rentaspace's progression :), How My Celica Came to Be :) Options

[rentaspace]

So gonna start my progression thread, and update it occasionally.
I'll start with how I got my Celica:
So it all started last year in around March, when I got my Red P's and was searching for that first car...
I tested a lancer, a prelude and a Hyundai Coupe... They all had their pluses and minuses, but none felt 'right'...
On the way home from the Prelude, we passed a Ford dealership and sitting in the middle was a little white PreFacelift Celica, as soon as I saw her, I knew she was the one I wanted. When I got home I jumped online and and contacted the dealer; she was an auto (I am not legally allowed to drive manual yet, thanks to my dads non-functioning speedometer).
The next day, my dad drove me and my beautiful girlfriend out to the dealer and we test drove the car. At the end of the test drive the dealer wanted 8k for her. I knew this was steep for it, but she was in almost perfect condition.

The only damage I could pick was a scrape on the passenger side rear wheel fender, a few small dents over her and quite a large dent in the roof (it looked like the previous owner had hit her with his fists)...
With the $8k as a base, we negotiated with the dealer and came out with a total:
- $7700 for the car
- All dents removed from the car
- Brand New 5 treads
- and finally what really made me go for it, A 12 month warranty... on an 18 year old car

Here she was on that exact day, right after out test drive:




A few weeks later, we got a call saying that she was ready for pickup, All the dents had been removed ($1500 worth of dent removal and paint) and she was good to go. A few days later her first photo shoot:



Her Interior and Engine were immaculate for her age:




After a few weeks our small troubles began, she started leaking oil all over the ground... After a call to the dealership, she was booked in for her first warranty inspection... They re-did all engine gaskets and replaced all seals in the engine... When we got her back, she was still leaking... We took her back again and were told that the transmission seals were shot, they were replaced and the engine was flushed out; the leaking stopped... for now...
Over all, the work would of cost ($1800 by the dealer, if not for the warranty).

Ill post the first of many mods in the next few hours or so, Once I get together the photos and know exactly what I want to say

This post has been edited by rentaspace: Oct 21, 2013 - 1:34 AM

[rentaspace]

My next mod was my first and only performance mod so far, The exhaust...
Now I wanted something that sounded beefier, but not so loud that it could be heard 4 blocks away. So I took it to a local shop which had done a good job on my mates Lancer.
I am pretty sure its a 2 1/4" Catback but it may be 2.5". I'm not entirely sure. But overall it cost me $250 for piping, muffler, Tip and installation which was not bad at all.
I also like the look of this tip way better than the cover that was on the stock tip. It also sound's a lot better
Before:

After:


I was also starting to get real sick of a few other things on the car:
- The Gauge colour
- The Length of the stock antenna
- The faded 'SX' sticker on the rear.
So I started researching what I should get to replace what I was hating. At the same time My dad had some old air horns from his Holden Panel Van in the garage, and I decided to use them. (By Old I mean, 1970's LOL). It sounds... funny... But meh, louder than the 2 stock electronic pieces of crap.



After installing the air horns, I decided to 'test' them repeatedly (and annoy the neighbors who had partied the whole previous night keeping me awake). The stock fuse held out, and everything was going well... So I thought...

Two days later, I had to go up to the local shops, thanks to a mistake by the guy behind the counter giving me a blank case with no game in it
Anyway, when leaving I got reversed into, causing some pretty bad damage to my fender above the rear wheel... I saw the guy coming, and hit my horn and as luck would have it; the horn fuse blew... YAY!
Luckily, they reversed into me, so their insurance covered me... But, what I found hilarious is that I was reversed into by a guy in a repair shops loner car... xD
Damage:

The photo doesn't really show the damage much... But it was pretty deep and about 30-40cm in diameter
The same people that fixed the car for the dealer did the work, and we were told that was another $1500 worth of dent pulling and painting (Not a cent was paid by me though )

The timing was just perfect; 1 week before my HSC testing.. (Final testing for school in NSW). So I had no car for 3 days of HSC testing
But hey at least the damage was just cosmetic

Right after my HSC, I had nothing to do for a good 3 months. So I applied for Tafe (I am way to Lazy for Uni xD) and bought the parts needed to replace the annoying parts on my car.
Next was the antenna, I bought a 'shark-fin' antenna from Great Britain for $18AUD shipped (again not expecting much but was pleasantly surprised). This was the first major mod to the chassis and I was quite nervous drilling into the roof >.< but all went smoothly and the antenna went on with no water leaks I also got the Blue LED dash kit delivered from eBay which cost $7 for all the needed LEDs. I also bought a set of 10x 3mm Wedge LEDs to replace the power window switch light. I also decided to remove that stupid 'SX' sticker and replace it with a 'TRDSport' badge. I got it off eBay from the United Arab Emirates (of all places) for like $12AUD delivered. I am actually very happy with it, the adhesive was 3m and the build quality was good too