daily driven Syclone = money pit?

[oneway]

I am considering buying a lower mileage "stockish" Syclone or Typhoon to use as my daily driver/work vehicle and wanted to ask those of you that drive them often how reliable they have been and how much maintance they have required to keep running 100% on a daily basis.

My driving tends to be "spirited" and my drive to work round trip is 64 miles mostly highway in south Texas.





Also,
You guys got any tips you can provide on what I should look for and ask about as far possible positive or negative repairs and upgrades done to the truck when I go check one out? (yes, I read the buyers guide FAQ at www.syty.org)


Thanks,

 

[TLDTy]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

Yes, they are money pitts, for reliability buy a honda!!!!!!

 

[Driven_out]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

could probably get one, pull the engine thats worth money out and drop in a normal 4.3 for normal use, or just get an everyday Sonoma and do a look alike

 

[Flyin Ryan]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

I daily drove my sy for two years without any problems when it was stock minus a chip, afpr, fuel pump, 3inch catback, gutted cat, boost raised to 17psi and never had a problem... I didn't boost launch at every street light or anything.. in fact only boost launched during races

I'd say for a daily driver i'd suggest something else unless you want to be able to out pass/weave others with ease

 

[Mtn Z]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

As long as you aren't boost launching it everywhere, it will be fine. I drive mine pretty consistently and other than little nags like old seals in the front diff and worn out bushings etc(keep in mind it is 16 years old now) it hasn't given me any problems. You just have to drive it like a daily, not a race car.

 

[kwadep21]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

I used my 93 Typhoon (stock) as a DD for 8 months and it never let me down once. The only reason I am considering selling it is that I needed a larger SUV. I live in Houston, TX and the Typhoon is for sale. Below is the link for it.

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=44118&page=1&pp=15

 

[gkrcr882]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

My dads friend daily drove his Syclone since it was new in 1991 up until about '04 when the motor blew. He frequently went from Sheboygan to Chicago (about 150 miles) and would routinely get over 100 during the trips. Truck has over 250K on it (we believe it to have a little over 300K since the odometer is busted) and it only went after his wastegate control took a dump. Can you daily drive them? Yes. is it reccomended for a limited production supertruck? Not especially.

 

[GM TURBO]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

Mine served as a reliable daily for awhile. Then I found this site which encourages mods.

Not the best daily - not the worst.

 

[MrNurse]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

where at in south texas? i am between houston and galveston. anyways, i drive my sy everyday and with the exception that it is 16 years old and things do wear out, it has not been a problem for me at all, even with its questionable service history.

 

[the baPhoon]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

My ty, as of late, has become more reliable then my 2000 xtreme. The ty gets better gas milage and *sigh* it starts right up without any trouble... god damn late model S-10.

 

[oneway]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

Yes, they are money pitts, for reliability buy a honda!!!!!!

maybe I should explain my interest in the Syclone in paticular
I'm not looking for just "anything" that will be reliable .I already have a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 and a 05 Impreza STi.

I'm looking to replace the Taco as my daily driver with something a little more fun to drive and that I could take out to local auto-crosses if I decide to turn my STi in to a track only car. but, my replacement needs to have a bed or cargo area large enough so I can haul parts and tools from job site to job site and I think it sucks to drive a truck in bad weather without some form of 4x4 and it is near impossible to put down power when exiting a corner without it so some form of 4 wheel drive is a big selling point with me.

I had intended on waiting until the Ford Adrenalin came out next year to replace the Taco but it was canceled. so, I started looking again.

My first thought was getting a new Taco 4x4 and lowering it and adding a supercharger, but after looking in to it more I came to the conclusion that the Toyota 4x4 set-up would suck if you attempted to use it for street/race performance.

The only AWD truck option I found was the Sy and the Silverado SS. The SS is way to big to be fun tossing around at a local autocross or moving around in traffic.

The Sy appeals to me because it is rare and was released the year I got my drivers license and I had such a hard on for it but no money to buy one at the time ...Now the forbidden fruit can be tasted..

If Syclones are pretty easy to maintain I'd be willing to give up towing capacity and being able to fit more than 2 people in the cab to own one.

could probably get one, pull the engine thats worth money out and drop in a normal 4.3 for normal use, or just get an everyday Sonoma and do a look alike

the idea of ruining a rare car by putting some lame motor in it or being a posser doesn't appeal to me

 

[poorboy93]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

Go test drive a Chevy Trailblazer SS. You can get them in AWD, they accelerate fast at any speed, and they handle great! They were also developed on a German race track, And I drive mine in a "spirted" manner as well. They have an LS2 400hp Corvette V8, and have the hauling room you'd need. and owning both this and a Typhoon, I can tell you the SS is just as fun to drive. I put 12k miles on my SS in 6 months! :tup:

 

[AUSyTyIN]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

Any SyTy = $ pit. If you are worried about fixing broken things, go buy a honduh. If you enjoy maintaining one of the quickest vehicles on the street and aren't afraid to scrape a few knuckles, buy a SyTy.

