Celica GT4 potential purchase
Discussion
Hi,
I've just seen a very clean M Plate late GT4 and I'm don't know what I should be looking for as in weak spots or must haves.
Any hand holding or advice would be much appreciated.
Car us up for £7995 and it's an import with 90k on it although probably hard to prove I would have thought.
Is this a potential future classic?
Mat
I've just seen a very clean M Plate late GT4 and I'm don't know what I should be looking for as in weak spots or must haves.
Any hand holding or advice would be much appreciated.
Car us up for £7995 and it's an import with 90k on it although probably hard to prove I would have thought.
Is this a potential future classic?
Mat
Bluesmurff09 said:
Car us up for £7995 and it's an import with 90k on it although probably hard to prove I would have thought.
Is this a potential future classic?
Mat
Does it have any inspection report from Japan?Is this a potential future classic?
Mat
Does it have it's Jap history?
If neither of the above do a Bimta check.
That tells you recorded mileages from when cars go through their auction houses in Japan.
If the car's being sold by an established importer they should have done the checks already, ask the question at point of purchase.
Can't remember the details but there are well documented stories regarding the longevity of suspension parts, and I think that related specifically to import models. If I'm right and you have problems with it in this regard, I believe it can get expensive. Hopefully someone with first hand knowledge will be along to confirm or deny this.
Bluesmurff09 said:
Hmm it looked so clean and well looked after, I'm tempted to take it for a test drive later and will ask the dealer about the history.
Test drive can't hurt! Look at tyre wear, try and drive it over some rougher surfaces and listen for knocks. All Toyotas are known for getting noisy droplinks, not that big a deal, and easy to fix, other issues may not be so straightforward. See how amenable the seller is to paying for potential fixes. I'd also be wanting to make sure it copes with high revs ok, no misfires, fuel cuts, getting full boost if it's possible to check, etc. Water pump pressure relief valves can stick, causing a small puddle now and then, usually not terminal, and to be addressed at cambelt time ( if these have them, can't remember now ).Check the handbrake isn't seized, can be another Toyota problem if it's adjusted up too much. They're better off having the handbrake come up quite high.Heaveho said:
Can't remember the details but there are well documented stories regarding the longevity of suspension parts, and I think that related specifically to import models. If I'm right and you have problems with it in this regard, I believe it can get expensive. Hopefully someone with first hand knowledge will be along to confirm or deny this.
Good point, is it an ST205 ? then its superstrut which I believe wears out and is expensive to replace, if its an ST-185 like mine was, just straight forward suspension.Gary C said:
Good point, is it an ST205 ? then its superstrut which I believe wears out and is expensive to replace, if its an ST-185 like mine was, just straight forward suspension.
Yeah, superstrut, couldn't remember the name. pretty sure it will be that on the car the op is talking about. From memory, it's specific to imports, might be remembering that wrong though.I can hopefully shed a little light onto this subject as I've had 2 of these and still own one now (well the ST205 model) I could go on rambling but will keep it short.
Engine - 3SGTE 2.0 Turbo, both of mine I have owned through 60k-120k and have had no issues. Consumables such as oil/filters etc are cheap and easy to find. You can go to around 280-300BHP on standard internals with a boost controller and they sit fine at this level if used with some degree of mechanical sympathy.
Jap cars run higher fuel but again thats the norm.
Gearbox - The 5 speed box is good again no issues but clutch changes are serious work, some take the engine out some don't but budget well if the clutch is out.
Suspension - As mentioned the ST205 has superstrut up front which consists of 2 arms and a linking joint. They do wear out and clunk but genuine parts should last 60k. The full set for both sides is £1000ish but again this isn't a once a month job.
Brakes - 4 pot calipers upfront, discs and pads again are reasonable, no different to another performance vehicle. Brakes do stop very well.
Interior - Basic jap but everything works and it is a lot more civilised than my previous Impreza of the same era - you can do long journeys in these. Recaro seats are rare and optional but besides that its pretty standard spec throughout (subtle colour changes of panels, seat fabric aside)
Bodywork - Usual bits to look for on any car, the UK ones tend to rust easier than the jap equivelent but thats the same with any import! Not all had the high rise boot spoiler, most of the early cars did.
Updates - No massive changes throughout 94-99. They changed from 3 spoke wheels to 6, added 'projector' lights and jazzed up the fabric inside. That aside they didn't really change.
They did do an unofficial 'WRC' model built for homologation purposes, these had anti-lag, water injection, intercooler spray bar and a bonnet spoiler but they where all 'deactivated' but you can tell by looking at the manifold and it should have a gold pipe running on it.
Those WRC ones didn't come with any identifying external badging and are pretty much all early 94,95 cars (apparently the first 2500 built)
There used to be a fantastic owners club (gt4oc) but everything has moved to facebook which is what you make of it but to be fair the groups are very helpful.
