Ok bear with me… this might get convoluted.

Just sold my 59K miles gel-se. Simply loved the car but it was non power steering, and the seat sat way way way too high..

Also, and I know this is silly but... I always thought the tachometer should be in the middle and BIG… the 84-85 looks very normal.. yawn…

So tell me, what am I going to experience with a 90 GXL?

Any help would be appreciated… heck if you feel like gabbing let me know and Ill call ya
Thanks!!!

Pete

 

Well, my experience was going the other way for a little bit - daily drive an S4, and when I owned an '83 GSL for a while I nearly lost it on a pretty moderate corner out in the country. I could easily take the corner at 65MPH or so in the S4, but the GSL lost it at around 55MPH..

I don't know about non-powered FB steering, but factory non-power FC steering is AWESOME (unless you're parallel parking). It feels super connected, with awesome feedback.

If the DTSS is working (on some level) the rear end will feel 'weird', and despite what everyone claims, it feels easier to manage at the limit than an FB or Miata. (Could be the super high milage and the DTSS just sets into place easier than it would with a new bushing - or the fact that I learned to drive hard in an FC).

Oh, and VDI is your new best friend. (5200RPMs till 8500 is a joyous feeling)

And here's one more: for the love of your headlight switch and harness, PLEASE, please do the relay mod described by Icemark. (Takes the Parking light load off of the switch, it WILL burn out eventually if you don't do this - until the relay mod is done, DO NOT drive around during the day with your parking lights on).

Hmmm... Don't expect the Auto Adjusting Suspension to work.. It might if it's low mileage, but the struts have probably died of age anyway :/

 

If you find a good clean car without any electrical gremlins or mechanical faults, its a very capable car. The engine is lively and responsive and feels amazing once you cross 5k RPM. The stock powersteering unit is OK, it doesnt blow me away with amazing feedback but its weighted nicely. Given that these are old cars, more often than not you will have to do some suspension work or replace the shocks entirely. Every time you put the car into the corner it laughs at you and begs to be pushed harder and faster. That being said you dont have to push the car to the limit to enjoy the feeling of taking a corner either.

I' never sat down in an FB/SA before but sitting in the FC when compared to average road vehicles is definitely much lower. The roof is pretty low and you really wear the car like a glove. When I sat in my first FC it definitely made a lasting impression on me.

Fun zippy car that wont disappoint you if its not a broken down shitbox