Just Got My Celica Gt Repaired

[ritch]

Hi

I posted the other week about getting an oil leak fixed on my car as well as replacing the timing belt. As I explained before, I’m not used to getting import cars repaired so was wondering what you guys think.

Turned out that there were a load of leaks, they fitted a rocker gasket, crankshaft and driveshaft/gearbox seals, they also fitted new CV gaiters as they were worn out. That as well as fitting the new timing belt cost £600, they charged for 8 hours labour at a rate of £50 an hour. I was a bit gutted to be honest, as I have only just got the car although I did expect to pay for a few repairs.

They advised me that my right had shock absorber is worn excessively so I guess that’s the next thing, I cant do that for a while though, I got to stop spending money on this car for a bit! Anyway, the price seemed ok to me but im no expert so was wondering what you would expect to pay for this kind of work.

My only concern now is that this might be a taste of things to come, its 12 odd years old so its going to need a few things replacing but I guess I was hoping I got one that was in good condition. Its just knowing when to stop, would I be better off selling it and buying a newer one rather than sinking loads of money into it. On the positive side the car feels fine, real quick and responsive, I just got that feeling I have a nasty surprise waiting for me!

One more thing, how much do you think I would be looking at to get the right shock absorber replaced?!

Cheers

Ritch

[Jamesb4uk]

hello mate,

when i got my gen6 i spent about £1500 getting it serviced & odd jobs done to it - but that was including a full service inc cambelt & 4 new tyre's.

yes its a shock seeing hte bill but then again - you know that everything is as it should be, rather than going out & buying another car that could lead you to even bigger problems.

BTW where did you get the car serviced?

J

[Calisto]

If you love your Celi and all peeps on here do love their Celica's regardless of generation....it is going to cost you money.

CELICA = ENDLESS MONEY PIT

Take my KITT for example...she was and will always be the car of my dreams..but she cost me alot of blood, sweat and tears to get her right and in the end she was only spot on for a few months and then it all went pear shaped. :( But it certainly wasn't through lack of not wanting her to be right.

It comes to a point in your life when you say right thats it, I cant spend any more money, and you have to walk away, (in my case I had to be mentally dragged away and sat down and talked too or I would have tried to save her again and again..!!!!) and it will break your heart, it will rip you in two. Coz thats how Celica's get you!! right in the heart.

Many of the peeps on here will agree.

In the end KITT had a new engine, all over re-spray, a set of show alloys and winter alloys she didn't need them but I wanted them!!!, then a new ac unit, Battery, alternator, cv boots, shock absorbers, the list is endless....... I spent £1000's TRYING to get her right but something always went wrong or she needed this and that fixing or changing. And yep she was a GT-R

I am not trying to put you off your Celica.......... just trying to paint how the picture could look in a years time.

I am such a wuss, I cried as I was typing that

[edamduke]

I am very impressed with Celica's and how much car you can get for your money and how reasonable/robust they are. In my experience they need very little doing to them and the parts seem to be relatively cheap.

£600 seems like a lot and I think it is due to the silly mechanics prices. I can't see how that work too 8hours. I got quotes for timing belts from £170 and I was led to believe even that was high. Ended up doing it myself for £40. (The gen6 is a very easy car to work on) I've had CV gaiters replaced on a Sunny for £60 a side. Not sure about the Celi.

I would be surprised if you needed to pour much more money into your car. Sounds like it is pretty much up to standard now. The only things I would worry about are multiple tires, suspension and the clutch.

Look after it well and don't drive it too hard all the time and it should reward you with years of fun!

[ritch]

I got the work done at SVZ Imports based in folkestone kent

I dont mind spending money on it to get it running how it should but i definatly dont want the money pit situation as the pit is looking pretty empty at the moment!

I definatly look after it and dont drive it hard much at all at the moment, i just think the previous owner neglected it for around a year (thats how long they had it) as its got a lot of wear and tear and no sign of regular maintenance, i guess im paying for their neglect, thing is it does clean up nice and i quite like the idea of having to get it back to its glory days, its just the !Removed! cost of it.

i tell you something, it definalty makes me want to get into doing some stuff myself as the cost of getting garages to do it is crazy. so i guess ill be asking for a lot of advice in the coming months!!!

cheers

[dymchurchpaseo]

......................

[ritch]

in all fairness the garage did quote me £150 for the cam belt change but that means the rest was for the other repairs, that some people have told me dont take that long. so i dont know, i might try another garage next time.

since i got it back the engine is making a bit of a whining noise, the car feels fine though, would that be due to the new cam belt, do they need wearing in a bit?

cheers

[nebbz]

in all fairness the garage did quote me £150 for the cam belt change but that means the rest was for the other repairs, that some people have told me dont take that long. so i dont know, i might try another garage next time.

since i got it back the engine is making a bit of a whining noise, the car feels fine though, would that be due to the new cam belt, do they need wearing in a bit?

cheers

mate most engine parts need wearing in, in any car! think its like 100 miles or somthing like it not to sure! just go easy for a bit ide say!

and i will also say..

the celica st202! endless money pits, but its well worth it! lovly cars!

[sotal]

CELICA = ENDLESS MONEY PIT

I have to disagree. My Celica is a 1996 model, so over ten years old - I've had it for 3 years now and I think the repairs have been minimal and has cost the least out of any car I have ever owned. So far it's had the following:

Two Tyres

Front Brake Pads

Windscreen

As you can see that's not bad over 3 years and it's just flown through it's 3rd MOT, could do with now replacing the breather pipe on the fuel tank but it's not desperate. All my repairs over 3 years have cost less than £150 so that's about £50 /year, all on a car that's done 120,000 miles

[adamgt]

i disagree with this 'Celica's are money pits' thing. I have owned a 202 and a 205. The 202 never had any faults at all in the time i owned it! didnt spend a penny replacing parts on it.

the 205 has been great too, in the 2 years ive owned it i have replaced the fig 8 and lower arm (well known fault which is gonna happen at some point) and i replaced a leaking shock.

on top of all this, i drove them both hard all the time!

[ritch]

looks like im having an unlucky start then.

i noticed a few drips of oil since i got it back so it looks like i might have to take it back in, unless its just where they oiled stuff and its dripping off, ill wait and see on that one

im hoping it will be ok now, as far as i can tell the main costly things i need to do is get a new radiator and front shocks fitted, if i dont have to do it all at once i dont mind. at the end of the day im enjoying the car, it was a choice of getting something newer and paying 3 grand or getting one of these and fixing it up for around that price

[zilli]

Mine has cast me an arm and a leg for the modt part and she's not done costing yet... At the end of the day... If you like the car and it gives you that ****ty ***** eating grin everytime you drive it, then it's worth it... I nearly bought a brand new car for 16,000... Nice 2ltr GT Hyundai with 5 year warranty etc etc... Went home to get the deposit.. Sat in the Celi and fired her up... Sat there and thought.. F&*& that i'm keeping this... No matter what the cost in the end.. But I do have another car and a bike to fall back on if she get's too many faults at once... My first MOT on her was 800 quid but to me it was worth every penny just for that feeling....

[The Red Man]

Mines cost me nowt and thats in 2 years. Cant beat em