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You always have problems with cars. You should have a mechanic look at the car before moaning about the seller's alleged deceitful behaviour, mostly based on your assumption. It comes across very petty. Heard the same story in half a dozen videos.
I've had 2 (and a half) of these ST205's and the HKS Silent power exhaust was the best one i've come across for it. I should never have sold mine. I regret it every day.
Just a few tips ahead that we got from our GT4: 1. Be sure to check the tune, because the stock pistons are really fragile and have a common problem with ringlands cracking. 2. Also either replace the fuel pump for an uprated one, or make some sort of baffles in the fuel tank because at 1/3 tank and very spirited driving you can run into fuel starvation 3. The outer seals for the door are hard to come by in a decet condition, and don't thnik they are available new 4. Same goes for the rear brake dust shields We try to be the specialists here in Slovakia, and have done about 3 full restorations on GT4 so we know our way around the block Love to see you finally enjoying it proberly man!
Former turbo MR2 owner here, but yeah the stock pistons are good for stock power and maybe upping the boost a little. But even then it can be a crapshoot. Also the Gen3 blocks can be prone to cracking which has happened at any power level. ECU's are also now starting to fail due to the capacitors going bad although thats not a terrible fix. Edit: Not sure why they needed to replace the ECU with a standalone really especially as the standard ecu is fine for what Jay is doing with it and it also should have some pops and bangs on the overrun fairly naturally due to the ecu running fairly rich. BRD Make a nice catted downpipe and I ran mine and never had an issue passing emissions with it.
Can't believe how polite you are to companies that DON'T do a great job! Having spent that amount on the mechanics.... it really should be perfect and repaired correctly.
Ive been to MK, had friends who have had their cars worked on by them and never seen or heard of an issue with their work before. The whole thing seems very odd. Rather depressing to hear as well since I was hoping to have them work on my GT4 if/when I ever get one.
@@griffins750 I've been going on and off for nearly 10 years and never had an issue with them. Great guys tbh. I wouldn't let one persons experience put you off, plenty of stories that are great about them.
Honestly I preferred watching this video over you faffing around with Aston Martins. Good reminder that this channel is for the everyman. Newcomers might assume with your three Ferraris and Aston Martin that you are interested only in cars you need multiple mortgages to buy. Can't wait to see the S2000 again, it's been ages
Ironically these Celicas are collector's items now and are very pricey in America unless it's just a beater. Way outside my comfort zone and price range for a nice one so I went 7th gen.
It's really not though. The only thing interesting about this car is the low production numbers and 4WD. And those things alone cannot make the car itself interesting.
Not really, listening to him rambling on about the issues and terrible state of the car is hardly interesting. All it affirmed was that it's a shoddy car. Cheaply built Toyota crap
ive owned my celica for 2 years now. And every single time I walk outside and look at it, I still cant help but smile. Great to see you enjoy that car ^^
I don't understand all your choices but man as a petrolhead you live life to the full. Good decisions, questionable decisions and completely mad decisions you cover all the bases. Thanks for inviting us for the ride and don't ever change !
Loved my Celica GT-Four but mine was the ST165 that I had tuned to 300bhp. Replaced it with a Mk4 Supra and then an E34 M5. Oh the '90s, that was a fun time.
I had a JDM import Celica ST185 and was my favourite car that I ever owned… it always stood out from the crowd at local rally events amongst a sea of Subarus and Mitsubishis and was great fun to drive.
I always wanted a Miata since I was a kid and knew nothing of cars. Still never got one, but my 01' Celica GT-S is as close as I can reasonably get (MR2s, are stupid in price and don't even get the engine upgrade I have now) and weighs almost the same. Cars this peppy and light are quite amazing coming from my 88 Supra.
Yep me too. Im 17 rn so im hoping to get this as my first car, since my coyntry doesnt really have id depth car culture (everyone with money just owns a bmw or mercedes), so the celica isnt well known. You can find plenty in good condition in the 5-8k range
My Dad bought in 1998 a brand new Celica SR 1.8. I think it was 120BHP and that new was 19K or so all the way back then. I really do like the shape so the GT Four with the extra power must be a dream to drive. My heart did sink a bit was waiting for it up for sale but its great news to hear you are keeping it. Lets hope it gives you years more of fun without too much time off road.
Here i am committed to selling my 205 WRC been in storage for decades and James drops new video. Now those second thoughts creeping back in. Great to see 205 update video.
I have a (factory manual!) ST-215, and it really is quite good. I'd love a go in a ST-205 like yours. What a lovely machine and I'm so glad you're keeping it.
The Caldina is good, until you need to stop. Woefully under braked. The front brake rotors are the same as the NA ST204 Celica... Can kind of fit the 205 brakes. Was happy when I got rid of mine, but now I've got an Octavia, and the Caldina was way more reliable...
Thank you for not giving up on this car. It is such a special car that deserves more attention and your car is shaping up to be one of the best examples of one while at the same time exposing to more people how cool these cars really are. Back in the day, when I was in high school, one of my managers from a part time job had one and I thought this was the coolest car. Now I am seriously thinking about getting one and restoring it over spending that money on a new GR Corolla Circuit Edition.
It's actually refreshing to see a really good legend car not being £50k + like all my old faves- Minis, Escorts, Integrales and E30 M3s. Well done for the faithfulness and service to the car.
Hi James, Just finished a days tinkering on my ST162 Celica for which you and your channel are solely responsible for me buying 2 years ago and have had a lovely supper while watching this episode. I had hoped that Toyota ownership would be a lot easier than Ford but I have found that the aftermarket isn't that well catered for compared to other marques. Like you, my Celica puts a big smile on me face when I drive it and I'm also considering some livery in the future when I iron out all the little niggles. Many thanks for this and all other episodes and for your influence on my purchase. CheeRS Marc in Ireland 🇮🇪.
THIS is the Celica I wanted two years ago after I got my 88 Supra and wanted to sell my 94 camry for something a bit more fun. Sadly, here in the states they are ABSURDLY expensive and rare. Not even to mention we didn't get the sought after models. So I settled on an 01' GT-S and I don't regret it at all. Sure it's not nearly as cool or powerful as the GT FOUR, but it's also extremely reliable and parts are out there, so made more sense as a daily.
