Is it just me or... Options

[Box]

Do you ever find yourself bored with your car? I've had the Celica for only about 5 months now, and it's ok and all. It just has me bored with it. It's not as fast as I like and it sounds like, well, nothing. Can't even tell if the car is running unless you stand right next to it and listen. I guess I could change the exhaust out, but I don't like the sound of 4 cylinder engines. Don't get me wrong I like the car; ease of working on, looks, mpg, etc... I just wonder if I should've given fuel economy the middle finger like I have been and just gone with a Firebird Formula. Of course if I had I'd probably be over on some Firebird forum making a similar post, but bitching about the fuel economy. Maybe I just have commitment issues, seems like I do with everything else. Of course I'm not selling the car, as it should be trouble free for some time. Am I crazy or does anyone else ever feel the same?

[smkr3w]

I felt the same end of last year.. wanted to just get something newer. Felt like I was dumping money into a car to make it up to par as a newer car. But after awhile I realized how much I thoroughly enjoy my car. And decided its a unique car that is damn sexy and has plenty of potential. I still want a newer car but for daily purposes. And my celi to truly become a project car... In due time though.

[Box]

It is certainly unique, one of my favourite things about it. It just really isn't me I guess. I like import cars and what not, just not as much as I do muscle cars. Oh well, what I get for being responsible and buying the reasonable car.

[SwissFerdi]

^ That's what it is...I still love the car. It's really only special if you're into cars, otherwise it won't matter...but just the little things still give me driving enjoyment every day. Like the steering...I drive my brother's A4 and I dig the turbo power, of course, but the feedback from the front wheels is almost completely absent, and that's a sad thing. In the Celica, I'm always confident of what the car is doing. I'm also constantly reminded of low weight, in a good way...just feels a bit more alive than most cars I drive.

Celica has soul.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Jul 18, 2012 - 6:20 AM

[czwalga]

^ That's what it is...I still love the car. It's really only special if you're into cars, otherwise it won't matter...but just the little things still give me driving enjoyment every day. Like the steering...I drive my brother's A4 and I dig the turbo power, of course, but the feedback from the front wheels is almost completely absent, and that's a sad thing. In the Celica, I'm always confident of what the car is doing. I'm also constantly reminded of low weight, in a good way...just feels a bit more alive than most cars I drive.

Celica has soul.

Hahaha... that just reminds me of the Rx7 guys. They hate me cause they say I ripped the soul out of their car.

[SwissFerdi]

To an extent, I could see that - rotary is very traditional, very inherent to the RX line.

[Box]

Meh, big V8 makes everything better.

[SupraKid]

Cz you fixed the one major flaw the rx7 had,now I'm sure it's a monster.

[Tigawoods]

nope

[BonzaiCelica]

an engine swap and upgrading all your suspension parts with larger rims and stickier tires to take every turn like its your last always keeps me liking my celica.

[kurt95gt]

I use to get bord an trade my car off for something different about every 3 months
But after almost 3 years of that it got old.
I did learn one thing. It showed me what cars I really liked
An that's why I have 2 celicas

[pandakid]

have you tried doing autox?

[jcbass7]

It is certainly unique, one of my favourite things about it. It just really isn't me I guess. I like import cars and what not, just not as much as I do muscle cars. Oh well, what I get for being responsible and buying the reasonable car.

I have my 3S celica and a 350 ci 1970 corvette stingray... both are fun in their own ways, but I enjoy driving the celica more. The vette is awesome as a nostalgic "muscle car" and fun in its own way, but honestly.. finding a windy road in the celica is a blast. I also have more a solid suspension in the celica, while the vette really needs a resto lol

[Box]

an engine swap and upgrading all your suspension parts with larger rims and stickier tires to take every turn like its your last always keeps me liking my celica.

Have thought about it. Been looking into finding a rear ended V6 Solara or Camry with manual transmission.

have you tried doing autox?

Nope. Not anywhere around here that I know of.

[Box]

It is certainly unique, one of my favourite things about it. It just really isn't me I guess. I like import cars and what not, just not as much as I do muscle cars. Oh well, what I get for being responsible and buying the reasonable car.

I have my 3S celica and a 350 ci 1970 corvette stingray... both are fun in their own ways, but I enjoy driving the celica more. The vette is awesome as a nostalgic "muscle car" and fun in its own way, but honestly.. finding a windy road in the celica is a blast. I also have more a solid suspension in the celica, while the vette really needs a resto lol

I love your Vette. I just love the sound and feel of a V8 though. Handling is also important, which I was looking at the last gen Firebird Formula. All of the twisty roads around here you can't drive fast, if you do you constantly bottom out.

