Fixer upper?

Im thinking about spending some cash (Under $500) to get either a talon or a eclipse, awd turbo, 1st gen.. It doesnt have to run, but cannot have repairs that are worth over $2,000. I already have a car, runs great, but I want something to work on, mod up a little bit in the process an so on. I got an open garage and all the tools to do so. What do you guys think, should I go for the next decent one I see in that price range?

I think the only reason to get a broken 1g is if you plan on making a race car. 2500 will get your 2g farther than buying a project.

I think the only reason to get a broken 1g is if you plan on making a race car. 2500 will get your 2g farther than buying a project.
heh guess i should update the sig. sold the 98 talon i "used" to have, now i got a '97 dodge stratus. Use that as a daily driver.

IMO if you're buying a 1G AWD turbo for under $500, you are generally looking at more then $2000 worth of repairs. You can find good decent milage 1G AWD turbo's for as little as $3000can, at least here in Toronto. I think it's better to buy a well maintained stock DSM and use funds to mod it, rather then try to make it run.

IMO if you're buying a 1G AWD turbo for under $500, you are generally looking at more then $2000 worth of repairs. You can find good decent milage 1G AWD turbo's for as little as $3000can, at least here in Toronto. I think it's better to buy a well maintained stock DSM and use funds to mod it, rather then try to make it run.

what the hell ever. that really depends on what you can do yourself. my car had most likley the worst of the stuff wrong with it.

and if your looking for one that is broken, you can do it yourself.

my 1992 AWD laser with a tosed timing belt costs:

$500 - car
$457 - rebuilt head ===> w/ 16 new valves, Victor head seat. paying for someone else to do it. i just wanted it done.
$57 - timing belt
$24 - Bshaft belt
$103 - Water pump
$24 - Timing belt cover gasket
$30 - oil and oil filter (x2 because i chaged it after 200 miles)
$30 - K&N filter
$9 - fuel filter
$3 - PCV valve
$9 - lots and lots of new vacume hoses. -peice of mind.
$50 B&G syncroshift and redline gear oil.
-------------------
$1296 + BS stuff like beer and a few tools i didn't have.

and if you wanna add it... $50 boost guage and $80 for a datalogger WITH the PDA included.


this is better because its more or less a new motor. it will not burn oil (less the turbo) for a loooong time and i know that it was built right.


if you cant do this stuff yourself you shouldn't even damn think about buying the car. JUST to have the T belt changed would have cost me over $700 at a shop. i thought that was crazy so i called around (a freind works there and told me thats what they would have charged) and damn sure enough, they are all about the same.

$700 for "JUST" a T-belt job, that's insane. Here's your quote for "JUST" a t-belt job.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/231602tbeltquote-med.JPG

Yes, usually you do more then a t-belt with this job depending on mileage, but this is "JUST" a T-belt job.

Don't get me wrong, you could buy a 1G AWD DSM for under $500 and fix her up under the hood for under $2500, but I was refering to the whole car in general (Body, Interior, etc...)

my car's inside and body was/is in perfect condision. hell even my tires are good. so unless you ment buying aftermarket parts as well as just getting it back on the road good... then i think you are mistaken. you just have to shop around a little and not just buy the first car you find.


and aparently everywere here wants to rip you off with work cost's on an import. i'll admit i was aparently wrong about the Tbelt cost.