I do agree! It is a great looking car, as I played the Sega rally game with this car , I fell in love with it also! I also loved the 550. Had the posters and the blanket. My perfect 2 car garage right there!
Love seeing this car on your channel. I had a grey ST185 UK Carlos Sainz edition around 2004 and sold it after about 11 months to buy a clio 182… oh how I regret ever selling that Celica 😢 It was 12 years old and even still had the original exhaust and was mint underneath too…
I had a 1995 (I think) ST205WRC about 15 years ago, even though the turbo packed in and I spent 2 weekends £200 and a skinned knuckle replacing it I still loved it and still regret selling it. I also had an Mk2 MR2 Turbo at the time and so fell back on that and due to practicality issues I sold that and ended up with a ST185RC. I love GT-Fours and still lament that we never really got the Caldina variant over here in the UK.
Probably one of my all time favorite cars. The only reason I don't have one is I already have an ST165(the first GT-Four) and I don't like to 'double up' my cars. They are not the easiest cars to keep on the road, but are very rewarding to drive. As far as working on them goes they have a lot of very tight clearances and there's a ton of things crammed in that engine bay. It's not a car for a beginner DIY'er, but an advanced DIY'er can manage. With about 40K GT-Fours made through all generations, they are rare enough to have parts availability issues. However, keeping one of these running and on the road is an accomplishment to be proud of.
Old Retired Toyota Race Tech from the US here. GT-Fours are the best, usually very comfortable, and very fun to drive. That's being said, Parts can be a nightmare to locate for some models. Luckily there's a very passionate fan base for them who are now making a lot of the hard to find parts. I've owned my ST165 for 20+ years. My car is a real survivor, with 77K miles (123919 kilometers.) Mine has almost all options except the leather/vinyl interior. Its engine has been moderately modified to improve reliability. Also has a set of nice Borebet Porsche Cup wheels ***Side note*** The Castrol TOM'S Supra also carried the GT-Four's 3sgte Engine, not the 1jz/2jz etc. SO they share a powerplant, but quite correct in their differences elsewhere. Wish i was in your neck of the woods, i'd sort your dash lights out for ya. Its a relatively quick and easy fix. Beautiful car mate, take good care of that old girl, many of her kind have been endlessly abused and "yobbified" as you might say.
What I gather is that while there were many headaches during your ownership of the car, they were born mostly out of human negligence and not really the fault of the car itself. Bit of a shame that these people failed to do what was needed but I think in the end this will be a masterpiece of a car.
It's the reality of owning a "vintage" Toyota sports car. He bought a shotty example though, but even my 88' Supra was a very nice example and it still needed and needs a lot of minor stuff as does my 01' GT-S. The 01' is my daily and it's a LOT more simple and cheap. The Supra is hilariously overbuilt and complex so with age there is a lot that needs tending to, but honestly both have been mechanically fine.
I've got the ST202, and I love it. It also our family car. Last year I changed the timing belt , water pump, oil seals and thermostat. Took my time over two weeks😂.
Just reminded me of the lost art of the coupe; VW Scirocco, Lotus Excel, Audi Coupe, Honda Integra/ Prelude… even the Rover 800 Sterling and 216 Coupe with targa roof…. So many nice cars that were based upon “humble underpinnings” but exuded a touch of flare and panache…
Really enjoyed this film-one of your best Jay! Love the transformation of the car, and we can relate to the challenges! Look forward to another instalment of this Celica saga!
I had an ST165 as my daily driver for several years and it had a problem; it was so massively competent it was boring to drive at any sort of rational speed. I helped it out a bit; I installed lightweight alloys with performance tires and 'un-detuned' it. It got a bit more exciting after that. I also made extensive use of the cruise-control on the highway as a speed-limiting device because from 60-100 mph you really couldn't feel a difference in how the car drove. I'd be noodling along minding my own business and suddenly realize I was going far, far too fast. Eventually maintenance got just too expensive and I sold it on to a friend after carefully making certain he knew exactly what he was in for.
It really does look really good now James, right decision diving in for the purchase. In New Zealand these are quite rare compared with evos and stis so always stand out to me they really do look great. Good work. Get the factory antilag activated auto pops and bangs and boost from standstill 👍🏻
I have had 3 Celica's my first was a TA22 the next was a RA65 and the last was a WRC which was a tribute car to Carlos Sainz who won the rally world championship in the year. I remember a have road tests from car magazines that run down the looks of the cars. I think they still look good today. The Celica was the last sports cars to compete in World Rally Championship.
My first new car was a Mazda 6 maxed out with all the equipment I could get. I even got to spec it with an original MiniDisc - player to go with the 6-disc CD changer. This was back in 2005. Had the car for 8 years, with one light bulb as the only casualty.
Thanks for sharing this, I think a lot of us have a bad time with certain builds to the point we keep it to ourselves for whatever reason, some think we're mad for carrying on, or mad for decisions made at the time.. its a journey, the end build is what matters!
I was literally just toying with the idea of selling mine. Then this pops up. Mine’s a Black 95’ with factory fit Confetti Recaro’s, and optional extra OZ Chrono wheels. Sadly the sills are utterly shot and there’s various other mechanical bits that need addressing now. It’s sat for a number of years now but I’m glad I saw this, inspired me a bit. And I’m surprised you had issues with MkAutos, I’ve only heard good stuff, never used them though.
I have that same problem with my 2002 MGTF. Spent lots of money, they fixed everything but the real problem. But the car is great to drive when it goes. The Celica is a great car and you need to keep it. I was wondering about the S2000. Looking forward to that video. The S2000 and the NXS are my wish for cars.
i own one of these and it truly is something special , i have not driven anything that comes close. it just feels so good and sounds amazing. but yes, it it such an expensive car to own. i have spent many thousands on it. i agree, seeing it " derelict" really is depressing. as the exhaust goes, the cat system from timothy bill developments in UK looks really good. paired with a hks silent hi power muffler. i personally have the SARD cat. it also sounds like it might need a re-tune to get it to pass MOT. use a air/fuel ratio gauge to see what its doing. going rich on overrun would be bad for the cat anyway. as the tail lamp warning light goes, mine has only the outer lights used for rear tailights, i see yours does both, maybe it reads too much resistance. pull the globes out and check. the dash lights are pretty easy to change back yourself. also check all the earths to the cars engine, the small one to the alternator can go bad, but maybe they could also be upgraded to a bit thicker cables. there should be 3 points of earthing. (battery - body, body - gearbox, alt - body. i think maybe)
Learning the hard way that if you want something done right you have to do it yourself. Hopefully Jay can get him a garage and a lift one day it would be cool to see some repair content from him.
