PH Carpool: Toyota Sera
We meet a PHer with a seriously left-field coupe, and the weirdest doors this side of a Lambo
Car:Toyota Sera
Owned since:September 2011
Previously owned:
Austin Mini Cooper which I still have - though it needs a lot of TLC and some money thrown its way. A W-reg Vauxhall Corsa, Peugeot 106 Rallye, another 106 just newer and more fun, and a Peugeot 406 Coupe, possibly one of the best cars I have owned - it was so big and so smooth I wish I had kept it.
Why I bought it:
The first time I saw a Sera I knew I had to have one. I remember saying to the owner one day I will own THAT car. What with the glass roof and the dihedral doors it just jumped out at me and I was hooked right away. It turned out the owner of the one I had seen that late Friday evening is now a very good family friend. He mentioned selling it then and I couldn't afford it at the time. But I just felt I had to have it, so I did everything I could to get the money. He even mentioned breaking it for parts - I knew then I really needed to buy it. So I did.
What I wish I'd known:
There isn't really a lot to catch you out with a Sera - only things like the fact that everything is harder to get hold of as it was never officially imported. Body panels are especially tricky. Mechanically, however, it's very similar to an EP82 Toyota Starlet, so I'm often trawling the forums looking for bits and bobs for the Sera.
Things I love:
I love the rarity of the car, I love the fact the doors are unique, especially on a car that is so reasonably priced. It really does turn heads - I've had people in Ferraris and Bentleys at petrol stations having a good look whilst I fill up. I just love showing the car off to as many people as possible.
Things I hate:
I don't hate anything about this car, I am so glad I have had the opportunity to own it and drive it, I just hope I never HAVE to sell it.
Costs:
It's fairly reasonable, really. I drive it to and from work daily and then the odd hoon at the weekend, always getting at least 25mpg ,which I don't think's too bad for a small-engined turbo. Parts are hard to come by but not that expensive - it's just like most old Jap engines, you need to keep an eye on the oil but other than that it doesn't cost me anything. It costs a little more to insure as it's an import, but I pay about £700 with classic car insurance and limited mileage. Since I'm 23 and that's on my own policy, I don't think it's too bad at all.
The cars can be quite cheap to buy too, the most I've seen one sell for was around £4K, so not an expensive car to have.
Where I've been:
I have been to Wales and back a few times, and to the last PH rolling road day in Surrey, but no really long journeys yet - I'm waiting for better weather, time off work and money to fill the car up.
My Surrey RR day was amazing, though - everyone there was so friendly I cannot wait to get back to try again. I got 150hp from it, and I did say I was happy with that especially since it came out of the factory with 108hp, as at the time I had some old steel winter wheels on and it hadn't had a service. But once I can afford it I'll maybe get a remap then get back down there to try again.
What next?
I'd like to save and get something like a Merc, something I can just use and not worry about.
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
Shame the article doesn't talk about the turbo conversion, as IIRC they came with a N/A 1.5, not a turbocharged one. Unless theres been a typo and its the 1.3 turbo (from a starlet) thats been installed as thats quite a common thing to do with these.
10/10 for me!
Shame the article doesn't talk about the turbo conversion, as IIRC they came with a N/A 1.5, not a turbocharged one. Unless theres been a typo and its the 1.3 turbo (from a starlet) thats been installed as thats quite a common thing to do with these.
10/10 for me!
Hopefully he'll be along at some point to give us more info!
As standard the Sera has the 110ps 5E-FHE engine - 1496cc.
The Starlet Turbo 135ps 4E-FTE shares the same architecture, but a shorter block and lower compression ratio - but engine mounts are the same and the majority of the wiring is the same. Gearboxes etc are almost interchangeable.
On my own Sera (now sold) I retained the standard top mount intercooler, but on this example a chargecooler system was fitted, which was the hardest part of the job as there isn't much room for everything. Most people go for a front mount intercooler, but that and retaining the air conditioning system can be difficult. This car does retain its air conditioning, and looks standard from the outside - but the battery needed to be moved to the boot.
Starlet turbos can be modified fairly easily, but there isn't much room for a bigger turbo, so it keeps the Toyota CT9 turbo but with different manifold and downpipe. Its got a TOM'S ECU and a few other upgrades as well.
One of my Toyota Sera club members is selling his turbo Sera if anyone fancies one. Its on Ebay Classifieds at the moment.
Whilst many would dismiss the Sera as a Starlet in a posh frock, it does allow someone to have a more interesting the the average car, that is easy to look after and totally reliable assuming its basic needs of oil and water are met. No one claims they'll out accelerate, or out handle or beat other cars - however, they are very capable small cars.
McLaren copied the doors for the F1 (and all their road cars since use derivatives). Lotus used on for the M250 concept, and I've had another small volume car constructor sniffing around one in the last 6 weeks.
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