Buying a 97 GSX, Need Suggestions (w00t)

Yeah my RS was good and all, but I just need that b00st. :D So just yesterday I was thinking, it would probably be better if I just buy a GSX vs. upgrading engine + installing a turbo kit. But then thats nothing to say for all power, 4 wheel disc brakes, ABS, leather, etc. etc.

So anyways I spotted this one that I think looks interesting. But I don't have any experience with turbo setups, so just want to make sure I cover everything.

Well here's some things about the car and you guys can see what maybe I should look out for and if it's a good deal.

97 Greyish Tan GSX
18" wheels (not bad looking) w/ stock suspenion
tinted windows
aftermarket alarm w/ keyless entry
full 3" catback exhaust
intake
Greddy BOV
turbo timer
stock fuel system
had a boost gauge, didn't like cause it wouldn't hold boost where he wanted he said, so dunno about this
says that it will boost to 15psi or so at max
stock t25 turbo
stock intercooler
Eclipse deck
and I believe aftermarket speakers, not 100%, said he will take out the subs, leave the rest, so I think thats what he's referring too
paint in fairly good shape
custom silver/greyish painted interior parts, said was done at a body shop
114k miles, said had all belts replaced and compression check done, everything in good shape @ 100k miles
stock clutch from what he knows unless it was replaced before him, but claims in good shape
bought it from a lady that didn't know much about cars @ 90k, so he hasn't had it too long
he's selling because he bought a Evo
all friends too poor to buy his car, so up for sale it goes

under $9k OBO

bluebook for excellent is $7900, good $7100

of course must I see sell for $10k all the way up to $15k with some mods, but of course with lower milage around 70k

Well anyway thats pretty much all I know. Planning on seeing the car in person on Sunday, and it's a 147 mile trip too. :D So it better be worth it hehe.

LMK what you guys think.

And also what I can get to upgrade the engine to produce say at least 300hp. He's claiming it doing 230hp roughly right now. I guess what I'm saying is what I'd want to replace with this type of milage and get it ready for a bigger turbo like a 20g.

Considering what milage Kevin has, all you need to do is make sure it's in good running condition. If it's been through all maintenence, there's nothing really to replace to prepare for 300hp. The main things are good compression, no boost leaks.. and relatively clean/new plugs, filter, oil, fluids.. etc. just the basics.

I never am good at saying if something's a good deal, because I paid a shitload more than 9k for my talon, stock. It sounds like a great deal to me. Find out how long the mods have been on just to see if the exhaust may be corroding and such.

Good luck on your trip. 300hp is a 16g away. 16g, injectors, pump, safc, logger, install kit.. and call it a day.

I would say dont pay more than 8500. You should be able to go down to 8300ish depending on the situation.

i'd have to say no.. bad deal. i bought my 96 gsx in febuary with 112k, i got it for $3500.Trust me, you can find better.

i'd have to say no.. bad deal. i bought my 96 gsx in febuary with 112k, i got it for $3500.Trust me, you can find better.

WOW! where the hell did you find that?

i sell cars for a living. i run by sweet deals all the time. could have boutght a 94 1jz vvi for $7900. but im poor, and the parts are reallllly expensive

i'd have to say no.. bad deal. i bought my 96 gsx in febuary with 112k, i got it for $3500.Trust me, you can find better.

For what I listed, what would you say is a good price? I mean realistically. Sure there can be a 95-96 stock GSX in poor condition for $4k give or take. But what I listed wasn't exactly that. Not saying that yours is like that, but I'm looking for realistic figures, not ones that come in once in a blue moon or whatever. If say I can get this car for $8k that be not a "bad deal" then?

The GSX you got for $3.5k, can you post some specs on it. What condition, what mods if any, etc. etc. kinda like I did. Maybe compare a little.

Or let me ask you guys this, which out of these would be the better deal then... (just gonna copy and paste some info)

1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GST, 88k, 17" whls, Toyo proxy tires w/1200 mi on them, Infinity snd sys. $10500 firm

1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX, turbo, awd, prem sound, lthr, 17" alloys, 1 owner, red, 280hp, 5 spd, Center Force clutch, 68K. $11,500

GSX All wheel drive, factory turbo. Asking $15K /OBO. Please excuse the wheels and tires. I'm working on getting a new set. Engine replaced @ 52K '99 yr

The one in the center looks appealing, but then it's almost $2k more than the one I listed. Of course it has 68k milage, so I dunno.

Yours guys take on this?

Wasn't the centerforce clutch bad for DSM's. Or am I thinking of some other clutch. What other mods does he have to get him to 280hp.
But I think the center one looks good also.

i think its reasionable to assume that those people are dreaming for what they want for their cars. if you get a clean gsx 95-97 with no aftermarket items you can pick them up for 4-7k. those people (us) who put aftermarket performance parts on cars, drive them hard, and think their worth what we put in them, dont understand depreication. (just my opinion) Somthing is only worth what people are willing to buy them for. if you want a gsx right now, go ahead and buy one for a highly inflated price. or be patient call some dealerships, go on the internet. Ebay actually has some good prices online, get a carfax, and have a local mitsu dealer in that area do a used car inspection for $75, and they'll give you 120 point list of what needs to be done now, and what needs to be done in the furure. one thing you can know for sure is that a mitsu dealership will find ANYTHING imeditly wrong with it. and tell you if it has been driven hard. and agian this is my opinion, shop around. dont buy somthing with aftermarket parts (im going to get flamed) you dont know what knuckel head put it together in their garage. put them on yourself. be a true dsm'er, half the fun of owning a gsx is fixing it "when" it breaks (not if)

I would say go for a car with least of miles and then from there build the car yourself. There is just something about having a car with low miles. Some people also take pride on builiding the car themselves..... my :2cents:

Yeah it would be nice to get a GSX for like 4 grand, but some places like HERE, a 97 TSI is worth 12 grand, stock.

It's now mine.

:lol:




Be proud, Joewagon, a Talon is a magnificent vehicle!

Thanks for the tips so far guys. And I actually was able last evening to go out and test drive this car:

1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX, turbo, awd, prem sound, lthr, 17" alloys, 1 owner, red, 280hp, 5 spd, Center Force clutch, 68K. $11,500

I gotta say it was very clean inside, 1 small rock dent on right side of car, paint in good shape. But the best part was the turbo! Wow that was my first time driving one and OMG I only got 2 hours of sleep tonight because of that! :D

It's the first owner, 60 year old guy, seems to of taken care of it. All stock except for ingen intake, greddy upper ic piping, greddy bov, I believe a greddy 2.5" catback (surpisingly quiet exhaust system).

However the engine is a bit dirty and the head is dirty with oil. Is that a leak? I mean it's not like it's spilling out, just seems to be slowly slipping from the gasket. Not really sure what that means. But I would like him to take it to get tested out, would the seller pay most times or the buyer...? Not really sure how that works too, I mean if I pay say $75 and then don't buy the car, I'm out $75 bucks...

Anyway I can't wait til Sunday when I get a chance to check out that other GSX w/ 114k milage. In the meantime I'll be test driving any other GST GSX in my area. :D

I mean if I pay say $75 and then don't buy the car, I'm out $75 bucks...

Don't think of it that way. :p Lets say you bought the car and then you find out that something is wrong and well that is probally going to cost you more than $75 to fix. So IMO whocares do it, $75 is nothing when your spending thousands on a car :smile:

Pep boys does it for $30, comprehensive inspection and fluid check, including testing power equipment, etc. You would be the one to pay for it, but better $30 than $2000 when you realize the engine has no oil after you buy it. The car probably has a valve cover gasket leak--very common for our cars, and as long as it isn't losing enough oil to make the oil level drop too low, it isn't a major problem.

Do you mean the head or the valve cover....If it's the valve cover gasket leaking that's no big deal. I think everyone I know has had that replaced on the eclipse (at least once). It's a cheap, easy fix. You may want to find out if/when the timing belt was done. That is about $750 (if done with the balancer belt, accessory belt, tensioner and water pump). If it's the head gasket....that's expensive, unless you can do it yourself. Hope everything works out!!