56K-Mile 1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD 5-Speed
When was the last time that you saw a 1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD 5-speed hatchback? A decade? Two decades? Never? I bet most folks are in the never category and it’s been at least two decades for me, at least for seeing one in person. This car checks almost every box for me and it can be found listed here on Cars & Bids. It’s located in Irving, Texas, the bid price is $7,171, and there’s just a day left to get your bids in. Thanks to jeff for sending in this tip!
A couple of years ago I would have jumped on this car like a… well, I would have jumped on it. I remember these amazing machines when they came out over three decades ago and before they pull the sheet over my head, I’d really like to own one. The photos are usually outstanding on Cars & Bids but this one doesn’t show any photos with the headlights in the down position. Maybe it’s because they took the photos at dusk, but the seller does mention that they’re stuck in the up position. Hey, this is a family show, watch those comments.
These cars are basically gone, where did they all go? Chrysler’s Eagle wing (see what I did there?) was only around for about a dozen years, flying the coop at the end of 1998 which is a real shame. This car is similar to the Plymouth Laser and they were both based on the mothership: the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Make mine an Eagle Talon, please. There is the usual rusty-wiper-arm syndrome going on here, again, as with every Subaru that I have ever owned. Thankfully, the underside looks rock solid.
Sadly, even with a mere 56,000 miles on this reach-across-the-aisle unicorn (both of those things are almost as rare as a 1990 Talon), there is some hail damage on the exterior. But that it even exists in this condition is amazing. The interior looks good although I have owned Subarus with that dirty/rusty-looking crevasse thing that’s going on here. I hope it’s just dirt and I’d take this interior apart the first day I owned this car and detail it to death. The seller slyly removed the maddening automatic shoulder belts in the photo above but you know they’re there on vehicles from this era. The back seat looks like new but there may not be enough headroom back there for anyone over six feet tall.
You can let the sunshine in on this car and other than having a couple of cracks on the dash, which is unfortunate, the interior looks good. That Texas heat will do that to your face, too – watch it. Thankfully, this rare AWD icon has a 5-speed manual which is what you want here. Did I mention that the first-generation Talon was made for the 1990 to 1994 model years so this is a first-year car? Depending on what your PDR (paintless dent removal) pro says about those hail dings, this could be a buy-and-keep car. In a decade, auction-goers will be laughing at muscle cars but when this one rolls across the stage, a hush will fall upon the crowd, tears will be wiped away, and bids will be flowing faster than the free drinks are.
The engine – or I think there’s an engine in there somewhere – is a Mitsubishi 4G63T, a 2.0L inline-four turbo with 190 horsepower and just over 200 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to having AWD, the steering wheel won’t be dragged out of your hands as you floor it and the turbo kicks in. With about a 6.5-second 0-60 time, it’s not a white-lipped rocket but it’ll be the rarest 6.5-second AWD 5-speed two-door hatchback with a luxurious leather interior at 99% of car shows. Have any of you owned an Eagle Talon?
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Comments
Definitely a great buy and keep car. Hard to find in stock condition. I’d drive it as is
Rust on the seat track is a bit of a concern, could this have flood damage?
A friend of mine have a 1995 AWD Tsi and 5 speed, it’s a blast to drive. One of the best ride I had was in it.
Not really reliable IMO as he had many visit to the garage for stupid things.
His have the ”snot” green color, not much attractive but one of a kind.
This one seems an excellent deal and it’s been my guess that it’s the kind of car that will be a classic in few years.
Weren’t all the Talons all wheel drive?
Not for what I know and saw at the time.
No…
You want a fun time look up Buschur Racing DSM shootout in Norwalk Ohio. It is a weekend event. Norwalk has one of the best racing facilities. Drag Racing Auto Cross and Swap meet all Mitsubishi.
To the DSM guys the TSI and Eclipse AWD has always been a classic. With very little mods these will hurt some serious feelings. A friend has one and it is built. The car looks stock but It is a real sleeper. It is making over 700HP.
The LS, Mustang and Mopar crowd hates it. He takes their money
I bought a new ’91 in red and man it was truly a blast to drive. Had to have the turbo rebuilt (under extended warranty). The only other big issue was the red paint on the hood and the black paint on the rear spoiler began to show fading within five years. Otherwise, fun, fun, fun!
