Hey everyone, I just found out that I can get a car when I turn 17. I'm only 16 at the moment in case you didn't know. Anyway, I'm considering buying a 95-99 Eclipse GST or GSX, but I have a few questions. How are they reliability wise assuming all routine maintenance is done? Which one would you choose if you were going to buy one? GST or GSX and why? If I was going to mod it, what would be the best first mods? Thank you for your time,

Bryan

 

it could go either way , i owned a 1990 GSX. it was ok, but i blew the headgasket twice. my father had a 95 GSX, he didnt drive it like an *** and it held up pretty decent. i would say buy a 95+ GSX get an intake, MBC and full exhaust

 

bingo and possibly a turbo upgrade

 

Alright. I really don't know too much about turbos or anything but I guess I could learn. Is this bad? should I start n/a instead? I really want to get familiar with turbo engines and stuff because I plan on getting an EVO after college. Thanks again,

Bryan

 

Dont get a DSM used if you dont have the time and money. Start on a honda or something. It might sound a little gross but look into engine swaps or already swapped cars. There are abundant parts for the DSM but I guarantee you, everyone will know about parts from exterior to interior with a honda.

My sug:

93'-98 HB civic with B20 or my fav....H22A slap on a turbo etc more reliable than any DSM. Just you'll look like everyone else on the street....

or if you want to dish out some cash...SRT-4...

 

What about an Integra GSR or something? Just have to watch out for thieves... I was kinda wanting something faster, but since you guys have experience I'll take your word for it.

 

2 of my friends have GSXs ..a 95 with 38k miles and a 98 with 69k miles and even with modding it has been reliable so far..if you dont know much of the DSMs do not get one..they do have a lot of maintance and it is a lot of work..+1 on the honda

 

And good luck finding a DSM that hasn't been beaten to death! By the way, if you go DSM, don't waste time on the GS-T. You'll just end up wishing you got the GSX sooner or later.

 

i had a 99 gsx. once u start modding obviously the motor will make tons of power

but everything else will break down. stock tranny will grind all day, oil leaks

everywhere. like others have said, if u do not have time and money dont bother.

especially when the latest one would be alrdy 7 years old and being this would

be your first car, it would be your first manual car. i'll start with either a honda or

a volkswagen. easiest cars to drive.

 

All first- and second-generation DSMs at this point will tend to be more work. If you're looking for a reliable car that can be modded pretty easily without much maintenance, go with the Honda. If you're looking to learn about cars and how to work on them, the DSM will give you plenty of opportunities. More work, but there are a lot of options for parts these days.

Between GST and GSX, my vote would be the GSX if you can find one. After a certain horsepower level, most of the power you make with the GST will go toward spinning wheels and burning tires. The GSX with a turbo upgrade will do far better. (I had a 95 GS-T with an 18G turbo...I spent a LOT of money on tires.)

First mods, regardless of drivetrain, should be a boost gauge, boost controller, and Greddy Type-S valve. The stock valve leaks at 11-12 psi, so replacing it is instant power. Round two would be an intake, exhaust, and upper intercooler piping (the stock piping SUCKS--it necks down behind the air box so bad that it's amazing any air gets through it). After that you're looking at a new turbo. The stock T-25 is extremely weak...a couple of basic mods and it's out of breath. It also heats the intake air a LOT, so a front-mount intercooler should be pretty early on, even on the stock turbo. Maybe just after round 2. The 1G stock turbo was much better.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it. I think I might just go with a Honda or something of that nature to help me get more familiar with cars and stuff until I get out of college.

Bryan

 

Ive owned both GST and GSX, unless you have time and money as others have said in previuos post dont get one. The reason being is because they will break. Not usually major stuff but enough to make a dent in the pocket. +1 for he honda, because you may look like everyone else but when you go WOT you will not have to worry about if it is going to break.

 

if i were in yours shoes i would go with a volkswagen gti vr6 or a 1.8t but the 1.8t have a lot of problems but they are a hell of a lot easier to mod and cheaper. after you got the gti all you would need is tint and some nice rims and then your riding vip

 

i had a mk3 gti vr6 and mk4 gti 1.8t, the vr6 was pretty reliable and still decent power. although the 1.8t makes good power with simple mods, its always throwing check engine lights, they're really finicky. My friend with his stock 1.8t passat is always having some issue with his engine as well as my cousin in his 02 gti 1.8t.

 

yeah my buddy has a 1.8t passat and its always broken and on the other hand my cousin has a supercharged vr6 (well had he totalled it) and it never had a problem