I always wanted one of these from when they were new. But, I’m glad I never did buy one as they really need a specialist to look after them. Past experience of specialists is that it really depends on which mechanic is working on the car, as to the standard of work. These days, I prefer the later Celica, as it is less complicated and I could do jobs myself or get the local garage to do them,
Someone who gets it and sums it up so perfectly. This has just reaffirmed my decision to do a bare shell restoration on my new Celica GT4. I have done the opposite to you, I probably used my old GT4 a bit too much. This resulted in the car rotting badly. However I have invested a lot of time and money in forging the engine and setting the car up for the track days and fast road runs it has been on, in all weathers. So I bought a non runner to restore extensively and put the engine out of my old one into. They are worth little in resale value compared to others and I will have to spend over twice the value to get this car where I want it, but it isn’t about the money. It is about the love of a fantastic car and creating one of the best examples in the UK! Long road ahead but it will be worth it!
I can relate to all your ST205 joys and woes. Fragile, budget, supercar would be one way to sum them up. Tremendous fun when working well. A very efficient means of disposing of any savings when they are not.
You're doing the right thing, keep it. Spend the money and enjoy it, who cares what it's worth when you love it. I absolutely love all the Celicas, since the 80s to the last model and despite owning a Supra about 15 years ago, I've never owned a Celica. I have often thought about it and many times scrolled through ads, I've never got one and don't know why tbh.
This is exactly the reason I got rid of my last WRX GC8 (2 weeks ago). It was an endless list of failures and constant repairs, not suprising being a 31 year old car. And then the incurable...unstoppable..rust.. haha it was a sensible decision but I do miss my old Scoobies !
I wish you drove this a lot more. I love the ST205 era of the Celica and maybe that’s because we never got them in the USA. 🇺🇸 I also understand your pain about seeing the cars problems. I was in the same place with my Vette. I didn’t drive it because I was only looking at its issues. All it took was one drive and I said to myself, “Get it fixed dude. You love driving this car.” Thank you Jay for the reminder that some cars are too good not to drive. 😊😅😊
I've owned 3 Toyota Celicas, and owned my 1993 GT2.0 for 12 years. What I could never understand was why, in WRC under Carlos Santz they beat the Mitsubishis, and the Subarus, and YET it was the cars that had been spanked that commanded the big money. Go figure. My '93 was chipped, and had a handmade exhaust that emulated the style of the original, and wasn't stupidly loud... but oooh it did go very well, right up until 230,000 miles, when the inner wings rotted away. Very lovely cars, but they will rust away eventually. I'm very surprised about the electrical issues, and the poor fit of some parts, usually Toyotas just keep on running like a Swiss watch. Nice to see one loved (with no expense spared!).
There is no other stock car on the road that has a bonnet design as crazy as the GT-Four. I used to own a Group A Rallye here in Australia. Should never have sold it! Maybe one day I'll buy another. In the meantime I can always wander into the garage and admire my GR Yaris Rallye. Good on you for resurrecting the car Jay.
This and the 550 are by far my two most favourite cars in your fleet! So happy to see the Celica back on the road! I know this isn't looking its best in the current state, but it STILL looks amazing. The TRD bodykit, high wing and the huge cannon exhaust just make it look perfect. I know it's your car, and your choice, but I do hope you don't change it cosmetically from how it looks now.
@@rushnerd Thank you :D The owner is well known and repected in the uk gt4 owners groups and it was on car throttle 2 years ago. The car is in what looks like amazing condition so fingers crossed 🤞
Just watched the vid as I've got a GT4 myself (posting from my youtube page about it) . Its good to finally get an update on yours and see what's been done to it. I just adding my comments on MK, I've been going to him for nearly 10 years with 3 GT4s and some other cars in that time and never had an issue with him or his work. I do get that sometimes if there is a lot of work getting done at once then little things can get missed, but on the whole the guys at MK are top notch and are widely regarded as such in the gt4 community. I look forward to more updates and vids on your GT4
@JayEmmOnCars at least you can drive the car and enjoy it though, that's the main thing. I'm glad there is someone out there who reviews cars and is prominent on RUclips that actually owns one, not many about.
I remember Juha Kankkunen and Carlos Sainz charging through the forests in the RAC rally in my teens with their disc brakes glowing red hot. What a machine. As you rightly say it’s bizarre that they have been overlooked compared to the Lancia Delta, Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi lancer EVO as they are a very capable machine that not only looks great but drives great as well. Also Minidisc what a great format. I luckily never got rid of mine although I got into minidisc in 2002 after the pre recorded discs were available. Get a cheap second hand recorder and burn yourself some discs you wont regret it 😊 Great video as always thanks for sharing
So glad you are doing the right thing by the GT4. Mad respect from the JDM community down here in AUS..we all watch your channel. Prime GT4/MR2 in the U.S.A is a decent source for interior and exterior/engine/electrics etc I seem to spend a lot of money there ;) Ganbatte ne!
I nearly bought one of these in Red. At first, with 110,000 i wasn't sure buy the dealer brought out a folder nearly 3" thick from Toyota with some massive bills and looked like it had been practically rebuilt. Whilst the Dealer moved it out of the showroom, for the test drivd, there was a puddle of oil. At that point it put me off. I decided to look elsewhere and ended up with a Clio Williams. I still think about that car although I did meet the new owner who had lots of issues with it. Glad you've persisted with your Celica as they're fabulous looking cars, just need a lot of love😂.