[Box]

I use to get bord an trade my car off for something different about every 3 months
But after almost 3 years of that it got old.
I did learn one thing. It showed me what cars I really liked
An that's why I have 2 celicas

That's also part of it I think. I just want to try a lot of cars, and the only way to do that is to keep one for awhile then sell it for another.

[azian_advanced]

what you need is a 3SGTE swap. still gives really good mpg daily driving but when you're in the mood for spirited driving, the power kicks in when you want it.
honestly, with my ST205, i'm getting 22-24 mpg (city) on a regular basis while driving responsibly with some WOT action here and there. when i had my ST204, i would also get 22-24 mpg with all city driving. the ST205 is ~300lb heavier including AWD and still gets just as good mpg as a 5SFE. plus, a 3SGTE on FWD would feel quicker (no AWD and tall gears to lug it down) yet still be more fuel efficient.

This post has been edited by azian_advanced: Jul 19, 2012 - 12:02 AM

[Box]

For what a 3S-GTE would cost I could just buy a Firebird Formula though. Then I'd have my Celica for DD and the Firebird for weekend, or whenever I felt like driving it instead. Best of all I don't have to do any work. Why I was looking into the 1MZ-FE. Would be a good bit less, easier, and I can get all the parts for it cheaply and easily.

[kurt95gt]

For what a 3S-GTE would cost I could just buy a Firebird Formula though. Then I'd have my Celica for DD and the Firebird for weekend, or whenever I felt like driving it instead. Best of all I don't have to do any work. Why I was looking into the 1MZ-FE. Would be a good bit less, easier, and I can get all the parts for it cheaply and easily.

Yep 1mz parts are real easy to get

[Box]

Yep, just go in and tell them you need parts for a Camry/Solara.

[kurt95gt]

Or es300
I normally go with that since the 1mz is its only option

[jcbass7]

For what a 3S-GTE would cost I could just buy a Firebird Formula though. Then I'd have my Celica for DD and the Firebird for weekend, or whenever I felt like driving it instead. Best of all I don't have to do any work. Why I was looking into the 1MZ-FE. Would be a good bit less, easier, and I can get all the parts for it cheaply and easily.

Do what i did... get the weekend project muscle car and use the Celica as a DD.. then once the weekend car is reliable enough put a better motor into the DD while you drive the other car.. then switch and do a bunch more work to the muscle car, now that the Celica is upgraded... I'm going to start doing a full frame off on the vette soon since it desperately needs it lol

[Box]

Most likely what will end up happening. I'm just not big on working on cars, especially an engine swap. Maybe if I had a garage I would, but I just have a gravel driveway to work with currently. Need to get around to selling my current/last project, since I've lost interest in it.

[trdproven]

Until you've bought more parts than me, I could see why you can be bored. Imagine, I haven't even done a swap yet, but my parts list is incredible. Other than that, as long as you got the cash, you'll find a way to spend it on your celica. Most car fanatics never even complete a car to its truest vision before moving on to their next. No such thing as a perfect car, there's always something to do with it as long as you got cash.

For example, have you tried all three/four front ends, different kits?
Have you tried replacing every single thing in your car perhaps even more than once, twice, three, four times? so you can find out whats best?
Have you tried buying parts no one has bought yet and you want to be the first to experiment?

Honestly, I am only bored with my car, even though I still work on it, because Im the only one who has one, and no one to chill with the same car whos just as motivated.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Jul 19, 2012 - 11:36 PM

[Box]

The only things that have been done is a K&N air filter, and Tein lowering springs. Everything was taken care of by the previous owner. Was thinking about redoing the exhaust, just afraid of it sounding like a bumble bee.

[njccmd2002]

I started with the interior. Here is a list.

1. take the upholstery out of the seats, and wash it.
2. take the carpet out and steam or wash it
3. clean every nook and crevice
4. redo the interior? like scratches and repaint the trim black,
5. maybe leds in the cluster

move on to the engine bay.

1. polish the engine cover
2. clean the body with wd40
3. reground the engine
4. wash engine?


that will get u started and its very cheap. a car with clean and decent interior will make u smile.

[BonzaiCelica]

whats up with the sig^^ moral support for riochet????

