Yet another Introduction post Options

[Jamchell]

Hey all,

I have been meaning to get around to writing an intro post for a while, I had to actually wash my car to take a couple of pics first though. My name is James and I am a Celicaholic lol, I am a former auto tech of 10 years or so, I used to do it all from brakes to transmission rebuilds to smog repairs. Anyways this is my 4th Celica a 1996 gt 5 spd, in the past I have owned a 1976 gt, a 1979 gt and a 1984 Celica Supra. I picked this one up a few weeks ago for a very good price. It has been dealer maintained and has high mileage around 190k, but they run forever if treated right.

The paint is almost perfect and the interior is pretty good, no major faults. The car drives like new other than needing rear struts and a bit of a musty A/c odor(time to rip the dash apart). I have an oil leak around the pan to sort out still and I think i'll replace the stock rims with some 17's when these tires wear out.

I have driven many, many cars and for the price you just cant beat a used Celica for an inexpensive DD in my opinion. Integras are fun, but too high strung for stop and go driving, Civics = buzzy and they feel cheap, Accords = too big, nice ride though, Preludes feel heavy, Corollas are too squishy, Camrys too squishy and too bulky, Sentras are boring, 2002+ Altimas are ok but just a bit oversized, German cars are too costly to repair even if you do the labor and Domestic cars without v-8 engines are disappointing. So for me the Celica is a pretty good match all around, just needs a slightly more powerful engine like everyone says. I may have to drop V-6 into it if the 2.2 fails someday.


Cheers

[SwissFerdi]

I assume it was repainted? The black looks gorgeous. Welcome guy!

[MrAyasli]

Yeah, the paint does look gorgeous.

& welcome.

[richee3]

That car does NOT show it's age at all! It must have been meticulously maintained if that's original paint! If the engine was taken care of as well, then you've got a car that's going to run forever. But if it does give out, I look forward to a V6 swap thread from you!

[SwissFerdi]

I will kill somebody if that paint is original after 190k miles and 13 years.

[Jamchell]

I will kill somebody if that paint is original after 190k miles and 13 years.

I hate to be an instigator but this car has the original 202 black paint, it's amazing what a new coat of wax will do for an old paint job if there is no clear coat damage, I think the front bumper may have been repainted at some point(it has a bit of a spider in the driver high beam) but thats it. Sadly I'm sure the paint is close to the end of it's heyday, but it sure looks nice for the moment.

It was well maintained the previous owner used all toyota parts, just had the clutch/slave cylinder replaced(1200 job with toyota parts ouch!), timing belt, all new belts, cap, rotor, wires/plugs etc. I think after spending 1200 on a clutch the owner said "that's it" when the passenger axle started clicking which is a $400 part from toyota. The interior does show the signs of 190k it has some wear on the door panels which I may replace and the driver seat has a worn spot on the bolster, I might just find a nice broken celica with some leather seats and go with that though.

This post has been edited by Jamchell: Sep 6, 2009 - 1:43 PM

[delusionz]

These black Celicas suddenly popping up on the site look really nice, Welcome to the site.

I envy that colour.

[SwissFerdi]

I hate to be an instigator but this car has the original 202 black paint, it's amazing what a new coat of wax will do for an old paint job if there is no clear coat damage, I think the front bumper may have been repainted at some point(it has a bit of a spider in the driver high beam) but thats it. Sadly I'm sure the paint is close to the end of it's heyday, but it sure looks nice for the moment.

Wow. Well, I wax my car as well, and my paint looked like that up until a few months ago as well. But my car was garaged then.

[richee3]

The only tell in your paint is in the first picture, around the passenger side windshield sprayer. I can see there that it isn't new paint, but otherwise it looks immaculate.

As far as finding a broken down Celica with leather seats, that swap will be easier but then you still have seats that are 10 years old at the newest. What you should do is reupholster the seats you have now with Vincent_Doggy's seat covers, or pick up a set from Ebay.

This post has been edited by richee3: Sep 6, 2009 - 6:17 PM

[Jamchell]

These black Celicas suddenly popping up on the site look really nice, Welcome to the site.

I envy that colour.

HA! thanks, I envy your gt-4 more!


As far as the seats go I had considered that option as well, it really just depends on my luck with scavenging up the door panels. If I find some close to perfect seats in the same place I might go for them, but otherwise I'll prob recover the ones I have now with something more permanent than the 19.99 covers on there now.