This is one of my favourite cars on the channel. I adore the Mk 6 Celica because as a teenage, a neighbour had one and it was the coolest car on the street, and at Uni I regularly saw a GT Four. The Mk 6 is a car that is aging very well; it still looks really pretty. It's also a bit of a forgotten JDM model. And they're pretty rare, be it standard Mk 6's or GT Four's so they're a cool car to see out and about. And as Ben proved; it's pretty dang practical.
nice to see joyous James in the same video as grumpy Jay.....i'm sure you gave them a harder time than how you've suggested here, but so happy to see the GT4 out being driven.
Watching this I almost cried for the Impreza Turbo I owned from new for 23 years. Rally cars are great... they feel so up for a fun drive and like being hustled.
I've owned a Celica for about 5years - have had almost no issues with it, however in the entire ownership of it I have also had the light bulb light on since probably my first month of ownership. The 3SGTE engine is probably one of my favourite engines of all time. I'm surprised by the costs Jay has incurred, - this side of the world the only thing that's difficult is the suspension bits - but everything is quite available and very cheap
Had one of these from Japan for 4 years as a daily driver… it got through 2 engines but it was fantastic. Incredible how the Cossie went stratospheric in value in comparison.
I owned at Gen 6 Celica SR back in the early 2000s- woefully underpowered but it looked great :D A GT4 was the dream back then- ever since Sega Rally came out actually- but I don't think I'll ever fulfill that dream. Great to see you have though, that car looks stunning!
Lovely example Jayemm, also your Celica has more of a connection to the Castrol supra than you may realise, because believe it or not it has the same 3s-gte as yours (obviously heavily modified), and not the 2jz due to the racing. regulations at the time.
So here's my theory.... Back in the day you could buy a Ford Escort 1.3L. Many people had them, it was a pretty humdrum car. But it made the Escort Cosworth seem incredible. People wondered how could a car that's the same model as my 1.3L do that? The answer of course is that the Cosworth was completely different to any other Escort. Almost the only thing that it took from mass produced Escorts was the badge. But it did create an image that people wanted, and nostalgia for that is what people are paying for. The GT-Four is in many ways a better car (especially when it had Juha Kankkunen behind the wheel), but it's already a sports car not a mainstream hatchback. Less people had them, there was no Celica 1.3L. With less people chasing that nostalgic dream values will stay affordable. And that's a good thing.
Cosworth also has a legacy. Even if most people under 60 have no idea what a DFV is, they understand that the name Cosworth means engineering expertise, dedication to the craft, and winning. Toyota met with some success, but one doesn't associate Toyota with rally the way they do with Mitsubishi, Subaru, Audi, or Lancia. It also has the great fortune/misfortune (unlike the other Gran Turismo unobtainium 90's Japanese cars) of having _not_ been featured in _The Fast and the Furious_ lol.
I agree with you James it really is a very pretty car. I personally prefer the original rear spoiler, but the one fitted now doesn't look at all out of place. I wish you luck with the next bout of repairs. It can be so difficult to find the right place can't it. 👍🤞
Toyota Celica nation let's go. The Toyota Celica is the most underrated Japanese sports car and all are great regardless of gen. I would recommend trying other gens of Celica's as well if possible especially the second and 3rd gen.
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You always have problems with cars. You should have a mechanic look at the car before moaning about the seller's alleged deceitful behaviour, mostly based on your assumption. It comes across very petty. Heard the same story in half a dozen videos.
Also you are a rep for Car Vertical. Ironic.
I'd like to see you compare this to the Integra Type R of the same time period.
@@JayEmmOnCars the corolla rally car is awesome also same for the nissan sunny gti R
I've had 2 (and a half) of these ST205's and the HKS Silent power exhaust was the best one i've come across for it. I should never have sold mine. I regret it every day.
You should do a yearly or so fleet review, where you go over all your current cars, how often you use them, backstories etc.
Yes! Including whatever happened to the Cayenne!
@@jamesengland7461he sold the cayenne to a family member i believe
That would be great
How many cars does he have
Harry's garage? Lol
Just a few tips ahead that we got from our GT4:
1. Be sure to check the tune, because the stock pistons are really fragile and have a common problem with ringlands cracking.
2. Also either replace the fuel pump for an uprated one, or make some sort of baffles in the fuel tank because at 1/3 tank and very spirited driving you can run into fuel starvation
3. The outer seals for the door are hard to come by in a decet condition, and don't thnik they are available new
4. Same goes for the rear brake dust shields
We try to be the specialists here in Slovakia, and have done about 3 full restorations on GT4 so we know our way around the block
Love to see you finally enjoying it proberly man!
Former turbo MR2 owner here, but yeah the stock pistons are good for stock power and maybe upping the boost a little. But even then it can be a crapshoot.
Also the Gen3 blocks can be prone to cracking which has happened at any power level. ECU's are also now starting to fail due to the capacitors going bad although thats not a terrible fix.
Edit: Not sure why they needed to replace the ECU with a standalone really especially as the standard ecu is fine for what Jay is doing with it and it also should have some pops and bangs on the overrun fairly naturally due to the ecu running fairly rich.
BRD Make a nice catted downpipe and I ran mine and never had an issue passing emissions with it.
Are you a professional mechanic or are you talking about cars that you owned?
What was the boost issue that caused that issue I’m having that fluttering too .
@iamapathy3780 what's ur shop name and Instagram? I am in the usa and would love to own ine if these bad boys.
Can't believe how polite you are to companies that DON'T do a great job! Having spent that amount on the mechanics.... it really should be perfect and repaired correctly.
They call themselves master technicians nowadays
Ive been to MK, had friends who have had their cars worked on by them and never seen or heard of an issue with their work before. The whole thing seems very odd. Rather depressing to hear as well since I was hoping to have them work on my GT4 if/when I ever get one.
You expect them to fuck something up, that's how bad it usually is 😅
@@griffins750 I've been going on and off for nearly 10 years and never had an issue with them. Great guys tbh. I wouldn't let one persons experience put you off, plenty of stories that are great about them.
@@the_faff_files Fair enough! Thank you for sharing your experience! Also your car looks beautiful in your pfp 👍🤘
Honestly I preferred watching this video over you faffing around with Aston Martins. Good reminder that this channel is for the everyman. Newcomers might assume with your three Ferraris and Aston Martin that you are interested only in cars you need multiple mortgages to buy. Can't wait to see the S2000 again, it's been ages
There are plenty of channels that feature the big money cars. These kind of cars are intrinsically more interesting to watch and learn about.
