Daily Driven DSM? Reliable? How?

Well I am in the market for a different car and I want to go with a 1G DSM. I live in minnesota and I have heard that they are good in the winter. I also want to use this for autoX

I was going to ask you though if anyone else here uses there GSX (doesn't matter if 1g or 2g) as a daily driver and they recomend it? I have heard both stories how they are crap and gold for daily drivers.

I have owned a GS and loved it and my brother wants to buy it. I am not too unfimilar with them and I am not afraid to do mechanical work to them.

If they are not reliable what are ways to make them reliable so that I don't have to fix it in the middle of winter.

Is there any links to what to look for when buying a DSM?

Thanks for your replies!!!!

Anything is reliable if you keep up with maintainence and take care of it, don't beat the piss out of it. Now if you're going to use it for AutoX and a DD then it will be alot less reliable, but its your choice. As to what to look for, just make sure it's in good condition. I'd do a compression test and just a very good visual inspection, and of course, a road test.

Also if your serious about auto-x then you should look at 2G they have a much better suspension system. Also I have a 2G GSX as a DD for over 3 years and havn't ever had any major problems untill I lost the motor in it about 3 weeks ago. Still havn't figured out why that happened.:dunno:

if you want reliability buy a Honda, if you want balls to the wall speed for a thrid of the price of a supra DSM is the way to go. BTW you dont live that far away from me

I've got 190,000 miles on my odometer :) Still runs like a dream!

my opinion, if you must go DSM, get a 2g. the 1g's tend to be alot less reliable than other gens. i can tell you from experience that the 1g's show a tendency for alot of problems once you hit high mileage, however lowerer mileage 1g's are great for boost and performance.

my opinion, if you must go DSM
You say it like it's a bad thing....
I drive my 95 gsx daily and i drove my talon (awd) daily till i blew a hg. Problems start to occure when you start doing heavier modiications. My talon was really reliable before all the stuff i put on it.

I agree with pr ricer, if you want something thats very good on gas and reliable go get a honda. I drove a honda and it had over 250k miles on it and it was the most reliable car i had so far. I replaced the battery and oil that was it. But once I get in the GSX everything changes. Speed, traction, style, everything. So its up to you really. But if you are short on cash get a honda since it will not eat as much money as the eclipse. Good luck.

I agree with pr ricer, if you want something thats very good on gas and reliable go get a honda. I drove a honda and it had over 250k miles on it and it was the most reliable car i had so far. I replaced the battery and oil that was it. But once I get in the GSX everything changes. Speed, traction, style, everything. So its up to you really. But if you are short on cash get a honda since it will not eat as much money as the eclipse. Good luck.
I had an 89 accord that started on fire...buy a turbo dsm.

You say it like it's a bad thing....
I drive my 95 gsx daily and i drove my talon (awd) daily till i blew a hg. Problems start to occure when you start doing heavier modiications. My talon was really reliable before all the stuff i put on it.

ya i agree, it's the mod's that kill them. i just don't like 1g's thats why i said that. you made a good point about the modding.

I say get toyota corolla, my big brother own one 94 , 400.XXX mile ( he alway travel ), he tray in and get 2004 celica ( he love toyota ).

I drive mine daily and love it. Only problems so far were alternator and battery. The only thing I don't like are the noises (belts when started up, sunroof creaking, bov ringing, hatch cover bouncing, center console creaking, etc).

I say get toyota corolla, my big brother own one 94 , 400.XXX mile ( he alway travel ), he tray in and get 2004 celica ( he love toyota ).
Yeah Toyotas and Lexuses are actually more reliable than Hondas according to Consumer Reports. I don't think too many people know about that.

The only thing I don't like are the noises (belts when started up, sunroof creaking, bov ringing, hatch cover bouncing, center console creaking, etc).


