Wanting To Buy A Celica. Anything To Look Out For?

[pdh1979]

Hi there.

I'm looking to buy a Celica within the next couple of weeks, got about £4000 - £5000 to spend so it's going to be a 2000 model or thereabouts. I've done my research about what spec I'm after but I'm finding it really hard to find out what common faults I should look out for in a car that'll be 8 years old. I know, I know, it's a Toyota so not a great deal will go wrong :D

But if there are any common problems I should look out for then I'd really appreciate a heads-up.

Is there anything I should know about recalls / cam belt changes or work that should have been done after the initial sale?

Thank you!

[T600]

Welcome.

Will that be a VVTi then rather than the VVTLi 190?

If it's the former then watch out for oil consumption problems. There are many threads on here about horrendous oil usage on 1.8s from 2000 to 2003. Toyota have repaired cars up to 7 years old providing they had full service history, and I would think they'll carry on doing so, but who knows. Without history you can be in trouble.

If at all possible try to go for a post face-lift car (late 2002 on), though that will be beyond the budget that you've mentioned.

Good luck.

[pdh1979]

thankyou. tbh, the oil thing wasn't something i'd heard of before coming to these forums so i'm a winner already!

oh, and ideally i'd like a 190.... it'll be too hard going from a clio 197 to a 140....

[T600]

When did the 190 engine come out anyone? Late 2000 perhaps?

I had a Y plate one and I don't think it had been out long then. I'm fairly sure it wasn't around when the car was first launched.

On the early 190s there have been some problems, but I think the serious ones will mostly have been resolved by now. But it's a very high tech engine, so if big things do go wrong it won't be that cheap to fix. There is one common fault which is easily rectified - i.e. lift bolts. But the cost next to nothing to buy and are easy to fit.

Good luck with your search. They're fantastic cars if you like what they offer. The only thing I didn't like about mine on a day to day basis was the high revs at motorway speeds. Even with 6 gears the revs are quite high at 70 or so because the gearbox is very close ratio to allow the car to stay in its narrow power band when going through the gears.

[Calisto]

Gen 5 nuff said :P

[pdh1979]

Gen 5 nuff said :P

so..... what common faults would i need to look out for on a REALLY old car then?? :P

[fiz-vvti]

hi mate, with ur budget u'd probaby get a vvti 140.

i have a 140 2000 reg sports pack, full leathers, body kit, if ur interested just pm me and i'll give u full specs re what the cars all about.

good cars to drive,

good luck with ur hunting,

[Ken N]

Stone chips, corroded alloys, corroded discs and failed tailgate struts. As noted above, oil consumption problems also.