CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use This Link or Code "JAYEMM" for a 20% Discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm
Not many people would've been willing to pay that amount for the repairs and upgrades and would've just got rid. Even if they did have means to do it. I'm glad that you did and that this channel helped you to do that. That car was definitely worth repairing.
because they have zero ability for abstract thought. Considering the cost of any new car available today that is; 2x heavier - 2x more complicated and unfixable - 2x less feel - 2x less visibility - and 2 or often 3x MORE expensive than what he paid to do all of that - it makes far more sense to MAKE an old car new and end up with a "brand new" old car that is actually fun and simple than to fork out for a crappy modern couch on wheels that is more complex than the lunar space station and is completely throwaway. Even in the case of a brand new GR corolla or yaris, it is larping around as a celica GT four while being half the car. proof of this is in the modification scene where they are reaching limits sooner trying to do more with less (especially at the regulatory level). It hides behind modern rigidity as an excuse. But you pay the new hot hatch premium and dealer markup for it. and 20 years later, it will be far harder to keep all those computers running. If you just spend a GR yaris or GR corolla's amount of money into an older car, you will essentially get to drive a "brand new" old car that they simply cannot make anymore. and you will have more than one up on the competition in the realm of experiences and simplicity.
@@mmrahman82 I do most of all the repairs on my car. But I am too damn busy now. So I took my car to Tijuana lol. Got the tranny rebuild, the engine 4th gen rebuilt, new bushings all around, complete new rally susnpension, and a paint job 😉 I have the st165 😜
The average price of good quality example of these has increased to more than the car cost to buy and repair in less than 12 months! You are still winning, this car will last for decades!
The mechanical feel of the oem drive train and gearbox is next level, you feel connected to the road, never really discussed it is up there with classic 911's maybe even superior feel.
This video is exactly what I needed. I'm currently going through the same situation with my 1990 R32 GT-R. I love it so much but it always needs work, and it just seems so far until it can be where I want it to be. Seeing you go through the same emotions and stresses yet still loving the car in the end truly helped me to not be so discouraged with my cars journey. Thank you for posting this one, it means more than you know. I think I'll keep mine now :)
Well you have no choice. The prices have gone so high on your car. You can buy a small island ! No money in the bank has earned so much interest then the fixing value of the car you own. Learn how to do things yourself. Watch you tube and join every Facebook forum. Loads of information. Then private message the top forum guys that know what they are talking about for even better advice. You got this....or sell it and go sulk on a small Island ,as you fish for your dinner !
Welcome to 90s and early 2000s japanese sports cars mate. My Evo 7 has lots of stuff to fix and it has been well maintained and after I fix all of that I start thinking and more and more things are coming up. You never finish fixing them but the way they drive, the sensations and feelings.... No other modern performance car will give you that. Not below six figures anyway. Try to learn to enjoy it while you maintain and fix it.
Even looking at 20 grand, this is my one and only dream car. Ive been saving for a couple years on a down payment but shit always comes up. Someday though... I just hope it doesn't keep inflating faster than i can save.
This right here captures ST205 ownership perfectly! I don’t know what it is about these cars but they never get boring no matter how much they push you to the brink of your patience and sanity! You get used to the power so you push and push til you hit the limit or break it, then it isn’t a simple remap it’s a full ECU change, then it’s fuelling then you blow the ring lands and it’s forged engine time. I added up all my receipts 3/4 years back. I was at £26,000 since then my turbo blew, I went for an upgraded hybrid turbo, new downpipe and manifold and a full top to bottom service… I am north of £30k now but it’s 100% worth it, I can’t go anywhere without people giving the car a reaction be that good or bad and it’s been with me 11 years… SOOO when you break it down to monthly costs it’s the same cost to PCP a new mid spec Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost! 😂
Great, honest video. It’s been so fun to watch your journey, James. You really are living a lot of our dreams! And you always make it fun, funny and insightful.
@@peugeoting Na.. Not so much. The original "exposed" video was really.. really.. poorly researched clickbait. Given how many youtubers have jumped on this "omg scam" train without doing any investigation... they will have lost a lot of income and thus donations. The original guy is gona get sued into oblivion. Fact Fiend has done a video on it debunking every one of his "exposed" points. They actually do real research. It's a novelty gift, always has been, some cash goes to reforestation. Thats what they said they were selling, and what they sold.
@The Lone Ninja 82 I'd call it a fairly light scam. Especially compared to other shit some youtubers have been pushing in recent years. Basically you go to their website, drop a couple of bucks, buy like 1 square foot of land in Scotland and they claim doing that makes you eligible to call yourself a lord. Problem is that that's complete bollocks and since that became known, they came under fire a bit. So it's not that you get completely ripped off and get nothing in return, it's just not what they make it out to be. Which is a mildly scummy thing to do.
Do you know what you've done here, James? Not only have you saved this car from certain death i.e. ending in up someone's hands who could've cheeped out on the work and killed it, but by keeping this car alive you've also made sure that the market for Celica GT-Fours doesn't go crazy as fewer and fewer good examples remain in good shape. That is not only doing justice to this car but also a bit of public service! And I really appreciate that!
You're talking about the car right? I'm sorry mate, my mind read this rather ambiguously and I don't know either what in god's name is wrong with me...
@@chrisprice4658 All good mate 👌 Sometimes I just think I'm way to light-hearted for youtube. Everybody on here is usually ripping each other a new one over absolutely nothing at all, I just don't like to be rude to people, neither in person nor through the guise of anonymity on the internet. Just feels wrong to me.
Well done for keeping one of my dreams cara on the road. It’s absolutely stunning from every angle. Also loving the brutal honesty about what you’ve been thru with it. It’s genuinely one of three in my dream garage. Can’t wait for updates and a drive video.
Congratulations you are the most relatable, car reviewer. ALL of the others seem to have lost the ability to ask the same questions that normal people ask themselves, when looking at vehicles from a nostalgic perspective or from a perspective of a possible future purchase. This includes not just in the U.K but worldwide. Just my opinion. Keep on keeping it real buddy.😀
Lovely looking GT4. I think the total is to be expected.I never intended to spend what I did on my car projects, but if you want to do it properly and you love the car then it really isn't about the money at all
My very first car was Toyota Celica GT4, JDM Spec, in red with the gunmetal 3 spoke wheels, amazing car!!!! Got it for Xmas in 1997, oh sorry forgot to mention it was made by Tamiya 😀
This video was awesome, can't beat a 90s manual jappa for engagement, emotion, performance dynamics, feel all of it. Got an 89 RS Legacy JDM spec forged stroker etc etc. Can't stop.