Ironically these Celicas are collector's items now and are very pricey in America unless it's just a beater.
Way outside my comfort zone and price range for a nice one so I went 7th gen.
I agree! Hopefully James will take note
This is much more interesting then Ferrari's and Maserati's.
100% agree
Yes I agree ❤
I agree too
It's really not though. The only thing interesting about this car is the low production numbers and 4WD. And those things alone cannot make the car itself interesting.
Not really, listening to him rambling on about the issues and terrible state of the car is hardly interesting. All it affirmed was that it's a shoddy car. Cheaply built Toyota crap
ive owned my celica for 2 years now. And every single time I walk outside and look at it, I still cant help but smile. Great to see you enjoy that car ^^
"still can't believe i did that" 😂😂😂
That car is awesome James ! A proper petrolhead car if ever there was one. Well done for sticking with it and bringing it back to former glories!
I don't understand all your choices but man as a petrolhead you live life to the full. Good decisions, questionable decisions and completely mad decisions you cover all the bases. Thanks for inviting us for the ride and don't ever change !
Loved my Celica GT-Four but mine was the ST165 that I had tuned to 300bhp. Replaced it with a Mk4 Supra and then an E34 M5. Oh the '90s, that was a fun time.
I had a JDM import Celica ST185 and was my favourite car that I ever owned… it always stood out from the crowd at local rally events amongst a sea of Subarus and Mitsubishis and was great fun to drive.
I have one of those now and it's incredible despite being pretty knackered. It wasn't a black J reg by any chance? I may have your car haha.
I'd love to own a Celica one day.
GT Fours are stunning! Always wanted one.
I always wanted a Miata since I was a kid and knew nothing of cars. Still never got one, but my 01' Celica GT-S is as close as I can reasonably get (MR2s, are stupid in price and don't even get the engine upgrade I have now) and weighs almost the same. Cars this peppy and light are quite amazing coming from my 88 Supra.
Yep me too. Im 17 rn so im hoping to get this as my first car, since my coyntry doesnt really have id depth car culture (everyone with money just owns a bmw or mercedes), so the celica isnt well known. You can find plenty in good condition in the 5-8k range
My Dad bought in 1998 a brand new Celica SR 1.8. I think it was 120BHP and that new was 19K or so all the way back then. I really do like the shape so the GT Four with the extra power must be a dream to drive. My heart did sink a bit was waiting for it up for sale but its great news to hear you are keeping it. Lets hope it gives you years more of fun without too much time off road.
Here i am committed to selling my 205 WRC been in storage for decades and James drops new video. Now those second thoughts creeping back in. Great to see 205 update video.
I have a (factory manual!) ST-215, and it really is quite good. I'd love a go in a ST-205 like yours. What a lovely machine and I'm so glad you're keeping it.
The Caldina is good, until you need to stop. Woefully under braked. The front brake rotors are the same as the NA ST204 Celica... Can kind of fit the 205 brakes. Was happy when I got rid of mine, but now I've got an Octavia, and the Caldina was way more reliable...
The ST205 is exceptionally good to drive. A thicker rear roll bar and some coilivers makes the handing utterly exceptional. 👌
Thank you for not giving up on this car. It is such a special car that deserves more attention and your car is shaping up to be one of the best examples of one while at the same time exposing to more people how cool these cars really are. Back in the day, when I was in high school, one of my managers from a part time job had one and I thought this was the coolest car. Now I am seriously thinking about getting one and restoring it over spending that money on a new GR Corolla Circuit Edition.
Proper 90s hero car. Well done for investing in it. Would love if a follower has an Integrale and you did a Sega Rally special episode...
It's actually refreshing to see a really good legend car not being £50k + like all my old faves- Minis, Escorts, Integrales and E30 M3s. Well done for the faithfulness and service to the car.
She's a keeper for sure. Lovely car.
Hi James, Just finished a days tinkering on my ST162 Celica for which you and your channel are solely responsible for me buying 2 years ago and have had a lovely supper while watching this episode. I had hoped that Toyota ownership would be a lot easier than Ford but I have found that the aftermarket isn't that well catered for compared to other marques. Like you, my Celica puts a big smile on me face when I drive it and I'm also considering some livery in the future when I iron out all the little niggles. Many thanks for this and all other episodes and for your influence on my purchase. CheeRS Marc in Ireland 🇮🇪.
Glad to hear of someone keeping a 16 alive - they're rare things!
They have a great following in the US and Australia, hard to get good used parts here in Ireland. CheeRS
Its a damn shame paying for that kind of service, no excuse to cut corners and cheap out on stuff. These gems need love ^^
THIS is the Celica I wanted two years ago after I got my 88 Supra and wanted to sell my 94 camry for something a bit more fun.
Sadly, here in the states they are ABSURDLY expensive and rare. Not even to mention we didn't get the sought after models.
So I settled on an 01' GT-S and I don't regret it at all. Sure it's not nearly as cool or powerful as the GT FOUR, but it's also extremely reliable and parts are out there, so made more sense as a daily.
I do agree! It is a great looking car, as I played the Sega rally game with this car , I fell in love with it also! I also loved the 550. Had the posters and the blanket. My perfect 2 car garage right there!
Thanks for the update, it's always great to see your Celica and MG updates!
I've had my 205 for 13 years mate and I still love every drive I also have a caldina gtt and that's a blast too keep with it mate they're amazing
Gt-four st246 owner here, 10 years, cant give it up.. too practical, reliable and good all around
Love seeing this car on your channel. I had a grey ST185 UK Carlos Sainz edition around 2004 and sold it after about 11 months to buy a clio 182… oh how I regret ever selling that Celica 😢
It was 12 years old and even still had the original exhaust and was mint underneath too…
PS… get some OZ style rally wheels on it …
This is by far your most interesting car.
Had one back in 2005, the 1995 model. Marvellous car, feel bad that I had to sell it to buy a bigger car…😢
Holy cow, it's on the road!
What’s not to love about the Celica. An absolute classic that looks awesome.
