How often does your DSM break?

[1slowdsm]

My car breaks down more than I can afford, so I'm screwed. I have a list of parts that need to be fixed, so I wont be able to really drive the way I want to for a year or so...haha. In the 4 yrs I'ved owned the car I've had the alternator to out, p/s belt break, wheelbearing go out, tie-rod come loose (Mitsu's fault, but they made me pay for it), both control arms (one was bad, the other bent), 1 tranny, 2 clutches (only fried the stock one, then switched from 2100-2600 when tranny went out)....now my headgasket needs to be replaced soon, timing belt changed, water pump replaced, a brake caliper replaced (went through a pair in a month)...and oh yeah, my turbo is going out slowly, but surely...haha. Fun, Fun, Fun....

[At-Least-It's-An-Evo]

Mine is solid and never broken.

[Shane@DBPerformance]

Mine is solid and never broken.

Same here. The only time it is down, is when I upgrade.

[Onefast99gsx]

2 of my favorite threads from another board that i've had bookmarked forever.

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Looks like its a Honda for me I cant afford 2 unreliable cars. I dont have the room either for 2 cars that are up on jackstands at the same time. Stupid DSMs. I cant understand it. My DSM is the worst car I have ever owned, but it is my favorite. Must be something about them that keeps my interest and I know Im not alone or else this board wouldnt exist. The problem isnt even that fact that my car is always messed up, my gf has a 91 AWD and Im always fixing that too, and her friend has a 92 GSX and Im always fixing that. Everyone I know with a DSM hates their car for the reliability factor, but they still refuse to sell it cause the like it so much. WTF?????? And Im the same way!

#2

My gf and her friend, also a girl, never race, beat on, or launch their cars. Theyre both bone stock, one has 100K miles, the other 180K, and they are both equally unreliable. In fact the car with lower miles is worse. They are both automatics too which pretty much prevents any way to launch hard. So I dont think it has anything to do with how hard you drive because I beat on my car and it still will break just as much (ok maybe a little more often) as a stock car that is never beat on. When you put 3 rear ends, a center diff, 2 u joints, 1 front axle, a clutch, and endless other misc parts into a 13 second car there is a problem. Actually alot of that stuff broke when it was in the 14's. I could see if it was running 11s then I would expect it to break things left and right, but its not that fast. And the 2 other DSMs that are always in my garage getting fixed are both high 15 or even 16 second cars and they have just as many problems. I still love my DSM, I'm just saying that I think no matter how you drive it or how fast or slow it is they are not very practical for everyday cars, especially if you dont fix it yourself. I would never be able to afford this car if somone else was doing the work, forget it the car would be up to $20,000 by now if I had to pay someone labor everytime something went wrong. Who has that kind of money to throw at a 13 year old car? Its just not worth it.

[Tauni]

I own a 420a and mine still has issues.

[tpunx99GSX]

I own a 420a and mine still has issues.
But if you were to have an engine problem you could go to the Dodge Neon forums and they would be able to help you as well. LOL Just pickin on ya, :)

[1slowdsm]

My DSM is the worst car I have ever owned, but it is my favorite. Must be something about them that keeps my interest and I know Im not alone or else this board wouldnt exist.

I feel the same way about my car. Except now, I'm willing to sell my car to get a '90-'91 Talon Tsi AWD :D. I've spent more on what the car needs (maintenance), than what I want the car to have (performance parts)...haha. My parents hate the living crap out of my car....

[cudvig]

you know you own a DSM when you put more money into it than its worth.

-Colin

[Tauni]

But if you were to have an engine problem you could go to the Dodge Neon forums and they would be able to help you as well. LOL Just pickin on ya, :)


Sadly it's the truth. I guess I will be able to better reply to this thread next spring, when I will hopefully be getting a 1g TSi :D

[I'm just a little bit excited...]

[Halon]

I bought mine with problems to begin with, so that explains why it was down for awhile. After a new clutch, tranny, xfr case, head, and some piping issues, it was working fine. Then I tore it down to do a bunch of upgrades. Once they were done, the car has ran fine for a couple weeks. Well until a few days ago now because it won't freaking start now. So it's been reliable. This is the one of the few times it's been down because it broke on me. Otherwise it was already broke, or it was down for upgrades.