A Box and His Celica, You knew it'd happen eventually :P Options

[Box]

Well seeing as we're stuck together by fate, or something like that, I suppose I should embrace it and what not. So I thought to myself, "Hey, maybe if you did stuff to the Celica to make it your own you'd like it more." I then gave myself a high-five for such a good idea. All in all I really like the car aside from the slowness, then I thought to myself again, "Hey, the only time you have to use speed is pulling out into traffic or passing some moron and the Celica is adequate in that regard." Another high-five occurred. Then the deal sealer, "Hey moron you couldn't buy another car, not even another Celica, worth a damn for what you'd be giving up your car for." You guessed it, a...punch to the face. Nah, just kidding there was definitely another high-five. So anyhow, the whole purpose of this thread is to keep me and the Celica on positive terms and it's also to help motivate me to do the things that I want to do. I have a bunch of cheap ideas that in all should be under $100, and should help in making the car more to my liking. Less on that now, and more boring history. So I bought the Celica almost two years ago, and nothing has really happened. The end. Glad that's over, now for fun things. Of course there're the obligatory pictures.





So there ya go, I'm even so hardcore I left my plate tag exposed for the world to see. Anyhow a little more about it. It's the ST 5-speed and is fully loaded as they could be. Power windows and locks, A/C, power moonroof, rear wiper, and even has the optional 14" alloys. I'm curious as to how rare the 14" alloys are, as I've yet to see another set as most ST's have steelies or have aftermarket wheels by now. As far as the car goes it's pretty much stock. The only thing aftermarket is that it's lowered on Tein coil springs and KYB struts, and the radio was replaced as well. Mechanically the car is sorted and everything is already taken care of for the next 50,000+ miles, I suppose that's a good kind of boring though. There is one thing I've done to make the car unique, I painted the plastic trim pieces in metallic black: Door handle cups, air vent trim, door switch panels, center console, and gauge surround. I think it's a classy and subtle touch, I like that it could pass for OEM.

Can see it really well on the air vent trim and door panel switch. You can stop oogling my legs now.
I also added some awesome decals:


Then at one point I spent a couple of days busting my ass waxing it.

So that was fun, of course the clear is still peeling. Thanks a lot previous owners' neglect, Alabama heat, AND THE FREAKING COLOUR RED.
Oh, and one last thing... I have something that I imagine very few of you people do... So very rare...

That's right, the original key! The key's teeth are so smooth and rounded now, yet it still works. Of course I keep it in a safe place and use a copy key now. So now that all of that is out of the way, time for possible future modifications:

Figure out something to do with the clear peel...
S2000 or VW shark fin antenna
Tint the taillights with window tint for a deep glossy look, along with painting the tag bezel black
Find 5GC power mirrors and paint them black along with door handles, if the above happens
Install a short throw shifter for quicker response and fun factor
True cold air intake for sucking sound and marginal, if any, gains
Replace the secondary cat with a glass-pack and the muffler with a Magnaflow XL chambered muffler for marginal gains and hopefully not too bad of a sound
Possibly buy JDM tails and "American-ize" them, therefore making them legal by meeting U.S. side-marker requirements.
Remove spoiler and properly fill and paint
Remove front side-markers and properly fill and paint.
FIND and install better seats
Find premium audio door panels
Redo sun visors
Repaint wheels
Redo audio
LED interior lighting
Fog lights
Lit key-ring
Replace front Toyota badge with Celica dragon emblem

Some of those are iffy, but most I'd like to do in the nearby future. If I happen to think of anything else I'll throw it into here. So anyhow I promise to stop complaining, or at the least cut it out significantly. After extensive searching since April, and especially here recently, the grass is only greener on the other side due to the other piece of shìt cars fertilizing the soil. Besides, all the other forums suck in comparison and I really don't want to go through the trouble of reestablishing myself.

This post has been edited by Box: Apr 16, 2014 - 8:44 PM

[JoshuaM]

BOX MADE A PROJECT THREAD!