Walking to school when I was younger, someone had one of these on their drive. Was the highlight of my day getting to see it going to and from each day.
GT4 WRC edition with a 5SGTE build with a G4X ECU owner here. About the pops and bangs, I don't think that is possible even with a setup like mine capable of 500bhp I have tried and I know some people that tried too . I'm totally in love with the car, and i think that the line is just iconic, but it's strange because for example here in Switzerland but in Italy too, is the most stealth car that I have owned, no one's seems to care about it ahahah. I really like the fact that the UK community loves these because they are such great cars
Very strange that it can't be done. Surely by squirting a little bit of fuel and having no spark will cause it to hit the hot exhaust manifold and see some nice bit of flames/pop...
That car is not just a car, it's an icon, a legend.... It also has more presence than most supercars (costing a lot more than 19k). Big well done for sticking with it, in todays crazy market surely you could name yr price now it's sorted. But I'd sure as hell keep her.
I love storytime with JayEmm. Even if they are the occasional horror story. Happy Thanksgiving from the states. And happy holidays to you, your family, your cat, and all your cars.
To be fair it looks awesome now, and a properly sorted one has got to be pushing towards the £20k's value sometimes soon. Enjoy it I say. It's only money!
Hi James - Awesome ST205 you have. I personally own an ST165 with the same gen 3 3SGTE as yours... GT-Fours are brilliant cars. Just a heads-up, for any mechanical maintenance or upgrades, we on the celica club UK forums mostly use a guy called Bek. He's a magician for anything to do with gen 4 to 6 Celicas.
Nice update James, 👍. Looks so much better on the White wheels, white on white doesn't always work but it does on a GT4. Go and enjoy it, don't count the money up... I'd hate to think how much I've spent on my Nova Sting project... car cost £2k... at a guess to date I've probably spent £10k on parts and resto work. Still need to do the interior!
My old boss at a Toyota breakers yard imported a GT4 same as yours from Japan and it was a Road reg Carlos Sianz Factory paint rep with standard interior except for Recaros,and a bolt in half cage, it has Lsds ,straight cut box ,HD everything lotta TRD ,blitz,HKS parts,18 inch Tarmac enkies on HKS coil overs ,Motech ,it spun 290 hp at 12 pds boost at the hubs x 4 with 310 ft pds at 7500 on hub dyno, landed and complied certed rego plates and on the road was 10 k NZD just before covid hit ,the thing was fast pulling every gear, more of road gearing 3rd gear just off the 180 kph speedo then 4th 7500 then 5th ? ,bars and braces underneath it ,great car
Lovely looking car, to be sure! Plus it has the bonus of bringing waves of Sega Rally nostalgia. I'd never noticed just how good looking they were before but yours is a genuinely stunning car. It was definitely well worth your investment, it was a car you love and I can't imagine that there's many of these still about (especially so here in the UK!)
I certainly feel that same way about my Alfa Romeo 159 TBI. With just 2 examples in the country in Sportswagon body, it's something special that deserves the maintenance. Less than 2 years in and its cost more than the purchase price, but now it's a faster and more reliable car than what it was and with all the big ticket items done, it should be relatively smooth sailing from here.
I used to own an imported MR2 Turbo James... Great engine! My first job was at Dover Toyota when I was 18 and I drove all the Uk Toyotas of the time.. Also wonderful motors.
Wow, that's a big list of things. I got my 205 about 8 years ago and dont think I will ever sell it. Think I got lucky too, as it's never had any real issues in that time. It's daily driven, goes out in the rain and even to odd bit of snow fun. Latest additon was a whiteline rear roll bar. Makes a huge difference to the turn in and they are a cheap easy mod that doesn't seem to have any downsides. I highly recommend you consider one.
My mistake was owning an ST165 when i was too young....didn't have the money to drop on big repairs back then. Sigh...maybe i'll have to pick up another one, though now that ST205's are legal stateside...I'm dreaming of getting a German one in LHD...
@@felixl.l.2060 I had a bog standard ST162 and I loved that car, ended up having an accident and wrote it off, still miss it. Very hard to come by nowadays. I have an 83 RA60 now, which I like almost as much lol
Famous last word "no matter what it does, you still love it". Congratulations on your journey and your BIG HEART/WALLET pucker up, she's a beauty. Enjoy the drive and remember its worth it when your driving down the road and all of that goes away ENJOY. Cheers for sharing Romano
It’s got Character and that’s worth its weight in gold, well done James, this is a great story, I’d take the GT4 over any of the Ferrari’s, looking forward to seeing more of the Celica
Brings back memories of my 96 mr2 gt turbo import (Toyota never sold them here). Same engine other than the charge cooler. 245hp stock. Had mine about 300hp. Was a lot of fun and massive induction noise right by the passengers ear. After I got mine 2 friends also bought them after I took them out for rides.
I feel like the job of people wealthy enough to do these projects is to buy every single lemon and do full restoration on every one of them cause that's what's gonna save the old cars from going extinct lol. One day there might be a market for full resto cars like this ex-lemon GT-Four
Refreshing to see an honest roundup of project costs, the internet seems to be filled with people bragging about their savvy purchases and money saving genius, I suppose people are embarrased if they think they've overspent? Nothing embarrasing about spending money on your passion.
I had an ST185 GT-Four with a boost controller on it set to 13psi, standard computer. It worked perfectly and was used for rallysprints. My parts bill was massive, but my friend and I fitted everything ourselves. Gearbox, clutch, front hub, struts all around, brakes, etc. The car was very rough, but still running. Turbo blowing oil, paint peeling all over, but it went very hard. Mine had real exhaust "bang" on full-boost gear shifts because it had a blow-off valve and was using the factory flappy air-flow meter.
Long time listener, first time commenter. Mega video, one of if not my all-time favourite - I've been through remarkably similar journeys with an Evo V, blobeye Impreza STI and now DS3 Racing... Financially, it never makes sense, but it gets to a point where you're rooting for the hapless underdog to get over their foibles and recapture their former glory. You now have a properly sorted Celica GT4 which is a very special car the likes manufacturers won't make again. If you ever consider putting her up for sale, count me in as an interested party...!!
You will not find any new car with this raw of a drive for that much money. With all the work done the car will not only provide thrills but will deliver it for years and years thanks to attention you gave it. You invested in a time machine into a time where driving was more cherished and fun-oriented. A good example to compare this to will always be the people that lovingly restore american classics to their former glory for 40-50k. There are a million cars you can get for that money, but the feeling you get behind the wheel of that car you love is priceless.
