Do you think this car is worth buying? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

merkerguitars · 09-24-2005, 07:29 PM

So one of my friends is having a kid and all that fun stuff and has to sell some cars he has laying about his parents house, he has a 1991 eclipse gs turbo with a blown engine for $400, its fully loaded and the body is in damn good shape (other than a scuff on the bumper you can see in the pics). I figure I can get an engine and do the swap in a day and my roomate could have a good quick car, its an actually DSM car (no its not awd) but i heard good things about these and that they can be made to be pretty fast.

texxasco · 09-24-2005, 09:16 PM

I'd say jump on it........... I paid more than that for my last set of tires, so if you can get the Eclipse for $400 jump on it. That's the kind of deal I am always looking for. If it were me, I'd put a motor in it, and sell it for a sweet profit.

TM875 · 09-24-2005, 11:38 PM

Yeah, for $400, you really can't go wrong. If anything, the scrap on that car will turn you a profit. Buy the thing.

RGHoskins26 · 09-25-2005, 02:27 PM

It's a pretty good deal, as engines are plentiful. It's not a "spectacular" deal, because let's face it, even fixed, the car isn't worth much. They can be made very fast, but aren't known for their reliability. You make the call.....hell, if you can fix it in a day, and help out a buddy, go for it. btw, make sure you replace the engine with a 6 bolt engine.

absorbentishe · 09-25-2005, 05:34 PM

I'd be down for that. A decent car, fixed up, you can then sell it, or drive it. I always liked those cars.

tec-9-7 · 09-25-2005, 05:57 PM

Well, it's somewhat handicapped because it's only a FWD model, but for $400? Sure, why not - for another $1500 and a good bit of 'sweat-equity' you could have a decently fast little car - tho I suspect you'll quickly get the AWD bug...

waltert · 09-25-2005, 08:49 PM

just keep your foot out of the clutch. I've heard the cars are Thrust bearing eaters.

what happened to the engine? (looks like it may have dropped a valve, or lost the timing belt, or someone put it on wrong)

I'd suggest rebuilding the engine its got in it (if salvageable), see if they've got any solutions for the thrust bearing problem (perhaps a dry film lubricant coating).

it looks to be in decent shape for a car its age, and if I had an extra few thousand to blow on the car, I'd go for it.

BadNick · 09-26-2005, 09:30 AM

I would look into what it would cost to get another good condition 4G63 turbo motor for it and then decide. I have no idea what that would cost, but the swap would be quite easy even for an amateur mechanic.

I have a soft spot for those since I had a '90 GS-T from new and when I got rid of it at 160k+ miles, the good ole DSM was still running strong. At 58k miles it did snap the timing belt which bent a couple of valves; but since I got the 60k mile extended warranty when I bought the car (usually I don't go for it but it was early in the manufacturing run of these cars and with the turbo I figured I'd take it) the dealer fixed it for free. Other than that, mine ran like a fine watch until I sold it.

tenmile · 09-27-2005, 11:49 PM

It is a GS, so it's the NA model- as BadNick said, look for the 4G63 motor as a swap; it's all bolt in. Make sure you get the ECU. Also- do a search on "CrankWalk" before you get too crazy to see what you're getting into. www.dsmtalk.com and www.dsmtrader.com are your friends!

mastertakana · 09-28-2005, 11:18 AM

the body is in nice shape. if you think you can fix 'er up for less than 1500, its a great deal. NICE FIND!!!

Craven Morehead · 09-28-2005, 01:42 PM

How long has is been sitting unused? Dry rot on any rubber part?

RGHoskins26 · 10-01-2005, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenmile

It is a GS, so it's the NA model- as BadNick said, look for the 4G63 motor as a swap; it's all bolt in. Make sure you get the ECU. Also- do a search on "CrankWalk" before you get too crazy to see what you're getting into. www.dsmtalk.com and www.dsmtrader.com are your friends!

crankwalk was only in the 2nd gen DSM's. They had a weaker 4 bolt block....

Frowning Budah · 10-10-2005, 07:15 PM

I don't know what they go for there, but around here you can get the Turbo model for $1500. I just donated my Talon TSI to the mission and took only took a $1300 deduction on it.

Scorps · 10-12-2005, 11:42 AM

For 400 dollars I would take it...plus you do a lot of work yourself so that brings the price on a new motor down!