Parts are still attainable, main dealer prices are out of the picture but TCB parts and GT4Play are the main players.
I have loved both of mine, unlike my Impreza it always gets positive attention and people often comment on it. Its no where near as hardcore as its rivals of the day, an Impreza STi II or Evo 3 would run rings around it in reality but to me its more than that. It looks like a proper rally car with all the vents and wings and with some light tuning is usable but fun classic.
Hope this helps!
Engine - 3SGTE 2.0 Turbo, both of mine I have owned through 60k-120k and have had no issues. Consumables such as oil/filters etc are cheap and easy to find. You can go to around 280-300BHP on standard internals with a boost controller and they sit fine at this level if used with some degree of mechanical sympathy.
Jap cars run higher fuel but again thats the norm.
Gearbox - The 5 speed box is good again no issues but clutch changes are serious work, some take the engine out some don't but budget well if the clutch is out.
Suspension - As mentioned the ST205 has superstrut up front which consists of 2 arms and a linking joint. They do wear out and clunk but genuine parts should last 60k. The full set for both sides is £1000ish but again this isn't a once a month job.
Brakes - 4 pot calipers upfront, discs and pads again are reasonable, no different to another performance vehicle. Brakes do stop very well.
Interior - Basic jap but everything works and it is a lot more civilised than my previous Impreza of the same era - you can do long journeys in these. Recaro seats are rare and optional but besides that its pretty standard spec throughout (subtle colour changes of panels, seat fabric aside)
Bodywork - Usual bits to look for on any car, the UK ones tend to rust easier than the jap equivelent but thats the same with any import! Not all had the high rise boot spoiler, most of the early cars did.
Updates - No massive changes throughout 94-99. They changed from 3 spoke wheels to 6, added 'projector' lights and jazzed up the fabric inside. That aside they didn't really change.
They did do an unofficial 'WRC' model built for homologation purposes, these had anti-lag, water injection, intercooler spray bar and a bonnet spoiler but they where all 'deactivated' but you can tell by looking at the manifold and it should have a gold pipe running on it.
Those WRC ones didn't come with any identifying external badging and are pretty much all early 94,95 cars (apparently the first 2500 built)
There used to be a fantastic owners club (gt4oc) but everything has moved to facebook which is what you make of it but to be fair the groups are very helpful.
Parts are still attainable, main dealer prices are out of the picture but TCB parts and GT4Play are the main players.
I have loved both of mine, unlike my Impreza it always gets positive attention and people often comment on it. Its no where near as hardcore as its rivals of the day, an Impreza STi II or Evo 3 would run rings around it in reality but to me its more than that. It looks like a proper rally car with all the vents and wings and with some light tuning is usable but fun classic.
Hope this helps!
Edited by McGtfour on Wednesday 29th May 14:11
unfortunately I'm going to have to hold off with purchasing a toy for the time being and luckily enough I have a tuned 410bhp B9 S4 as my daily so I won't suffer to much!mcGTfour is clearly very knowledgeable on these, if you need any further advice drop a post on Celica-club.co.uk they are a great bunch and will help with any queries.
There's a few GT4 specialist to chose from in terms of maintaining and tuning. Mk autos in Blackburn is where I would recommend.
I had the non turbo jap import as a track car and have been passenger in a few gt4's (stock and modified) they are simply brilliant cars
There's a few GT4 specialist to chose from in terms of maintaining and tuning. Mk autos in Blackburn is where I would recommend.
I had the non turbo jap import as a track car and have been passenger in a few gt4's (stock and modified) they are simply brilliant cars
I have had mine 6 years.
Appart from the usual watch out the biggest two things to look out for is to remove the dipstick while at idle and hot. Smoke coming out of the dipstick tube is evidence the engine has more than likely cracked ringlands.
Secondly suspension look out for knocks and bangs. Brand new front suspension from Toyota comes to a little over a grand. There is a guy in Russia who will refurbish them professionally at £500 though although have no idea of longevity.
As for value I picked mine up for £2500 with 54k on the clock in 2012 as a second car. These are now becoming legal to import in the US and they have quite a following for Celica's so they will only go one way. I have spent a princely sum on mine but it has over tripled its value in 6 years and they are seriously under valued anyway.
Appart from the usual watch out the biggest two things to look out for is to remove the dipstick while at idle and hot. Smoke coming out of the dipstick tube is evidence the engine has more than likely cracked ringlands.
Secondly suspension look out for knocks and bangs. Brand new front suspension from Toyota comes to a little over a grand. There is a guy in Russia who will refurbish them professionally at £500 though although have no idea of longevity.
As for value I picked mine up for £2500 with 54k on the clock in 2012 as a second car. These are now becoming legal to import in the US and they have quite a following for Celica's so they will only go one way. I have spent a princely sum on mine but it has over tripled its value in 6 years and they are seriously under valued anyway.
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