Eagle Talon Tsi Is A Masterclass in Badge Engineering.

What's The Deal With DSM?

As the lore goes, in the late 70s Chrysler didn't really have small and economical cars in its portfolio which were in demand due to oil embargos. So Mistubishi stepped in who already had the groundwork laid and went in partnership with Chrysler who began importing cars from the Japanese giant. 

But Mitsubishi wanted to sell their cars via their own dealerships after some time and legal hurdles in the States prevented that. So an alliance between Mitsubishi Motors and Chrysler was forged AKA DSM or Diamond Star Motors. Their first lineup was a trio of badge-engineered cars known as Eagle Talon, and Mitsubishi Eclipse .

Eagle Talon TSi Sounds Cool, But Is It Tho?

The Eagle Talon Tsi is the boosted version and the one you should plan on buying if you are looking to have a real 90s-style party. The TSi is spread over two generations and comes with a 2.0 L Turbocharged engine with up to 195-210 hp mated to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic sending power to the front or all wheels.

Eagle Talon TSi 1990–1994

The first generation Eagle Talon Tsi was split into two parts. Initially powered by a 6-bolt 2.0 L 4G63 I4 Turbocharged four-cylinder which made 190 hp when paired with FWD and 195 hp when mated to an AWD. 

This generation was also known as “1GA” and came with pop-up headlights. The second was the “1GB” generation which got rid of all the coolness thanks to fixed headlights and a much more hated 7-bolt engine made from May 1992 onwards. A quick scroll through dsmtuners was all I needed to know why. 

The 7 bolt blocks do make better boat anchors, the 6 bolts make better engines

-turboglenn

So as it stands the 6-bolt blocks had more robust con rods and bigger ports while the 7-bolt engine had plenty of down-range torque and revvy nature thanks to smaller intake ports and lightweight crankshaft but lacked the durability of its predecessor.

Eagle Talon TSi 1995–1998

The second and final generation of Talon Tsi came with more than skin-deep changes. The front end was now double wishbone and a smaller Garrett Turbocharger was used that decreased the lag and could take up to 14 psi.

A cosmetic lift was introduced in 1997 for the Talon TSI which included a new spoiler, 17-inch wheels, and a new intercooler. The 2.0 L 4G63T turbo I4 now makes 205hp/220lb-ft when paired with an optional 4-speed automatic and 210hp/205lb-ft with the 5-speed manual. 

The 2G Talon was better distinguished than the comparable Eclipse thanks to Amber indicators and side skirts with 16V DOHC TURBO embossed. 

So Which One Should I Go For?

Over 100,000 Talons were made during its production run. The 1G Talon TSi are often considered true DSM cars with their pop-up lights and 6-bolt engines and are highly sought after due to their classic style and immensely tunable motor. They sell for around $12,000 on Cars and Bids.

The second-generation Talon Tsi has markedly more acceptable NVH levels and a bit more pronounced daily driveability. It also might be easier to source spares for a 2G Talon Tsi motor and the interior has held up nicely too, these sell for about $10,000.

Do note problems like “Crankwalk” are reported with 2G Talon TSi models. It happens when the crank bearing wears down making the crankshaft jump back and forth. Also, look for timing chain noises and any hint of blue smoke.

Image Source- Brochure