Comments: 1-15, 16-25
I know of three people who have one besides me, they never last much past 80,000 miles. Burns 1 quart of oil every 300 miles (obviously a cheap engine).
Most popular color is blue. Has a Suzuki engine (they just need to stick to making motorcycles). If you must get one, get the Turbo model (you will thank me later). Cheap little car. Not safe. Don't waste your time.
I have an 87 Turbo Sprint with 279,000 miles on it and I drive it about 170 miles a day. This car still gets on the average 40 mpg with the turbo providing little boost now.
I have not had any problems with this car except I had the head redone for burnt valves. I run synthetic oil in it and keep excellent maintenance on it, if you did the same thing yours would have lasted too.
I received a 1987 Turbo Sprint for free from a lady who didn't keep up any maintenance. The car had 98,000 miles on it. I overhauled the engine myself, and am always pleased with its reliability and performance. That is one tough little car, and a blast to drive.
I also own a 1968 SS Chevelle with a 400hp small block in it. My wife and I still argue to see who gets to drive the Sprint. That says it all.
I wish that parts were a little more available for the turbo model. Several of my friends have Sprints also, and a couple of them have over 200,000 miles on them. These cars are still running strong. Live on Sprint.
I have an 87 Turbo Sprint. I adore this little car. It currently has 165k miles and starts on a dime.
I replaced the original turbo @ 128k miles with a new unit costing $670. I purchased the unit from a aftermarket firm for turbos. The dealer wanted almost $1000!
Other than that, I have done basic mechanical work. Reman distributor @ 125k iles, new water pump @ 150k miles for $36, & when I purchased the car @ 107k, I had the timing belt replaced.
I hope to get the 250k miles many other Turbo Sprint owners appear to enjoy. I just started using 1/2 quart of oil every 2500 miles. It never used/burned any oil @ all until recently. Still, @ 165k, that isn't too bad.I would like to keep it running well for a long time.
Such an easy car to park, with plenty of power & good space inside for it's size. It even has cruise control :)
My 87 turbo sprint has 338,632 miles on it now... never had any major problems with it yet... and I drive it hard (I've busted both the front and rear stabilizer bars and gone through many a 12 inch tire).
In fact, the only complaint I have with it is the rust. I live in the middle of Canada, so my little car has seen many winters, and lots of salted roads... otherwise, I can safely say that its been the most reliable little car I've ever owned. It still gets its regular maintenance, and can still hold its own in a stoplight drag session.
Actually... thinking about it.. the only other complaint I have is that they don't still make the turbo models... I think I could grow to love one of the 1.3 liter ones with a turbo strapped to it :)
I bought a Sprint Turbo new in '87 & after 15 months & 137,000, I let it go. (BIGGEST I MISTAKE EVER MADE!!!!!!!)
Clutch was going out was the only problem I had. I raced it in a spectator race (2 cars, one lap, 3/8 miles. track), won 1st race against old model car with big V8, lost second race by 1/2 car length to a 71 Mustang Mach 1 with a 429. Won first event entered in the SCCA Solo II competing against 12 cars from a older VW Beetle to a corvette & an RX-7. Took it to the drag strip and ran 17.035 @ 80mph. Beat some trucks and cars with V8's, but was blown away by the serious competitors. ex. 66 Mustang, 69 Chevelle. But still proud of the numbers. Huh, no wonder the clutch was going out. Duh!!
Recently bought another Sprint Turbo with a bad engine. Bought engine in good shape, had turbo rebuilt, replaced fuel pump, filter, strainer (ordered) & electronic control module. Car would run fine through gears, but after hitting fifth, it was like the fuel was cut to a trickle, motor barely running. If I cut it off & back on, I could get back to 5th for a minute before the same problem starts again. Now, cannot get out of 1st before fuel problem starts.
Gas tank is really rusty looking and strainer was orange. Hope that will correct the problem, but I am open to any opinions or comments that might help to resolve it.
Thanks.
The sales people classified the Sprint as a throw-away car however I purchased 2 of them new and found that they were extremely economical and fun to drive.
My first on was around 1984, a 4 door, 4 speed, silver and I drove it for several years and always got 55 Miles per gallon. I sold it to a person where I worked and I went out every day and put gas in the tank without him knowing about. After a couple of days he came to my office and had me show him how to calculate MPG and told me I must have been driving it wrong because he was well in to the 80 MPG range. That Friday he came in again and had me show him again how to calculate MPG and then said, he was getting 129 Miles per gallon.
