New To It All, Need Some Advice

[thisismusic]

I bought my first toyota last year, a 1993 celica GT convertible automatic (import) 2.0. Basically, I just wanted something with a fair turn of speed in terms of 0-60, that had a soft top.

Anyway, I've gradually become more and more enthusiastic about it. Unfortunately I don't know much about cars engines etc in general (evidenced the other day when someone said "what does your odometer go up to?" and I said "I don't know. What's an odometer?") and could do with one or two bits of advice.

1. What exactly does lower the suspension achieve? What are the benefits / drawbacks? How much is it likely to cost?

2. Do you know of any good online shops where I can get accessories? Aesthetic things more so than spare parts etc.

3. Can you reccomend any good insurers? I'm 23 and most of the 40 odd insurers I've contacted either don't recognise the model I have, won't insure me because of my age, or give me absurd quotes. At the moment I'm paying £1400 a year with Norwich union.

4. Someone told me that the model I have doesn't have the structural integrity to support a turbo charger if I were ever to desire one (which is unlikely). Can anyone tell me if that's true?

5. I can't afford to spend massive amounts to do the car up. The garage I got it from said that they'd do me a special deal on a respray (£300). I've decided to thoroughly clean and spray up the hubcaps myself as the silver colour is very faded and yellowed a little. Can anyone suggest any little styling mods that aren't too expensive that won't bring my insurance premium up?

6. Finally, what's the best way to go about cleaning a soft top?

Thanks everyone!

[mikeb]

Hi there.

The odometer is the thing in the middle of your speedometer that counts how many miles your car has done.

1. Firmer ride, impression of improved handling, reduces body roll (but your antiroll bars do that already), messes up suspension geometry. Makes your car look 'bad*ss wicked' until you rip your sump off on a speedbump.

3. Doubt you'll get much better than that on an import soft top at 23.

4. Highly likely.

5. Insurance companies seem to want to know about any mod, no matter how trivial or 'it invalidates your policy'. So no, I don't know of anything simple. £300 for a respray sounds cheap, but then they might do a cheap job of it. If you do go for a respray, you should have it done the same/similar to it's original colour, otherwise the paint won't match in the engine bay, door shuts etc. And for £300 there is no way they will be stripping the car down to do it. I wouldn't recommend trying to paint the wheels yourself, there are places around that specialise in refurbishing alloy wheels.

6. No idea, never owned one.

Anyway, get some pictures of your car up on here.

[sotal]

1= knackered car! I would pay to have a lowered car raised! But then again I have to go over 8 speed bumps on one streatch of road.

2=Theres places like funky products (link top left) other than that just search google

3=Depends on where you live, your NCB, and previous history, but insurance is unique to you. Direct Line was cheapest for me, but most expensive for my wife

4= no idea

5=buy some decent alloy wheels to replace whatever is on. probably minimum of 16"

6=no idea

[Rex]

Tesco did their best to rob me for £1500 fully comp (35 years old- misses pranged my last car so nil NCD)

I had a link from this site which pointed me towards Liverpool Victoria - £600 per year! with 0 ncd!

Most quotes were coming in at £1200+ (but I am older with only an ST, but may be worth a try?)

[SMW]

Raid Piggy Bank and Head for St Albans

Rob a Bank and Head for Barking

[Cubic Incubi]

My Turn.

1. Personaly I wouldnt drop it more than 20mm. the convertible doesnt handle as good as the 'Stuck Down Lid' version as it is and too much of a drop wont be good. The theory is the lower the car the less drag, but it often just means tighter springs too, so a decent pair of hydraulic absorbers wouldnt harm. My gen 5 tin top is dropped 30 mm and i can go over speed bumps all day.

it fills the arches up a bit more. bigger wheels are an option but i wouldnt go any more than 17's.

2. Have you tired eBay, some bits on their - you'll get more stuff on USA eBay as they have a bigger modding market for the N/A Gen 5.

3. Insurance http://www.celica-club.co.uk/cgibin/phpbb2/viewforum.php?f=5

4. Lies. slap them with haddocks. I know of plenty of 3SGTE swaps in a convertible. It has the structural integrity. A german company had a contract with toyota, they took shipment of the cars in stock form, they already had boots - those models only sold in the USA, OZ & Japan and certain other areas but were used to create the European convertibles.

When modifying the celica to a convertible, it had a strenghtened window surround added and had modifications to the chassis in envisaged weak points.

Perhaps what that person meant was the car will not be 4 wheel drive like the celica GT4.

The model the convertible is based on (obviously this one is modded and a 6th gen)

5. He means spraying the centre hub caps, the plastic covers not the wheels. just get a good collour match mate.

Like already mentioned, they need to know about all mods, performance or styling. I can reccomend a whole host of subtle mods to give a better feel to the cosmetics.

6. Don't jet wash it. use a hand brush with medium or soft bristles, use plenty of running fresh water applicated to the hood, mix a rich solution of general purpose detergent, if its mohair, use shampoo! agitate with the brush and rinse. if you have a greenish tinge it needs removing as its mould and it rots the roof.

let me know if you have any further specific questions mate, glad to help.

Carlos

[Tom.B]

Firstly matey hiya and welcome to TOC!! plus you have a Celica so you are a star lol!!! Ill get back to you on the other bits hehehe