09-24-2005, 07:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	Do you think this car is worth buying? So one of my friends is having a kid and all that fun stuff and has to sell some cars he has laying about his parents house, he has a 1991 eclipse gs turbo with a blown engine for $400, its fully loaded and the body is in damn good shape (other than a scuff on the bumper you can see in the pics). I figure I can get an engine and do the swap in a day and my roomate could have a good quick car, its an actually DSM car (no its not awd) but i heard good things about these and that they can be made to be pretty fast. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

09-24-2005, 09:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
texxasco Insane Location: Somewhere in East Texas	I'd say jump on it........... I paid more than that for my last set of tires, so if you can get the Eclipse for $400 jump on it. That's the kind of deal I am always looking for. If it were me, I'd put a motor in it, and sell it for a sweet profit. __________________ ...A Bad Day of Fishing is Better Than a Great Day at Work!

09-24-2005, 11:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
TM875 Addict Location: Amish-land, PA	Yeah, for $400, you really can't go wrong. If anything, the scrap on that car will turn you a profit. Buy the thing. __________________ "I've made only one mistake in my life. But I made it over and over and over. That was saying 'yes' when I meant 'no'. Forgive me."

09-28-2005, 11:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
mastertakana Crazy	the body is in nice shape. if you think you can fix 'er up for less than 1500, its a great deal. NICE FIND!!! __________________ All I know the time it is gettin dread Need alot of trees up in my head

09-25-2005, 02:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
RGHoskins26 Upright Location: Simpsonville SC	It's a pretty good deal, as engines are plentiful. It's not a "spectacular" deal, because let's face it, even fixed, the car isn't worth much. They can be made very fast, but aren't known for their reliability. You make the call.....hell, if you can fix it in a day, and help out a buddy, go for it. btw, make sure you replace the engine with a 6 bolt engine.

09-25-2005, 05:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
absorbentishe Boy am I horny today Location: T O L E D O, Toledo!!	I'd be down for that. A decent car, fixed up, you can then sell it, or drive it. I always liked those cars.

09-25-2005, 05:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
tec-9-7 Insane Location: Rainy Washington	Well, it's somewhat handicapped because it's only a FWD model, but for $400? Sure, why not - for another $1500 and a good bit of 'sweat-equity' you could have a decently fast little car - tho I suspect you'll quickly get the AWD bug...

09-25-2005, 08:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
waltert Insane	just keep your foot out of the clutch. I've heard the cars are Thrust bearing eaters. what happened to the engine? (looks like it may have dropped a valve, or lost the timing belt, or someone put it on wrong) I'd suggest rebuilding the engine its got in it (if salvageable), see if they've got any solutions for the thrust bearing problem (perhaps a dry film lubricant coating). it looks to be in decent shape for a car its age, and if I had an extra few thousand to blow on the car, I'd go for it.

09-26-2005, 09:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	I would look into what it would cost to get another good condition 4G63 turbo motor for it and then decide. I have no idea what that would cost, but the swap would be quite easy even for an amateur mechanic. I have a soft spot for those since I had a '90 GS-T from new and when I got rid of it at 160k+ miles, the good ole DSM was still running strong. At 58k miles it did snap the timing belt which bent a couple of valves; but since I got the 60k mile extended warranty when I bought the car (usually I don't go for it but it was early in the manufacturing run of these cars and with the turbo I figured I'd take it) the dealer fixed it for free. Other than that, mine ran like a fine watch until I sold it.

09-27-2005, 11:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
tenmile Upright	It is a GS, so it's the NA model- as BadNick said, look for the 4G63 motor as a swap; it's all bolt in. Make sure you get the ECU. Also- do a search on "CrankWalk" before you get too crazy to see what you're getting into. www.dsmtalk.com and www.dsmtrader.com are your friends!

09-28-2005, 01:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Craven Morehead Custom User Title	How long has is been sitting unused? Dry rot on any rubber part?

10-10-2005, 07:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Frowning Budah Slave of Fear	I don't know what they go for there, but around here you can get the Turbo model for $1500. I just donated my Talon TSI to the mission and took only took a $1300 deduction on it.

10-12-2005, 11:42 AM	#14 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	For 400 dollars I would take it...plus you do a lot of work yourself so that brings the price on a new motor down!