Science Abuse Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 This is what I'm presented with: I also have a 96 talon daily driver that I am looking to get rid of. It is really a winter beater, non-turbo, front wheel driver hatch. Engine and manual trans out of a 97 with 65,000 miles. Car runs well, body has 197000 miles. Body looks rather good for that many miles, but not perfect. As something of a trade for the Cougar. I want a rally/winter car. I need it to run long and hard (thats how I like it, after all). What is there to worry about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 There is lots to worry about, if your going to go dsm, though, I would say a gsx, that way, you have a turbo, awd, and you can mix winter and rally at the same time. :nod: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 the NT ones really didn't have many problems, the turbo ones and people modding the shit out of them gave them a bad wrap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copperhead Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 From everything I've heard, the only really unreliable ones where the second gen turbo cars. The fix was dropping in a first gen turbo motor. That car should be just as reliable for rally racing as anything else, you'll only be breaking parts in rally's that you would be breaking racing whatever other FWD in a rally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 I agree with what BAM614 and copperhead said. The only other thing I would say is I remember what you were asking for the Cougar, and unless you've drastically dropped your expectations of what you want to get out of it, you're getting the bad end of the deal if it's a straight trade. I'd ask for some cash to go along with it or something else they might want to get rid of. I would expect that car to go for $2-3k in good condition; NADA and KBB agree with me. Edmunds thinks something more like 1.5k, but they are always lower, and the 'normal' amount of miles for this car is 89k according to them. IMHO these cars don't demand a lot because everyone wants the turbo/awd ones and there are a ton of them out there. I’d shoot for closer to $2k for a little bit of a deal ,because regardless of the newer tranny and engine, all of the normal wear items still have 200kmi on them. That’s half of what you were asking for the Cougar, food for though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bruh Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 dsm's are reliable untill you really get into performace and mod them. mine stock ran 100% perfect w.o any problem! but once you start doing this and that of course shit is going to break. 1/2dsm's out there are broke because ppl mod them! you can find a nice 1g awd for about 2k with 115-170k on body and motor. 2g's are around 3500-5500 for a nice one, just depends how good of a deal you get. and the have the 7bolt motor that is notorious for crankwalking, thats why the 1g (6bolt motor is an up-grade) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 420a's and 4G63's are not the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Apex Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 From what I've seen the 420a seems to be a competent motor that can take some abuse. A car is only as reliable as the the owner makes it, most people's dsm's become unreliable because they believe they can build them to 500hp for $500 and drive it all day and abuse them. Everyone seems to think you can build race cars out of them for uber cheap and it's just not the case. I've had 3 dsm's so far and all have been good cars to me and all have been moderately modified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotCarl Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Simply from what you described in your first post i'd stay away from this. ANY car that has a major overhaul (ie, engine swap even if it is the same type of engine) will be unreliable for daily use. Other than that the NT 420a motor's are fairly dependable if unmodded, it's only a neon powerplant. Regular maintenance should net you dependable results. And Mike C. was right, their completely differenent cars (4g63 / 420a). If your going rally racing, i'd suggest something simple, light, fwd to start off with. Drive a slow car quick etc... I've seen alot of civic's and integra's rally racing in Grassroots Motorsports Mag. oh and whoever said it was right, there's no way in hell this would be a fair straight up trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 you can find a nice 1g awd for about 2k with 115-170k on body and motor. 2g's are around 3500-5500 for a nice one, just depends how good of a deal you get. and the have the 7bolt motor that is notorious for crankwalking, thats why the 1g (6bolt motor is an up-grade) Just wanted to clarify so he isn't confused with my post that you are talking about turbo (maybe with AWD). He's looking at an n/a car, which is what I was commenting about price wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s13 Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Mine 1990 TSI has been very reliable to me. Except for the ecu randomly dieing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanczakb Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Crank Walk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Mine 1990 TSI has been very reliable to me. Except for the ecu randomly dieing. http://www.tmo.com/howto/ecu1g/caps.htm Do this ASAP. They will leak out and destroy the board, then you have to buy a whole new ECU. I had to buy a new