Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Paging 92CelicaHalfTrac

Nov. 20, 2011 11:48 a.m. ValuePack Dork

Hijack over. Learn me T160/180 Celicas.

Now, bearing in mind that in this stage in my life, I don't care about horsepower. At all. In fact, I really miss having my 5EFE Tercel around. Simplicity and reliability outweigh overall punch, and for financial purposes I'm unlikely to mod anything I buy beyond a mufflerectomy and a good set of rubber. Budget for initial purchase price would be $1k max, at least for the time being.

T160 styling is, in my eyes, the epitome of all that was right about Japanese production cars in the 80s. I passed on a drophead '88GT a decade ago, and still kick myself for it. This generation has all long since returned to the earth around here, but there's still a few 180s around.

So, 4AFE in the ST, 5SFE in the GT and GT-S, correct? I'm not bound to find a GT-S anywhere nearby for a reasonable sum. Is there any difference between ST and GT underneath, short of the obvious engine and wheel size differences? Approximate weights for '89-93?
Nov. 20, 2011 11:58 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

In the T18 cars, it's 4afe in ST, and 5sfe in the GT/GT-S.

In the T16s, it's not quite that simple.

GTS always had the 3sge (nice motor.).
ST and GT had 3sfe from 87-89.
86 ST/GT had the 2sfe SOHC 97hp lump.

Don't bother with an 86.

For $1k, you'll have a better chance of getting an ST than a GT/GTS in the T18 generation. IF you have to settle for an ST, get a 92-93 for the better brakes.

There's no real reason to get an ST over a similarly priced GT, though. Mileage is really not different enough to matter, and the GT is more fun to drive.

The ST uses an entirely different engine family, will have less bracing, smaller brakes usually, and suspension is more floppy. But it IS the lightest. There's some interior differences too, but nothing really worth crying over.

At the end of the day, none of it matters. You've got flip up lights!

In terms of weights... an ST should weigh in around 2500lbs. A GT coupe around 2600-2700. GT hatch maybe 50lbs heavier, and a GTS CAN pig out around 3000lbs.

The coupes are stiffer, have a decent sized trunk. I think the hatches look better, and you can fit a LOT of stuff in them.

I can't stress enough that the 92-93 cars are better.
Nov. 20, 2011 12:00 p.m. oldeskewltoy HalfDork

Hmmmm, in the 160 series I believe the GT and GT-S models came with the 3SGE, the 5SFE may have been available in the 180 series
Nov. 20, 2011 12:01 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

oldeskewltoy wrote:

Hmmmm, in the 160 series I believe the GT and GT-S models came with the 3SGE, the 5SFE may have been available in the 180 series

GT never had 3sge, it was 3sfe. GTS was the only 160 to get the 3sge.

North America got the 5sfe with the 180 90 GT/GTS.
Nov. 20, 2011 12:19 p.m. ValuePack Dork

I like how it just got all Sesame Street on coke in here. "And the letter and number of the day is: (insert without pause every Toyota platform and engine code since 1963 here)."

So find something built '92-'93 I can afford that isn't yet Flintstone'd out, gotcha. 4A-C for '86, I take it? shudder I like slow cars, and that lump's a TURD. I used to date a girl with a front drive '85 Corolla slushbox. I've driven faster Fusos. (Edit: Whoops! Asked and answered.)

Give it up for Beef Supreme!
Nov. 20, 2011 12:25 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

ValuePack wrote:

I like how it just got all Sesame Street on coke in here. "And the letter and number of the day is: (insert without pause every Toyota platform and engine code since 1963 here)."

So find something built '92-'93 I can afford that isn't yet Flintstone'd out, gotcha. 4A-C for '86, I take it? shudder I like slow cars, and that lump's a TURD. I used to date a girl with a front drive '85 Corolla slushbox. I've driven faster Fusos. (Edit: Whoops! Asked and answered.)

Give it up for Beef Supreme!

2sfe for 86 ST/GT.

