I came across a 1990 Celica GT-S today. Owner states that it doesn't run, may need a timing belt.243K on the odometer.Cheap at $800.00.
I've done some research, but I need the good-bad-ugly on this vehicle.
Engine/transmission (automatic) availability, relative weak spots, etc.
This would be for the first time driving, extremely intelligent daughter whose common sense gene has not fully developed as of this day, May Twenty-Seventh, in the Year of Our Lord,Two Thousand and Nine.
Opinions?
A non-running, automatic, FWD, 20-odd year old Toyota for $800? Uh, pass. $800 will get you a much better project RWD Celica or a running/driving 1st Gen RX-7, or $800 worth of blow. All of which are preferable to a non-running, automatic, FWD Toyota.
I'm not a celi expert, but I think that's a tad high for a 90 celi, not running. $400 if the rest of it is clean. There were A blocked cars with a 4AFE and S blocked cars with a 5SFE. If it has an auto, I'm going to guess it's a 5SFE. I'm pretty sure that was a non-interferance motor then. The O ring behind the oil pump goes out and the resultant loss of oil in about 10 miles will cause the motor to grenade, otherwise they're pretty tough and get decent mileage. Replace the O ring when you do a timing belt and you're OK. It adds maybe 10 minutes to the job. 5SFE motors are available, certainly, but sometimes you have to be specific on the years if you want an easy plug and play. 4AFE motors should be dirt cheap, as nothing ever goes wrong with them and the kid driving them usually kills the rest of the car long before that motor gives up.
Of course, I always assume that any non-running vehicle has a totally shot motor and pay accordingly. That way, worst case is you were right and came out even.
My wife had a 90 GT, 5SFE like the one in question. We sold it for $900 runing very well with 290K on it. It is a noninterferance motor, I would drive our until the belt broke and then get it fixed.
They are solid cars but not very powerful in stock form so I don't know about having one with an auto. If I remember correctly, when that car came out it was considered the best handling FWD car at the time.
Talk them down to half price and build an All-track clone.
I also assume that any non-running vehicle is for parts and pay accordingly. 
Worst case scenerio is a newer engine, not too much of a big deal, but I would feel more comfortable.
RX-7's are out, I can't do blow anymore, and an automatic, while being somewhat distasteful, is necessary.
Dr. Hess wrote: Of course, I always assume that any non-running vehicle has a totally shot motor and pay accordingly. That way, worst case is you were right and came out even.
Hess nailed it. Assume the worst if you can't hear the thing run and judge for yourself. Even then that's no guarantee.
That "needs a timing belt and then runs great!" dodge has been used so much it's just about worn out. That's right up there with "needs a battery, that's all!"
Sure.
This may not be a terrible deal. You can NOT find a Celica GTS anywhere around here. I have seen CL ads for crusty ones over $1000.00.
93celicaGT2 where are you!?!?!?!!
FWIW, I like em...but thats based solely on not ever owning one and thinking they were kinda cool when I was 10
If the body and interior are in great condition, i would pay $800 for it.
Absolute worst case scenario, you shell out $350 for a lowish miles 5sfe that will run for another 100k with routine maintenence.
These cars ARE prone to rust on the rear fender wells, if it's started, get it fixed quick, or it'll eat the car fast. If it hasn't started, then cool beans. Another worrysome rust area is where the front sway bar bracket, passenger side rusts out. Resulting in, an AWFUL sound when the swaybar loads up and then snaps against the bottom of the car. It's horrifying.
The motor, if it DOES just need a timing belt, and has been cared for otherwise, should be fine. They're like tanks.
DO take Hess's advice. While i have never personally seen a 5sfe leak here, it does happen.
As for the rest of the car? It handles amazingly well for a FWD car. It has enough power to keep up with traffic, but without making it fast enough to feel like a race car, and promote irresponsible driving. It looks good, she'll like it.
The brakes are GREAT for a stock car. They were essentially engineered for the Celica AllTrac of the same years, so they're overkill in this application.
Parts are plentiful, they're almost sickeningly reliable, so you probably won't need those parts once it's running.
If it was red, it's pink now. 90-91 red celicas had a single stage "Super Red" that faded to pink about 2 weeks after rolling off the assembly line.
What kind of options does it have?
I would probably try to talk down to $500, based on mileage, and that it's not running.
As a reference point, i paid $600 for mine, not running, no rust, perfect body at the time, 162k miles on chassis. It's not a GTS, but the only difference was options, and the GTS is a sexy widebody that's just begging for some 17x9 wheels.
Here's mine:
4cylndrfury wrote: 93celicaGT2 where are you!?!?!?!! FWIW, I like em...but thats based solely on not ever owning one and thinking they were kinda cool when I was 10
Oh i'm here! My bad... was typing up my novel as you posted that. 
By the way.... you were asking about the post-bumper install pics. There's a couple for you. That's ABOUT how the car sits today. I've cleaned it up a little further. In addition the JDM rain guards and folding mirrors are one now, too. (TYTE YO!!11!!!) It's sitting about a half inch lower to the ground now as well.
It's got PW/DL/Sunroof.Interior is dirty, seller says that there are some small rust spots in addition to the one that was already in primer.
For a rust belt car, it doesn't look very bad at all from the pics.I'll know more when I see it.
My sister had a red Paseo that suffered from the Toyota paint fade.
Thanks Guys, I appreciate it.
