7th Gen Celica info please...
Discussion
Good choice of car and £10k will get you a very, very good example. Personally I'm not too keen on the mahoosive spoiler on the GT but horses for courses...
Hope you don't mind but I'll copy and paste something I wrote a few months ago about my old Celica.
Oil burning problems only occur on the pre-facelift 140 engines - they get oval pistons. Toyota were doing goodwill repairs if you had FSH but I'm not sure if they still do.
The 190 engine is the one you want though for it's top end. Look out to make sure the lift bolts have been changed on the engine, as these can snap. This doesn't damage the engine but will prevent it going into 'lift'. Dead cheap to change. The newer version of these lift bolts has a different shape to prevent the wear that happened to the old ones.
Cam change point is at 6200rpm.
Gearboxes are the 'weak' point of the car - not weak as in unreliable but they don't really feel nice. The change isn't slick really, but apparently this can be improved by using different gearbox oil. The change is OK in my car - weirdly it seems to have good and bad days, but this is my biggest disappointment with the car, especially when you have to change gear so often!
Car is very practical, with the rear seats folded down the load area is huge. You'll easily get a bike in there. Dead easy to park as well, as they have surprisingly good visibility. Just don't confuse the reversing beep for parking sensors!
One common problem - don't leave any coins in the central cupholders - this is where the alarm sensor lives and it will set the alarm off. I couldn't work it out until I read about virtually every other Celica owner on the net having the same problems.
Alloys are prone to warping and corroding unfortunately. They must be made of very soft metal!
Apart from that, I don't think there is much else to go wrong. Service intervals are every 12k miles. Check out http://www.celica-club.co.uk
MPG is exactly the same as previously stated - I've had it as low as 23-ish when I did a trackday, and as high as 37/38 on the motorway. Most of the time I get around 30/31.
Only the T-Sport has traction control. My car doesn't have it but I don't think it is really necessary on these cars - there isn't much low end torque to get the wheels spinning!
I think they drive brilliantly - the ride isn't too harsh, you get feedback through the steering, and the whole car seems to 'breathe' with the road, not bounce along like so many 'sporty' cars.
Recommended.
Hope you don't mind but I'll copy and paste something I wrote a few months ago about my old Celica.
Oil burning problems only occur on the pre-facelift 140 engines - they get oval pistons. Toyota were doing goodwill repairs if you had FSH but I'm not sure if they still do.
The 190 engine is the one you want though for it's top end. Look out to make sure the lift bolts have been changed on the engine, as these can snap. This doesn't damage the engine but will prevent it going into 'lift'. Dead cheap to change. The newer version of these lift bolts has a different shape to prevent the wear that happened to the old ones.
Cam change point is at 6200rpm.
Gearboxes are the 'weak' point of the car - not weak as in unreliable but they don't really feel nice. The change isn't slick really, but apparently this can be improved by using different gearbox oil. The change is OK in my car - weirdly it seems to have good and bad days, but this is my biggest disappointment with the car, especially when you have to change gear so often!
Car is very practical, with the rear seats folded down the load area is huge. You'll easily get a bike in there. Dead easy to park as well, as they have surprisingly good visibility. Just don't confuse the reversing beep for parking sensors!
One common problem - don't leave any coins in the central cupholders - this is where the alarm sensor lives and it will set the alarm off. I couldn't work it out until I read about virtually every other Celica owner on the net having the same problems.
Alloys are prone to warping and corroding unfortunately. They must be made of very soft metal!
Apart from that, I don't think there is much else to go wrong. Service intervals are every 12k miles. Check out http://www.celica-club.co.uk
MPG is exactly the same as previously stated - I've had it as low as 23-ish when I did a trackday, and as high as 37/38 on the motorway. Most of the time I get around 30/31.
Only the T-Sport has traction control. My car doesn't have it but I don't think it is really necessary on these cars - there isn't much low end torque to get the wheels spinning!
I think they drive brilliantly - the ride isn't too harsh, you get feedback through the steering, and the whole car seems to 'breathe' with the road, not bounce along like so many 'sporty' cars.
Recommended.
If it sounds like rocks are being ground together ~2k+ RPM in second and third, it needs the clutch replacing. It wasn't bad enough to force a recall but Toyota usually do it for free if you take it to them. (They did mine, though mine was "Approved Used").
Open the boot and leave it open whilst you have a good look around the car. The hatch is particularly heavy, more so with the GT wing and in cold temperatures often won't stay up. (I've been 'eaten' by the boot more than once last winter whist at ASDA loading the shopping). Not always an issue but worth looking out for.
It seems mostly just the 16" wheels that had a corrosion issue.
