Celica Newbie

[sonnyb]

Hello all, I have just joined the forum even though I do not as yet own a Celica. However I am hoping to change that very soon. I think the body kit on the latest GT version makes the car look stunning. Is there much experience or information on the forum for this?

I am after a 2005/6 Celica GT in black or thunder gray with less than 15,000 miles on the clock. I am continually looking at the Toyota GB website and they have a lot of newish ones all over £18k, but my limit is about £15k, maybe £16k if it the deal is good.

According to Toyota, the GT had no sunroof but I have seen many with this feature. Can anyone advise please, and does anyone know better places to look fo such a car?

Thanks for any help.

[Fizz]

i know nothing about the 7th gen GT but a quick looksee on the online Autotrader and came up with this...

2005 TOYOTA CELICA 1.8 VVTLi GT 3dr Coupe Special Edition

Manual, 8,700 miles, 55 Plate.Yellow. ABS, Alarm, immobiliser, GT Alloy wheels(5), Body coloured bumpers, also body coloured GT spoiler and side skirts. Climate control, & A/C. Drivers airbag, also passenger and side airbags. Radio/casstette/6 CD changer. PAS. E/W, also electric mirrors. Leather and suede interior, with GT embosed, bucket seats.(Grey). Switchable traction control. Number plate shown in advert (PHSYCO) not included (but may negociate), will be a standard 55 plate. £15,495. ovno

[sonnyb]

i know nothing about the 7th gen GT but a quick looksee on the online Autotrader and came up with this...

2005 TOYOTA CELICA 1.8 VVTLi GT 3dr Coupe Special Edition

Manual, 8,700 miles, 55 Plate.Yellow. ABS, Alarm, immobiliser, GT Alloy wheels(5), Body coloured bumpers, also body coloured GT spoiler and side skirts. Climate control, & A/C. Drivers airbag, also passenger and side airbags. Radio/casstette/6 CD changer. PAS. E/W, also electric mirrors. Leather and suede interior, with GT embosed, bucket seats.(Grey). Switchable traction control. Number plate shown in advert (PHSYCO) not included (but may negociate), will be a standard 55 plate. £15,495. ovno

Many thanks Fizz, aside from the colour this is just what I am looking for. If it had been black or gray I would be on the phone now.

[Fizz]

ohh i dunno... having look at the pics it aint actually that bad..

[The Jackal]

Hi, I've just bought an '06 plate GT.

The PR material I got for the '06 models says they come in two colours, Thunder Grey and Sahara Sun (Red basically) with the GT Black Alcantara interior.

Although I have seen a few in black and other colours so I guess those two colours are in addition to the normal range?

Try searching this site http://www.allapprovedcars.com/UsedCubikarch.aspx, select toyota celica then "specific model" as 1.8 GT. Enter your postcode and hit search and you should get quite a few results.

Possibly the ones with sunroofs are T-Sports with the GT kit added later or import models?

Hope that is of some help.

Hello all, I have just joined the forum even though I do not as yet own a Celica. However I am hoping to change that very soon. I think the body kit on the latest GT version makes the car look stunning. Is there much experience or information on the forum for this?

I am after a 2005/6 Celica GT in black or thunder gray with less than 15,000 miles on the clock. I am continually looking at the Toyota GB website and they have a lot of newish ones all over £18k, but my limit is about £15k, maybe £16k if it the deal is good.

According to Toyota, the GT had no sunroof but I have seen many with this feature. Can anyone advise please, and does anyone know better places to look fo such a car?

Thanks for any help.

[sonnyb]

Thanks Jackal, I will have a look. I saw a genuine black new GT at a Toyota dealership, and it had a sunroof (it had just been sold) and the sales guy said it would have been specified as a factory fitment.

How have you found the GT for general usage. I am going to change from a 5dr hatchback. Is there still a degree of practicality? Is the backseat big enough for a small adult? Is the boot space adequate for weekend stopovers etc?

[The Jackal]

Hi Sonnyb,

Yeah I guess the problem with them been out of production is you have to buy what you can find. Would have been nice to specify trim and that. Although why have a sunroof when it has climate control I have no idea!

The back seats can seat me at 5'11" fine, only issue is that you may bang your head when going over bumps. Plus if the person sits bolt upright there is less space. Also only subject tall people to long travel in the back if you hate them! :D

The boot space is massive, in fact if you fold down the back seats I'd reckon you could sleep in the space!

MPG wise I'm getting around 30 for urban, not really done a long stint on a motorway yet but expect around 35 or better.

I've only had mine for a week and a bit but a few things to observe are:

*Suspension is firm but not uncomfortably so, try and avoid massive pot holes where possible!

*Rear back quarter visibility is very bad, be careful when changing lanes, mainly when pulling back in.

