What makes DSMs so much different and/or better?

[iwanagsx]

I currently have a 05 Mazda3, looking to get a 99 GSX... What makes the Diamond Star Motors so much different? I'm not just looking at the engine point of view, but overall as a car. I've never owned a DSM, though I drove a 98 GS and decided to go with a newer car. The GS was nice, but I want something faster and better handeling. All opinions welcome, thanks in advanced!!

 

[Cs4g63]

If all you drove was the non turbo GS than you didnt get to experience what the power potential of these cars is. There is a huge diference between the turbo and non turbo DSM's.

 

[95burgundyesi]

I can say driving a non turbo Diamond Star will not give you an idea of the fun you will have. I just recently picked up my 97 tsi awd after daily driving a 95 talon esi. It is a night and day difference. I knew it would be and thats why I stuck it out and waited for one.

People always say DSM stands for di(k sucking motors but either they had no clue what they were doing or they don't have first hand experience with one. The 4g63 is an awesome power plant. Its old and still holds its own, and over looking the tiny percent of 7 bolt 4g63s that walked its one of the best engines you could moddify. It also responds great to mods. Has to be one of the best engines for the bang for the buck.

They are older cars and need regular maintence before you start throwing more power at it. Example - I changed the trans fluid after picking up my tsi, I can say the fluid was like tar with sand paper material in the fluid. Now after changing all fluids with Redline and penzoil syncromesh it is a whole new car in feeling.

Even the looks still after being over 10 years old, I find DSMs looking way better than some of the goofy stuff other companies are making. Once you get one you can never leave to.

 

[DGajre777]

Test drive a 1G or 2G AWD and then tell me if you like it.

DSMs are cheaper to mod, if you take care of them and do all the necessary maintenance.

 

[c4uldr0n]

They have a lot of potential to be extremely fast vehicles! I've modded a few cars in my day and DSM isn't the easiest to work on, but its far from the hardest and the benefits to any addition are better than average. I think the styling for 1G and 2G were ahead of their time too.

 

[ekanddsm]

Hey I own a mazda and a dsm, I prefer the dsm for the giggle factor, like some a-hole with a coffee can for a muffler reved up on you, and you took him by six cars to the next light before he turned.

I love my dsm, my mazda just drives the family around, the dsm eats vettes with a dude in a 3piece suit on the freeway.

And driven respectively, it will still get 25mpg.

 

[Cobrasatellite]

If you only drove the 1 nonturbo model then you really dont know what to expect from these cars. I picked up my 94 nt for a comuter and felt it was pretty quick then I got to ride in a 93 turbo and it was like a different car. So now I have a 94 turbo... But if you do get 1 the gsx is the way o go.
Also dont get discouraged these cars are head scratchers but do some reserch and thereworth the extra effort.

 

[iwanagsx]

Thanks guys for all the advice. I'll be sure to test drive one of the very few GSXs around here.

 

[Mr Peepers]

Bang for the buck. Where else can you find a cheap AWD platform with as much potential? 1g's in particular, look at some of the prices in the classifieds and compare it to a similar performing car. Of course, there will always be exceptions

As long as you keep up with maintenance and take car of it, it will(should) do the same.

 

[mach4g63t]

I can say driving a non turbo Diamond Star will not give you an idea of the fun you will have. I just recently picked up my 97 tsi awd after daily driving a 95 talon esi. It is a night and day difference. I knew it would be and thats why I stuck it out and waited for one.

People always say DSM stands for di(k sucking motors but either they had no clue what they were doing or they don't have first hand experience with one. The 4g63 is an awesome power plant. Its old and still holds its own, and over looking the tiny percent of 7 bolt 4g63s that walked its one of the best engines you could moddify. It also responds great to mods. Has to be one of the best engines for the bang for the buck.

They are older cars and need regular maintence before you start throwing more power at it. Example - I changed the trans fluid after picking up my tsi, I can say the fluid was like tar with sand paper material in the fluid. Now after changing all fluids with Redline and penzoil syncromesh it is a whole new car in feeling.

Even the looks still after being over 10 years old, I find DSMs looking way better than some of the goofy stuff other companies are making. Once you get one you can never leave to.

d*ck sucking motor = no.

Doesn't Stay Moving? VERY true, .

 

[billnolan18]

i like dsm's better than most other cars for many reasons. how many other cars out on the road can you buy for less than 10k, put less than 3k into it, and run a 12 second 1/4 mile while getting more than 20 mpg. Hell, i drive my car well over 300 miles a week, and on my last fill up i got 31mpg (mostly hwy miles). Plus the fun factor of these cars is awesome. The power potential is incredible. With minor bolt on's cars at the same weight, and twice the amount of cylinders can't even come close to touching a dsm

 

[taifighter]

I knew next to nothing about cars, but always liked the idea of turbo and AWD. I just recently was put in a situation where I had to learn myself, or my car would never be finished. It wasn't as hard as I thought. The info available in books/manuals and online is incredible, that really helped me. People will always talk sh*t about what you drive. Our cars just make it easier to talk about, ### they can be so bad-ass and leave others jealous.

 

[Gregory]

Some people will tell you they are unreliable, but as long as you don't neglect your dsm, it will take care of you back. Some cars can take a beating and be neglected and still run fine, and DSM's simply don't fall into THAT catagory, but they certainly can be maintained and run like a champ when taken care of.

 

[Defiant]

The DSM AWD setup may be the only one that is a true 50-50 split. Most AWD schemes dick around with the power distribution, and the more so with modern electronics.
At the time they came out, the power they made was far beyond its league, and they still hold their own. If you want to get much more power out of them, they withstand it to a degree no self-respecting engine on the street has any expectation to, and for much less money than any other available powerplant. And neither generation looks "old", yet.

 

[artindsm]

real simple and sweet if you own a dsm its not a honda and the built ford tough w mazda stuff will only get you so far. in my experience owning a dsm everyone who owns one (that i have met so far) is willing to help you with anything from up grading brakes to planning and building an engine to swap in.these are the only cars out there known as dsms not plymoth not eagle or mitsu, there just known as dsms and with a site like this full of guys who do nothing more then want to help you how could you not wanna own one. if its awd turbo or n/a there is something for everyone in these cars. i know that when i got mine i wasnt to into dsms now i cant see it any other way

 

[dave99gst]

one big thing that makes DSM's so much better is the community,support, parts and online resources (vaqs)

 

[Baton]

I'd definitely agree with Dave. The resources available to DSMers when it comes to install guides and walkthroughs, etc is just amazing. Definitely allows us less experienced guys to mod our cars without having to pay all the labor fees from shops.

 

[taifighter]

Plus, in an area like mine, there are no shops to work with. You're on your own, so the DSM community (as stated above) are who you rely on and most are happy to help you. Just be careful because there are still some guys who don't have a clue and may steer you in the wrong direction without the intention of doing so.