Gorgeous, absolutely love the st185’s and st205’s….if I couldn’t sell it for the money I’d rather have that GT4 on my driveway than any of ur Ferrari’s
Immaculate restoration, at least it will continue to appreciate throughout the years especially as I imagine most examples are not well maintained and taken care of
You did great by this car!! Ive ALWAYS wanted 1 of these 😍 They still fly well under the radar $$$ compared to Mark IV Supra, FD RX7, GTRs etc
Год назад+1
For all your efforts you have what is probably the most desirable specimen of an iconic car available to the person with an average income. Thanks for your channel. You sir, are a true legend❤
I don’t know if you remember me a few months back when I commented on your Celica These cars here in Australia are selling for over A$100,000.00 I’ve seen some prestige quality ones at A$175,000.00 and it got SOLD.. Just hold on to this car Jay, just hold on to it, soon your GT4 will get you 355 money… 😉
I bought mine as a "barn find", similar issues to yourself - finally fixed it all and decided to sell... 2 months later I've taken it off the market as cannot be without it! I have a GR Yaris as my daily so the 205 is now my dedicated track toy 👌👌I only got pops on overrun with a decat, can't replicate with a sports cat at the moment! front mount intercooler was the best thing I did, away with the temperamental charge cooler and receive lots of boosty jap sounds 😂😂
I love those cars too, although I would be delighted with any of them, turbo or not, as long as it wasn't rusty. I drove a new one in 82 and was hooked!
It's your hobby James. Most people spend plenty on their hobbies. It's what life is for. Thankfully for you, your job also offsets many of the costs. Lucky lad.
Pleased to see this 90’s icon back in the JayEmm fold! You can’t put a price on a special car that you love, the money is irrelevant really if it’s how it makes you feel. Which is a good thing as enthusiasts have spent disproportionate amounts of money on cars that at the time weren’t valuable at all. A good case in point is the E-Type, which in the late 70’s was cheap and unloved. I do believe cars like this are the next generation of classic, that is way off realising its true value potential.
Another great Video James,love the Toyota,glad you stuck with it and managed to save it albiet the cost,you come across as a genuine person and tell it how just how it is in all your reviews .keep soldiering on ...well done
I've always loved those ST205s. Gran Turismo can probably be blamed for that. It's a shame they along with every other cool 90s Japanese car are so expensive now.
I bought one for 2k and one for 6k. Put a new engine in myself for another 2k. Replaced all the gas and fuel lines. 600$ for racing suspension and enough weight reduction to get her down to 2200 lbs. Its my daily driver. It'll 60ft most cars that aren't on self destruct mode. If they are most will blow their tires off chasing me. But you have different rules on that side of the road.
Awesome video. Thank you for having great pacing. Looking forward to future videos with this car. Loving this fleet update format. Keep up the good work.
I had 3 of there’s from new, I was commuting Kent to MK at the time with frequent trips to Manchester. Red then black and finally a white one (one of the last made). Fantastic mile munchers and at the time monster quick compared to the avg company car, they happily destroyed the replacement model.
James, I’d argue it was worth every penny. It’s one of the best looking Toyotas, (do prefer the pop up headlight version), probably only surpassed by the Supra. Of the car can make you smile as much as it does, then money well spent.
I paid $20K for a pristine no-rust Alfa Romeo GTV6. Over the six years (and counting) I’ve owned it I tallied the receipts and, like you, I don’t have them all but I’ve got most. Total: $17,000. In fairness I’ve got what I consider one of the nicest GTV6’s on the planet. I love the car. Love is rarely rational. That’s the life of a true petrol head. Enjoy!
My experience with my st205 is very similar to yours. Pretty much bought the car in somewhat same shape as yours. I ended up doing a full forged rebuild, all SS, all wheel bearings, transmission rebuilt,, all calipers rebuilt and am waiting for my ct20b to be rebuilt. Before all of that, I dailyed it for a full year and it stayed reliable enough with minor maintenance items. Next up is ECU and paint... dreading those 2 things if I'm honest
I run a 650+ bhp GT4. Still has alot of standard internals and running gear. As for pops and bangs .. Your fuel mix and exhaust system combined with ecu controls all that. On over run it's the unburnt fuel that ignites inside the exhaust, usually due to having run hard and it has the exhaust rather hot. The over fuel can cause a bigger issue of pre detonation. On perfect set up all fuel needs to be burnt thats been injected. Anti lag is useless unless your racing it and wish to keep everything spooled up. Or you like sitting in a carpark reving the engine on the limiter. The exhaust note on gt4 is pretty crappy no matter the system you instal. Mine is custom 3in bore side exit. It's the longest rally rep I've owned almost 10 years.
Had one back in 2004. Managed to screw 450BHP out of it which was not easy or cheap! ... unfortunately It blew up on the way back from winning an award at billing aquadrome (modified car of the show - 200+ club AND it was featured in jap performance magazine) and it still hurts to this day, I think 450BHP was too much for some of the standard internals, it doesn't have the strength of the 2JZ
From what I remember reading, safe power on stock internals is 350, after that it starts getting a bit like a tightrope, it can take more but it needs a very good tune to keep it alive. How long did yours last at 450?
Thank you for this video. I wanted a ST205 ever since I was a little kid, because of Sega Rally obvs. I almost bought one back in 2013 or 2014, but couldnt afford to keep it on ther road back then. I’ve had many cars since then, even a Celica (albeit st182 Vth gen), but the ST205 remained on my bucketlist. I fear that with age my taste in cars have changed enough so I wouldnt enjoy one (I actually didn’t enjoy to drive the Vth gen but loved looking at it). I fear its a case of never meet your heroes. But this video made me want one again. Badly. It must be as good as I hope, if a bloke who has Ferraris loves his little Celica
I had a few Celicas a long time back now, including a gt4 , all were 1986 to 1989 , and I seem to remember that the light out warning light was caused by the bulb not being the exact specification, even though working ok. It's been nearly 30 years so it might have been on another car, because I'm a geriatric now. But anyway, something for you to check. Good Luck John.
My first car was a Celica and I must have spent more money on that bloody thing than I’d like to even think about 😂 But to me, at the age of 18, it was a freakin spaceship!!
In fact, despite congrats for his . . . fortitude? . . . it seems to be JayEmm’s legions of fans who have enabled him to retain ownership of this dog’s breakfast of a car. Reminds me of an Alcoholics’ Anonymous session, where everyone cheers on the failure they so desperately fear themselves to be.
