Celica ST185
Author
Discussion

_Dan_

Original Poster:

2,392 posts

301 months

Saturday 15th September 2007
quotequote all
I previously had an ST182, which I absolutely loved. Very reliable and solid for a late 80's motor. Anyhow, the little corsa I've been using as a runabout for the last year has finally bought the big one and I'm now looking for something alot more fun but still cheapish.

I was browsing through the PH classifields and came accross a couple of GT4 turbos (185) for around a grand and a half. Does this sound like a reasonable price? and also, I used to use my 182 as a commuting car, would the 185 still be as practical and reliable?

Being that the Chimaera has been off the road for a couple of years (just about to start fixing it up now, long project tho!), I'm missing something with a bit of poke in it, and have always liked the older Celicas.

Any general info or pointers greatly appreciated.

Dan smile

bint

4,664 posts

246 months

Saturday 15th September 2007
quotequote all
Don't see why not. That's a fair price for one, they are getting on a bit and are fairly reliable but not as much as the ST205's. If you CAN get an ST185 CS edition :drool: then you may have a bigger grin as it's quite a bit quicker.
The standard 185 will benefit from a few simple tweaks to gain more power without detrimental effects. Lovely cars.

AJI

5,180 posts

239 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
Have to slightly dissagree. I had an ST185 and moved up to a ST205 before now having an EVO6.
The ST185s are not all that great in my opinion. They don't really handle all that great in stock form, the engine for a 2L turbo feels very unresponsive and these days all you'll find are mollested high milage examples that are waiting to go wrong.

The CS version was indeed slightly better, but you may as well go for the ST205. The ST205s are much better cars as they have the LSD on the rear wheels. Together with this and the general handling improvements the car feels much more 'alive'.

The ST205s had better brakes, better geometry, stronger engine etc. etc.
It would be worth it to spend the extra and get a car that is worth the money.


bint

4,664 posts

246 months

Monday 17th September 2007
quotequote all
But for a cheap (to buy anyway) run around that's a little different and has some poke you wouldn't be going for an ST205...... He's got a TVR - he's not really looking for major power.

Furyblade_Lee

4,114 posts

246 months

Wednesday 19th September 2007
quotequote all
Sorry to Butt in.. We have had a White Carlos Sainz, and an ST205 WRC in the past. The CS was a beautiful looking car, one of the last truly "beautiful" rally cars. But although ours was a mint, standard, good one, it was forever having things like wheel bearings ect go, and was, VERY expensive to run. In contrast, the St205 was ultra reliable (although granted, newer) but dynamically blew the doors of the CS. Unless the CS has been modded it will not touch a 205. But neither 4WD Celica will be a cheap runaround i can assure you!!!

Riknos

4,701 posts

226 months

Thursday 20th September 2007
quotequote all
Furyblade_Lee said:
Sorry to Butt in.. We have had a White Carlos Sainz, and an ST205 WRC in the past. The CS was a beautiful looking car, one of the last truly "beautiful" rally cars. But although ours was a mint, standard, good one, it was forever having things like wheel bearings ect go, and was, VERY expensive to run. In contrast, the St205 was ultra reliable (although granted, newer) but dynamically blew the doors of the CS. Unless the CS has been modded it will not touch a 205. But neither 4WD Celica will be a cheap runaround i can assure you!!!
I agree, may be cheap to buy, but you'll find you will spend the same over getting it running right in the next 3 months.

emicen

9,113 posts

240 months

Thursday 20th September 2007
quotequote all
Can I take issue with the faff supposedly having a stronger engine. I have never yet heard of a 185 grenading its ringlands for no real reason. The ST205 does it as its party piece just before simultaneously goosing a clutch and superstrut assembly every 60k miles. See how much that'll sting you!

(The 205 is a tool, nae, weapon for the job of fast road driving. The CS is a beautiful creation. If I wrapped my 205 round a post, I wouldnt be that bothered as long as I could walk away. Same scenario with the CS, I do believe I'd be gutted)

_Dan_

Original Poster:

2,392 posts

301 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2007
quotequote all
Cheers for the replies chaps. I do really like these cars, as someone mentioned above, I'm not exactly looking for the ultimate in performance, but a quick yet reasonably reliable motor that isn't as pocket heavy as the Chimaera. I'm good doing most of my own maintenance, on my last Celica (182) I did the power steering rack, dampers, driveshafts, brake hoses and so on, so hopefully I can avoid most of the big bills!!

I've seen one on eBay that looks very tidy indeed, thing is, it has 134k miles on it. It's a J reg, so below average miles for a 16 year old car. Only had 4 owners, unmodified other than a nice exhaust. Decent service history, original UK car and so on.

I know the mileage is quite high but I believe the 3SGTE engine is pretty bullet proof, my last one was on 160k when I sold it, and as far as I know, 3 yrs later it's still going!

Anyone have an thoughts on this?

Cheers smile

emicen

9,113 posts

240 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2007
quotequote all
My CS has somewhere in the region of 180k miles on it. Before I took her off the road the engine and box were perfect.

RedexRob

1,861 posts

236 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2007
quotequote all
Late 80,s/90s Celicas - just great value FUN !!!!