3S or DSM?

Right now I own a 3S SL and was thinking of trading it in for a TSI, I know the TSI is faster even though it's rated less HP right? What do they run stock in the 1/4 mile? My 3S is high 14's, would it be a good trade?

Also one of my buddies here has a TSI and it sounds like it's got a 350 w/ straight pipe on it, it's sick, he's selling it and i might buy that too. I know what all the 3S people think, what do you guys think? And how's insurance on them? Thanks for any input.

I'd go for the TSI, and that's not biased it's just if I was to own a 3S it would be a VR4. Insurance... well I can't give you a quote because of all the variations but it's typically lower for a TSI than a lot of sports cars because it's a domestic, although it's the same base as the eclipse because it's also produced by a domestic company (Eagle) then you're getting an insurance discount.

Stock around 15.0 at sea level. high 13's/low 14's on stock turbo... 12's with under $2000 has been done.

i wish i had AWD.....-_-. But at least I can go from a roll. Gotta work with what I got. GSX or Tsi all the way man.

any GST/X or TSI would smoke a 3kGT SL

Wait, do all TSI's have AWD...if I buy a DSM it's gotta be AWD Turbo. I didn't know they ran high 13's that's cool. I'd have a good $2-3000 to put into it if I got one, and I don't ever have to pay labor so does that change anything pricewise?

Also, which would you rather have between a VR4 or TSI? Which is cheaper to make faster?

no there is a Talon TSi and a Talon TSi AWD , just like there is a GS-T and a GSX... GS-T and TSi are FWD like my car...

TSi allways cheaper to make faster ,compared to most cars...

i dunno ... the 3s is aiight but i would seriously consider going with fwd and awd dsm. the 3s is so expensive to work on as well. dsm are alot more affordable.

TSi allways cheaper to make faster ,compared to most cars...

TSi AWD is your best bet for cheapest, fastest. A 1g TSi AWD will get you into the 12s on a minimal budget. If you're looking at 3kgt's though, you obviously care about looks too--in which case, a 2g TSi AWD or GSX will do the trick.

And SLs can be made quite fast--but not on a DSM budget ;). It is possible to run 12s in a 2g with under $2000 in mods, doing the work yourself.

Yeah looks are important, but i've been buying cars like every couple months for the past year so i'm looking for something I can get into the 12's with quick. And once I experience that I can go back to just caring about looks. The only thing i'd hate about goin from 3S to DSM is that there's so many more DSM's on the road than 3S's. I see an Eclipse or Talon everyday, not just one, like 10 per day. So it's just like, there's another Eclipse big deal. There's a couple that look good and stand out, but there's even getting to be too many w/ body kits and what not. The 3S I see like twice a week if that. What do you guys think about that? (i've wondered)

And btw I keep saying DSM, what's that mean? all i know is that people say that instead of eclipse or talon, whats it stand for?

"Diamond Star Motors"

There's an explanation in the FAQ sticky at the top of the main page.

a 3000GT is a DSM too, so is a Dodge avenger

umm ,in my opinion there not ...to me they are VR4's....not dsm

a 3000GT is a DSM too, so is a Dodge avenger

The 3000GT is NOT a DSM. As to the Avenger - I don't know, but the 3000 and Stealth are not part of the DSM agreement between Mitsubishi and Dodge.

damn yogs, beat me to it.

if you want to go fast for cheap, i would get an AWN DSM over an SL any day. the DSM platform has had so many people modding with them for so long that they have good prooven upgrades that can net you a reliable fast car. a a 3kgt vr-4 should be able to get into the 12's for less than $100 though and still be very reliable. they also do look better imho and are rarer (sp?). also as has been said, a 3000 GT will allways be more expensive to fix, that is just the way it goes. SL's can be made real fast too with a turbo converted engine but it is allways noce to have an AWD car of either platform if it is a daily driver and you live in an area where it snows in the winter.

i would say, if you care more about looks, stay with the SL. if you care more about performance, go with a DSM.