Celica GT4 advise

[Tusc_si]

Hi all,

I've always yearned after a GT4 ideally a Sainz edition, last year I bought a 3.2 A3 DSG and although it's a very nice car I'm getting board of it plus the other half wasn't so keep on the £600 ish servicing bill.

Anyway I'm thinking of dipping into the GT4 ownership and have seen a nice late 1998 white GT4 which is an import. It seems to be a nice car and bing so late still offers the confidence that I can use it everyday without too many worries.

I'm hoping that someone can however offer some advice on buying an imported GT4, is there anything that I should watch out for or be concerned about when buying a non-UK GT4?

Any advice would be greatly received.

Si

Would help if the title was spelt correctly

Edited by Tusc_si on Friday 10th April 12:23

[TotalControl]

The Carlos Sainz edition was only available with the ST185 GT4 IIRC. The 98 model you have looked at is the ST205. I seem to think, and i hope someone else corrects me if i'm wrong, that the imported later GT4's are better as they are facelifted. But I think they have less power than before. You could always ask the chaps at http://www.gt4oc.net/ or you could have a wikiread.

[Tusc_si]

TotalControl said:

The Carlos Sainz edition was only available with the ST185 GT4 IIRC. The 98 model you have looked at is the ST205.

Yes thats correct it is a ST205 that I'm looking at, the Sainz appeals but a little too old for me now.

I've had a good read but was hoping that someone could help with my questions above.

Si

[GT4 Baz]

There is generally not much to look out for on these mate, they are inherantly reliable and very well put together.

Listen out for knocking front suspension, this will either be the crush tubes (about £4 per time) or the figure 8's (about £350 per side). These are both maintainance items at about the only thing that you need to look out for.

Also, check the engine warning light. If it stays on or doesn't appear at all (some have been diconnected by dodgy owners!) it could mean that the charge cooler needs topping up with coolant.

Where abouts are you based? It might be worth having a look at one of the owners clubs like www.gt4oc.net to see if an owner local to you will look at a car with you.

I have had mine for over 3 years now and only replaced things I wanted to (ie modifications) and a few bushes (diff mount and engine mount). Clutches are good for 60-80k, the brakes are large (315mm all round) and easy on pads. Discs cost around £300 all round, pads around £130.

Tyre wear is even assuming the geometry is good. Don't necessarily be put off by modified examples, thse are enthusiast cars and most of them will have been well looked after.

HTH

Baz

[maser_spyder]

TotalControl said:

The Carlos Sainz edition was only available with the ST185 GT4 IIRC. The 98 model you have looked at is the ST205. I seem to think, and i hope someone else corrects me if i'm wrong, that the imported later GT4's are better as they are facelifted. But I think they have less power than before. You could always ask the chaps at http://www.gt4oc.net/ or you could have a wikiread.

I'll correct you, 'cos you're wrong!

ST165 - Old model - hard to find now, quickly becoming a classic.

ST185 - Pop up headlight model with bulge in the bonnet, available in Carlos Sainz version which is highly sought after now. UK and Import models were slightly different spec (mainly due to ECU fuel mapping because of the different octane fuel used in Japan). The UK version was around 200BHP, import version 215BHP.

ST205 - Facelift version with twin round-ish headlights. Approx. 255BHP, but lost some of the superb handling of the earlier cars. Looks better and is the most 'modern' looking of the lot, but handling is more suited to cruising than thrashing around on A roads doing lots of sideways.

They're all excellent cars, easy to modify if you're in to that sort of thing.

Nothing special to look for in particular, I don't think there are any known major issues. gt4oc.net has loads of users, they're a popular car, it's unlikely there are any problems that arise that haven't been seen before and could be advised on by members of their forum.

They're great fun cars, very easy to drive, very hard to get it wrong!

[Gompo]

maser_spyder said:

TotalControl said:

The Carlos Sainz edition was only available with the ST185 GT4 IIRC. The 98 model you have looked at is the ST205. I seem to think, and i hope someone else corrects me if i'm wrong, that the imported later GT4's are better as they are facelifted. But I think they have less power than before. You could always ask the chaps at http://www.gt4oc.net/ or you could have a wikiread.