[Box]

I started with the interior. Here is a list.

1. take the upholstery out of the seats, and wash it.
2. take the carpet out and steam or wash it
3. clean every nook and crevice
4. redo the interior? like scratches and repaint the trim black,
5. maybe leds in the cluster

move on to the engine bay.

1. polish the engine cover
2. clean the body with wd40
3. reground the engine
4. wash engine?


that will get u started and its very cheap. a car with clean and decent interior will make u smile.

Interior was cleaned before I got it, though engine bay could use some cleaning up. Had been thinking about the Spree LED kit for it though. Maybe I'll paint the valve cover. Want to get around to painting the rims a metallic black.

[kurt95gt]

whats up with the sig^^ moral support for riochet????

The Answrr you seek is in this link
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=84743

[Box]

Put some thought into it, tough choice between getting a muscle car and another MKIII Supra. I miss my Supra. Though this time I'd want the 5-speed Turbo instead of the auto N/A. Another option would be to just get a MKIII rolling chassis and drop in a 350, best of both worlds.

[zfjohnson07]

ha i got so bored with cars that i started buying and selling them

bought a 94 celica gt sold it, then a 2001 celica gt sold it then a 98 honda prelude traded it for a 2005 civic, sold it , then a 2003 corolla s, and ive kept that one the longest time, and now im going to sell it... thinking of a 93 rx7, or a 350z... decisiions decisions.. but i do miss my celica, only problem stock is slow, and i dont want to have to swap it, geez the 2nd gen rx7 has 200 hp with a freaking 1.3 liter engine, and the celica has a 1.8 liter with 100 WHOOAAAA. sorry i love toyota just dont like how you cant do anything to it unless you turbo it or swap it.

[Box]

1.8 with 110 to be exact. That's ok I'm thinking about going super cheap bastard on gas and finding a Civic VX, preferably, or a Del Sol S. I like the RX7, just not sure how I'd like it when it comes to working on it. That and the rotary engines can only push them so far horsepower wise. Just about any import though is that way, in regards of having to turbo it or swap to make power. Not like domestic V8 cars anyway where you can go out and buy camshafts, headers, intake manifold, etc... and make a significant gain in power. If you want a fast Toyota out of the box get a MKIV Supra Turbo or MR2 Turbo. Also I heard the manual transmissions in the 350Z are rubbish, so that ruins it for me.

[zfjohnson07]

oh, cause i had a guy try to sell me his earlier for $5k was a 06 with 100,000 with a manual, had a rebuilt title, i offered him 4k tho, might be getting it ha ha

[Special_Edy]

The reason the rotary makes so much power per liter is because it has multiple power strokes per revolution where as a contemporary piston engine only has one power stroke every two rotations. Both designs have their own flaws and advantages.

[zfjohnson07]

well i found a 93 in dallas, the shell and the engine and trans, i just want to do a little more research before i buy it


edit:

im really looking for a one of a kind car something rare and easy to fix.

This post has been edited by zfjohnson07: Aug 11, 2012 - 9:07 PM

[Box]

im really looking for a one of a kind car something rare and easy to fix.

No such thing, unless you count packages for certain cars like the 60's GM COPO cars. The car itself is rare, but were many just like it in abundance at the time. Unless you find a literal one off car, someone else in the world has one like it and it's not "one of a kind" anyway. Anything from the 80's up with anything bigger than a 4 cylinder will be a pain to work on, especially if they're a turbo car. Which, around where I live just coupes in general are a rarity. Except for the 94-04 Mustang, those are like the plague oddly enough. Not sure how it is for you where you live though.

[zfjohnson07]

well one of a kind as in, i buy it cheap fix it up or whatever i need to and sell it for more ha ha..

i just found a 86 corolla for 4500 i might buy

[Box]

Seems like a lot, unless it has been heavily modified.

[zfjohnson07]

well that one, is for me, i like cars you never see to often like the celica i had, i never saw in hell i saw more in my drive way then my whole town

[Box]

I had one offered to me for $800 one time, wish I had taken them up on it. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20 eh? Indeed, it is nice driving a car that you only see when you get in and out of it.

[block]

Itd be much more of a joy if you had more goodies on the car. I didnt enjoy my last celica enough so i dropped about 4k (megan coilovers, tworus endlinks, brand new wheels/tires, jdm goodies, etc) into it to make me love it lol. Only reason i sold it was because i bought a house and had no reason to keep 4 cars even though i had a 3 car garage. I just needed two cars that were practical and made the most sense (2012 corolla s and crv). Enjoy it while you have it. I still plan to get another 6th gen next year

[Box]

I think I just have commitment issues, more or less.