I had a 1995 (I think) ST205WRC about 15 years ago, even though the turbo packed in and I spent 2 weekends £200 and a skinned knuckle replacing it I still loved it and still regret selling it. I also had an Mk2 MR2 Turbo at the time and so fell back on that and due to practicality issues I sold that and ended up with a ST185RC. I love GT-Fours and still lament that we never really got the Caldina variant over here in the UK.
Probably one of my all time favorite cars. The only reason I don't have one is I already have an ST165(the first GT-Four) and I don't like to 'double up' my cars. They are not the easiest cars to keep on the road, but are very rewarding to drive. As far as working on them goes they have a lot of very tight clearances and there's a ton of things crammed in that engine bay. It's not a car for a beginner DIY'er, but an advanced DIY'er can manage. With about 40K GT-Fours made through all generations, they are rare enough to have parts availability issues. However, keeping one of these running and on the road is an accomplishment to be proud of.
Great to see love for the GT4. Stunning car.
Old Retired Toyota Race Tech from the US here. GT-Fours are the best, usually very comfortable, and very fun to drive. That's being said, Parts can be a nightmare to locate for some models. Luckily there's a very passionate fan base for them who are now making a lot of the hard to find parts. I've owned my ST165 for 20+ years. My car is a real survivor, with 77K miles (123919 kilometers.) Mine has almost all options except the leather/vinyl interior. Its engine has been moderately modified to improve reliability. Also has a set of nice Borebet Porsche Cup wheels ***Side note*** The Castrol TOM'S Supra also carried the GT-Four's 3sgte Engine, not the 1jz/2jz etc. SO they share a powerplant, but quite correct in their differences elsewhere.
Wish i was in your neck of the woods, i'd sort your dash lights out for ya. Its a relatively quick and easy fix. Beautiful car mate, take good care of that old girl, many of her kind have been endlessly abused and "yobbified" as you might say.
Yeah they were very cheap for a long time and being Japanese suffered terribly from rust. This one will hopefully be around for a long time!
Out of curiosity, what reliability mods have you done? I've got about 58K on my ST165, and I'd rather keep the Gen1 as happy as possible.
What I gather is that while there were many headaches during your ownership of the car, they were born mostly out of human negligence and not really the fault of the car itself. Bit of a shame that these people failed to do what was needed but I think in the end this will be a masterpiece of a car.
It's the reality of owning a "vintage" Toyota sports car. He bought a shotty example though, but even my 88' Supra was a very nice example and it still needed and needs a lot of minor stuff as does my 01' GT-S. The 01' is my daily and it's a LOT more simple and cheap. The Supra is hilariously overbuilt and complex so with age there is a lot that needs tending to, but honestly both have been mechanically fine.
I've got the ST202, and I love it. It also our family car. Last year I changed the timing belt , water pump, oil seals and thermostat.
Took my time over two weeks😂.
What did the family travel in during the two weeks? ;-)
@hunchanchoc8418 Mrs works from home and I've also got a Civic 1998, 1.5LS 😀
@@krishath7085 Oooh, that's a nice Civic! Good man!
Just reminded me of the lost art of the coupe; VW Scirocco, Lotus Excel, Audi Coupe, Honda Integra/ Prelude… even the Rover 800 Sterling and 216 Coupe with targa roof…. So many nice cars that were based upon “humble underpinnings” but exuded a touch of flare and panache…
Thanks for helping preserve this vehicle and sharing the joys of driving it
Fantastic to see this car on RUclips again, more GT4 content please!!
Bought mine 2 years ago, love that car and can totally identify with what are you saying in video. Wish you many happy miles with it :)
Really enjoyed this film-one of your best Jay! Love the transformation of the car, and we can relate to the challenges! Look forward to another instalment of this Celica saga!
I had an ST165 as my daily driver for several years and it had a problem; it was so massively competent it was boring to drive at any sort of rational speed. I helped it out a bit; I installed lightweight alloys with performance tires and 'un-detuned' it. It got a bit more exciting after that. I also made extensive use of the cruise-control on the highway as a speed-limiting device because from 60-100 mph you really couldn't feel a difference in how the car drove. I'd be noodling along minding my own business and suddenly realize I was going far, far too fast. Eventually maintenance got just too expensive and I sold it on to a friend after carefully making certain he knew exactly what he was in for.
It really does look really good now James, right decision diving in for the purchase. In New Zealand these are quite rare compared with evos and stis so always stand out to me they really do look great. Good work. Get the factory antilag activated auto pops and bangs and boost from standstill 👍🏻
I have had 3 Celica's my first was a TA22 the next was a RA65 and the last was a WRC which was a tribute car to Carlos Sainz who won the rally world championship in the year. I remember a have road tests from car magazines that run down the looks of the cars. I think they still look good today. The Celica was the last sports cars to compete in World Rally Championship.
it's nice to live vicariously through you. I just get a new or nearly new car every 3/4 years, part exchanging the old one.
My first new car was a Mazda 6 maxed out with all the equipment I could get. I even got to spec it with an original MiniDisc - player to go with the 6-disc CD changer. This was back in 2005. Had the car for 8 years, with one light bulb as the only casualty.
Thanks for sharing this, I think a lot of us have a bad time with certain builds to the point we keep it to ourselves for whatever reason, some think we're mad for carrying on, or mad for decisions made at the time.. its a journey, the end build is what matters!
I was literally just toying with the idea of selling mine. Then this pops up.
Mine’s a Black 95’ with factory fit Confetti Recaro’s, and optional extra OZ Chrono wheels.
Sadly the sills are utterly shot and there’s various other mechanical bits that need addressing now.
It’s sat for a number of years now but I’m glad I saw this, inspired me a bit.
And I’m surprised you had issues with MkAutos, I’ve only heard good stuff, never used them though.
Enjoyed that one. Glad you still have it and still enjoy it. It looks awesome.
