Is A Celica Convertible Automatic A Good Buy?

[oneowner2004]

I am thinking of buying myself a Celica Convertible for the summer - but I want an automatic version which means I will have to go for an import.

I have seen several Generation 5 type Celica's ranging from 1990 to 1993 in the price range of £2-£3k which seems about the typical price.

Is there anything I should be aware of with these cars - anything that typically goes wrong or are they pretty well bullet proof if looked after carefully?

I guess that certain parts if needed will be more difficult than others - like the electric hood or the gearbox, but would I be correct in thinking that most mechanical parts should be easily obtained?

Grateful for your advice or if you can point me to any previous threads on a similar subject - I did trawl through the search facility, but may have missed something.

This is a great forum, with lots of useful information to hand and once I have my car I will post up a few picture for the gallery.

Thanks in anticipation

[sotal]

I would have thought the auto gearbox will be the same as the non convertible - so that shouldn't be too hard to get parts for. The hood will be the same as the UK one so again won't be any harder than the UK one to get parts for - but that might not be that easy.

Toyotas are reliable - Mines 11 years old and I've had it 3 years with no repair bills and it's done 120k, but gen 5's are just getting to that age where things will start to break and parts aren't the cheapest in the world.

[celsteve]

Hello Sotal :)

oneowner2004 I think you could probably find an early gen 6 conv for £3000 if you look around, all depends on which model you prefer really. Agree with Sotal, had mine for 2 years now (late 93 model) all I've paid out for is service, tyres, cambelt, oh and superstrut figure 8s!! (which you wouldn't have I don't think on convertible). Gen 6 parts are easy to obtain, not too sure about Gen5 unless you go to Toyota=lots of money!