JFX001 wrote: It's got PW/DL/Sunroof.Interior is dirty, seller says that there are some small rust spots in addition to the one that was already in primer. For a rust belt car, it doesn't look very bad at all from the pics.I'll know more when I see it. My sister had a red Paseo that suffered from the Toyota paint fade. Thanks Guys, I appreciate it.
Leather interior? Power lumbar seats? System 10 audio? (8" woofers in door)
If the seats are shot, let me know. I have a spare set of GTS grey cloth seats i would let go for say... $40 picked up.
Here she blows:
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1191089200.html
I haven't contacted him yet to see it, but if anyone wants it, go for it.
Thanks again,
John
A much more interesting way to spend $800 on a non-runner off of your CL...
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1188922391.html
What was Eric Cuas brothers name from the $2002 Challenge?
P71 wrote: A much more interesting way to spend $800 on a non-runner off of your CL... http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1188922391.html
Believe me....I know....
But, this is for the daughter. Safe,sensible,reliable.
Now, if you were to peruse the Columbus CL, you would find RX-7's that are prime for an LS swap, or some cheap SHO's that need to mate with cheap Festiva's...or a myraid of flat black swapped Honda's.
It's a veritable automotive smorgasbord for a Challege contender.
S blocks are NOT tanks, with the exception of the 3S-GTE.
N/A S-blocks are prone to oil starvation, ask me how I know.
Difference between a Celica GT-S and GT of that vintage is options, drivetrains and suspension are identical. STs had the A block.
That being said, that gen Celica handles fantastically, especially once you put some decent shocks on there. If it's a notchback, watch the where the hinge attaches to the trunklid, they're very prone to having the bolts rip out.
Personally I'd pass on this one, though. My buddy had never driven stick in his life, picked up a same-vintage ST with a 5-speed, and had a handle on it in about a month or so.
93celicaGT2 wrote: The brakes are GREAT for a stock car. They were essentially engineered for the Celica AllTrac of the same years, so they're overkill in this application.
No they aren't!
Actually, that was my fault, not the car's. I just had to post the pic again. 
J
Hose that off and make another pass!
ReverendDexter wrote: S blocks are NOT tanks, with the exception of the 3S-GTE. N/A S-blocks are prone to oil starvation, ask me how I know. Difference between a Celica GT-S and GT of that vintage is options, drivetrains and suspension are identical. STs had the A block. That being said, that gen Celica handles fantastically, especially once you put some decent shocks on there. If it's a notchback, watch the where the hinge attaches to the trunklid, they're very prone to having the bolts rip out. Personally I'd pass on this one, though. My buddy had never driven stick in his life, picked up a same-vintage ST with a 5-speed, and had a handle on it in about a month or so.
I think we've been round this discussion before.... i've driven 5sfe powered cars with over 300k miles on unopened bottom ends that were just as strong and smooth as the day they were made. It really just depends how they were treated throughout their lives. My last 93 celica GT notch is still going strong with 264k miles turned last weekend according to the kid i sold it to. That motor also had more than a couple bottles of nitrous run through it, over 500 drag passes, 3 trips to Deal's gap, and i was never gentle to it. My current car has 227k on the odometer, and the motor is completely quiet, doesn't burn any oil, leak any oil, and runs like a top. Now, the catch is that i don't think the motor has that many miles on it.
It's hit or miss if you're going to get a bad one. Chances are STRONGLY in favor of it being a good one. Most of the bad ones are later rev2 motors in Camrys, due to oil passages getting blocked by the "sludge" issue caused by a higher operating temp by design, the issue that Hess pointed out, and general lack of maintenence by the owner. (Not pointing fingers at you, previous owner.) I will admit that the bearings in these things are not the most robust of units, but they do suffice with proper care.
It's a GTS, it'll be a hatch, no notches here. Although the issue you describe did happen to my old notch. It was infuriating, to say the least.
I will heartily agree with the handling anecdote, though. I've driven other FWD cars that i thought handled... mine blows them out of the water with the last round of upgrades. I poop myself before it even thinks about doing anything squirrely.
Jay wrote:93celicaGT2 wrote: The brakes are GREAT for a stock car. They were essentially engineered for the Celica AllTrac of the same years, so they're overkill in this application.No they aren't!
Hahaha... i think i remember you posting that the first time.
I still stand by my statement, and i think you agree. The brakes get REAL interesting once you put one of these things on a diet to around 2300lbs. It hurts.
I'm going to add a "YMMV" on this, because i don't want to make it sound like i'm attacking any of the naysayers in this thread. I really don't care that much, i promise. I can only comment based on the 7 of these damn things that i've had.
I've never had an automatic one (Although i DO have the ECT switch mounted in my car, because it says "power" on it, and makes a DANDY nitrous switch.). But i HAVE had:
1991 ST 1993 ST 1993 GT coupe 1992 GT hatch 1990 GTS 1991 GT coupe 1991 GT vert
The 1992 Hatch i still have, and it's a tie between that and my 93 gt coupe as to which were my favorite. Mileage ranged from 87k to 273k on them during the time that i owned one, and never had to do any major work to any of them.
Except for the vert. But i bought that with the same situation as the OP. $750, non-running, sucking water through the IACV, which even after fixing, and replacing HG and a rebuilt head, still contributed to the death of the motor after washing the bearings.
You'll need to log in to post.