If you had affection for the Castrol TOM's Supra, then your Celica is the car with the right engine for you. haha
I have that same problem with my 2002 MGTF. Spent lots of money, they fixed everything but the real problem. But the car is great to drive when it goes. The Celica is a great car and you need to keep it. I was wondering about the S2000. Looking forward to that video. The S2000 and the NXS are my wish for cars.
i own one of these and it truly is something special , i have not driven anything that comes close. it just feels so good and sounds amazing. but yes, it it such an expensive car to own. i have spent many thousands on it. i agree, seeing it " derelict" really is depressing.
as the exhaust goes, the cat system from timothy bill developments in UK looks really good. paired with a hks silent hi power muffler. i personally have the SARD cat.
it also sounds like it might need a re-tune to get it to pass MOT. use a air/fuel ratio gauge to see what its doing. going rich on overrun would be bad for the cat anyway.
as the tail lamp warning light goes, mine has only the outer lights used for rear tailights, i see yours does both, maybe it reads too much resistance. pull the globes out and check. the dash lights are pretty easy to change back yourself.
also check all the earths to the cars engine, the small one to the alternator can go bad, but maybe they could also be upgraded to a bit thicker cables. there should be 3 points of earthing. (battery - body, body - gearbox, alt - body. i think maybe)
Learning the hard way that if you want something done right you have to do it yourself. Hopefully Jay can get him a garage and a lift one day it would be cool to see some repair content from him.
I always wanted one of these from when they were new. But, I’m glad I never did buy one as they really need a specialist to look after them. Past experience of specialists is that it really depends on which mechanic is working on the car, as to the standard of work. These days, I prefer the later Celica, as it is less complicated and I could do jobs myself or get the local garage to do them,
I recently fell in love with these cars, I'm in the US and they're a bit challenging to find one here! Cant wait to own one eventually
as an owner of a GT-T Caldina, I couldn't agree more. Absolutely awesome cars.
Someone who gets it and sums it up so perfectly. This has just reaffirmed my decision to do a bare shell restoration on my new Celica GT4. I have done the opposite to you, I probably used my old GT4 a bit too much. This resulted in the car rotting badly. However I have invested a lot of time and money in forging the engine and setting the car up for the track days and fast road runs it has been on, in all weathers. So I bought a non runner to restore extensively and put the engine out of my old one into. They are worth little in resale value compared to others and I will have to spend over twice the value to get this car where I want it, but it isn’t about the money. It is about the love of a fantastic car and creating one of the best examples in the UK! Long road ahead but it will be worth it!
Love these so much, still hoping to get hold of one in decent condition one day
I can relate to all your ST205 joys and woes. Fragile, budget, supercar would be one way to sum them up. Tremendous fun when working well. A very efficient means of disposing of any savings when they are not.
You're doing the right thing, keep it. Spend the money and enjoy it, who cares what it's worth when you love it.
I absolutely love all the Celicas, since the 80s to the last model and despite owning a Supra about 15 years ago, I've never owned a Celica. I have often thought about it and many times scrolled through ads, I've never got one and don't know why tbh.
This is exactly the reason I got rid of my last WRX GC8 (2 weeks ago). It was an endless list of failures and constant repairs, not suprising being a 31 year old car. And then the incurable...unstoppable..rust.. haha it was a sensible decision but I do miss my old Scoobies !
I wish you drove this a lot more.
I love the ST205 era of the Celica and maybe that’s because we never got them in the USA. 🇺🇸
I also understand your pain about seeing the cars problems. I was in the same place with my Vette. I didn’t drive it because I was only looking at its issues. All it took was one drive and I said to myself, “Get it fixed dude. You love driving this car.”
Thank you Jay for the reminder that some cars are too good not to drive. 😊😅😊
Yeah it's tough when you've had difficult times with a car but got to see the positive!
I've owned 3 Toyota Celicas, and owned my 1993 GT2.0 for 12 years.
What I could never understand was why, in WRC under Carlos Santz they beat the Mitsubishis, and the Subarus, and YET it was the cars that had been spanked that commanded the big money.
Go figure.
My '93 was chipped, and had a handmade exhaust that emulated the style of the original, and wasn't stupidly loud... but oooh it did go very well, right up until 230,000 miles, when the inner wings rotted away.
Very lovely cars, but they will rust away eventually.
I'm very surprised about the electrical issues, and the poor fit of some parts, usually Toyotas just keep on running like a Swiss watch.
Nice to see one loved (with no expense spared!).
There is no other stock car on the road that has a bonnet design as crazy as the GT-Four. I used to own a Group A Rallye here in Australia. Should never have sold it! Maybe one day I'll buy another. In the meantime I can always wander into the garage and admire my GR Yaris Rallye. Good on you for resurrecting the car Jay.
This and the 550 are by far my two most favourite cars in your fleet! So happy to see the Celica back on the road! I know this isn't looking its best in the current state, but it STILL looks amazing. The TRD bodykit, high wing and the huge cannon exhaust just make it look perfect. I know it's your car, and your choice, but I do hope you don't change it cosmetically from how it looks now.
Always loved the Celica GT4. Hopefully u get it up to ur standards & u can enjoy it as fully as it deserves.
I'm potentially buying one tomorrow wish me luck XD
Good luck. Hope its a good one
Make the right choice (if she's worth it). Hope she's a good one.
@@rushnerd Thank you :D The owner is well known and repected in the uk gt4 owners groups and it was on car throttle 2 years ago. The car is in what looks like amazing condition so fingers crossed 🤞
@@LawrenceTimme Thank you!! I'll report back later 😆
@@JoshRowe-kn3gv IT WAS ON CAR THROTTLE? My god you have to have it now
Agreed on the high rise spoiler, it is a must.
Just watched the vid as I've got a GT4 myself (posting from my youtube page about it) . Its good to finally get an update on yours and see what's been done to it. I just adding my comments on MK, I've been going to him for nearly 10 years with 3 GT4s and some other cars in that time and never had an issue with him or his work. I do get that sometimes if there is a lot of work getting done at once then little things can get missed, but on the whole the guys at MK are top notch and are widely regarded as such in the gt4 community. I look forward to more updates and vids on your GT4
There was a bunch of problems with my car plainly evident upon collection. It would not have passed an MOT if he hadn't done it
@JayEmmOnCars at least you can drive the car and enjoy it though, that's the main thing. I'm glad there is someone out there who reviews cars and is prominent on RUclips that actually owns one, not many about.