TCU (tranny control unit) because of this. Check the continuity on the traces around where any caps leaked and very carefully clean up any crap that's leaked onto the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Crank Walk Don't talk about things that you don't know anything about. It will misinform, or at least temporarily confuse someone until they find out the reality of the situation. Thanks, bye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bruh Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 Just wanted to clarify so he isn't confused with my post that you are talking about turbo (maybe with AWD). He's looking at an n/a car, which is what I was commenting about price wise. yeah i though he was talkin about purchasing a turbo, now that i have re-read the post, i agree any car that the motor has been rebuilt or a new motor put in has been abused, and you never know what else can go wrong. But thoes 420a cars are very reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s13 Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 http://www.tmo.com/howto/ecu1g/caps.htm Do this ASAP. They will leak out and destroy the board, then you have to buy a whole new ECU. I had to buy a new TCU (tranny control unit) because of this. Check the continuity on the traces around where any caps leaked and very carefully clean up any crap that's leaked onto the board. Eh I already shelled out 200 bucks for a re-made one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwishiwascool Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 you can find a nice 1g awd for about 2k with 115-170k on body and motor. I just happen to have one of these (for sale soon)... 120k miles. Very reliable car. If I wasnt falling into the trap of mid-20s success branded materialism, I would keep it forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 78novaman Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 A friend of mine at work has a purple/maroon '98 Eagle Talon TSI. 4 banger N/A 5sp. no mods. 120,000 miles and the only problems are a rotted out radiator that I helped him replace and the sunroof leaks a bit. He gets 30mpg in the city too. I always ragged on them, but they're actually not a bad little cars. Just keep in mind it's going to eat half shafts all the time if you mod it a lot. I've been in advance and seen multiple people buying them for thier DSM's. He's thinking about selling it if you are interested PM me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttemper Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 A friend of mine at work has a purple/maroon '98 Eagle Talon TSI. 4 banger N/A 5sp. no mods. 120,000 miles and the only problems are a rotted out radiator that I helped him replace and the sunroof leaks a bit. He gets 30mpg in the city too. I always ragged on them, but they're actually not a bad little cars. Just keep in mind it's going to eat half shafts all the time if you mod it a lot. I've been in advance and seen multiple people buying them for thier DSM's. He's thinking about selling it if you are interested PM me. The TSI is the turbocharged version of the talon, not the N/A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 The TSI is the turbocharged version of the talon, not the N/A Thank you for correcting him in a constructive manner before I sounded like an asshole. The reason you see a lot of people buying axles from auto zone (or any other auto parts chain) is because they buy axles from auto zone. No, the axles aren't indestructible, just like any car, they will break at some point, and you can't expect to replace them with (poorly) rebuilt stock (if that) axles and have them last any amount of time. It comes back to the fact that people are cheap at modifying these cars and an axle from you cost <$100 instead of the $200ish it would cost to get one from Raxles that's stronger and will last. Having said that and coming back to the point of it being n/a, I don't see why he would have any issues, other than the normal wear and tear, with his axles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bruh Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Thank you for correcting him in a constructive manner before I sounded like an asshole. The reason you see a lot of people buying axles from auto zone (or any other auto parts chain) is because they buy axles from auto zone. yeah autozone is cheap, but oem is the way to go. i know my uncle bought a "Brand New" alternator from them and they didnt test it and it was bad. and his buddy went through 3 of them from autozone, all they said were "New in perfect condition" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbomark Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 double post... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbomark Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Although technically the 420a car's are dsm's I think of them as neons with dsm bodies, and should be treated as such. Similar reliability, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undr_psi Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 ya, and correct me if im wrong but the 420a is also found in the sebring and avenger..atleast the 4cyl models as well as the neon and N/A talon/eclipse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbomark Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 There is a lot of platform and pieces sharing between the sebring/avengers and 2g and 3g eclipses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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