James, it really doesn’t matter the amount spent if it’s a keeper and you genuinely feel that unexplainable something towards it, as you clearly do. I know project creep well. The excel I keep on my M Coupe build reflects a similar story and still not done…..contemplating if I need a 6-speed box and cams currently 🤦🏻♂️
My 1999 Celica is fast 1.8 VVTI . 1 owner from new driven by a GENT. I blew the cobwebs out of it and become super-fast!!!! The engines mint and flat battery is my only problem I've ever had, 80THOUSAND mls . Engines bomb proof! I want 4x4 on mine and turbo.
As the one-time owner of a 1988 Celica GT4 (called an All-Trac Turbo here in the states) I feel your pain. But for a time at least I also felt your joy, so it's all good.
What a great video. Thing thing is, I’d rather pay the equivalent of money I would on a new car which is likely numb and compromised in feel, on an older car and crest exactly what I would love to walk out to every day. I would not regret a thing if I were you. It’s worth it for the soul fuel this gives. 👌🏻🤙🏻
Hahaha, oh my word, that’s a heck of a combined bill. BUT, there is nothing else like it, and all of this work is going into your car, that you wish to treasure for some time. Having driven a black one a few times years ago, I know the smiles that are coming, and they are big. They really are more practical then you would think too, I managed to stuff loads of stuff in the back. Never cared that much for the generation that followed, but these are so cool. Love it!
Back in 2001 I was in the look out for a New car and because I was working near to home I wanted something special! Namely a Rally car for the road. At the time Subarus and Mitsubishi were good money!! When a Red Toyota Celica, the same model as James's Celica popped in a Local Showroom. It looked fantastic, I was Smitten with it. This was the one!! The only thing was it was high mileage but Fully Documented Toyota History from Day one. It had almost a complete Mechanical rebuild barr gearbox, New diffs clutch Turbo etc. I asked the Salesman for a Test, upon moving the car there was a pool of gearbox oil on the floor. Of course it was only a minor weap but as I'd already seen 1000's spent on this car my head worked loose of my heart. Surely with all the work done the gearbox shouldn't be leaking, so with a heavy heart I left it. A Clio Williams was next on my agenda, which I have to this day. Two month's after I saw this Red Celica I met its new owner. He wasn't happy with it as he'd had to pay out a small fortune on a New gearbox!! Lovely cars but not so lovely on your Pocket!!
Re the maps and pops/bangs - I wonder if you ever came across Adrian Smith at Fensport? Lovely chap, Toyota to the core and what he doesn’t know isn’t worth forgetting! Give him a call, he did loads to my GT86 and was brilliant to deal with. Cheers, Lee
If it makes you feel better JM, the rival Escort Cossie RS is slower than this and costs far more to buy today, despite the Celica originally being much more expensive when new.
When you find the right car it just happens, I’m in deeper than that on my Toyota Crown James & I just don’t care, I don’t drink or smoke or gamble it’s my only vice & it gives me a lot of joy. That’s real petrol heading right there 👍🏻
Compared to what? The thing was a worldwide disaster sales-wise and wasn’t even successful at rallying. A huge embarrassment for Toyota. From my own experience, it doesn’t hold a candle to Mazda’s AWD turbo GTX, upgraded to 270 HP thanks to HKS, and it never missed a beat.
I had a similar experience... I bought a Volvo 850 estate and 3 days later I had to sell it to the scrapyard... It had many hidden flaws that owner have not told me about... For example a hand brake was not working, and I was told it is nothing to worry about "It just needs some work, you can do it yourself". It turned out that the braking system was damaged and the rear brakes just did not work... Anyway, it had three very expensive issues that I cound not afford fixing. I have messaged the owner saying that I want my money back, since he scamed me. He called me a liar, and that I knew what I was getting into. So that is how I had my first car for three days...
Completely get where you're coming from. Although not in the same league as a GT4, I bought a cheapo phase 1 Saab 9-5 Estate in early 2021. It cost me £1000, since then I've probably spent about £2500 just on making it run and drive properly. I love it!!
CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use This Link or Code "JAYEMM" for a 20% Discount!
www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm
At that price it's definitely not a flip. It's a keeper.
What would be your top 3 ideal daily drivers if money was no object?
i´m glad you saved the GT4! 😊
You would have saved tons if you had done those things by your self.. Btw it's an St-205, not just gt four
@@gringostarr69 no, no I would not
Not many people would've been willing to pay that amount for the repairs and upgrades and would've just got rid. Even if they did have means to do it.
I'm glad that you did and that this channel helped you to do that.
That car was definitely worth repairing.
Absolutely agree!!
We need more people like Jay.
because they have zero ability for abstract thought. Considering the cost of any new car available today that is; 2x heavier - 2x more complicated and unfixable - 2x less feel - 2x less visibility - and 2 or often 3x MORE expensive than what he paid to do all of that - it makes far more sense to MAKE an old car new and end up with a "brand new" old car that is actually fun and simple than to fork out for a crappy modern couch on wheels that is more complex than the lunar space station and is completely throwaway. Even in the case of a brand new GR corolla or yaris, it is larping around as a celica GT four while being half the car. proof of this is in the modification scene where they are reaching limits sooner trying to do more with less (especially at the regulatory level). It hides behind modern rigidity as an excuse. But you pay the new hot hatch premium and dealer markup for it. and 20 years later, it will be far harder to keep all those computers running.
If you just spend a GR yaris or GR corolla's amount of money into an older car, you will essentially get to drive a "brand new" old car that they simply cannot make anymore. and you will have more than one up on the competition in the realm of experiences and simplicity.
@@mmrahman82 I do most of all the repairs on my car. But I am too damn busy now. So I took my car to Tijuana lol. Got the tranny rebuild, the engine 4th gen rebuilt, new bushings all around, complete new rally susnpension, and a paint job 😉 I have the st165 😜
The average price of good quality example of these has increased to more than the car cost to buy and repair in less than 12 months! You are still winning, this car will last for decades!
The mechanical feel of the oem drive train and gearbox is next level, you feel connected to the road, never really discussed it is up there with classic 911's maybe even superior feel.
This video is exactly what I needed. I'm currently going through the same situation with my 1990 R32 GT-R. I love it so much but it always needs work, and it just seems so far until it can be where I want it to be. Seeing you go through the same emotions and stresses yet still loving the car in the end truly helped me to not be so discouraged with my cars journey. Thank you for posting this one, it means more than you know. I think I'll keep mine now :)
Well you have no choice. The prices have gone so high on your car. You can buy a small island ! No money in the bank has earned so much interest then the fixing value of the car you own.