[Box]

I know, it's revolutionary in a way. Meh, just figure it's for the best. I could buy another car for what I could sell the Celica for, but then I'd have to instantly spend $1,000+ on it to make it the way I want it and to bring it up to a level I could halfway trust it. Honestly I rather spend the money on a cheap RWD project that I could care less if it dies during auto X and drift. That and my first love of musical instruments, I sadly have more invested there than anywhere else.

This post has been edited by Box: Oct 12, 2013 - 7:00 AM

[JoshuaM]

Hey Box... Box... Box....... ..... .... .... Its RED

P.S. You forgot to mention your awesome JDM storage tray next to your cigarette lighter.

And I didn't realise the key thing was rare... I use my original every day and I'm sure many people do


And new plan.... get unreliable POS but fun drift / autoX / hooning around car.... work on it until you are confidant in it running for a couple of weeks, then BEAMS or V6 swap your car

[Box]

Yeah, I know.. Still hate that, but meh... Seriously contended finding a black liftback to swap all of my stuff into, then sell mine. Of course everyone is asking not much less for their ragged out piece of junk than I am for mine.

I don't know, it could or could not be. I just rarely see cars over 10 years old where they kept up with the original key.

Yep, except for semi-reliable. I'd swap if it were a GT, but being the ST it's a pain in the ass either way.

[njccmd2002]

to do list!

1. Remove spoiler

2. Remove telecommunications antenna

3. Remove stickers..

4. put a BOX in da trunk

[JoshuaM]

I promise to stop complaining...

I'd swap if it were a GT, but being the ST it's a pain in the ass either way.

Whinging excuses = Complaining. STOP IT! We know it can be done! Just makes for a better reason to get a BEAMS clip with LSD, or V6 and get the E153.

I do agree on the black GT front.... just sit patiently waiting and one will turn up. Just spend money on things like the leather, speakers, lights etc. that can all be swapped over really easily anyway, so you aren't wasting anything by waiting for a car to swap later

[Box]

I have to keep the decals, I lubs them. I have an 1,000 watt U.S.A. made Rockford Fosgate subwoofer just sitting in the floor of my music room.

Hey, only I get to paraphrase others for my benefit. I said I would for the most part. Being it is the ST I'd just go V6, since the BEAMS would lose its easy factor. There's always the 4A family, but from what I've found none of them are really any easier it'd seem.

This post has been edited by Box: Oct 12, 2013 - 7:28 AM

[bsamps4]

We need to build you a 3s man!!!

[JoshuaM]

We need to build you a 3s man!!!

^^^ THIS GUY!

[kurt95gt]

2 of our 3 still have factory keys lol

[Box]

We need to build you a 3s man!!!

That would also work.

[Box]

2 of our 3 still have factory keys lol

So, semi-rare. It's the first car I've had with the original key, outside of my '67 Coupe DeVille which had both original keys and the owner's manual. Leaving for the weekend, will get started on some things when I have free time next week.

[Keiri]

I also have my original key along with the valet/spare key; not to mention the two extras I've had made.

I'm glad you started a thread Box - maybe you'll keep your red Celica hate confined here. :] You may want to add "Replace radiator" to that list as yours looks about ready retirement.

Are you looking for a particular color for your leather seats? Don't say black...

This post has been edited by Keiri: Oct 12, 2013 - 5:37 PM

[jesse09]

That black metallic trim looks really good. I'm now considering doing the same with mine.

[bnr32celica]

That black metallic trim looks really good. I'm now considering doing the same with mine.

X2

Box, looks clean.

[Syaoran]

Turbocharge it

[sr666]

I've just logged in after listing my Black GT for sale and I see Box has made a thread

It came up lovely after the hard work mate fair play,

The only thing I don't like is that it's Red

[njccmd2002]

put in some fog lights. it will look great.

[rentaspace]

I didn't believe it at first, box making a project thread >.<


Anyway, I would put some foggies on her and then stick to you plan