[Box]

I wants another. One of these days, maybe.

[zfjohnson07]

well im buying another celica today, a gray 98 gt with 154,000 for $800. The great thing, is it needs a hood, windshield and air bags, luckily i do have a extra celica im parting out that is gray.

[Box]

^How convenient.

[zfjohnson07]

well tuurns out, the air bag i had was wrong, boo! took the windshield off and it cracked when i picked it up

[Lil-Joe101]

Do you ever find yourself bored with your car? I've had the Celica for only about 5 months now, and it's ok and all. It just has me bored with it. It's not as fast as I like and it sounds like, well, nothing. Can't even tell if the car is running unless you stand right next to it and listen. I guess I could change the exhaust out, but I don't like the sound of 4 cylinder engines. Don't get me wrong I like the car; ease of working on, looks, mpg, etc... I just wonder if I should've given fuel economy the middle finger like I have been and just gone with a Firebird Formula. Of course if I had I'd probably be over on some Firebird forum making a similar post, but bitching about the fuel economy. Maybe I just have commitment issues, seems like I do with everything else. Of course I'm not selling the car, as it should be trouble free for some time. Am I crazy or does anyone else ever feel the same?

Box I know how u feel bro. I felt that way for a while myself which is why I changed every aspect of my car to what I wanted to the car to look, sound, and perform like. For one, I got bored with the basic stock look. I hated that I didnt stand out from everyone else(hinse the body kit), I hate the sound of a stock audio system with no base(hense the 1800 watt amp and 12s), I cantstand a car thats not dropped just above the tires, (just my preference), and now I have reached my boiling point of not being able to perfrom on the street, track, dyno, with the rest of the speed demons. Which is the reason behind the swap. Granted it takes alot of money to build a car in each of the mentioned aspects but the end result is not only something u can be proud of because u built it, but something that stands out out from the rest and keeps u busy.

[Box]

I have the philosophy of if you want a fast car you start with a fast car, just is more logical to me. Though the Celica makes for a much better starter versus say a Civic, or what have you. Still, can only go so far with FWD though. I admit though, your car and some of the other members' cars are awesome that I'd love to have myself. I just can't see myself spending that kind of money on it though. I've thought about it, and listed out everything I'd want to do to it. To do everything I'm wanting to do I'm looking at $10,000, and probably more. For that kind of money I much rather wait and get one of these:


I have been busy with it lately though. Replaced the fuel pump strainer, fuel filter, and PCV valve. Took out the fuel injectors and flushed them out. Also cleaned out lots of gunk from the intake manifold, throttle body, EGR, and IACV. Thinking will take off the intake manifold cover again and coat in enamel. Needing to reseal the gaskets better anyway... That and will coat the valve cover in enamel, possibly the heat shield as well. Planning on doing a short ram/cold air with it, since the stock intake hose is torn and deteriorating. Going to Seafoam it to get the rest of the intake manifold I couldn't really reach clean, then put in some new Denso spark plugs. Though I noticed the throttle response is much better now, guess removing lots of gunk would help such. As far as further modifying I only plan on redoing the exhaust, and may go up to 16" rims once it needs new tires.

This post has been edited by Box: Aug 14, 2012 - 10:44 PM

[Lil-Joe101]

Well bro, thats why we call them projects. But I understand where ur comin from considering my dream car is a Mercedes SLR Mclaren. But I live in the real world and have to deal the card I have which the 2 of Celicas, lol

[Box]

Mine is a realistic dream car though. Can find a nice lower mileage one for around $15,000. I've seen some with more miles in the $10,000 ballpark. Proper amount of miles for the year of the car, but just higher than all the other Vettes out there though. I just need to get the Vette before I'm 40, then it isn't a mid-life crisis.

[Lil-Joe101]

Mine is a realistic dream car though. Can find a nice lower mileage one for around $15,000. I've seen some with more miles in the $10,000 ballpark. Proper amount of miles for the year of the car, but just higher than all the other Vettes out there though. I just need to get the Vette before I'm 40, then it isn't a mid-life crisis.

lol, and drinkin before noon doesnt make u an alcoholic Dont give up on the Celi just yet bro.

