Yeah, another "should I buy this car?" thread!

[MidWestTalon]

Hello everyone, I'm new to the forums, as well as the whole dsm scene. I've been saving my money for a new car and I'm finally ready to purchase. I need something good on gas and I wanted something fast, eventually I found and read up on talons. While reading I encountered a lot of horror stories about crankwalk and things of that nature. It's a bit scary to think about but in the end I think I'll be ok. I'm not going to abuse my car.

So I was browsing craigslist for a while and this guy had posted a talon for sale back in march. Well he reposted it again so it's still for sale.

The good- It has an eclipse conversion body kid which looks pretty nice. 5 speed tsi awd. New tires, rotors and brakes. New battery. Leather back seats and leather door panels. Some extras.

The bad- He took off the old head gasket to put on a new one, but never got around to putting the new one on. It also needs a new timing belt and water pump. The tranny also grinds in second gear due to the syncros going out, however he would include a new transmission with the car. Car has been sitting for a while.

If he puts it all back together (minus the new tranny) he's asking 3k. If he sells it to me as is he's willing to lower the price.

Well I suppose my questions are, how much do you guys think I should offer? How much would it cost me to get the tranny redone? My uncle is a mechanic so he would probably be able to put the head gasket belt and pump back on, but in case he can't how much am I lookin at to get the head gasket put on? I can install the other stuff myself. He's going to get the car towed down to the local area so I can check it out (I still haven't seen it in person). I'm going to inspect it as best as I can, checking the turbo, checking for leaks, rust spots and things like that.

Well that's about it. Let me know what you guys think!

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[90tsiawdturbo]

Looks like a decent car but they are only pictures....I couldn't tell you what to offer until you told me what your checking for above (turbo,leaks, rust) if possible I'd have him do the work so all you have to do is swap the tranny... That way at least your paying for a running car

 

[Nati0nalxCrisis]

If you do get rid of those ratty ass tailights please

 

[AK Maniak]

That thing is hideous

 

[ilco187]

no wonder he had to "repost" it, who the hell would buy it i just did a colorado dsm search and god damn they got some clean ass 1g's better than what this guy wants and around the same price.

 

[EclipticalGS]

it really is hideous. Offer him $2000, take off the front bumper, rear bumper, tail lights.

Take your $1000 saved and get 2gb bumpers, tail lights, and a maaco paint job.

At least.

 

[TRSblader]

Pass it up. There has GOT to be a cleaner one around.

 

[plamb09]

i got mine for $1000 in about the same shape but looked better exterior was stock and one color

 

[DashLaflash]

Well I personally wouldn't offer him anything over $1500. Whos to say the engine is even any good after you put a new head gasket and belt on. On top of that the tranny is toast and the car's riced to the max. Plus it's been relisted after a couple months so he's obviously having trouble selling it. This is a project car as most DSMs are. If your not willing to get your hands dirty then you should maybe look for a running one. Oh and check out Jacks transmissions, Shep Racing, TRE..., there's plenty of others. A basic tranny rebuild is around $800.

 

[MidWestTalon]

Honestly, you guys are right. I found a much more reasonable one for still around 3 grand. Heres the photobucket. 1997 Eagle Talon TSI pictures by ofgofg - Photobucket


I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else.

 

[Detective Coating]

Honestly, you guys are right. I found a much more reasonable one for still around 3 grand. Heres the photobucket. 1997 Eagle Talon TSI pictures by ofgofg - Photobucket


I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else.

MUCH MUCH better!

 

[AK Maniak]

Honestly, you guys are right. I found a much more reasonable one for still around 3 grand. Heres the photobucket. 1997 Eagle Talon TSI pictures by ofgofg - Photobucket


I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else.

That one is 10 times better

 

[twalters09]

yeah man the second is a lot better, whats the story on that one? good motor, turbo, and body? i hope your search ends up good for you man, i love to see someone else get into the dsm seen, best of luck, you will love it and hate it, but mostly love it, have fun, dont be afraid to get your hands dirty, your going to have to with a dsm, they are fun cars but dsm does stand for something...driver slash mechanic, , have at her man

 

[DashLaflash]

That one is so clean! Is it still AWD though, it just says TSI in the listing? I do love panda talons though and AWD is nice. Plus the 95 has an eprom ECU. Good luck with whatever you end up doing. The green one is very nice.

 

[viprez586]

That owner(green) is on the right path. Keeping things simple yet effective. Looks like he's rockin' a 1G BOV.

F the black riced out one.

 

[seattleshawn]

1 word..... RICED

 

[MidWestTalon]

The green talon has 120k miles 3" full exhaust, short shifter, blox boost control, 1g blow off valve and a new valve cover. He says it doesn't need anything and is ready to go. Hopefully he gets back to me soon Do you guys think 3k is a fair price?

 

[viprez586]

The green talon has 120k miles 3" full exhaust, short shifter, blox boost control, 1g blow off valve and a new valve cover. He says it doesn't need anything and is ready to go. Hopefully he gets back to me soon Do you guys think 3k is a fair price?

If it's AWD yes.
I paid a little under 3k for mine back in the day and it was in poor shape. I knew the potential...so did the seller.

 

[Derock2gspyder]

ya not worth $500 honestly needs way to much and makes me wonder why the head was off! sounds like youve realized theres much better out there but incase you havnt there so is!