Toyota Celica GT4, what to look for?
Discussion
and i'm really tempted by these. Had a good insurance quote on an import GT4 WRC. From what I learned, the import is usually better equipped (like in most cases!) and I'm sure you read similar when buying your MX5.
The guys on Celica-Club.com are really helpful and there is a wealth of information on there. I think to access some of it you will need to subscribe, but a buying guide is on there somewhere and I don't think you need premium membership to access it.
Superstrut suspension - check for creaks and knocks, wishbones in-particular are expensive to replace iirc.
Brakes - I believe there were some stonking great 4-pots which can make discs / pads a costly service item if not recently done
Engine - pretty bulletproof, but as with any turbo engine check for excessive smoke and ask about oil useage (the seller might even be honest...!)
The guys on Celica-Club.com are really helpful and there is a wealth of information on there. I think to access some of it you will need to subscribe, but a buying guide is on there somewhere and I don't think you need premium membership to access it.
Superstrut suspension - check for creaks and knocks, wishbones in-particular are expensive to replace iirc.
Brakes - I believe there were some stonking great 4-pots which can make discs / pads a costly service item if not recently done
Engine - pretty bulletproof, but as with any turbo engine check for excessive smoke and ask about oil useage (the seller might even be honest...!)
Marf said:
Check the superstrut suspension is in good nick, costs around a grand to replace the figure 8's which are the main wear items.
Nope. About £80-90 per side for the part, and actually replacing them doesn't take too long so labour costs should be pretty minimal.The costly bits of the superstrut are the banana arms and lower arms, although the latter go more frequently than the former.
In terms of what to look for - yup, the superstrut should be given attention to make sure it's not worn or clunking. The rear diff mount is also a weak spot and you'll get a clunk from the rear if that needs replacing.
If it's been modified (good chance it has) I'd also check to see if it looks like it's been done competently. You don't want to buy a car that's had mods to make it go faster, but without the mods to the cooling system etc. to make it reliable at the higher power.
Get yourself on GT4OC.net, loads of helpful peeps on there.
gazchap said:
Nope. About £80-90 per side for the part, and actually replacing them doesn't take too long so labour costs should be pretty minimal.
The costly bits of the superstrut are the banana arms and lower arms, although the latter go more frequently than the former.
Thanks for the correctionThe costly bits of the superstrut are the banana arms and lower arms, although the latter go more frequently than the former.
Rear suspension is just a normal set up if I remember rightly.
Front suspension is the superstrut, which is a bit more unusual (only a handful of cars, all Toyota, have this set up) and although it's pretty straightforward in terms of how it works, from past experience I wouldn't trust a normal mechanic with it, I always take my ST205 to a specialist (in this case, Martin Kingston up in Blackburn)
Servicing - yup, pretty simple. Oil and filter changes are easy enough, I do them every 3,000 miles with high quality oil (Fuchs 10W50 fully-synth from Opie Oils) and only use Toyota oil filters. Air filter - again, pretty simple - can't go far wrong. Fuel filter - can be a bit of a pain to get to but shouldn't be too much hassle.
Spark plugs - again, very simple to change - only complication is that unless the car has been modified to have a front-mount intercooler, the chargecooler sits on top of the head so you have to move that out of the way to get to the leads and plugs. Easy to do, just adds a bit of time on.
Brakes - front brakes are (I think) 2 pots per side, rears are just 1 pot as far as I remember. Pads are easy to change, as are discs. Hardest part is often getting the pins out of the calipers that hold the pads in!
Front suspension is the superstrut, which is a bit more unusual (only a handful of cars, all Toyota, have this set up) and although it's pretty straightforward in terms of how it works, from past experience I wouldn't trust a normal mechanic with it, I always take my ST205 to a specialist (in this case, Martin Kingston up in Blackburn)
Servicing - yup, pretty simple. Oil and filter changes are easy enough, I do them every 3,000 miles with high quality oil (Fuchs 10W50 fully-synth from Opie Oils) and only use Toyota oil filters. Air filter - again, pretty simple - can't go far wrong. Fuel filter - can be a bit of a pain to get to but shouldn't be too much hassle.
Spark plugs - again, very simple to change - only complication is that unless the car has been modified to have a front-mount intercooler, the chargecooler sits on top of the head so you have to move that out of the way to get to the leads and plugs. Easy to do, just adds a bit of time on.
Brakes - front brakes are (I think) 2 pots per side, rears are just 1 pot as far as I remember. Pads are easy to change, as are discs. Hardest part is often getting the pins out of the calipers that hold the pads in!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff