rentaspace's progression :), How My Celica Came to Be :) Options

[rentaspace]

So gonna start my progression thread, and update it occasionally.
I'll start with how I got my Celica:
So it all started last year in around March, when I got my Red P's and was searching for that first car...
I tested a lancer, a prelude and a Hyundai Coupe... They all had their pluses and minuses, but none felt 'right'...
On the way home from the Prelude, we passed a Ford dealership and sitting in the middle was a little white PreFacelift Celica, as soon as I saw her, I knew she was the one I wanted. When I got home I jumped online and and contacted the dealer; she was an auto (I am not legally allowed to drive manual yet, thanks to my dads non-functioning speedometer).
The next day, my dad drove me and my beautiful girlfriend out to the dealer and we test drove the car. At the end of the test drive the dealer wanted 8k for her. I knew this was steep for it, but she was in almost perfect condition.

The only damage I could pick was a scrape on the passenger side rear wheel fender, a few small dents over her and quite a large dent in the roof (it looked like the previous owner had hit her with his fists)...
With the $8k as a base, we negotiated with the dealer and came out with a total:
- $7700 for the car
- All dents removed from the car
- Brand New 5 treads
- and finally what really made me go for it, A 12 month warranty... on an 18 year old car

Here she was on that exact day, right after out test drive:




A few weeks later, we got a call saying that she was ready for pickup, All the dents had been removed ($1500 worth of dent removal and paint) and she was good to go. A few days later her first photo shoot:



Her Interior and Engine were immaculate for her age:




After a few weeks our small troubles began, she started leaking oil all over the ground... After a call to the dealership, she was booked in for her first warranty inspection... They re-did all engine gaskets and replaced all seals in the engine... When we got her back, she was still leaking... We took her back again and were told that the transmission seals were shot, they were replaced and the engine was flushed out; the leaking stopped... for now...
Over all, the work would of cost ($1800 by the dealer, if not for the warranty).

Ill post the first of many mods in the next few hours or so, Once I get together the photos and know exactly what I want to say

This post has been edited by rentaspace: Oct 21, 2013 - 1:34 AM

[JoshuaM]

So you swapped over the wiring harness from the new lights too then? I got them with mine, but just chucked them in the cupboard... I might have to go 4 lights (Then again, I always drive with my lights on, so having them come on separately will make it more obvious to idiots not paying attention behind me... )

[rentaspace]

So you swapped over the wiring harness from the new lights too then? I got them with mine, but just chucked them in the cupboard... I might have to go 4 lights (Then again, I always drive with my lights on, so having them come on separately will make it more obvious to idiots not paying attention behind me... )

Yeah, since I had the rear plastics off anyway I decided I may as well use the JDM harness

And You still have the third brake light for the idiots... I usually pump the brake a little when I start braking to alert morons behind me

I thought, if I am using the JDM tails mayaswell go the JDM style, 4x Tail Lights and 5x Brake Lights (Including the third)... It looks better IMO anyway

The harness is very simple to change, its plugged in just behind the plastic, and has a rubber which comes off when you pull the harness, the new harness rubber was pretty difficult to get in (Until I used the screwdriver, but you have to be careful of both damaging the rubber and the paint on the car... Took me about 5mins for the first as I didn't know what I was doing and then 20secs for the second lol)