The "A" series motors didn't make it into the Celica until the 180.
Nov. 20, 2011 12:25 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork

I had a friend with a T18 ST with a 4afe motor and 5-speed. For 115hp that car was peppy and fun to run to the redline. Could still pull 30 mpg too. I considered buying that car from her too. Kind of wish I did.

Oh yeah, white with blue interior
Nov. 20, 2011 12:48 p.m. ValuePack Dork

A quick bit of Toyota research elsewhere reminds me just how unabashedly, brazenly f'ing stupid the Tercel/FWD Corolla community is. I don't care about underbody neon, chrome 20s, or earth shattering stereos.

Is there a Celica group online that won't make me want to carve out what's left of my brains with a dirty Taco Bell spork?
Nov. 20, 2011 12:49 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork

Mmmmm Taco Bell.

But seriously, that is the unfortunate situation with the Toyota FWD community.
Nov. 20, 2011 12:59 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

ValuePack wrote:

A quick bit of Toyota research elsewhere reminds me just how unabashedly, brazenly f'ing stupid the Tercel/FWD Corolla community is. I don't care about underbody neon, chrome 20s, or earth shattering stereos.

Is there a Celica group online that won't make me want to carve out what's left of my brains with a dirty Taco Bell spork?

Nope. There isn't.

For that matter, i can't think of any toyota FWD car forums that don't make me want to throttle everyone else on the board.
Nov. 20, 2011 1:01 p.m. Taiden Dork

A friend had a 87 celica gts. The 3sge is excellent.
Nov. 20, 2011 1:58 p.m. ValuePack Dork

Well, that's crap news. It's a shame, there's plenty of nice cars and informed owners out there, and no way to find them thru the crowd of boobs. Makes HondaTech look like paradise. :monkey: at F&F, they ruined everything.

As nice as I've run across in the FWD forums, owned by someone who can spell.

'89, 4EFTE swapped, 1812lbs:

The rear drive guys have got their E36 M3 together a bit better:
Nov. 20, 2011 2:04 p.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Meh, i'm here. It'll be ok.
Nov. 20, 2011 2:11 p.m. BoostedBrandon HalfDork

In reply to ValuePack:

Blurry Grassroots Banner FTW!!!

I've always liked Celicas, but have been turned off by the common idiot that drives them. I don't want those kinds trying to hang out with me.
Nov. 20, 2011 3:16 p.m. Jay SuperDork

I'll just chime in here and say that I REALLY liked my old ST184 GT-S. Everything on that car was just plain nice to have, be in, and drive. It also handled really well. Kind of pokey with the automatic, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. The interior was fantastic. I'd say go for the GTS, they don't go for that much more than the lesser models and the seats alone would be totally worth it.

I don't buy the same (sort of) car twice very often, but I would jump at the 5th gen unicorn if I could find one: a relatively-unmolested, black, widebody ST185 GT-Four with leather & System 10.
Nov. 20, 2011 7:52 p.m. ValuePack Dork

Just for old time's sake, my last slow daily rig:

I'm amazed my crap CarDomain entry is still uphere after seven years. Not much done to the car other than OE restoration bits and a metric ton of car wax. Was a good companion until I needed baby seats.
Nov. 20, 2011 8:09 p.m. JamesMcD Reader

@92CelicaHalfTrac:

Maybe this should go in another thread, but what do you know about FX16s? I haven't seen one in 12 years, but I used to think they were really cool.
Nov. 21, 2011 8:01 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

JamesMcD wrote:

@92CelicaHalfTrac:

Maybe this should go in another thread, but what do you know about FX16s? I haven't seen one in 12 years, but I used to think they were really cool.

I know a bit, and yes, they're really cool. If you're into autox in the ST-level classes, i think they're one of the few cars that could take out the "Spec Civics," but i haven't really seen anyone try.

Unfortunately, the cars are getting rare.

Light, small, hatch, 4age, 80s box, what's not to like?

You'll need to log in to post.