Learn how to do things yourself. Watch you tube and join every Facebook forum. Loads of information. Then private message the top forum guys that know what they are talking about for even better advice. You got this....or sell it and go sulk on a small Island ,as you fish for your dinner !
Welcome to 90s and early 2000s japanese sports cars mate.
My Evo 7 has lots of stuff to fix and it has been well maintained and after I fix all of that I start thinking and more and more things are coming up.
You never finish fixing them but the way they drive, the sensations and feelings.... No other modern performance car will give you that. Not below six figures anyway.
Try to learn to enjoy it while you maintain and fix it.
Still have it?
Even looking at 20 grand, this is my one and only dream car. Ive been saving for a couple years on a down payment but shit always comes up. Someday though... I just hope it doesn't keep inflating faster than i can save.
Down payment? Where ya located? Most banks won’t loan on an older car.
Keeping a piece of motorsport history alive has got to be worth something.
This right here captures ST205 ownership perfectly! I don’t know what it is about these cars but they never get boring no matter how much they push you to the brink of your patience and sanity!
You get used to the power so you push and push til you hit the limit or break it, then it isn’t a simple remap it’s a full ECU change, then it’s fuelling then you blow the ring lands and it’s forged engine time.
I added up all my receipts 3/4 years back. I was at £26,000 since then my turbo blew, I went for an upgraded hybrid turbo, new downpipe and manifold and a full top to bottom service… I am north of £30k now but it’s 100% worth it, I can’t go anywhere without people giving the car a reaction be that good or bad and it’s been with me 11 years…
SOOO when you break it down to monthly costs it’s the same cost to PCP a new mid spec Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost! 😂
Great, honest video. It’s been so fun to watch your journey, James. You really are living a lot of our dreams! And you always make it fun, funny and insightful.
Half expected James to segue into an ad for Established Titles... Every RUclipsr is pushing that scam at the moment.
In some ways reminds me of the ole “Name a Star” scam that was popular a few years back…
That’s Lord James to you!
@The Lone Ninja 82 Yep it’s not what it claims to be, it’s more of a gag gift than they let on
@@peugeoting Na.. Not so much. The original "exposed" video was really.. really.. poorly researched clickbait. Given how many youtubers have jumped on this "omg scam" train without doing any investigation... they will have lost a lot of income and thus donations. The original guy is gona get sued into oblivion.
Fact Fiend has done a video on it debunking every one of his "exposed" points. They actually do real research.
It's a novelty gift, always has been, some cash goes to reforestation. Thats what they said they were selling, and what they sold.
@The Lone Ninja 82 I'd call it a fairly light scam. Especially compared to other shit some youtubers have been pushing in recent years. Basically you go to their website, drop a couple of bucks, buy like 1 square foot of land in Scotland and they claim doing that makes you eligible to call yourself a lord. Problem is that that's complete bollocks and since that became known, they came under fire a bit.
So it's not that you get completely ripped off and get nothing in return, it's just not what they make it out to be. Which is a mildly scummy thing to do.
Do you know what you've done here, James? Not only have you saved this car from certain death i.e. ending in up someone's hands who could've cheeped out on the work and killed it, but by keeping this car alive you've also made sure that the market for Celica GT-Fours doesn't go crazy as fewer and fewer good examples remain in good shape. That is not only doing justice to this car but also a bit of public service! And I really appreciate that!
I can't think of many cars that have aged so well, I think they look even better now than "back in the day"
At least you've now got a car unquestionably cooler than any Ferrari though
Exactly. Not many car's can outclass a Ferrari, but these sure do. I'd happily have one over a lot of supercars.
So glad you've stuck with J, and yes I agree with you if it's a little dirty it's because it's being loved 💙☮️💜
Go and enjoy her
You're talking about the car right?
I'm sorry mate, my mind read this rather ambiguously and I don't know either what in god's name is wrong with me...
@@torgejh9189 you can think what you like lol
@@chrisprice4658 All good mate 👌
Sometimes I just think I'm way to light-hearted for youtube. Everybody on here is usually ripping each other a new one over absolutely nothing at all, I just don't like to be rude to people, neither in person nor through the guise of anonymity on the internet. Just feels wrong to me.
I gotta be honest, I'd posted that and not read it until you mentioned....face meets hand....at which point you just gotta roll with it lol 💜☮️💙🤣😂🤣
Worth every penny. Love Celica's. Had a few
Well done for sticking at it - both the car and RUclips, I’m sure you’ve had lots of moments on that journey too. Both worth it - congratulations 🥰🙏
Thankyou Will, it has been a ride but a worthy one!
In the way that prices are going, it will soon eclipse the amount spent. An iconic car to be proud of.
Well done for keeping one of my dreams cara on the road. It’s absolutely stunning from every angle. Also loving the brutal honesty about what you’ve been thru with it. It’s genuinely one of three in my dream garage. Can’t wait for updates and a drive video.
Congratulations you are the most relatable, car reviewer.
ALL of the others seem to have lost the ability to ask the same questions that normal people ask themselves, when looking at vehicles from a nostalgic perspective or from a perspective of a possible future purchase.
This includes not just in the U.K but worldwide. Just my opinion.
Keep on keeping it real buddy.😀
Lovely looking GT4. I think the total is to be expected.I never intended to spend what I did on my car projects, but if you want to do it properly and you love the car then it really isn't about the money at all
My very first car was Toyota Celica GT4, JDM Spec, in red with the gunmetal 3 spoke wheels, amazing car!!!! Got it for Xmas in 1997, oh sorry forgot to mention it was made by Tamiya 😀
This video was awesome, can't beat a 90s manual jappa for engagement, emotion, performance dynamics, feel all of it. Got an 89 RS Legacy JDM spec forged stroker etc etc. Can't stop.
Walking to school when I was younger, someone had one of these on their drive. Was the highlight of my day getting to see it going to and from each day.
Wow, well done for sticking with it.
GT4 WRC edition with a 5SGTE build with a G4X ECU owner here.
About the pops and bangs, I don't think that is possible even with a setup like mine capable of 500bhp I have tried and I know some people that tried too .
I'm totally in love with the car, and i think that the line is just iconic, but it's strange because for example here in Switzerland but in Italy too, is the most stealth car that I have owned, no one's seems to care about it ahahah.
I really like the fact that the UK community loves these because they are such great cars
Very strange that it can't be done. Surely by squirting a little bit of fuel and having no spark will cause it to hit the hot exhaust manifold and see some nice bit of flames/pop...
