In my quest for a cheap beater, rallyx, Gambler500, GRM challenge. I have been offered a 5th Gen Celica ST for cheap. I haven't seen the car in person yet, it is a manual, but it has a knock in the motor. Hence why it is so cheap. I looked at them up online and it seems like the 5th adn 6th generations are all fairly cheap which made me wonder if a 6th gen would be better than a 5th gen. I know nothing about the Celicas, like nothing at all! Well I know they had a 4wd version that was a rally car at sometime year ago.
What I truly want for the car, is to be able to do all those things I listed above and if I blow it up go "well that was fun what's next?" I don't want to get too emotionally attached to this car. And in listing all those events I don't have to place at any event I enter, I just want to have fun and hopefully finish.
To greatly oversimplify since it sounds like you're not looking to undertake a major project, they're basically a 2-door Corolla.
The ST model will have a 4A-FE 1.6L engine which in typical Toyota fashion is bulletproof but gutless (~100HP). If you want to modify it at all, skip the ST model and hunt for a GT or GT-S. The GT models got the 2.2L 5S-FE which is also bulletproof but with more power & torque, much more suited to the car. GT-S is the same as a GT but with flared fenders (same body as All-Trac/GT-Four) and usually higher level of equipment. The 5th and 6th gens have a lot in common, but the 6th gens have particularly terrible headroom if you're tall. Both are prone to rust like most older Toyotas.
The aftermarket is starting to wither for them but things are still available, particularly if you're willing to order from overseas. 3S-GTE (MR2 turbo motor) is a popular swap. They are a cool alternative to a Civic or Prelude. I was planning to build one before the E28 fell into my lap but I had trouble finding a nice one without a sunroof (I'm 6'3" so that's a dealbreaker).
POD- yep. I have a major longer term project already in the garage. I'm kinda looking for the easy button of keep the battery charged and it will crank everytime I want to do something stupid.
ihayes
New Reader
7/24/19 2:44 a.m.
ST model has the Corolla engine, GT had the Camry engine if the time. Both were lower rev more torquey economy engines with plenty of parts available given the platform sharing.. The sportier versions were all overseas (other than the rare 5th gen alltrac). Under powered at 105-115 hp for ST and 135-140hp for GT even for the time period... you could get a Civic with 20 more hp... So they weren't super popular with the sport compact fad of the late 90s. The sixth gen was at least 100 lbs lighter than the fifth. Coupe lighter than the hatchback. I never had issues with headroom even with a sunroof in my sixth gen ( 6'6"). I had an ST sixth gen. Replaced a clutch at 2xxk miles, sold it at 300k with nothing more that minor mechanical issues. (Much better built than my Mini that replaced it! ) . Reliable as dirt.
They came sportier overseas so a 3sge (160+ hp sportier engine) or the 3sgte (200 hp turbo alltrac/mr2) can be swapped in somewhat painlessly if you decide that route down the road and want something that is more or less OEM still.
