Gen 7 - Help Pls With Buckled Wheels And My Views On Celica Vs Mk Ii M

[elche286]

Hi Guys,

A big hello to all the club members from a new Gen 7 Celica owner.

I have just bought an Oct 2004 Celica VVTL-I (the 190 BHP one), having owned (and not sold – just sorn’d) a Mk II MR2 for 11 years.

I hope you guys can help me with a little bit of advice. Firstly, the car is pulling ever so slightly to the left. I did notice this on the test drive but assumed it would be the tracking. Had it checked today and it turns out my 2 front wheels are buckled - the N/S wheel worse than the O/S, which explains the pulling to the left.

Actually,it is not too bad and as the car has some Pirelli P Zero’s with a decent amount of tread left on them then I may wait a while before changing the wheels.
Obviously, it will slowly drive me mad so I will have to change the wheels at some point.

I’m not looking for anything flash, in fact, the original wheels would do if second-hand unbuckled examples are out there. I was just wondering if any club
members can recommend any wheels for my Celica, or if anyone knows a reliable place to obtain replacement wheels?

Prior to the Celica, I had a Toyota Mk II MR 2 for 11 years (in fact still have it), and I thought I could give some thoughts on a comparison between the 2 cars, for what
my opinions are worth!

The Celica feels faster (16 more BHP on paper) and obviously has an engine with some quite different characteristics. The lift is working fine on my engine and
it reminds me of the power band I used to feel on the 125 bikes I used to ride around on. Shame the band is relatively narrow and it is quite difficult to keep it in the band or actually use this power every day unless you’re on a B road or the motorway.

Interior

The MR2 felt better screwed together in the interior. I have a couple of rattles in my Celica and the parcel shelf clips have broken, but mine does not seem to
rattle as much as some of the threads I have seen. The plastics definitely look and feel cheaper in the Celica, but that said the interior of the Celica is a nice place to be. Climate control is a nice touch if you can be bothered. Metal pedals is a nice touch. They were only rubber on the MR2.

Driving& Handling

Both the MR 2 and the Celica have good driving positions. I think the seat in the MR2 held you in place better, and in some ways felt slightly more comfy, but
that said the driving position and seat are not in any way bad in the Celica or uncomfortable. The Celica has leather seats the MR 2 was just fabric. The steering definitely felt slightly more direct in the MR 2. Obviously when comparing the handling it has to be acknowledged that RWD is ultimately always going to be more fun in my opinion than FWD, but that said the Celica is a fantastic handling car for a front wheel drive car.

The brakes feel at least as good if not better on the Celica. The Celica definitely has slightly softer suspension I think and as a consequence there is a tiny bit of body roll that I didn’t used to feel in the MR2.

The Gearbox.

WTF - I do get it. The engine is meant to be revved. But, why oh why oh why is sixth gear so short (or long whichever is the right word!).

To give you an idea at about 82 mph the MR2 was revving at approximately 3500 rpm whereas at the same speed in 6^th gear the Celica is revving at approximately 4100 rpm but the engine feels like it could easily achieve the same with a longer gear without straining.

Why did they not either add a 7^th gear or make the 6^th gear longer….?

Anyway I hope those thoughts are of help to someone, and I hope someone can point me in the right direction for some wheels.

Cheers

Che

[Scarlett Arrow]

Hi, Jonathan & welcome to T.O.C.

I'm fortunate in that I have a 140, these do have sensible gear ratios, but you're not alone in bemoaning the lack of a top gear on the 190 model.

As regards your buckled rims, there's a set from the special edition "Blue", for sale on Gumtree..

https://www.gumtree.com/p/wheel-rims-tyres/for-sale-alloys-wheels-toyota-celica/1136453902

HTH :)

[Nickithomas]

Hello.. i just got my 98 celica st204r on road after 2 and half years... 

Anyhoo bad wheel vibrate on highway... i had a balance and turns out i too had buckled rims

 

Our quick fix was to swap front and rear...

 

Hey presto... no more steer wheel wobble on highway...

 

I have steel rims and have been told that having them repaired weakens them to much and is not a good quick fix either for cost or longevity

 

I have 19"s on mine and it feels good

[Nickithomas]