Looking to buy DSM pros/cons?

**Slinky** · September 5th, 2006, 08:51 PM

Hello, I currently have a '03 Focus ZX3. My friend has a '91 3KGT vr-4 and it's a great car (lots of repairs though :P). I would like to hear what everyone's opinions are on Talon TSi/Eclipse GST (AWD/GSX preferrable). It's hard to find a good stock one that hasn't been played around with much.

Pros/Cons of these cars?
Common problems around 150k+?
Anything out of the ordinary?

Obviously i'm going to get biased responses coming here, but everyone here obviously knows the most about their cars. This looks like a awesome community in this area and i'd love to get involved.
If i'm missing anything feel free to post here or message me on AIM.

Thanks!
Will

**TSimage** · September 5th, 2006, 08:56 PM

Word of advice... Don't do it

But seriously, If I could do it over again Id buy a shell and have my own engine put in. Thats basically what has/is gradually happeneing to me right now. Before I know it, the only thing let of the car will be the shell which leads me to believe I could have done it, bigger, better, faster and cheaper if I would have gone that route... But that is just me.

**whiteautogsx** · September 5th, 2006, 10:02 PM

problems ive encountered: bad air-con (when car was purchased with 100k miles), bad o2 sensor, bad idle air sensor (those arent cheap), bad cat converter, leaked oil from cam and main seals, driver side automatic door lock failed, alternator and starter have failed (and the crappy replacements from kragen), replacement spark plugs from kragen ARE WRONG, and i really could use some new battery cables.

i still loves dsms though. i have a 95 auto gsx and im at 200k miles and counting...

oh yea, and i've NEVER had a problem with my automatic tranny. :D

**EclipseParadise** · September 6th, 2006, 01:05 AM

my car is at 110k miles right now, and i havent had any problems aside from replacing the thermostat and randomly one of my door handles ripped off one day...easy fixes. no probs with the manual tranny ever.

parts are usually really easy to find for these cars. there is a lot of aftermarket support for them as well.

if you're going manual, the first thing i would do is put in symborski's shifter bushings (check out machv.com), they're cheap, its a simple install, and it makes a world of difference.

**my3awds** · September 6th, 2006, 07:20 AM

If you don't like to wrench on cars or have no plans of using a DSM as a learning experience, then get the N/A models. They don't take much to maintaine even if they were driven hard since they are basically econo cars. But going into the turbo world (with ANY force-enduced car) requires alot of care and attention just at stock levels. People fail to see this and mash on the thing as if it was an N/A. Nope, can't do that. That's why almost any turbo car gets a bad wrap under relyability, due to lack of care and attention. You can't give the same attention you give an N/A and expect the same results. You have to literally go out of your way, above and beyond whats expected sometimes, to ensure that your turbo'd ride will satisfy you as a daily driver. Again, we're just talking about stock levels. So if you don't have the time or money to invest in the turbo world, I'd say stay away until you can get a second car or have the time to learn first what it takes.

Manny

**Shane916** · September 6th, 2006, 09:31 AM

I find getting pulled over by law enforcement was more annoying then the repairs for the cars. one of the many Citrus Heights officers who pulled me over told me "These Eclipse's will get you in a lot of trouble they're like magnets to cops" :D Only problems I had with mine was thermostat, boost leaks, door handle being ripped off, oil leak, SRS light.. CEL light.O2 sensor, bad harmonic balancer.. luckily I had help from several very knowledgable and nice people here on the board. if you have the time and money for maintenance then i'd say go for it. yet if you need something as a daily driver id stay far far away :D

**GSXTC** · September 6th, 2006, 10:53 AM

THEY ARE THE DEVIL!!! :twisted:

Yeah...They're great as long as you

A) Dont completly beat the crap out of it
B) Do routine maintence
C) Dont feel the urge to kill when you can't figure out what's wrong with it
D) Have a GF that will drive you around when you are "just waiting for xxx part"

**Shane916** · September 6th, 2006, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by GSXTC

C) Dont feel the urge to kill when you can't figure out what's wrong with it

That's perfectly normal.... As long as you don't successfully complete the urge to murder... then you're ok :D

**EuroEclipse** · September 6th, 2006, 01:45 PM

Pro's:
fast for a little amount of money compared to other types of cars in the same class or even a class above.
look good, girls dig them.
lots of aftermarket support and lots of good vendors and knowledgable people in the DSM community

Con's:
hard to find a good one that hasn't been romped on/hacked apart
most likely will break on you because it's been mistreated
cheap asses that buy them and "work" on them

**98spydert** · September 6th, 2006, 02:34 PM

As long as routine maintence is followed religiously, I think there are few REAL problems with DSMs, but many problems with the owners. Some noted problems that many have: The idle control circuit is finiky, the 2G door handles break, The front o2 sensor doesn't last much past 50-60k but isn't hard or too expensive to replace, the exhaust studs and turbo-manifold bolts break like crazy when removing them, crankwalk is random and unavoidable but unlikely if you've got a higher milage car. It seems to happen before ~50k miles or to poor rebuilds. And that's not even always true, someone will chime in with a 110k mile car that crank walked :shrugs:

The main problems are as everyone else noted. Maintence or simple repairs that are skipped lead to hell. People that don't know what they're doing with "upgrades" kill DSMs or leave you with the biggest head ache at all.

Honestly, if you get a high milage DSM and want a reliable car, spend a little cash on it and it'll be great. Start from the ground up and replace the most likely blown struts and worn brakes if they haven't already been replaced. Upgrade them if you can, but get stock parts before cheaping out on "upgrades". Good tires and an alignment count for a lot too. Next, do the major engine maintence that there are no recent records for. The full timing belt kit (not just the belt)is a biggy on DSMs, any oil leaks NEED to be fixed, filters fluids and acc belts and all that basic stuff, exhaut leaks, INTAKE TRACK LEAKS (<--- biggy that leads to lots of other annoying issues), good plugs and wires, etc.

While you can take a neglected Honda and run it to 200k miles, the same doesn't hold true for DSMs. They needs some attention but not an unreasonable amount IMO. Good luck with your decision.p-[

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