Advice

[ss1]

Hi all

im in a pickle and would like some advice, i have been offered a 1990 gt4 with 63000 on the clock, new engine and stage 2 turbo (500 miles) for my 1995 st202 auto (import) 92000. Straght swap what do you all think

[sotal]

sounds ok as long as the condition is good. The following questions spring to mind:

Why did it need a new engine after only 63000 miles?

Why does he(or she) so desperate to swap?

If there is genuinely nothing wrong with it then it should be a good swap as it should be worth more. I would guess yours is worth about £3000?? And the gt4 is probably worth about £3000-£3500.

[cookci]

the 6th gen is probably worth about £2,000 :(

[sotal]

Around here a 95 gen 6 2.0 would go for closer to £3000 than £2000, I saw private one only the other day and that had more miles and sounded to have a few probs and that was at £2700

But even so if you think the gen6 is worth around £2000, then surely there must be something wrong with the GT4 if this other person wants to swap??

[cookci]

yeah id guess so too

[GT4 BOOSTER]

too many horses on a gt4 engine will melt the pistons, check what bhp it has and if the pistons are forged .chances are the clutch or super struts are knackered if he wants to swap.

[mikeb]

too many horses on a gt4 engine will melt the pistons, check what bhp it has and if the pistons are forged .chances are the clutch or super struts are knackered if he wants to swap.

←

Yeah could be needing a new clutch or some other expensive/fiddly part (gearboxes aren't as strong on the ST185). If it's had a new engine recently, they would have been daft not fit a new clutch if it was badly worn.

Does the ST185 have superstrut front suspension as well? I presumed it was a gen6 thing only.

The gen5 celica body is usually excellent in terms of rust/rot, but at this sort of age they can start to go in places. Mechanical stuff can be fixed/replaced, but body rot is time consuming to fix properly, and often gets bodged. Check the spare wheel well is dry and all the footwell carpets.

You can tell a lot about the car by judging the current owner (ask questions about servicing etc). Also, look at the logbook to see how many previous keepers it's had. Less = more likely to have been looked after. Lots could mean it has a hidden fault/shady histroy and keeps getting passed on.

I would have thought that an autobox would devalue a celica (can't be very desirable on a sporty car). Also, imports tend to be worth less, as people hear horror stories about insuring them.

[GT4 BOOSTER]

most automatics are considered executive driving and can be 500 to 1000 £ more than a manual.hence the auto supras

[daktari]

most automatics are considered executive driving and can be 500 to 1000 £ more than a manual.hence the auto supras

←

Glad you chose a supra as an example. I`m thinking Metro, Fiesta, Corsa, Starlet.

[GT4 BOOSTER]

i had a ford granada scorpio auto , i class that as executive motoring , defo not the ones you mention. those arn't even considered cars in my view.boxes on wheels.

[ss1]

thanks all been very helpful

[GTForbes]

ST185's don't have super strut suspension. ask the guy for a test drive, simply way to test the clutch is get the car in 3rd gear 2000rpm and accelerate, if the revs pick up quick and the car doesn't match it's acceleration then the clutch will be slipping.

if it was over this side of the country i'd offer a helping hand but funds are tight this month for the MOT due next month