What is this car worth / Is this car a good deal?

[Devilsfutbol17]

I found a 1996 Spyder GST for $4900. It is a 5-speed, 91,000 miles on it, white with black top, 17 inch rims. There is 80% tread left on the tires but the guy has a brand new never used set of tires for the car that is included in the price. He says the top doesn't leak, but it had a rip and was repaired, but he didn't like it, so he bought a brand new oem top that isn't installed and is included with the car. He says the interior is really nice, everything inside works, but you have to help the top up a little bit. He doesn't know if the timing belt has been replaced or not. It has a 3 inch cat back exhaust, 16G turbo, apexi intake and a greddy bov. He says it runs great and has no issues. He says he just wants to get rid of it because he doesn't drive it and its taking up space in his garage, which sounds good to me because he kept it garaged at least. he also said that the paint is good on it, no clear coat coming off, no body damage or dents. I'm going to check for crankwalk be looking at the clutch pedal when I turn left. I have been talking to the guy over the phone and I'm suppose to go drive for 4 hours to go and buy it if it checks out on Thursday. Does it sound good? Should I ask him or check for other things on it?

 

[maxharmony537]

i love the white accents, never seen that before

 

[Diamond Star Werks]

For 400$ if it was close to me id already have it in my driveway.

 

[Bo0sTdTsI]

Id get it for 4 if i was you. I got my tsi for about 600 so that is not bad at all in a similar condition like that. Way worth it for sure!

 

[DSM1G90]

YA! Get it back together and see how it runs.

You may want to keep it, like I'm doing with mine when I purchased it 4yrs and 27k miles ago.

I've got the VR4-4G63 with the B16G turbo under the hood of mine.


DSM

 

[Th3Revreant]

Thanks for all the input, getting the vehicle shipped to my place in a week or so, cant wait to start working on it. I like the way the laser's look over the others and really like the white on black look. I noticed the needles are clear, is that factory or not?

 

[bryanwheat]

Yea its worth it but plan on just doin a true build on the motor and spending bout $1-2k(forged pistons and rods, all new parts for the head. Id personally just try to find a new motor to put in it. I had a 91 tsi will a working motor but horrible body and interior so i bout a 92 esi that just slipped the tbelt also with a good body and interior for $600 and in the process of transplanting everything.

Forged pistons and rods are only needed if you are going for 550+ horsepower. The stock bottom end is good for that plus some.

Thanks for all the input, getting the vehicle shipped to my place in a week or so, cant wait to start working on it. I like the way the laser's look over the others and really like the white on black look. I noticed the needles are clear, is that factory or not?

If i were you i would pull the head and pour some oil in the cylinders and if none leaks out i would just throw a new head on it. There is a very good chance that your bottom end is perfectly fine, these engines in stock form are pretty stout and last a long time.

 

[Th3Revreant]

Forged pistons and rods are only needed if you are going for 550+ horsepower. The stock bottom end is good for that plus some.



If i were you i would pull the head and pour some oil in the cylinders and if none leaks out i would just throw a new head on it. There is a very good chance that your bottom end is perfectly fine, these engines in stock form are pretty stout and last a long time.

That would make things alot easier, atleat it will get it running again and I can go from there. Thanks.

 

[Paintballaa5]

Well, I was looking on a local classified ad website, and found a 97 Talon AWD for only $400. I went out and looked at it, and well.. it's owners were a piece of work.

Anyways, the guy knew nothing about it. (He told me Eclipses and Talons had different wheel lug sizes, and that he had taken off the turbo, which i was clearly looking at)

The engine is gone, and he tells me that NOBODY makes AWD trannys anymore, and you can't get them.

So basicly I'm looking at a decent shell, with the drivetrain in good shape, (possibly needs a transmission.)

Would it be worth getting it for a project car?


Feel free to ask questions about it, as I'm still soaking it all in.

 

[eclipsemf]

Well if you have an extra 400$ laying around I would say go for it. You could easily get that back in parts if you didnt want to fix it but, it would be nice to fix up where it wouldnt be a DD so you have all the time in the world.

 

[Paintballaa5]

Well if you have an extra 400$ laying around I would say go for it. You could easily get that back in parts if you didnt want to fix it but, it would be nice to fix up where it wouldnt be a DD so you have all the time in the world.

Thats exactly what I'm looking for, one i don't have to DD everyday so I can take my time. And yea, I could easily make back the $400 by parting it out. I guess I'm just wondering if its worth the time and money to restore it.
I suppose its my duty to save it from these inbreds

 

[NHerron]

Maybe AWD swap? Or drop the GST engine/etc into the Talon and do a Talon/Eclipse mix-n-match exterior conversion? I would do it if I had the room for it. Plus if it's the "BFH" LSD rear end, that would be even better. BFB is non-LSD.

 

[Paintballaa5]

I thought it would be a great donor for the swap! But I don't have the room/time/skills to do that yet.. Hell, Im going to have to build a carport type thing to work on this one!