Wife had one of these “back in the day”, paid for with Ma Bell switchboard OT. She was set to buy a Mits 4000 but they went through the roof price wise- she loved hers, said it was the better buy as it never went to the shop for anything out of the ordinary even though she “drove the wheels off of it”.Great on the Solo II runs too!
I don’t know about the rest of barn finds readers, but I’d love to see more of this era of vehicles.
I test drove one exactly like this brand new , back when they just handed you the keys and a dealer tag. Fastest I ever got into tripple diggets. Fun car. Fun youth.
My friend had one and when i drove it he said “ Dont go over 135 mph” so i went 138, made for high speed.
My dad had a white ’93 Talon from 1994-2000. Had the cloth interior unlike this car. It was quick, especially for the time, and I remember the AWD handling was impressive. He ended up trading it for a ’99 Ford Explorer Sport, quite a change from that Talon.
I’ve actually owned 2 of these…
My first was a ’91 TSi AWD that I bought used in ’94. Had it a month then the coolant temperature sensor went bad. Took it to the dealership for a fix and when I went to pick it up, the car was coming in on a flatbed trailer – TOTALLED! One of the grease monkeys took it out for a joy ride and submarined it under a cement block hauler. Every body panel was dented, roof partially crushed. Car was full of hydraulic fluid (from the ruptured cement block hauler’s payload lift system) and blood (from the mechanic).
I got my second a few month later with the insurance money the dealership gave me. A ’92 TSi AWD. New body style, same engine, etc. Never had any issues with it except about 3 recalls for timing belt replacement. It had to be replaced about every 50k miles. Fun car in any weather!
Oh the fun that was had in the one I owned. Unfortunately the cops liked it so I learned some expensive lessons. I could drift mine rather well. 100+ mph down gravel roads was quite common. The demise ended up being the transfer case which was later recalled.
I had a 90 Red 5 speed……I swear it was faster that 6.5 to 60.
It was faster than my Fox body I had at the time.
I owned the twin to this car very fun to drive and both mine were turbocharged and all wheel drive. I took the twin to this one up to 140 mph and the handling got real weird as in did not feel comfortable so I got out of it, I remember the boost gauge was pegged at that speed. Nice cars and virtually unlimited potential HP wise!
I worked for Walker Bros. Jeep in West LA back in ´92 and bought a red Talon Turbo with an automatic off the show room floor. After about 70.000 miles things began to disintegrate until, at 80.000 I got rid of it. While it lasted it was a rocket , great fun, very comfortable with plenty of space in back after folding the rear seats down for my beloved dog Lola, a gorgeous, extremely intelligent King Poodle. My wife, my Lola and I drove the car many times to Las Vegas for fun times and dining at Ceasar´s Palace.
Auction update: this Talon sold for $8,600!
Absolute deal-of-the-week! Fun, reliable cars and this one is like new!
AMCFAN your very accurate with you statement on potential performance with these cars. The only limitations are the thickness of your wallet. Got a thick one you can do some insane mods to these rigs!!
I own a 92′ Eclipse GSX with 125k miles on the clock bone stock. They are like unicorns. Hope that one goes to a really good home.
Lost to these more than once vs my stock 89 5L Lx … any slip up and you’d lose. They’re gone w that awd
I owned a ’91 Eclipse GS turbo and that was the most fun I’ve ever had in a car that I could actually afford in my younger days. It surprised more than one V8 driver :-). Sold it to a guy in 2001 who gave it to his daughter and it was trashed in less than a year. Last I saw it it was broke down on the side of the street, paint peeling and interior trashed. It was like brand new when I let it go.
A friend had one identical to this one. It was not stock by any means. real sleeper on the outside. It was the fastest car i have even been in. And i have owned and rode in many fast cars.
Not sure why ’90s obd1 models from Eagle, Plymouth & Dodge are so rarely seen these days!
If these cars have the same prepped body steel as the 3000gt, these should be very impervious to rust. & if one has a manual trans & no antilock brakes, it would have only 1 computer!! that would be readily available if original has leaky capacitors. Add a 2nd computer for the auto trans – also avail. No body control modules. Even the popup headlites of the early 90’s ones are exceptionally reliable!
I don’t get it. They used to be all over the place. I even rented an Eclipse in Orlando – loved it, tho the 3000gt is more roomy inside widthwise.
I can’t believe Mitz, etc. do not make such 2 door cars for single people anymore! Not even 2 door subcompacts.