Quit bitching, your not hearing it the right way. That is actually your DSM singing to you.;)

Quit bitching, your not hearing it the right way. That is actually your DSM singing to you.;)
Lol, I've never thought of it that way. :) Next time I hear my bov ring I'll just think "Yeah, I love you too. And stop telling me you need you oil changed! I'll do it when I feel like it!"

Well, I think i did a compromise. I love the DSM all wheel drive format but my friends in the back seat (remember i drive a GS (or use too :( ) always hit their head on the window
I am surprised they fit, second I am surprised the window didn't shatter!

I love the Evo but too broke to find one so I am going to have to go older

I think I found a Galant VR4. I know they are not a DSM and bigger and heavier however I think it will work for a balance between comfort and speed (like the balance between the ying and the yang... or something like that)
I am going to look at it tomarrow to see how it drives. It does have it faults like the engine compartment is kind of dirty, it does have its spots of rust in the usuall spots in minnesota and missing the radio it needs a new tire and the drivers side head rest is missing and it runs kind of choppy because it has been sitting for quite some time and 150K for mileage well there is other stuff...
however given the right TLC i bet i can make it hall ass!!! and lots of ass with 3 people in back

I know i just talked about reliable and what I am going to do is be happy (yes it will be hard) with 200 hp (that still fast for a lot of cars) and fix it up comfortably and get some suspension equipment on there so it handles nicely...

Oh NO i am already falling in love with it and making plans, this is bad!


I should be pretty good at 200hp with stock and have it be reliable right? How people ruin their cars is that they overboost them all the time.

How are these cars on autox with the all wheel drive and all wheel steering?

Any other things i should think of when I look at this car?

O yeah pr_ricer where are you from?

I live in austin. I'm surprised you actually found a gvr4 in minnesota. IMO a gvr4 is apart of the dsm family. Good find and let us know whats going on. If you dont get it let me know becuase I would love one:wink:

Well, I think i did a compromise. I love the DSM all wheel drive format but my friends in the back seat (remember i drive a GS (or use too :( ) always hit their head on the window
I am surprised they fit, second I am surprised the window didn't shatter!

I love the Evo but too broke to find one so I am going to have to go older

I think I found a Galant VR4. I know they are not a DSM and bigger and heavier however I think it will work for a balance between comfort and speed (like the balance between the ying and the yang... or something like that)
I am going to look at it tomarrow to see how it drives. It does have it faults like the engine compartment is kind of dirty, it does have its spots of rust in the usuall spots in minnesota and missing the radio it needs a new tire and the drivers side head rest is missing and it runs kind of choppy because it has been sitting for quite some time and 150K for mileage well there is other stuff...
however given the right TLC i bet i can make it hall ass!!! and lots of ass with 3 people in back

I know i just talked about reliable and what I am going to do is be happy (yes it will be hard) with 200 hp (that still fast for a lot of cars) and fix it up comfortably and get some suspension equipment on there so it handles nicely...

Oh NO i am already falling in love with it and making plans, this is bad!


I should be pretty good at 200hp with stock and have it be reliable right? How people ruin their cars is that they overboost them all the time.

How are these cars on autox with the all wheel drive and all wheel steering?

Any other things i should think of when I look at this car?

O yeah pr_ricer where are you from?

How much you buying it for? If you decide not to get it let me know i love the gvr4's.

I live in austin. I'm surprised you actually found a gvr4 in minnesota. IMO a gvr4 is apart of the dsm family. Good find and let us know whats going on. If you dont get it let me know becuase I would love one:wink:


you live in austin? I live about an hour away from you. Do you post on any local texas boards?

I called first dibbs:P

you live in austin? I live about an hour away from you. Do you post on any local texas boards?
:lol: Austin Minnesota, aka spam(barf) town usa. Believe me I'm not proud of it. There are more illegals living in austin then there are legal residents

:lol: Austin Minnesota, aka spam(barf) town usa. Believe me I'm not proud of it. There are more illegals living in austin then there are legal residents

:iceslolan

Lol, I've never thought of it that way. :) Next time I hear my bov ring I'll just think "Yeah, I love you too. And stop telling me you need you oil changed! I'll do it when I feel like it!"