*Gearbox is notchy, which I personally like.

*Its low, so make sure you are not to old to be able to climb out! :D

Thanks.

Thanks Jackal, I will have a look. I saw a genuine black new GT at a Toyota dealership, and it had a sunroof (it had just been sold) and the sales guy said it would have been specified as a factory fitment.

How have you found the GT for general usage. I am going to change from a 5dr hatchback. Is there still a degree of practicality? Is the backseat big enough for a small adult? Is the boot space adequate for weekend stopovers etc?

[sonnyb]

Thanks for the info Jackal, very useful. I am 41 and only 5ft 3" so I guess I will be fine and my son is only 12.

I have always liked sunroofs for the extra light that they let in, which I would have thought would be nice on a car with a small, low cabin.

I am glad about the bootspace as I would have missed that after my hatchback.

Does it have enough low down torque? I have read the the 190bhp engine is very high revving with all its grunt high up. What do you think?

All I need to do now is find one!

[The Jackal]

Hi SonnyB,

Well the space in the back should be fine then, I got a 5'0" friend to sit in the back and was easily comfortable!

As for torque well it depends on how you drive. Based on my own driving habits when just trundling about in traffic it is easy to drive, you can pull away with 1,000 - 1,700 rpm, unlike some sports cars which you have to give it a lot of revs to pull off from without stalling.

Constant speed driving in traffic (20-40mph) around 1,700-3,000 rpm is fine. Of course if you need to accelerate quickly drop it down a gear so its 2,500+ rpm.

To burn rubber and get a real move on you are talking 4,500+ rpm, (6,500+ for warp factor 9 :D )

Thanks.

Thanks for the info Jackal, very useful. I am 41 and only 5ft 3" so I guess I will be fine and my son is only 12.

I have always liked sunroofs for the extra light that they let in, which I would have thought would be nice on a car with a small, low cabin.

I am glad about the bootspace as I would have missed that after my hatchback.

Does it have enough low down torque? I have read the the 190bhp engine is very high revving with all its grunt high up. What do you think?

All I need to do now is find one!

[The Red Man]

I would say that its alright if your about 5,4 or under otherwise its a nightmare. On long journeys I have had to stop so that the two passengers could swap seats!

but over 6000rpm it is good, shame its gutless before 4500 as it spoils the overall driving experience. If people see you coming they do move out the way!!!!

I was told when I bought two last year that it was silver or red, needless to say I got two silver ones!! lol

and the spoiler could be less chavvy and still look mean enough, its like they raided the parts bin in an attempt to beef up the car. Should have messed with the engine more, as when that spoiler is on it must make it slower than a standard 190!! lol

[sonnyb]

I was told by a dealer that only the storm blue has a sunroof. does anyone know if this is true?

Are there any opinions as to what colour looks best? Personally I think the thunder gray looks the best.

[The Jackal]

Thunder grey seems the most available colour and as mentioned by a previous poster the 2006 GT models seem only to come in the thunder grey or sahara red.

Personally I'd go for black (if available, presumably on pre 2006 models) or thunder grey. The latter looks nice but not to in your face as it where. It pics up reflections of the environment but isn't to silver.

I'd say just go and look at a few in different light conditions and see what you think.

Thanks.

I was told by a dealer that only the storm blue has a sunroof. does anyone know if this is true?

Are there any opinions as to what colour looks best? Personally I think the thunder gray looks the best.

[The Red Man]

I had a 190 53 plate 190 on 40,000 miles and let it go for £8000 in thunder grey, and whilst it was minus the kit it looked just as good in my honest opinion!!

In a year when I get rid of the GT's I will give you a shout!!! lol

[discodave]

The sunroof was a factory fit option on T Sports (facelift) and GT's.

Thunder Grey is the only way to go :D well i would say that

I was in TNS St Ives the other week and they had 2/3 Thunder grey GT's, they are not on the Toyota site, but might be worth a call ;) however I'm not very impressed with there servicing but that should not be a problem for you.

[sonnyb]

Thanks discodave, who are TNS? Is that a Toyota dealership? Where could I get the number please?

Thanks again,

[discodave]

They are a Toyota dealer, details below ;)

T N S (St Ives) Ramsey Rd St. Ives, PE27 5RE, 01480 460888

Have you experienced LIFT yet ....... nothing....nothing...nothing.....LIFT :D

If you get your gear changes correct you can remain in lift right upto and beyond the legal limt, I would not condone such a thing

Good luck with the search and welcome to the club B)

So why the celica?

[sonnyb]

Thanks for the info and the welcome, I will check it out.

I have considered and researched all the cars in this class such as Audi TT, RX-8, Hyundai Coupe, 350Z but the Celica has the best combination of performance, reliability, economy, practicality and of course I think it looks the best!