New Car, Gone Jap, Celica GT4 ST205

[DannyR]

Well, I've gone away from Clio's again (unsure for how long this time) and bought a classic Jap car.

Celica GT4 ST205, had couple of mates who had had these and when talking about what I can get next I started looking and they can be picked up for very good money!

Gave it a really good clean today as paint work was shocking, had some bits sprayed and fitted too.

Spec is
-HKS Mushroom (Will be gone ASAP)
-Mongoose? Exhaust, it looks like one and there aren't many exhausts for it, it just looks more like one
-Gizzmo MS2 Boost Controller
-Thor Racing Delimiter

Runs at 14-15PSI with occasional 16's if the weather is cool. I love it it's just a tad thirsty! Lucky V-Power are on triple points at the moment

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

That is absolutley stunning!!! Love it!

 

[Christopher]

Rare nowadays too. I quite like them but they look very dated now.

 

[Bodge!]

Tasty!

Looks amazing too.

 

[Christopher.]

That's awesome

 

[Fletcher]

Looks great!

 

[J333EVO]

Nice car. I used to have one, a late facelift model also in white I imported from Japan. Had Toyota facelift projector headlamps, facelife rear lights, Toyota MOMO steering wheel I never saw on any other GT4, TRD front seats in red, stainless steel kick plates, electric sunroof, Blitz Access ECU, Blitz exhaust, facelift silver dash panels, genuine Toyota steel pedal covers, C-one front & rear bumper extensions (Fensport do a copy of the front), facelift sideskirts, 18" OZ SuperTurismo's in black.

I added UK trailing edge bonnet spoiler, sits in front of the windscreen wipers as per WRC cars, UK heated wing mirrors,much more useful than JDM folding ones. UK rear number plate holder again as per WRC, TRD quick shift kit I imported from the USA as NLA, brought over 3 sold 2 for less than they listed at Fensport & got mine for free.

Plus lots of other little items rare to track down.

I only sold it 2 years ago for £6500 & only took 3 days to sell which at time was by about £2k more expensive than any other owners club car for sale.

Miss it as it was a gear car that I used to get 28mpg out of on my 60 mile daily round trip commute. Plus could travel to Glasgow some 350miles on under 3/4tank without trying, though the Blitz ECU let it run more boost, but leaner fueling meaning better mpg, was excellent bit of kit folk used to pay £6-700 for 2nd hand as NLA.

 

[Gaz.]

Nice, look after it. Fancied one myself before I got the SX.

 

[Rob_]

Great cars, had a go in a mates stripped st205 a few times on track just not as chuckable as an evo you can really feel the weight of the gt when pushing on only thing i wasnt keen on.

bullet proof transmissions though

Just watch for the figure of 8's they are expensive!!!

 

[syko6288]

Always liked these the lad that tought me to drive has one atm running 400bhp

 

[Matt Cup]

Looks good!

Any plans for it?

 

[Nas]

Love it mate, have a soft spot for these rally style cars (celica gt4, escort cosworth, classic scoob, evo 4,5,6 etc)

 

[.GAZ.]

Nice back in the day.. Not so much now tbh.

 

[Ian_182]

I still think that looks pretty cool.

 

[turbo tom]

i like it, great cars, not long sold my MR2 Turbo

 

[JD]

Always had a soft spot for these! Great photography as well.

 

[Whisker biscuit]

Proper tidy mate, white is clearly the best colour for these.

 

[JoeyD]

That's awesome!

 

[dudes45]

Wow that looks great! I don't think they look dated at all, I think it looks awesome! Really nice buy mate!

 

[Steven103]

+1,000,000,000,000 pub-man-points for WRC heritage.

The only thing I don't like is the black spoiler-raising things. Colour code?

 

[J0sh]

Stupid question, but didnt these basically come with a pre-plummed in anti lag system?

 

[Rob_]

its only the special wrc edition that had that and even then its disabled but you can easily reenable it

 

[Merk]

Good choice mate, My brother had one with a few bits and bobs done to it, pushing over 300bhp, went like hell.

Just keep an eye on the front suspension, as the shocks are a common problem, if they go... expensive to repair!