[/thread]

 

[Sy#2373]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

I've been driving my Syclone daily for the seven years i've owned it and it's never given me any kind of major problems. It's also the ONLY vehicle i own that runs so it's got to run or i'm walking. Typical of ANY performance vehicle it will need more attention than your basic shitbox import!
My truck is not stock and i drive it pretty hard all the time, i don't boost launch it very much.

 

[odium]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

If you end up picking up a Syclone:
I wouldn't doubt that somewhere that future Syclone had some sort of malfunction the second you posted "daily driver" and "[spirited] autocrossing" together for the current owner...

Run away unless you really REALLY look forward to doing tune up work and component replacement to maintain the driveability of the truck.

 

[CarbonFiber AWD]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

Go test drive a Chevy Trailblazer SS. You can get them in AWD, they accelerate fast at any speed, and they handle great! They were also developed on a German race track, And I drive mine in a "spirted" manner as well. They have an LS2 400hp Corvette V8, and have the hauling room you'd need. and owning both this and a Typhoon, I can tell you the SS is just as fun to drive. I put 12k miles on my SS in 6 months! :tup:

I work in a Business plaza. There's a nice guy across from me who like to show me his new mods on his SS awd truck every so often.Its now supercharged and chipped,lowered, wheel upgrade etc. I always let him leave into traffic first so I can come ripping around him on the outside wide lane :rotf:
I've driven my SY daily since I bought it. No mods as of yet. But I'm at 80K now and it all of a sudden needs upper/lower ball joints,bushings,springs ,shocks,exhaust,IC pump etc.
So for 5 years all I needed for her was tires,oil,heater switches regularly. :tup:
I bought it to use.That and leave Vettes behind at stoplights.
I guess it will depend on how the previous owner treated it in the end.
..........Vinny

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

They require more maintenance than most vehicle. If you mechanically incline and don't mind working on them they aren't too bad if you stay on top of them and you have a truck that was well taken of to begin with. It is a 15 years old vehicle. Once you start modifying/racing that usually goes out the window.

 

[gkrcr882]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

You mentioned using it as a work vehicle for hauling stuff. Sys aren't designed to really haul all that much cargo weight wise, and they have a relatively low tow rating. Tys are even worse with a zero tow rating. It's not impossible to tow or haul heavy loads with them, its just not reccomended. You can also forget about ever taking a SyTy off road, if your job or interests require it.

 

[CarbonFiber AWD]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

You mentioned using it as a work vehicle for hauling stuff. Sys aren't designed to really haul all that much cargo weight wise, and they have a relatively low tow rating. Tys are even worse with a zero tow rating. It's not impossible to tow or haul heavy loads with them, its just not reccomended. You can also forget about ever taking a SyTy off road, if your job or interests require it.

I realize your referring to the Thread starters remarks......but I haul medium to lightweight boxes every week it seems. Often the suspension rides on the bumpstops. I don't get into boost or even a hurry of course. I slowly get up to speed just to protect the drivetrains exposures.
I have driven offroad with mine also. Through some pretty boggy stuff too. But I always car washed her thouroughly and lubed the proper spots or changed out diff fluids.
I really think it depends entirely on how YOU individually treat the follow up treatment.
Many trucks have had huge item repair/replacements at MUCH fewer miles than me(82K) and I've yet to have any major failures. Prop shaft excluded.
If you beat on them without forethought and then avoid inspection / follow-up....then doom may follow. :rant:
Take care of her.......you can have a great experiance like I have.
........Vinny

 

[turbodog]

Re: daily driven Syclone = money pit?

My first Ty (stock) was daily driven, over 100 miles per day (New Braunfels to Austin and back) from 20k mi to 135k mi. It only stranded me twice: one failed fuel pump, and one broken front propshaft (that failed shortly after a run-in with a Mustang Cobra). It received only regular (but faithful!) maintenence otherwise up to 130k mi, when I rebuilt the front suspension and steering. I did not beat on it regularly, but I also never passed on a chance to 'school' a Mustang owner.

Of course everything was 13 years newer back then (1994). It was in great shape when it drowned in my garage in 1998.

My 2nd Ty is not faring as well as a daily driver, and this is only 10 mi/day. But, like I said, everything is 13 years older now, and I started using this one as a daily driver at 120k mi. It has enough stuff going wrong now that I retired it to weekend duty and bought a beater for daily use.... a 1983 Porsche 944. Yes, I'm crazy.... talk about a car with a rep for high maintenence and expensive repairs... but it was cheap!