[Box]

Don't get me wrong I like the Celica. I just see it more as a sporty economical car, at least with the base ST anyway. Obviously that wouldn't apply to the ST202 or ST205, but those aren't easily available over here. I like the import cars, but my heart is with muscle cars. Hence my life time goal of owning a Corvette. Had given the thought of finding a V6 manual Camry/Solara for swapping drive-trains. Unless I could somehow find a rear ended car for dirt cheap, don't foresee myself doing it though.

[PhoenixTech]

It's not so much that I'm bored with my Celica (5th gen) it's just that I'm so damn burnt out on them now.

I started my Celica 3S project back in 2005, tore it down, rebuilt the engine, rethought what I wanted to build the car for many many times, and changed by build plans more than my underwear. I then helped Brent (SeverX13) do his 5SFTE build...engine out of the car, in the car, back out of the car.....over it.

I started working for Dr Tweak a little over 2 years ago and have done three 3SGTE swaps here. Finished up a Gen2 swap, then did 2 full ST215 swaps, one into Matt's Celica (easternpiro). Matt's Celica and I have a love hate relationship, seeing as how I've put 2 different 3S's into that car in a year's time. As of right now, I don't ever...EVER want to do a 3S swap into a Celica again. Which is sad because MY OWN 3S project was never finished.

I've had 2 Lexus SCs in the past year, and I can say, after owning these cars, I have no aspirations of every going back to a FWD "compact" car. They don't turn heads like my SCs do, they don't have the respect my SCs do. They don't have near the power potential my SCs do. My job, and my presence in the Toyota performance community have sort of merged me into somewhat of a "snob" when it comes to vehicles now. I deal with so many high dollar, high horsepower builds that for me to be putting around in an economy car just doesn't seem right.

Please don't get me wrong here folks, I'm not bashing on Celicas what-so-ever. Afterall, I do own one myself. (not to mention I have the celica dragon tattoo'd on me) but I've just moved on to different platforms, and a different scene.

-Cam

[Box]

I think that has a lot to do with my boredom with the Celica, being FWD. Oh well, for some reason I was obsessed with fuel economy at the time of buying the car.

[njccmd2002]

What is a fast car, if not a ticket magnet. Im pissed because where i live, icant drive cars to the potential

[Box]

What is a fast car, if not a ticket magnet. Im pissed because where i live, icant drive cars to the potential

Also true. Which I guess is the main reason I went for mpg over hp. The only time you'd ever use the power in a legal manner is when you're passing someone, and getting onto the interstate. That and all of the roads around here are terribly boring and/or in piss poor condition. Maybe that's it...it's not so much the car, but the environment in which you drive it... I would say take it to a track, but all we have is drag strips. I think we all know how that'd turn out...

[njccmd2002]

so what you need is to make your car a FUN car, and not a Fast car. All I have here is a boring drag strip. I want to drift!!! or learn for that matter. lol. but make your car a fun car. right now tweak your suspension.

[Box]

Already has lowering springs and new struts, could use some thicker sway bars I guess.

[BonzaiCelica]

Already has lowering springs and new struts, could use some thicker sway bars I guess.

sway bars make biggest improvement!

[Box]

That and bigger wheels would help I'm sure. Has the stock 14" alloys on it at the moment. As far as cheaper wheels go, thinking about some 7GC GT-S wheels or TC wheels. Has new tires at the moment though, so it'll be some time before they're changed.

[SwissFerdi]

.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Aug 23, 2012 - 2:28 PM

[Box]

.

[kurt95gt]

Don't get Tc rims
They look good but are stupid heavy. I have a set an hate them at this point

[Box]

Weight was a concern with the TC rims. Also the GT-S rims, don't think they'd weigh too much though. I imagine the 14" alloy wheels on it now don't weigh much at all, so don't want to add too much weight if at all possible.

[SwissFerdi]

Don't get Tc rims
They look good but are stupid heavy. I have a set an hate them at this point

That.

[Box]

Win the lottery and get some SSR Type F wheels. Only 11.6 pounds for a 16x7 wheel.

[Box]

Put some thought into it, thinking should sell/trade the Celica for either an AE85/86 or 240SX. Honestly what I probably should've gotten to begin with. I wanted RWD, but for whatever reason saving a couple hundred on gas a year seemed like a better idea at the time.

[njccmd2002]

good luck with ae86, they are ridden more than whores. plus a good virgin stocker will run you close to 6000, thats even if you find one close, it crazy, i got tired of looking.