Celica GT-Four ST205

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I am thinking about replacing my MR2 turbo with one, and going to view one I found for sale locally tomorrow. It looks to be in completely original condition.

Are there any owners on here? Any model specific things that I should check which are not well publicised? The car i'm viewing seems well priced (£2000) so I am a little suspect, but it looks like it would make a nice upgrade/sidestep from an MR2.
 
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I do like the Supra, but they are a bit large, maybe a bit too refined, and the one that I would want is way above my price range.

And I fancy a 4wd coupe :p

From looking at the parts prices on TCBparts.co.uk you can worst case completely overhaul the front suspension for £700'ish, but I doubt everything will need doing if there is a little wear. Some of it has been replaced in the past.
 
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It's a very sideways step from an mr2 turbo, it'll have more grip yes, but will be slower and heavier.

I have an Mr2 turbo also, and if i wanted to tick the 4 wheel drive rally **** box then it'd be an evo/sti, they have more tuneable engines for a start.
 
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I had an mr2 turbo for a time and have driven a few gt4's - if you're prepared to offset the slower pace (as standard) against usable back seats and the ability to pit the foot down in the wet without great danger of going through the nearest hedge they're a good car.

You'll already know about the figure 8's and will obviously know about the engine. Go check it out and see, decent ones generally start from 3k though and I've seen a couple with some real tin worm but no worse than the mk2 is now getting on average

My 3k would probably go on a wrx with either ppp or a remap
 
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You'll already know about the figure 8's and will obviously know about the engine. Go check it out and see, decent ones generally start from 3k though and I've seen a couple with some real tin worm but no worse than the mk2 is now getting on average

Do you know if there are any specific areas where rust tends to take hold that I should check, like there is for the MR2?
 
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I haven't had a look at one for a while and am far from an expert but it seemed to be the usual sills and arches that went on the ones I seen
 
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Hi,
I am an ST205 owner; a £2000 car sounds a little suspect tbh, but the market isn't around for a turbo petrol so it may not be bad. Theres a very comprehensive buyers guide on the GT4OC and cars for sale on there that have been well looked after and all the relevant work done.

The fig8's and control arms should last 60k miles but just don't on UK roads, this is one of the most expensive things to replace you can be £1,000 ish for the front suspension work if it isn't documented or theres knocking sounds.
Its an old Jap car so turbos will go eventually as will high mileage engines running above standard boost, too many variables to go through the buyers guide should cover a lot of it though.

If you have an MR2 Turbo already though, I would probably be going for something faster, you'll feel the added weight of the 4wd on the 205 easily and unlike other 4wd cars such as Scoobies, you cannot pull the handbrake to have some fun with the celica as it is a 50/50 direct split so yanking the handbrake results in tearing the propshaft from the car!
Anything else just ask, the OC is full of more info you can imagine if your heart is set on one
Good Luck
 
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Thanks for the reply DGBVIPER

To be honest I don't really want anything faster than my MR2 for now - Accelerating hard in 1st/2nd gear feels pretty uncontrollable as it is and I rarely take it above 5krpm anyway. I am starting to prefer 'Gt' like qualities in a car as opposed to balls out racers.

I have looked on the GT4OC but couldn't find many standard cars for sale, and it appears you have to pay for access to the technical help forums? Which I am very against, unless they are distributing the membership fees fairly amongst those who contribute (yeah right).
 
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If you don't want anything faster you'll be fine then, the car never feels uncontrollable the 4wd snaps your neck on take off though, hah!
With proper tyres on all 4 wheels I find it terribly hard to break traction even in the wet it grips almost too well (Im using Continental Sport Contacts)
I use mine as a daily, mainly to and from uni mostly motorway and stop start traffic and can easily return 30-34mpg off boost which I think is fantastic for a high consumption turbo.

Like I said though there is some specialised bits unique to the car and many garages have never seen one or know what to do (that includes the chargecooler setup) so you need to be either well balanced as a mechanic or know the right people. My local garage couldn't understand the use of a chargecooler and I should hope my suspension stuff never fails as it was all paid for just before I purchased the car.
You should be able to access the buyers guide and sale threads without paying membership yeah, but the main technical "help my car is broke" is membership only.
To be fair the fee subsidises/part subsidises meets and OC trackdays etc so it isn't all bad and the technical help pays itself well beyond the asking fee (and the parts members offer second hand are much cheaper than even some of the breakers so my fee has been more than made up for)

Let me know if you can't find the guide or other info and i'll pull it off for you as an already paid member
 
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I also am an ST205 owner, I can only fault the car in one aspect and that's the tunability, as you are an MR2 owner you should also know all about that already. The main plus point is the handling of the car, as DGVIPER said as long as you have some good tyres and they are matched on every corner the car will go handle like it's on rails even in the wet.

The GT4OC is an excellent forum also, I use it on a regular basis a lot of very knowledgeable members that are always willing to help.
 

rjk

rjk

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Supras are fantastic cars. Not as capable as a GT4, especially in the corners :p

ca8fd.gif
 
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I am thinking about replacing my MR2 turbo with one, and going to view one I found for sale locally tomorrow. It looks to be in completely original condition.

Are there any owners on here? Any model specific things that I should check which are not well publicised? The car i'm viewing seems well priced (£2000) so I am a little suspect, but it looks like it would make a nice upgrade/sidestep from an MR2.

Let us know how the viewing goes
Seeing as I am looking for something more lively, maybe we should just swap haha
 
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