My second one was around 87/88 and it was a Turbo Sprint. This was one of the quickest cars sold in America. Three days after I bought it my son and I went from Virginia to Iowa and we encountered 2 young guys on the Pen Turnpike in a full sized Chevrolet and we raced them for well over an hour. They would get way back and try to slingshot past and I would speed up in time and they never did pass the Sprint. They had a radar detector and give us a big wave when they left the turnpike. Both of us had fun. The speedometer would go past 85 and back around to Zero so we never knew just how fast we were going. In the 100 Thousand plus miles that I drove that car no one ever beat me to the next stop light and I had loads of fun in that thing.
I've been told that the Home Built Airplane people like to put the Turbo Engine in their planes.
Owner of the Sprint Turbo with 179k (previously posted at 165k happy miles) here... no problems to report. I LOVE this car, never will part with it and will do whatever it takes to keep it running if anything DOES fail. I added a Sony Explode stereo cd player with 6'5 door speakers (moved the map pocket a foot back to make space) and some seperate tweeters in the dash mounted speaker area. Sounds great! I have heard that there is parts in the transmission that are specific to the Turbo and not avail from the dealer anymore. Hope the transmission stays strong for a while! I suppose a Metro Transmission could maybe be modified and used?
My 87 turbo sprint now has 311,000 on it. I found another motor at the junk yard so I can have it rebuilt. been a really dependable car, and is very easy on parts. I will purchase another turbo from turbo city in so cal... this is my commuter car for the fact of awesome gas mileage, other than my 89 integra which I also love to drive.
November 07 2002.
My '87 turbo sprint has 367,000kms it still has original clutch and timing belt.It's been across Canada twice. I drive it 200kms a day. The Turbo is weak the body was in good condition until I backed into it with a plow truck. I still drive it daily and love it.
I have a '87 Chevy Turbo Sprint with 250,600 miles on it. I am the original owner. The only problems I have had with it were: replaced the muffler 4 times, replaced water pump, replaced timing belt, and now need to finally replace the alternator as it went out yesterday. The clutch slips a little, and will need replacement soon. I still get 40 mpg and use it daily as a commuter and long range driving at 80 mph. Great little car, unfortunatly it has a lot of rust from wet salty winter roads.
Calzoneguy@aol.com.
Hi I have a 1987 Suzuki Forza. I buy it recently and I love it I just wanted to know if someone can help me to find the factory turbo system for it. Please e-mail me peorotativo@hotmail.com. I will be very thankful.
Thanks,
Jose.
I am on my second Sprint bought one new in 1987 loved it, just got another 87 with 99,940 miles runs fine burns no oil and still gets great mileage. These cars were cheap that was the point they were commuter cars in my mind. The one I just got still runs up hill at 75 and will gain speed. I think they need to build more of them..
Hi. I need help me. I have a 1987 Suzuki Forza GTI.
I have transmission's troubles. Not find parts in Chile,
where I find?
Thanks.
Turbo sprints are great. I have two. Original owner of one.
Approaching 300K miles. Three seems to be the charm, 3 clutchs, 3 windshields, 3 sets of rims, 3 turbos. On my second engine now. The first developed a knock, (I was consistently redlining to 8000 rpm) so I parked it till I bought a new factory short block for a grand. Ported the exhaust, ported the head and port matched it to the intake. Enlarged the intake runners and smoothed all internal casting lines including inside the throttle body, rebuilt and flow tested injectors, added a Jacob's Ice Pack Ignition, Ceramic boot wires, removed the inside grille cover to provide max airflow directly on the turbo, K&N air filter, drilled out the airbox for better flow, reset the spring tension in the Mass Airflow Sensor,
added oversize exhaust tubing with high flow cat, replaced all front end parts at about 250K, added polyurethane sway bar bushings from Off Road Warehouse, Centerforce clutch assembly, custom built springs 15% stiffer, KYB struts and shocks. Daily driver used also to haul merchandise for work. Time to work on the interior and time for another windshield, the pits are getting serious and too hard to see in the sun glare. Finally broke down and got a CD player which still rocks the dinky 16 year old factory speakers. Will consider more mods, any and all. Must go faster. My favorite part is the electric 18" diesel rig horn I rigged in tandem with the factory horn. Second one actually as the wheel ripped the first one off on a violent U-turn. It just barely fit in the wheelwell. My girlfriend drives the other one. Too much fun!
Wow. This '87 Sprint Turbo musta been a baby. 140K. White. I am parting it out. Whaddya' need?