My T-Sport has been a bit of a lemon, I should've known as it is yellow, however I seem to be one of the unlucky minority. (In the last six months I've had the clutch, front and rear disks+pads replaced. The disks managed a gigantic 7k~ in my ownership. I don't think I'm that bad of a driver!)
I've really enjoyed mine when it's not been in the garage and the "lift" has reduced friends to fits of giggles before now, which is fun.
Open the boot and leave it open whilst you have a good look around the car. The hatch is particularly heavy, more so with the GT wing and in cold temperatures often won't stay up. (I've been 'eaten' by the boot more than once last winter whist at ASDA loading the shopping). Not always an issue but worth looking out for.
It seems mostly just the 16" wheels that had a corrosion issue.
My T-Sport has been a bit of a lemon, I should've known as it is yellow, however I seem to be one of the unlucky minority. (In the last six months I've had the clutch, front and rear disks+pads replaced. The disks managed a gigantic 7k~ in my ownership. I don't think I'm that bad of a driver!)
I've really enjoyed mine when it's not been in the garage and the "lift" has reduced friends to fits of giggles before now, which is fun.
I've got a 190 celica (latest shape) although not the GT model and I really love it. Mine's not given me many problems apart from what I think was the heatshield falling off on the motorway today! - I'm just trying to figure out if it will still be safe to drive. (if anyone knows, let me know)
I think it's a severely under-rated car. As an example, I guess I'm quite lucky that I also have a F360 and S class to chose from; but it's the celica which always seems to get used come rain or shine. It's a terrific car.
I think it's a severely under-rated car. As an example, I guess I'm quite lucky that I also have a F360 and S class to chose from; but it's the celica which always seems to get used come rain or shine. It's a terrific car.
zuby84 said:
I've got a 190 celica (latest shape) although not the GT model and I really love it. Mine's not given me many problems apart from what I think was the heatshield falling off on the motorway today! - I'm just trying to figure out if it will still be safe to drive. (if anyone knows, let me know)
I think it's a severely under-rated car. As an example, I guess I'm quite lucky that I also have a F360 and S class to chose from; but it's the celica which always seems to get used come rain or shine. It's a terrific car.
Yes I think they are realy under-rated as well - the handling really hit the sweet spot for me.I think it's a severely under-rated car. As an example, I guess I'm quite lucky that I also have a F360 and S class to chose from; but it's the celica which always seems to get used come rain or shine. It's a terrific car.
The heatshield did come loose on mine as well - seems it's a weak point on these cars. Luckily mine was just rattling against the exhaust so I just used bulldog clips (!) to clip it back on and stop it rattling. There was a debate on http://www.celica-club.co.uk about whether it is safe to run without a heatshield or not. I think the consensus was that it probably is but it's better to be safe than sorry and it isn't an expensive part to replace.
edit: more info here: http://www.celica-club.co.uk/forum/index.php?showt... and here: http://www.celica-club.co.uk/forum/index.php?showt...
Edited by ad551 on Friday 23 April 09:07
MikeyMike said:
A friend of mine is considering a 7th gen Celica (last shape). He's interested in the 190 GT model and is prepared to part with around 10k for one. Is there anything he should look out for? Any inherent problems or quirks?
All advice much appreciated.
Mike
If they have £10k to spare wouldn't something like a DC5 ITR be a better bet? Better looking, faster, better handling, more fun, better sounding, nicer to drive and at present stronger residuals?All advice much appreciated.
Mike
I've not driven a Gen 7 Celica so can't compare directly. But this certainly seems true with most that I've read.
300bhp/ton said:
MikeyMike said:
A friend of mine is considering a 7th gen Celica (last shape). He's interested in the 190 GT model and is prepared to part with around 10k for one. Is there anything he should look out for? Any inherent problems or quirks?
All advice much appreciated.
Mike
If they have £10k to spare wouldn't something like a DC5 ITR be a better bet? Better looking, faster, better handling, more fun, better sounding, nicer to drive and at present stronger residuals?All advice much appreciated.
Mike
I've not driven a Gen 7 Celica so can't compare directly. But this certainly seems true with most that I've read.
300bhp/ton said:
MikeyMike said:
A friend of mine is considering a 7th gen Celica (last shape). He's interested in the 190 GT model and is prepared to part with around 10k for one. Is there anything he should look out for? Any inherent problems or quirks?
All advice much appreciated.
Mike
If they have £10k to spare wouldn't something like a DC5 ITR be a better bet? Better looking, faster, better handling, more fun, better sounding, nicer to drive and at present stronger residuals?All advice much appreciated.
Mike
I've not driven a Gen 7 Celica so can't compare directly. But this certainly seems true with most that I've read.
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