 

[jamier27]

Thats the nicest gt4 i have seen!
Lush

 

[Dunn]

Niiiiice

i really like these, sound good too

 

[Alexlfc]

Love it, looks lush

 

[sideways danny]

I like these. Played a with a few in my 200sx days and they really handle amazingly. Changing exhausts on them is a thoroughly hateful experience though, as is changing the turbo

 

[Rob_]

errr why?

its prolly the easiest turbo you will get to change on a jap car its right infront of you

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

What are they like for running costs? I gather they are easy enough to make 400+bhp?

 

[DannyR]

Cheers for the comments!

Running costs are expensive!

Fuel is £80 for a tank and will get 250-300 miles, still better than my R32 I had!

If anything goes wrong it'll cost, full set of pads and discs is going to cost £500!

As said before suspension is the worst part, I think there are 5 joints either side including the shock and all are expensive, genuine parts it would cost around £1k a side! Luckily my fig 8's have been done and I have a spare, just need to sort top mounts and one of the bottom arms. Which will be £300 + brakes but after that it shouldn't be too bad.

Insurance is about £60 more a year than my 172 which isn't too bad. Renewal is roughly £860 with 5 years NCB, 9 points, 6 1/2 years driving and that's with Sky Insurance!

A standard engine wouldn't take 400bhp I think they're good for 350 at a push. I would like to think I'm running around the 300 mark at the moment. If an Apexi ECU came up I'd have one abs have it mapped to around 330-340 and I'd be happy with the reliable power.

Just looking for some Speedline ST2's now and will then lower 30mm and I'll be happy!

I'd still be tempted back if a third SC Clio came up for sale though

 

[leeds_182]

Wow, that fuel cost is pretty mental.

I love the look of the car though.

 

[sideways danny]

errr why?

its prolly the easiest turbo you will get to change on a jap car its right infront of you

you crack on then

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

Cheers for the comments!

Running costs are expensive!

Fuel is £80 for a tank and will get 250-300 miles, still better than my R32 I had!

If anything goes wrong it'll cost, full set of pads and discs is going to cost £500!

As said before suspension is the worst part, I think there are 5 joints either side including the shock and all are expensive, genuine parts it would cost around £1k a side! Luckily my fig 8's have been done and I have a spare, just need to sort top mounts and one of the bottom arms. Which will be £300 + brakes but after that it shouldn't be too bad.

Insurance is about £60 more a year than my 172 which isn't too bad. Renewal is roughly £860 with 5 years NCB, 9 points, 6 1/2 years driving and that's with Sky Insurance!

A standard engine wouldn't take 400bhp I think they're good for 350 at a push. I would like to think I'm running around the 300 mark at the moment. If an Apexi ECU came up I'd have one abs have it mapped to around 330-340 and I'd be happy with the reliable power.

Just looking for some Speedline ST2's now and will then lower 30mm and I'll be happy!

I'd still be tempted back if a third SC Clio came up for sale though

Holy christ thats expensive.... i remember hearing about suspension issues years ago! Still love them!

 

[DannyR]

Luckily it's a weekend car and rare evenings so I will do a full tank at most in a weekend! This weekend I've done half a tank and it's had some spirited driving with a few cars it's not too bad!

Suspension was a big worry but the more you look into it the cost is bad but it'll need to be done once during ownership or not at all, but I'd imagine it'll be immense if all new. TRD top mounts that I want are £120 the pair which is a great price, an thats from Fensport, still need to shop around. Plus the lad I bought it off works parts at Toyota

I always thought it looked a bit s**t until I got the spoiler CC'd and risers the factory colour and the front spats fitted! Transformed the look and the photos make me very happy!

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

That first picture makes me weep piss, it actually looks like that pearl white colour on the Focus ST? Properly adore it!

 

[DannyR]

Probably one of the only very HDR pictures that looks good, the cars in first two pics look normal with just the sky HDR'd

 

[Rob_]

you crack on then

already have thanks when me and a mate changed the turbo seals

 

[Šįk]

I really like that!

 

[_Tom]

Looks great!

you crack on then

Ive always wondered this. Pop the bonnet and there it is staring you in the face. Ive read many a time that theyre a pain in the ass though? Why?

 

[Gaz.]

Wow, that fuel cost is pretty mental.

No worse than mine!