I'll correct you, 'cos you're wrong!

ST165 - Old model - hard to find now, quickly becoming a classic.

ST185 - Pop up headlight model with bulge in the bonnet, available in Carlos Sainz version which is highly sought after now. UK and Import models were slightly different spec (mainly due to ECU fuel mapping because of the different octane fuel used in Japan). The UK version was around 200BHP, import version 215BHP.

ST205 - Facelift version with twin round-ish headlights. Approx. 255BHP, but lost some of the superb handling of the earlier cars. Looks better and is the most 'modern' looking of the lot, but handling is more suited to cruising than thrashing around on A roads doing lots of sideways.

They're all excellent cars, easy to modify if you're in to that sort of thing.

Nothing special to look for in particular, I don't think there are any known major issues. gt4oc.net has loads of users, they're a popular car, it's unlikely there are any problems that arise that haven't been seen before and could be advised on by members of their forum.

They're great fun cars, very easy to drive, very hard to get it wrong!

So are you essentially saying the 185 is the 'drivers car' out of the three? When I was interested in getting a 185 a few years ago I am sure the general consensus was that the 185 was the worst of the lot? Boring to drive, overweight/underpowered etc? I prefer the looks of the 185 but got put off by the dismissive remarks..

Does the 185 still have the fig8s?

[Mr E]

maser_spyder said:

TotalControl said:

The Carlos Sainz edition was only available with the ST185 GT4 IIRC. The 98 model you have looked at is the ST205. I seem to think, and i hope someone else corrects me if i'm wrong, that the imported later GT4's are better as they are facelifted. But I think they have less power than before. You could always ask the chaps at http://www.gt4oc.net/ or you could have a wikiread.

I'll correct you, 'cos you're wrong!

Correction on the correction.

maser_spyder said:

ST165 - Old model - hard to find now, quickly becoming a classic.

ST185 - Pop up headlight model with bulge in the bonnet, available in Carlos Sainz version which is highly sought after now. UK and Import models were slightly different spec (mainly due to ECU fuel mapping because of the different octane fuel used in Japan). The UK version was around 200BHP, import version 215BHP.

ST205 - Facelift version with twin round-ish headlights. Approx. 255BHP, but lost some of the superb handling of the earlier cars. Looks better and is the most 'modern' looking of the lot, but handling is more suited to cruising than thrashing around on A roads doing lots of sideways.

A decent ST205 will run rings around the model it replaced. More power, less weight, better suspension. The only vice it has handling wise is that it's default setup is understeer (like pretty much all modern cars). A 120 quid rear ARB will sort that out.

And yes, a 1998 JDM import will be a facelifted ST205. 3 post spoiler, clear rear indicators, some other minor bits and bobs. A 98 may also have projector headlights, which are desirable.


From another recent post;


---
Imports and UK cars are pretty much exactly the same. UK cars are easier to insure.
WRC models go no faster and are really not worth any premium IMHO.

Only a couple of common faults - the trick front suspension needs replacing every 60K or so (bloody figure of 8 joints) and the rear diff mounts fail (hard throttle in 3rd or 4th, lift and listen for a thud from the back end). The diff mount is about 100 quid to fix. The suspension is rather more expensive, budget 500 quid plus.

Clutches will cost serious money to replace if it needs doing.

It's a 30K plus high performance car. It has an thirst for fuel, consumables and service bills to match.

Go in with eyes wide open, get a bad example and she'll empty your account in a heartbeat.

Get a good one, and it's pretty much bomb proof cross country fun. A friend has 160K of very hard miles on his 1994 car and she's still running fine.

http://www.celica-club.co.uk/wiki/index.php/ST205_...

---

(edit - fix quotes)

Edited by Mr E on Monday 20th April 17:29

[TotalControl]

Yo E! I didn't say the second bit, that was maser!

[Mr E]

Sorry dude - I have quoting badness.

[TotalControl]

Ahhh, much better. I don't look like that much of a 'tard now. Thanks E.