Yeah, the guy who mapped mine has done loads but for some reason the G4X doesn't want to do it
That car is not just a car, it's an icon, a legend.... It also has more presence than most supercars (costing a lot more than 19k). Big well done for sticking with it, in todays crazy market surely you could name yr price now it's sorted. But I'd sure as hell keep her.
I love storytime with JayEmm. Even if they are the occasional horror story. Happy Thanksgiving from the states. And happy holidays to you, your family, your cat, and all your cars.
To be fair it looks awesome now, and a properly sorted one has got to be pushing towards the £20k's value sometimes soon. Enjoy it I say. It's only money!
I have a 5th gen and I love it more than anything. The celica is truly one of the best cars of all time!
Hi James - Awesome ST205 you have. I personally own an ST165 with the same gen 3 3SGTE as yours... GT-Fours are brilliant cars.
Just a heads-up, for any mechanical maintenance or upgrades, we on the celica club UK forums mostly use a guy called Bek. He's a magician for anything to do with gen 4 to 6 Celicas.
where is he based? i'm trying to get quotes for sills and rear chassis rust repair and proofing
I have the same. The Gen 3 motor is a completely different beast in the 165. Makes you wish you had a 6th gear!
Nice update James, 👍. Looks so much better on the White wheels, white on white doesn't always work but it does on a GT4.
Go and enjoy it, don't count the money up... I'd hate to think how much I've spent on my Nova Sting project... car cost £2k... at a guess to date I've probably spent £10k on parts and resto work. Still need to do the interior!
My old boss at a Toyota breakers yard imported a GT4 same as yours from Japan and it was a Road reg Carlos Sianz Factory paint rep with standard interior except for Recaros,and a bolt in half cage, it has Lsds ,straight cut box ,HD everything lotta TRD ,blitz,HKS parts,18 inch Tarmac enkies on HKS coil overs ,Motech ,it spun 290 hp at 12 pds boost at the hubs x 4 with 310 ft pds at 7500 on hub dyno, landed and complied certed rego plates and on the road was 10 k NZD just before covid hit ,the thing was fast pulling every gear, more of road gearing 3rd gear just off the 180 kph speedo then 4th 7500 then 5th ? ,bars and braces underneath it ,great car
Lovely looking car, to be sure! Plus it has the bonus of bringing waves of Sega Rally nostalgia. I'd never noticed just how good looking they were before but yours is a genuinely stunning car. It was definitely well worth your investment, it was a car you love and I can't imagine that there's many of these still about (especially so here in the UK!)
or GT4
To be fair a good one will cost you well over £20k anyway so I think you haven't overpaid for what you have.
I certainly feel that same way about my Alfa Romeo 159 TBI.
With just 2 examples in the country in Sportswagon body, it's something special that deserves the maintenance.
Less than 2 years in and its cost more than the purchase price, but now it's a faster and more reliable car than what it was and with all the big ticket items done, it should be relatively smooth sailing from here.
Those are pennies in Ferrari world (Testarossa owner here), but the car is as cool to look at and drive. Congrats ... I want one too!
Yeeees! Been waiting for an update on this beauty!
I used to own an imported MR2 Turbo James... Great engine! My first job was at Dover Toyota when I was 18 and I drove all the Uk Toyotas of the time.. Also wonderful motors.
Wow, that's a big list of things. I got my 205 about 8 years ago and dont think I will ever sell it. Think I got lucky too, as it's never had any real issues in that time. It's daily driven, goes out in the rain and even to odd bit of snow fun. Latest additon was a whiteline rear roll bar. Makes a huge difference to the turn in and they are a cheap easy mod that doesn't seem to have any downsides. I highly recommend you consider one.
My mistake was owning an ST165 when i was too young....didn't have the money to drop on big repairs back then. Sigh...maybe i'll have to pick up another one, though now that ST205's are legal stateside...I'm dreaming of getting a German one in LHD...
Are you on the hardest setting on the whiteline?
@Rj Falcatan No, mid setting. I have seen some say hard makes the tail end a bit happy and on mid it feels ballanced so left it there.
@@felixl.l.2060 I had a bog standard ST162 and I loved that car, ended up having an accident and wrote it off, still miss it. Very hard to come by nowadays. I have an 83 RA60 now, which I like almost as much lol
@@Jake-im2lv That's awesome! Love those 3rd gens, a couple of friends had those growing up so i've driven them a few times, theyre a lot of fun!
Famous last word "no matter what it does, you still love it". Congratulations on your journey and your BIG HEART/WALLET pucker up, she's a beauty. Enjoy the drive and remember its worth it when your driving down the road and all of that goes away ENJOY. Cheers for sharing Romano
It’s got Character and that’s worth its weight in gold, well done James, this is a great story, I’d take the GT4 over any of the Ferrari’s, looking forward to seeing more of the Celica
Brings back memories of my 96 mr2 gt turbo import (Toyota never sold them here). Same engine other than the charge cooler. 245hp stock. Had mine about 300hp. Was a lot of fun and massive induction noise right by the passengers ear. After I got mine 2 friends also bought them after I took them out for rides.
I feel like the job of people wealthy enough to do these projects is to buy every single lemon and do full restoration on every one of them cause that's what's gonna save the old cars from going extinct lol. One day there might be a market for full resto cars like this ex-lemon GT-Four
Refreshing to see an honest roundup of project costs, the internet seems to be filled with people bragging about their savvy purchases and money saving genius, I suppose people are embarrased if they think they've overspent? Nothing embarrasing about spending money on your passion.
19k and worth every single penny! That's a serious love affair! ❤
As I started watching I remembered that there's a Celica specialist just up the road from me...M.K! 👍
I had an ST185 GT-Four with a boost controller on it set to 13psi, standard computer. It worked perfectly and was used for rallysprints.
My parts bill was massive, but my friend and I fitted everything ourselves. Gearbox, clutch, front hub, struts all around, brakes, etc.
The car was very rough, but still running. Turbo blowing oil, paint peeling all over, but it went very hard.
Mine had real exhaust "bang" on full-boost gear shifts because it had a blow-off valve and was using the factory flappy air-flow meter.
Long time listener, first time commenter. Mega video, one of if not my all-time favourite - I've been through remarkably similar journeys with an Evo V, blobeye Impreza STI and now DS3 Racing... Financially, it never makes sense, but it gets to a point where you're rooting for the hapless underdog to get over their foibles and recapture their former glory. You now have a properly sorted Celica GT4 which is a very special car the likes manufacturers won't make again. If you ever consider putting her up for sale, count me in as an interested party...!!
