I just got a new car!

  • Thread starter Thread starter duo17
  • 31 comments
  • 1,386 views
Messages
1,166
United States
Oregon
Well, it's not new, but still. I just got a 2000 Celica GT-S. It's got leather seats, sport shift, power everything, and some other things I'm not remembering. The car is silver. I don't have a digi cam so I can only tell you for now, but I will try and get pictures as soon as I can.

OA
 
I was just looking at getting a Celica myself for a project car. Make sure you tell me how you like it.
 
I have only had a few problems with it, but you have to remember that this is my first car, so I wouldn't have anything to compare to (actually a '98 Camry, but that isn't much to compare to).

One of the annoying things is that if you press the pedal down hard, and fast, it takes a second or two for the power to kick in and then you start going fast, I'm not exactly sure why, but it isn't a fun surprise. The gas seems to go quick too, it's supposed to be 22/30 (don't quote me on that). Another problem would be the cup holder placement. It's hard to move the shift knob when you have a drink because the cup holders are placed in the center inbetween the two front seats. The center console with the a/c knobs and CD player does look a bit cheap. There is tons of front leg room also. There is plenty of headroom in the front, but sitting in the back is a pain for any one over about 5ft 7in. Other than that, it's great. The engine sound great, especially from 3000 to 5000 rpms. It handles nicely too. I rarely have to turn the wheel over 90 degrees either way. The seats are wonderful (I have the black leather). They keep you in nicely and they are soft too. My friend who owns a 5 speed GT says that the shift gates are narrow and it's easy to mess up and shift to second instead of 4th. If you have any other questions, just feel free to ask.

OA
 
Yeah.
have you or your buddy had any problems with squeeling? Like belt tensioners or anything.
Have you noticed on your Celi that paint in the front chips really easily... like REALLY easily?
Any probs with the sun roof squeeking on yours? Or even the tint peeling?
I heard about the narrow shift gate... but only in the GT-S have i heard it was a real prob.
Do you have the stock tires on yours? I heard they dont grip too well and i was wondering your opinion.
You mean there is a delay in between when you press the gas and when you go or do you mean there is little torque?
Any mods yet?

thats just some questions I have.
 
Me and my dad test drove a used GT-S (not this gen, the one before they restlyed the nose). They only mod were some Nitto's (dont remember what kind). The seats were nice, and yes, lots of room. My dad like it a little except that it wasnt as fast it he wanted it to be, and that the shifter was a little stiff (probably not used too much is what he said)...
 
I hate the fact that torque is non-existent in this car. And yes, i say that, even though i've owned 5 Hondas.
 
About the pedal issue. Its the same on all Toyota's. I guess its somehting to do with the CPU, but theres a delay from when you press the pedal down to when the power kicks in. And yes. It is very anoying. but hey, it does mak for some quick takes offs without tire spin ;)
 
Originally posted by Rumple Foreskin
Yeah.
have you or your buddy had any problems with squeeling? Like belt tensioners or anything.
Have you noticed on your Celi that paint in the front chips really easily... like REALLY easily?
Any probs with the sun roof squeeking on yours? Or even the tint peeling?
I heard about the narrow shift gate... but only in the GT-S have i heard it was a real prob.
Do you have the stock tires on yours? I heard they dont grip too well and i was wondering your opinion.
You mean there is a delay in between when you press the gas and when you go or do you mean there is little torque?
Any mods yet?

thats just some questions I have.

Okay. There is no squeeling whatsoever. None. No paint has chiped yet. The sunroof opens and closes like a dream. I have stock tires and they are fine, hell my car is used so who knows how long those tires have been on there. I'm pretty sure it's a torque problem. I don't think that it's a delay from the pedal. The car has more high end torque and not as much at the bottom. I haven't gotten any mods and I don't plan on getting and mods that increase power. I'm just going to get an exhaust and some wheels.

OA

{Edit} I guess Mixx proved me wrong, but I only notice this when I press the pedal down pretty far. When I press it lightly, the power is there immediatly.
 
What sort of exhaust you looking at?
I would go RMM or even the Tanabe Super Medalion Racing Exhaust :D
A good exhaust and a CAI can really help you with your low end torque problems. But nothing is ever goingto make your Celi a rocket.
Have you ever thought about the FC Power replacement for your ECU? MANY Celi owners are thrilled by it.
How many miles/kilometers are on your car?
Your car will have WAY more torque in the upper RPM range because of Lift kicking in around 5500RPM.
 
The reason I was asking those questions about durability is that I have had friends and heard a lot of people with those same complaints.
A lot of issues with Sunroof tint peeling, easy rock chips..and especially the belts. Whenever it is damp out or cold some celi's start squeeling like a pig.

