowa or the surrounding states (since I can't post in the wanted section yet)?

Yeah I have a GS Im trying to sell. Im located in Tennessee. Its got a pail lime green exterior and a custom grey and blue interior, the hood is painted black. E-mail me at [email protected] and I can send you some pictures and alot more info on the car. I replaced the engine and it has around 35-40,000 miles on it. I don't drive the car much, but have always tried to keep excellent care of it. It is a 5-speed with only about 40k on the tranny as well. I am wanting to get rid of it so I can put some more money into my GST. If you seem interested I can send you some pictures now and if you want more I can take some recent pictures and send them to you this weekend.