Thanks Paul, no plans to sell for a while!
You will not find any new car with this raw of a drive for that much money. With all the work done the car will not only provide thrills but will deliver it for years and years thanks to attention you gave it. You invested in a time machine into a time where driving was more cherished and fun-oriented. A good example to compare this to will always be the people that lovingly restore american classics to their former glory for 40-50k. There are a million cars you can get for that money, but the feeling you get behind the wheel of that car you love is priceless.
This car is the reason i follow u :) im 2yrs into mine...next summer Rodney!
Gorgeous, absolutely love the st185’s and st205’s….if I couldn’t sell it for the money I’d rather have that GT4 on my driveway than any of ur Ferrari’s
Immaculate restoration, at least it will continue to appreciate throughout the years especially as I imagine most examples are not well maintained and taken care of
Worth every penny! Loved this video, had me smiling all the way through. Also was that Jethro towards the end?!
I believe he was quoting Hagrid.
@@paul1978g Oooh, thank you!
Not every decision in relation to cars is purely a financial & financial one. It’s James’s call. For the record I, too, applaud his decisions.
You did great by this car!! Ive ALWAYS wanted 1 of these 😍 They still fly well under the radar $$$ compared to Mark IV Supra, FD RX7, GTRs etc
For all your efforts you have what is probably the most desirable specimen of an iconic car available to the person with an average income.
Thanks for your channel.
You sir, are a true legend❤
Too kind! Thankyou Geiri
I don’t know if you remember me a few months back when I commented on your Celica
These cars here in Australia are selling for over A$100,000.00 I’ve seen some prestige quality ones at A$175,000.00 and it got SOLD..
Just hold on to this car Jay, just hold on to it, soon your GT4 will get you 355 money…
😉
I do remember, and it's going nowhere!
Love the honesty of your video. Cheers
I bought mine as a "barn find", similar issues to yourself - finally fixed it all and decided to sell... 2 months later I've taken it off the market as cannot be without it! I have a GR Yaris as my daily so the 205 is now my dedicated track toy 👌👌I only got pops on overrun with a decat, can't replicate with a sports cat at the moment! front mount intercooler was the best thing I did, away with the temperamental charge cooler and receive lots of boosty jap sounds 😂😂
Worth every penny, things you did to the car. Gave it a new life! I've spent that much on my GRY before it even arrived :)
I love those cars too, although I would be delighted with any of them, turbo or not, as long as it wasn't rusty. I drove a new one in 82 and was hooked!
It's your hobby James. Most people spend plenty on their hobbies. It's what life is for.
Thankfully for you, your job also offsets many of the costs.
Lucky lad.
So happy our presenter is into the eclectic and not just the usual exotics. That's the mark of a true enthusiast.
Pleased to see this 90’s icon back in the JayEmm fold! You can’t put a price on a special car that you love, the money is irrelevant really if it’s how it makes you feel. Which is a good thing as enthusiasts have spent disproportionate amounts of money on cars that at the time weren’t valuable at all. A good case in point is the E-Type, which in the late 70’s was cheap and unloved. I do believe cars like this are the next generation of classic, that is way off realising its true value potential.
Another great Video James,love the Toyota,glad you stuck with it and managed to save it albiet the cost,you come across as a genuine person and tell it how just how it is in all your reviews .keep soldiering on ...well done
I've always loved those ST205s. Gran Turismo can probably be blamed for that. It's a shame they along with every other cool 90s Japanese car are so expensive now.
I bought one for 2k and one for 6k. Put a new engine in myself for another 2k. Replaced all the gas and fuel lines. 600$ for racing suspension and enough weight reduction to get her down to 2200 lbs. Its my daily driver. It'll 60ft most cars that aren't on self destruct mode. If they are most will blow their tires off chasing me. But you have different rules on that side of the road.
Awesome video. Thank you for having great pacing. Looking forward to future videos with this car. Loving this fleet update format. Keep up the good work.
In my mind your Celica GT-Four is an exotic. Quite the rare car that deserves to be preserved. Enjoy!
I had 3 of there’s from new, I was commuting Kent to MK at the time with frequent trips to Manchester. Red then black and finally a white one (one of the last made). Fantastic mile munchers and at the time monster quick compared to the avg company car, they happily destroyed the replacement model.
Let's be honest all these older cars are fantastic. Glad you got her fix and back on the road. Beauty looking car.
James, I’d argue it was worth every penny. It’s one of the best looking Toyotas, (do prefer the pop up headlight version), probably only surpassed by the Supra.
Of the car can make you smile as much as it does, then money well spent.
I paid $20K for a pristine no-rust Alfa Romeo GTV6. Over the six years (and counting) I’ve owned it I tallied the receipts and, like you, I don’t have them all but I’ve got most. Total: $17,000. In fairness I’ve got what I consider one of the nicest GTV6’s on the planet. I love the car. Love is rarely rational. That’s the life of a true petrol head. Enjoy!
To be honest James I thought it was going to be a lot more! But well done for preserving a bit of motoring history 😀
My experience with my st205 is very similar to yours. Pretty much bought the car in somewhat same shape as yours. I ended up doing a full forged rebuild, all SS, all wheel bearings, transmission rebuilt,, all calipers rebuilt and am waiting for my ct20b to be rebuilt. Before all of that, I dailyed it for a full year and it stayed reliable enough with minor maintenance items. Next up is ECU and paint... dreading those 2 things if I'm honest
I run a 650+ bhp GT4. Still has alot of standard internals and running gear.
As for pops and bangs ..
Your fuel mix and exhaust system combined with ecu controls all that. On over run it's the unburnt fuel that ignites inside the exhaust, usually due to having run hard and it has the exhaust rather hot. The over fuel can cause a bigger issue of pre detonation. On perfect set up all fuel needs to be burnt thats been injected. Anti lag is useless unless your racing it and wish to keep everything spooled up. Or you like sitting in a carpark reving the engine on the limiter.
The exhaust note on gt4 is pretty crappy no matter the system you instal. Mine is custom 3in bore side exit.
It's the longest rally rep I've owned almost 10 years.
Had one back in 2004.
Managed to screw 450BHP out of it which was not easy or cheap! ... unfortunately It blew up on the way back from winning an award at billing aquadrome (modified car of the show - 200+ club AND it was featured in jap performance magazine) and it still hurts to this day, I think 450BHP was too much for some of the standard internals, it doesn't have the strength of the 2JZ
From what I remember reading, safe power on stock internals is 350, after that it starts getting a bit like a tightrope, it can take more but it needs a very good tune to keep it alive.