One of the most underrated japanese sportscars of the time. Great to see you enjoying this despite it's flaws :)
I remember Juha Kankkunen and Carlos Sainz charging through the forests in the RAC rally in my teens with their disc brakes glowing red hot. What a machine. As you rightly say it’s bizarre that they have been overlooked compared to the Lancia Delta, Subaru Impreza and Mitsubishi lancer EVO as they are a very capable machine that not only looks great but drives great as well. Also Minidisc what a great format. I luckily never got rid of mine although I got into minidisc in 2002 after the pre recorded discs were available. Get a cheap second hand recorder and burn yourself some discs you wont regret it 😊 Great video as always thanks for sharing
So glad you are doing the right thing by the GT4.
Mad respect from the JDM community down here in AUS..we all watch your channel.
Prime GT4/MR2 in the U.S.A is a decent source for interior and exterior/engine/electrics etc
I seem to spend a lot of money there ;) Ganbatte ne!
I nearly bought one of these in Red. At first, with 110,000 i wasn't sure buy the dealer brought out a folder nearly 3" thick from Toyota with some massive bills and looked like it had been practically rebuilt. Whilst the Dealer moved it out of the showroom, for the test drivd, there was a puddle of oil. At that point it put me off. I decided to look elsewhere and ended up with a Clio Williams. I still think about that car although I did meet the new owner who had lots of issues with it.
Glad you've persisted with your Celica as they're fabulous looking cars, just need a lot of love😂.
I’m in love with these right now
Awesome watch, and great to see lots of legends in the comments
This is one of my favourite cars on the channel. I adore the Mk 6 Celica because as a teenage, a neighbour had one and it was the coolest car on the street, and at Uni I regularly saw a GT Four. The Mk 6 is a car that is aging very well; it still looks really pretty. It's also a bit of a forgotten JDM model. And they're pretty rare, be it standard Mk 6's or GT Four's so they're a cool car to see out and about. And as Ben proved; it's pretty dang practical.
Great to see it again on the channel, as for the pops and bangs it's a 90s rally car for the road, forget a crackle map you need a anti-lag switch!
Who doesn't like to feel they own a car with an affinity and stable mate credentials with a world rally car.
WRC cars and drivers are legends
Good to see the Celica back in action. Great video thanks James.
nice to see joyous James in the same video as grumpy Jay.....i'm sure you gave them a harder time than how you've suggested here, but so happy to see the GT4 out being driven.
Glad you went back to this car. It's a special car to drive,a realy special machine. More than the sum of its parts lol❤
Thanks for sharing your Celica James 🙏
I’m hanging out for a S2000 update though please mate 😅🙏
Watching this I almost cried for the Impreza Turbo I owned from new for 23 years. Rally cars are great... they feel so up for a fun drive and like being hustled.
How could you sell something after that long?
I've owned a Celica for about 5years - have had almost no issues with it, however in the entire ownership of it I have also had the light bulb light on since probably my first month of ownership. The 3SGTE engine is probably one of my favourite engines of all time. I'm surprised by the costs Jay has incurred, - this side of the world the only thing that's difficult is the suspension bits - but everything is quite available and very cheap
😮 which side of the world?
Had one of these from Japan for 4 years as a daily driver… it got through 2 engines but it was fantastic. Incredible how the Cossie went stratospheric in value in comparison.
I owned at Gen 6 Celica SR back in the early 2000s- woefully underpowered but it looked great :D A GT4 was the dream back then- ever since Sega Rally came out actually- but I don't think I'll ever fulfill that dream. Great to see you have though, that car looks stunning!
This is why we subscribe mate, much love from Australia
I had a 1995 import. It was totally stock bar a boost controller, tune and exhaust.
Great car. One I wish I still had.
I really like this generation of celica., even just the base model car.
Lovely example Jayemm, also your Celica has more of a connection to the Castrol supra than you may realise, because believe it or not it has the same 3s-gte as yours (obviously heavily modified), and not the 2jz due to the racing. regulations at the time.
Getting the band back together! Keep getting them all fixed! Well done.
So here's my theory.... Back in the day you could buy a Ford Escort 1.3L. Many people had them, it was a pretty humdrum car. But it made the Escort Cosworth seem incredible. People wondered how could a car that's the same model as my 1.3L do that? The answer of course is that the Cosworth was completely different to any other Escort. Almost the only thing that it took from mass produced Escorts was the badge. But it did create an image that people wanted, and nostalgia for that is what people are paying for.
The GT-Four is in many ways a better car (especially when it had Juha Kankkunen behind the wheel), but it's already a sports car not a mainstream hatchback. Less people had them, there was no Celica 1.3L. With less people chasing that nostalgic dream values will stay affordable. And that's a good thing.
Cosworth also has a legacy. Even if most people under 60 have no idea what a DFV is, they understand that the name Cosworth means engineering expertise, dedication to the craft, and winning.
Toyota met with some success, but one doesn't associate Toyota with rally the way they do with Mitsubishi, Subaru, Audi, or Lancia.
It also has the great fortune/misfortune (unlike the other Gran Turismo unobtainium 90's Japanese cars) of having _not_ been featured in _The Fast and the Furious_ lol.
It's literally the "halo car" effect.
Still one of the favourite cars I've ever owned. I had a mini disk player in mine too lol.
I’ve got a mini disk player in my JDM Legacy. Thought the disks would be quirky and cheap! 😮💨
Mini disks were fantastic they just came out the wrong time when mp3 players were new.
I agree with you James it really is a very pretty car. I personally prefer the original rear spoiler, but the one fitted now doesn't look at all out of place. I wish you luck with the next bout of repairs. It can be so difficult to find the right place can't it. 👍🤞
Can’t beat a Japanese rally based car, always makes me smile when I take the Subaru out, despite the wife hating it!
heck yeah. I've always loved these cars. They're super cool.
My favourite car in your fleet James ❤
Love this car. It looks fab on the road. I guess that was you near Bures a few weeks ago. Unless there is 2. Brilliant thing to see.
Toyota Celica nation let's go. The Toyota Celica is the most underrated Japanese sports car and all are great regardless of gen. I would recommend trying other gens of Celica's as well if possible especially the second and 3rd gen.