Buying A 1994 Gt

[ColinC]

I'm new to the forum and am just looking for some advice from the GT fanatics.

I've wanted a GT for ages, and recently I've seen a really nice one, and seems like a good deal. The mileage is 90,000. It passed the MOT 1200 miles ago, and the timing belt was done a 70k.

But before I take the plunge, is there anything I should look out for in specific when I go to view?

Info on the car is here (includes pics):

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054870323

The seller has already admitted some problems:

- a set of pads on the rear are required

- the synchro for third gear is starting to wear out. "This means when going up through the gears its fine but when changing down it catches a little. If you double cluth its perfectly fine but its about the only down side on the car." (Seller)

- No service history

Also, the mileage is 90,000, and from reading some posts on this forum it seems that usually the clutch may need to be replaced at around 100,000?

So I'm wondering what kind of money I should be paying on a car that may require new gearbox (€1000) and new clutch (€1000?) in the near future? And what other jobs may need to be done apart from those? I don't need to drive it for about a month, so I don't mind leaving it into a garage for a few jobs.

Any info, advice or help at all is much appreciated, as I'm seriously considering taking this car on and I'm mad about this particular Celica model (esp. in black) :)

[GT4 BOOSTER]

you can pick up better in the uk for around 2k

gearbox should be a couple of hundred quid , clutch set is about £90 plus labour

1 tip is let go of the steering wheel , if it pulls left or right , its evidence of a prang

[ColinC]

you can pick up better in the uk for around 2k

gearbox should be a couple of hundred quid , clutch set is about £90 plus labour

1 tip is let go of the steering wheel , if it pulls left or right , its evidence of a prang

Thanks for the reply..

Yes, I was looking on eBay and there were some amazing Celica deals. But I'm hoping to get this guy down to less than 2k. If I can, do you think it's a good car?

Yes, the gearbox and clutch aren't too expensive to buy, but the labour can be up to around £600-700stg (or €1000).

When you say a prang, that could be chassis damage? Cause I once had a car that got a tip on the rear wheel against a nasty curb, and the afterwards the car pulled a little to the left (even after the swing arm/stub axle were replaced).

Thanks for the info mate.

Any other tips for the viewing?

[GT4 BOOSTER]

i doubt labour would be anymore than 150 quid to replace the gearbox to be honest - get one - have a garage fit a new clutch and simply swap the boxes over .

its a tidy looking car yes , well ragged if third gear is forked

[chrisb]

Have you seen this?

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49381

CB

[Hrun]

We paid £1400 for a 94 with 170k miles Uk Spec. It had a few inperfections in the body. Rub on the rear arch which hasn't broken the paint. 2 large dings in the front wing (fixed with a 2nd and wing the same colour for £80. It has also needed the rear anti roll done and will need new discs.

I was not scared of the mileage as her last car did 1500 mile in 2005 so it will be low miles in a couple of years

HTH

Giles

[ColinC]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Have you seen this?

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=49381

Just after looking at that link. Lovely car. Pity it's in the UK + stripped out though. If that weren't the case, I'd be going for it.

well ragged if third gear is forked

That is what I'm concerned about. Do you reckon she was well thrashed? And if so, then I guess lots more parts could be on the way out as well? I don't want to buy a car that's been ragged too much, cos it's also more likely to give trouble. Do you still reckon it'd be a good buy?

Hrun - yeah, I giess anything below 100,000 is nothing for a Celica :)

We have a 90 Carina on the go here, and it has 280,000 miles - still going strong! ANd I've heard Celica engines have similar construction! Toyota's rock!!

[chrisb]

He has all the parts to put back in!

the money you save will be more than enough to get it back surely!

CB

[Hrun]

Just after looking at that link. Lovely car. Pity it's in the UK + stripped out though. If that weren't the case, I'd be going for it.

If we hadn't got one I would beup for that one.

Hire a trailer and go get it!

If ours is strong at 170K then a big fault like th gearbox at that mieage would make me raise my eyrbrows.

That said we sold her Golf with a new MOT and assurances that it had never let us down and a week later the clutch went. Bummer huh, lucky it was sold :D

[ColinC]

Hire a trailer and go get it!

Would it be possible to fit all the parts inside the car? If so, then I'd consider going, but getting a trailer would be too ackward coming back on the boat, etc..

If ours is strong at 170K then a big fault like th gearbox at that mieage would make me raise my eyrbrows.

So in that 170k, you're sure that the gearbox has never been replaced? HHmmm.. if that's the case, I'd be suspicious of it too(esp. at 90,000). Thanks for bringing that up. Come to think of it, our Carina - at 280,000 miles - has never had a problem with gearbox or clutch...!!

That said we sold her Golf with a new MOT and assurances that it had never let us down and a week later the clutch went. Bummer huh, lucky it was sold :D

I guess that's cars for you, eh :)

Thanks for the opinions guys...

Seriously considering that red celica, if only it was closer :(

Also, why would he have stripped it out? was it used for racing or something? how much if the car would be stripped out and would it cost a lot to get a mechanic to put it back together?

[ColinC]

Looking at this car right also:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TOYOTA-CELICA-2-0-LT...1QQcmdZViewItem

Looks good?

[Hrun]

[so in that 170k, you're sure that the gearbox has never been replaced? HHmmm.. if that's the case, I'd be suspicious of it too(esp. at 90,000). Thanks for bringing that up. Come to think of it, our Carina - at 280,000 miles - has never had a problem with gearbox or clutch...!!

I am not sure the gearbox is original, but I do know that I have not had to pay to have it fixed

End of the day work out what a mint car is worth to you, knock of the cost of having tany work done to put right and that is all you pay for the car. Otherwise you walk away, there will always be another

Good luck

[chrisb]

Seriously considering that red celica, if only it was closer :(

Also, why would he have stripped it out? was it used for racing or something? how much if the car would be stripped out and would it cost a lot to get a mechanic to put it back together?

You could PM the bloke and ask him?

I would imagine it would be easy enough to put it back in, if he wouldnt do it!

CB

[daktari]

Seriously considering that red celica, if only it was closer :(

Also, why would he have stripped it out? was it used for racing or something? how much if the car would be stripped out and would it cost a lot to get a mechanic to put it back together?

You could PM the bloke and ask him?

I would imagine it would be easy enough to put it back in, if he wouldnt do it!

CB

I bought mine stripped out wasn`t advertised that way but it was a darned good bargaining tool. Only took a couple of hours to put it back together though.

[Special Red]

you can pick up better in the uk for around 2k

1 tip is let go of the steering wheel , if it pulls left or right , its evidence of a prang

That would show evidence of Torque Steer!!! I would not pay more than £1500 for that as it requires too much work, just to drive it.

How much is 3500 Euro in English Pennies????

[GT4 BOOSTER]

they pull left and right with no throttle .

[Special Red]

they pull left and right with no throttle .

I get ya really!

Is it just me who thinks that Red celica's look rubbish?? Thats why that stripped out one has'nt sold!!

Once you go black you'll never go back!

[Black1]

they pull left and right with no throttle .

I get ya really!

Is it just me who thinks that Red celica's look rubbish?? Thats why that stripped out one has'nt sold!!

Once you go black you'll never go back!

i always thought red celicas were nice, was gonna buy one until i came accross my blue one, and now i think the blue one is just brilliant.