How long did yours last at 450?
Yeah my aim is around 300-320 hp once we are done
Just curious, whats does "200+" refer to?
@@GoldenCroc 200BHP I'm guessing? Remember this is 2004 we're talking about.
Thank you for this video. I wanted a ST205 ever since I was a little kid, because of Sega Rally obvs. I almost bought one back in 2013 or 2014, but couldnt afford to keep it on ther road back then. I’ve had many cars since then, even a Celica (albeit st182 Vth gen), but the ST205 remained on my bucketlist. I fear that with age my taste in cars have changed enough so I wouldnt enjoy one (I actually didn’t enjoy to drive the Vth gen but loved looking at it). I fear its a case of never meet your heroes.
But this video made me want one again. Badly. It must be as good as I hope, if a bloke who has Ferraris loves his little Celica
Well done mate.
that st205 gt-4 might jump in price the 3sgte with a new turbo and some head work in can make 400hp easy...great car
I had a few Celicas a long time back now, including a gt4 , all were 1986 to 1989 , and I seem to remember that the light out warning light was caused by the bulb not being the exact specification, even though working ok.
It's been nearly 30 years so it might have been on another car, because I'm a geriatric now. But anyway, something for you to check.
Good Luck
John.
My first car was a Celica and I must have spent more money on that bloody thing than I’d like to even think about 😂
But to me, at the age of 18, it was a freakin spaceship!!
I'm really pleased for you James. Yes, those numbers are big, but it's your dream car. Hope you have many happy years driving her.
In fact, despite congrats for his . . . fortitude? . . . it seems to be JayEmm’s legions of fans who have enabled him to retain ownership of this dog’s breakfast of a car. Reminds me of an Alcoholics’ Anonymous session, where everyone cheers on the failure they so desperately fear themselves to be.
James, it really doesn’t matter the amount spent if it’s a keeper and you genuinely feel that unexplainable something towards it, as you clearly do.
I know project creep well. The excel I keep on my M Coupe build reflects a similar story and still not done…..contemplating if I need a 6-speed box and cams currently 🤦🏻♂️
My 1999 Celica is fast 1.8 VVTI . 1 owner from new driven by a GENT. I blew the cobwebs out of it and become super-fast!!!! The engines mint and flat battery is my only problem I've ever had, 80THOUSAND mls . Engines bomb proof! I want 4x4 on mine and turbo.
I think £19k isn’t that bad considering what these go for now. Amazing car, you’re going to have one of the cleanest cars in the country 👍
As the one-time owner of a 1988 Celica GT4 (called an All-Trac Turbo here in the states) I feel your pain. But for a time at least I also felt your joy, so it's all good.
What a great video. Thing thing is, I’d rather pay the equivalent of money I would on a new car which is likely numb and compromised in feel, on an older car and crest exactly what I would love to walk out to every day. I would not regret a thing if I were you. It’s worth it for the soul fuel this gives. 👌🏻🤙🏻
Hahaha, oh my word, that’s a heck of a combined bill. BUT, there is nothing else like it, and all of this work is going into your car, that you wish to treasure for some time. Having driven a black one a few times years ago, I know the smiles that are coming, and they are big. They really are more practical then you would think too, I managed to stuff loads of stuff in the back. Never cared that much for the generation that followed, but these are so cool. Love it!
Had a red GT-Four from new back in the ealy 90's. Loved it. Kept it for 4 years and 80k miles. Still have the original brochure
Back in 2001 I was in the look out for a New car and because I was working near to home I wanted something special! Namely a Rally car for the road. At the time Subarus and Mitsubishi were good money!! When a Red Toyota Celica, the same model as James's Celica popped in a Local Showroom. It looked fantastic, I was Smitten with it. This was the one!! The only thing was it was high mileage but Fully Documented Toyota History from Day one. It had almost a complete Mechanical rebuild barr gearbox, New diffs clutch Turbo etc.
I asked the Salesman for a Test, upon moving the car there was a pool of gearbox oil on the floor. Of course it was only a minor weap but as I'd already seen 1000's spent on this car my head worked loose of my heart. Surely with all the work done the gearbox shouldn't be leaking, so with a heavy heart I left it. A Clio Williams was next on my agenda, which I have to this day. Two month's after I saw this Red Celica I met its new owner. He wasn't happy with it as he'd had to pay out a small fortune on a New gearbox!!
Lovely cars but not so lovely on your Pocket!!
Re the maps and pops/bangs - I wonder if you ever came across Adrian Smith at Fensport? Lovely chap, Toyota to the core and what he doesn’t know isn’t worth forgetting! Give him a call, he did loads to my GT86 and was brilliant to deal with. Cheers, Lee
That car is spectacularly beautiful, thank you JayEmm.
If it makes you feel better JM, the rival Escort Cossie RS is slower than this and costs far more to buy today, despite the Celica originally being much more expensive when new.
That's my favorite of the Celica models. Of course we never got it in the USA. Maybe that's why I like it so much? LOL
When you find the right car it just happens, I’m in deeper than that on my Toyota Crown James & I just don’t care, I don’t drink or smoke or gamble it’s my only vice & it gives me a lot of joy. That’s real petrol heading right there 👍🏻
ST205 is one of the greatest cars of all time regardless of its pedigree.
Definitely in my top 3 if I came in to a few quid.
Compared to what? The thing was a worldwide disaster sales-wise and wasn’t even successful at rallying. A huge embarrassment for Toyota. From my own experience, it doesn’t hold a candle to Mazda’s AWD turbo GTX, upgraded to 270 HP thanks to HKS, and it never missed a beat.
I had a similar experience... I bought a Volvo 850 estate and 3 days later I had to sell it to the scrapyard... It had many hidden flaws that owner have not told me about... For example a hand brake was not working, and I was told it is nothing to worry about "It just needs some work, you can do it yourself". It turned out that the braking system was damaged and the rear brakes just did not work... Anyway, it had three very expensive issues that I cound not afford fixing. I have messaged the owner saying that I want my money back, since he scamed me. He called me a liar, and that I knew what I was getting into. So that is how I had my first car for three days...
Completely get where you're coming from. Although not in the same league as a GT4, I bought a cheapo phase 1 Saab 9-5 Estate in early 2021. It cost me £1000, since then I've probably spent about £2500 just on making it run and drive properly. I love it!!
Thanks James, great video, & good to see this back on the channel. Looking forward to your next adventure with it! 🙏🙏
Congrats! That is an awesome Celica and you are doing it up right. Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Thanks for sharing.