I really don't know much about the differentials..
In fact, I don't know anything about them . Ive only been in the game for about a year with a FWD

 

[NHerron]

It's up to you if you want to take a gander at differentials and drive train stuff but if you ever want past 300WHP (just a guess) AWD starts to be appreciated and an LSD differential in one axle is even better. More power to be effectively delivered without slippage. Plus no torque steer. Was there any heavy rust? I remember Texas being humid but can't remember how bad the rust was on cars

 

[Paintballaa5]

It's up to you if you want to take a gander at differentials and drive train stuff but if you ever want past 300WHP (just a guess) AWD starts to be appreciated and an LSD differential in one axle is even better. More power to be effectively delivered without slippage. Plus no torque steer. Was there any heavy rust? I remember Texas being humid but can't remember how bad the rust was on cars

It's extremely humid. :/
And yes, Ill definitely go for more than 300.

I shoulda taken pictures but the body was in pretty good shape. What was left i the engine bay (turbo, o2 housing, block, and a few other parts) were completely rusted out. But nothing else was too bad.

Its going to take a lot to get her back and running

 

[NHerron]

Parts could be cleaned up and sold too, if it comes with all that. Most of the Talon exterior pieces could be sold easily, rear differential, engine wiring harness, engine, blah blah blah.

I would not use the shell if it's badly rusted though. Like the crossmember on mine was rusted due to the battery leaking at one point so I took a couple hours to clean up surface rust and repaint a few coats. It wasn't bad and was able to be saved. The strut towers are pretty weak in that aspect, most of the ones I seen in various junk yards were so bad with holes -and that's really hard/possibly expensive to fix. I had heard once you see rust on the top tower, it has made its way through the bottom, well that sounds logical to me. But shoot, if it's good and just surface rust here and there I would go for it. I've been dying for a BFH (model for LSD type) differential for a while they seem hard to find compared to 1G LSD's.

Howstuffworks.com will briefly show how differentials work and then you can check out what the member 'jtmcinder' has to say about the subject (he pops up in most drivetrain threads). From what I've seen, he's a really good drivetrain tech.

 

[Paintballaa5]

Parts could be cleaned up and sold too, if it comes with all that. Most of the Talon exterior pieces could be sold easily, rear differential, engine wiring harness, engine, blah blah blah.

I would not use the shell if it's badly rusted though. Like the crossmember on mine was rusted due to the battery leaking at one point so I took a couple hours to clean up surface rust and repaint a few coats. It wasn't bad and was able to be saved. The strut towers are pretty weak in that aspect, most of the ones I seen in various junk yards were so bad with holes -and that's really hard/possibly expensive to fix. I had heard once you see rust on the top tower, it has made its way through the bottom, well that sounds logical to me. But shoot, if it's good and just surface rust here and there I would go for it. I've been dying for a BFH (model for LSD type) differential for a while they seem hard to find compared to 1G LSD's.

Howstuffworks.com will briefly show how differentials work and then you can check out what the member 'jtmcinder' has to say about the subject (he pops up in most drivetrain threads). From what I've seen, he's a really good drivetrain tech.

Yea Ill be reading up on that. Does the "BFH" come stock on the 2g's?

And before I commit, ill definitely be re checking it out for rust. Imagine it sitting in some rednecks yard on cinderblocks for the past however many years.. Thats about the shape its in haha.

And even if I decide not to build on it, i could easily make my money back parting it out

 

[NHerron]

On 2G Eclipses, no. On Talons, I'm not sure. You can check the door jambs for an orange sticker or look under the car at the back of the differential for the BFH sticker. It should also mention LSD on top of the sticker in smaller font.

3.545" is a manual trans differential and 3.307" is auto which refers to the final drive ratio. Can't mix and match manual/auto drive train stuff so watch out there

 

[Paintballaa5]

On 2G Eclipses, no. On Talons, I'm not sure. You can check the door jambs for an orange sticker or look under the car at the back of the differential for the BFH sticker. It should also mention LSD on top of the sticker in smaller font.

3.545" is a manual trans differential and 3.307" is auto which refers to the final drive ratio. Can't mix and match manual/auto drive train stuff so watch out there

Hmm, Ill go check that out next time I go look at it. The front end is jacked up, so it was hard to get a good look at the rear end

 

[areck]

That is the question?

Also what should I look for when going to see it tomorrow?

96 eagle talon tsi awd

 

[Gasolinebaptism]

I don't like it.

 

[areck]

Why not?

 

[Rikolas]

Offer him 2k if everything checks out.

but it is risky buying into someones halfway built project also, so it would be up to you in the end.

 

[areck]

It looks like it could be a good deal and a solid foundation for the build I want to do. I am gonna take a close look at the engine and make sure someone didn't #### up the timing job. I guess my one concern is if your doing a swap isn't it less difficult to just do the timing while the motors is out???? If the motor turns out it would be one less thing I have to do when I take everything back apart. The guy says its never had any issues as far as rust in the strut towers.

 

[Alan11]

I dont like it either..
look for something that is unmolested.

 

[kbiker76]

I wouldnt even offer him 2k that hing looks half assed and looks like he ran out of money. I would want receipts for everything and look through everything with a very fine tooth comb for sure if you are gonna buy it.