UK Import Help, Need advice on non-import cars as the insurance is too high on import Options

[meph137]

Hi all, I'm looking to get a Gen 6 Celica cus they look pretty damn fine and apparently are a good drive, I've been looking around and have some problems though - basically most Celica's I see on autotrader (or most palces for that matter) are imports, a lot of the sellers dont state this so I see one, think it looks good and then ring and its an import! My problem with imports is that insurance is way too hgih for me, on a UK GT its about £900, on an import Gt its about £1,300! I could insure a UK GT4 for that so I'm no way paying that much.

My question is - is there any way I can tell easily which cars are imports and which aren't? I've noticed some with the foreign style, more square numberplate (dunno if thats japan or us?) so they seem obvious, but others look totally UK standard (right hand drive etc) but are in fact imports.

Also, is it just me or do import cars always look a hellof a lot more shiny? this sounds ridiculous to say but they do...one guy is selling his on autotrader with nice alloys, lowered etc in Astral black and man does it look shiny, every UK car I see just looks dull, though its probably the camera doing the car injustice, unless there are different types of black, some are shiny and some are not?

Also, some Cel's don't seem to have spoliers, is there a general rule to which will and which won;t, such as what year they were made? I thought UK Gen6 got a facelift in 95 or something, but I though it had a spolier before than anyway, I don;t like the look so much without the spoiler

Also, any other helpful advice would be great, I'm 22 and would lvoe a GT4 but insurance I beleive would be too high, unless someone else knows otherwise, Bell Direct seem to be the best for insurance in my age group for Celica's.

Also hello everyone, looks like a nice active forum

[Negative]

Get a GT4 and a second job. LOL. I know I would if I could get one in the states. Nothing compares.
EDIT - Oh yeah. Welcome to the site!

This post has been edited by Negative: Feb 7, 2007 - 12:40 PM

[san0]

Hi matee

I had the choice of going for a UK red GT with all the options but i decided to go low spec import in black (ie no abs, no sunroof and other stuff). The insurance was virtually the same (directline) even though i'm in my 30's.

The Jap imports apparently have 177bhp as oppose to 125bhp or similar. Also yes you're right, the imports look shinier - mine is so glossy compared to some guys blue ST.

One of the things you can tell if its import is it's in Kilometers, not MPH - they often have a new dial converter plate on.

I can see most imports at the moment are pre-face lift and you can tell by the rear spoiler without the gap in the sides. Mines an N reg but still is the older style which i think looks better.

You can see if it's import by the stickers sometimes left on the windscreens and also I have an emergency flare still left under the glove box as standard in japan!

Mine didn't have airbags so watch out for that. Whatever you choose, you won't regret the Celica - it' will bring you smiles and you'll be often researching about it on this forum!

[meph137]

Cheers for the help fella's, much appreicated I've been looking around tonight, found some nice UK cars, thats gonna have to be the route unless I can sort some cheap import insurance. Would love black but only seeing silver decent UK's atm, also the facelift versions which look nice. Seen a really nice 97 silver UK model, £3,900, sounds like a good price - full history etc.

I'm dabbling with whether to go with an MR2 or a Celica, gonna have to give it some good thought and have a few good drives to find out what way I wanna swing...

any ideas?

[Aus]

The main aesthetic difference between the UK and import celicas is the front headlight washers in the front bumper for the UK cars, also most imports didn't have the little bonnet spoiler behind the windscreen wipers. There are also many other general differences such as the rear liscence plates being square, the heater controls were different I think etc. I'm not sure about the ST, but this is definetly true for the GT and GT4. By the way im selling my UK GT if your interested mate!!

edit. I don't think there was any difference in power between UK and JDM GT models (3SGE) & you have to remember that the celica has two more seats and looks better, but the mr2 does has the option of a T-Bar................the choice is yours! (Oh and also if you buy an MR2, people may think that your a hairdresser! )

This post has been edited by Aus: Feb 7, 2007 - 6:33 PM

[meph137]

hairdresser's cars eh, nah they have to be white......

I dunno about Celica's looking better, they are hust different more refined maybe....

I may be interested, I'm going tonight to look at both a Celica and MR2 so I'll let you know cheers for the notice

[vsideboy]

try lifesure for your insurance mate. they beat my best quote by £600 when I first got my car. I'm still with them 3 years later.

as for looking for differences between uk and import it might be a bit difficult other than the odometer being in KM's as you could buy an import without headlight washers and retro fit them, as with every other part (rear numberplate surround etc.)

Shiny-ness will probably be that the early part of the cars life in its original country didn't have all the crap thrown at it that a UK car will have had to endure. Road salt and crap weather will damage the paint. It also depends entirely on who has had it previously and how they have looked after it. Poor washing techniques will dull a shine quicker than you can say 'wow my paint is now matt!'

Mr2 or celica... well it will depend on if you ever plan on transporting anything or anyone. taking 2 people to a show with alot of camping gear is a bit difficult in an mr2 (not impossible though I have seen proof!) but it is certainly easier in the celica cos the boot is huge!

Also, if you do get one and fancy a drive to italy then check out my link below. gonna be great!!! Got 17 cars from the UK so far.

[meph137]

Hey all - got a celica in the end a R reg 97 silver GT, 69k miles. Looks in mint condition, with a 6 month AA warranty which is nice

Got insured with Tesco in the end, not bad, about £750 for a UK car, im 22 so thought that was pretty damn good.

One thing I don;t like about the car is the wodden dashboard trim, yuk! Will be getting that changed soon I think, if anyone wants to swap with me let me know I'm after something more plain like aluminium or something, I'm not sure what the standard colours are thoguh and would want a standard colour.

cheers for all the advice before

[vsideboy]

should be black plastic as standard mate. I'm guessing your wood trim is an aftermarket addition.

might be best for you to try a scrapyard or something, see what you can get if no-one has any lying about.

try on www.celica-club.co.uk and see if anyones got anything. usually kev_gt has a couple of cars lying about in his back garden.

[Velliety]

Mine came with the wooden dash stuff on it - it was actually pretty easy to take off. It's just stock black plastic underneath. I put a carbon fiber overlay kit on mine, but if you're careful with the removal of the wood, and don't scratch the plastic all up when you remove the wood you shouldn't have to put anything else on top of it.

Samantha

Hey all - got a celica in the end a R reg 97 silver GT, 69k miles. Looks in mint condition, with a 6 month AA warranty which is nice

Got insured with Tesco in the end, not bad, about £750 for a UK car, im 22 so thought that was pretty damn good.

One thing I don;t like about the car is the wodden dashboard trim, yuk! Will be getting that changed soon I think, if anyone wants to swap with me let me know I'm after something more plain like aluminium or something, I'm not sure what the standard colours are thoguh and would want a standard colour.

cheers for all the advice before

[vsideboy]

I'd remove the film(if it is film!) and then paint it a contrasting colour to the rest of the dashboard.

[meph137]

hmm not sure, dont think its a film but thats just by looks - will have a go at it. anyone know of any good celica breakers who will post?

[Velliety]

It's not a film. It's actually real wood - a very thin wood veneer covered with a polyurethane finish. It's only stuck on with a foam adhesive. Use a tape-covered flat blade screwdriver (or similiar) to lift it up, don't scratch the plastic underneath.

Samantha

hmm not sure, dont think its a film but thats just by looks - will have a go at it. anyone know of any good celica breakers who will post?