LOL !!!

Vr-4s are kinda DSMs. Much is the same.

IMO they're fun, and not reliable.

The front suspension on 1gs isn't as cool for auto-x as 2gs. I'm not sure how much difference AWS makes, but I'd guess not much. Most of the deal is driver not car anyway, which is why it's fun.

Well I looked at it again today and I keep forgetting how much salt hurts these old cars. It was from Duluth and It at first appears just to have a little surface rust but when you accually look underneith, behind the plastic, it is not so good. That and it needs some power steering work done to it, mostly do to the 4wd. The engine runs ruff probably because of some bad fuel. The back end started to vibrate also on the test drive. I don't know. I am torn because i know these cars are rare and it was fun to test drive... however is it worth it? The guy wants 3000 but I think I can talk him down. I am still thinking on it and if i don't want to buy it I'll let you guys know.

What do you guys think?
I really hate rust right now!

depends on how extensive to rust is. Either way its a pretty rare car

I think i am going to pass on it. I love the Gvr4 but I think i am going to hold out on one till I find a clean one. Perferably white as well with a moonroof with little problems. It will be worth the wait in the long run

I would love to own this one but I probably couldn't afford fixing it

Anyhow for the people that are interested I will post the link up

http://www.dsmstyle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9772

Good luck to whoever buys it!!!!!

damn that's a hot car. Wish i had 3k right now...

good, if you are concerned with reliability DO NOT BUY a DSM!!

i road my bike to work most of last summer.

my car gave me 0 problems until it was significantly modded...

DSM's arent bad cars untill you throw mods at them. Then you never know if you'll make it home or not.:lol: But I guess that is part of their charm.;) I know I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

My dsm has been as reliable as i could possibly hope. I've only had to replace the clutch, generator and control arm bushings.

Well...it does leak water from the conv. top and their is that annoying belt squeal...

good, if you are concerned with reliability DO NOT BUY a DSM!!

i road my bike to work most of last summer.


First i would like to point out that the galant isn't accually a DSM, shares a lot of the same components however. Second i just found a clean DSM for 2300 turbo and AWD. I wasn't consern with reliablity of the galant, it was the problems that this car had to begin with that i would have to deal with. Galants are known also to have more expensive parts compared to a DSM. Still would love to own a Gvr4 though.

any car you buy can be reliable it depends on how you drive it and how you maitain it . most people beat the shit out of there cars and go through 2 or 3 motors and then they say they arent reliable. yea they have bad spots but so does any car

Quit bitching, your not hearing it the right way. That is actually your DSM singing to you.;)
Exactly. Mine doesn't sing to me that much :frown: But I know she LOVES me!!! :naughty: :smokin:
I have a 1997 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD. I have 78324 miles on her and the only thing I have had done is replace the timing belt. I have her serviced regularly and she runs like a champ. She is my daily driver and she is also paid off. I have had her for almost 9 years. Make sure you have a mechanic check her out, Ya know, standard car buying procedures.
Good luck bud!! DSM RULES!!!:ylsuper:


John

Ok back to the origional question though. I didn't really want to start a debate on if they are reliable or not (because that is a never ending argument)

I wanted to know some tricks on making them more reliable.
There are obvious ones like changine oil
however a nice trick is blocking off the oil lines from the head and hooking them directily to the pump (or am I crazy and this can't be done?)

I am going to purchase a 90 Eclipse GSX and I have heard that they have the best oil coolers on them. (right?)

I would like to crank up the boost however what I want to do is make sure everything is strong before I start doing that? (trying to go the reverse order, strengthen then boost, instead of boost and then see what breaks)

So any suggestions to get the car stronger and last longer would help! Thanks for all the replys

well if you want it reliable. check it head to toe. and don't mod anything. don't up the boost. simple