In fact there was a TSB sent out by toyota regarding the sunroof. They will take out your plastic one and replace it with a glass one if found defective.
 
Originally posted by Rumple Foreskin
What sort of exhaust you looking at?
I would go RMM or even the Tanabe Super Medalion Racing Exhaust :D
A good exhaust and a CAI can really help you with your low end torque problems. But nothing is ever goingto make your Celi a rocket.
Have you ever thought about the FC Power replacement for your ECU? MANY Celi owners are thrilled by it.
How many miles/kilometers are on your car?
Your car will have WAY more torque in the upper RPM range because of Lift kicking in around 5500RPM.

I haven't started looking at exhausts, but I know exactly what wheels I want. How much does the FC Power replacement cost? I have 37,600something miles on my car.

OA
 
Hey OA, how did I miss this? Congratulations on your first wheels!

When you say your car has the sport shift option, is that like the MR-S's automatic clutch/shifter setup? Because I have heard that this arrangement makes nice smooth gear changes, but very slow ones.

Cheers on the old news,

Duke
 
I will check it out, hang on.
The Tanabe Super Medalion Racing Exhaust and RMM are the preferred exhaust of most people who race their Celi's. Or even the Veilside.... it is 20 pounds lighter than ANY other exhaust currently on the market for the celi, plus it still gives you a gain of 8hp at the wheels. The Kazuma exhaust will give you 20 at the wheels, but it is VERY illegal (noise).
I am looking for the link to the TSB sent out by toyota and I am looking for that thing regarding the FC.
 
Originally posted by neon_duke
Hey OA, how did I miss this? Congratulations on your first wheels!

When you say your car has the sport shift option, is that like the MR-S's automatic clutch/shifter setup? Because I have heard that this arrangement makes nice smooth gear changes, but very slow ones.

Cheers on the old news,

Duke

Thanks! The sport shift is basically a manual automatic (that doesn't help at all). It's just an automatic that allows you to change the gears, so there is no clutch. While in auto mode it is very slow to switch and does some odd things when you don't expect it too. Sometimes I'll be going up a hill in 4th and it shifts down to 3rd when I reach the top of the hill. That's why I tend to leave it in "manual" mode.

OA
 
Apexi Power FC's

they are complete stand alone engine management ECUs, they are direct factory replacements for the GT-S celicas.

they drop right in and connect to the factory connections

redline 8600 rpms (revamped fuel curve for higher redline)
lower lift engagement (possably around 5K rpms)
revamped vvt-i settings (for insane low end gains)

They stated they got rid of the dip in power before lift, smoothed out the power band, increased low end as well as top end.

They are squeezing out the final numbers from the car

Like 1500 bucks. Gains are expected to be 15-20 WHP
 
Why didnt you opt for the 6-Sp GT-S?
A 5 Spd GT can supposivly beat the GT-S Auto in the quarter mile. The GT-S even has 40 more horse, but the Auto just kills it.
 
I just found out there IS a TSB on belt tensiners and the sunroof same with weather stripping on the windows. :)
 
Originally posted by Rumple Foreskin
Why didnt you opt for the 6-Sp GT-S?
A 5 Spd GT can supposivly beat the GT-S Auto in the quarter mile. The GT-S even has 40 more horse, but the Auto just kills it.

Are all GT-S's Auto? The one we tested was Manual (had clutch pedal), and it was a GT-S. At least that's what the Badge, window sticker, and the guy who worked there said...
 
No , you can get the sport shift or the 6 spd

I just found all these TSB's right from toyota regarding the Celi 7th gen

Belt Tensioner
Bodyside Weatherstrip
Brakes Making Clicking Noise
Check Engine Light
Dealer Codes for Programming Factory Alarm
Daylight Running Lamps Removal
Loose Door Handle
Moonroof Creaking Noise
Problemos with Auto GTS Transmission
Sunshade Removal Instructions
Shoulder Belt Appearance Fix
Speedo and Tach Fluctuations
Seat Belt Tongue Plate Stopper
Sunroof Separation Problem
Tighter Shifter Springs
Tire Inflation Pressure and Wheel Torque
Valve Adjustment
Valve Adjustment Steps
Various Rattle Noise Solutions
Various Rattle Noise Solutions Warranty Info
Wheel Balance Adjustment
Wind Noise Reduction Steps
6spd Selecting Gear Problem
 
Originally posted by Frustrated Palm
Are all GT-S's Auto? The one we tested was Manual (had clutch pedal), and it was a GT-S. At least that's what the Badge, window sticker, and the guy who worked there said...

No, the GT-S comes in Sport shift or 6 speed. I didn't get the six speed because I don't know how to drive a stick.

OA
 
Originally posted by Rumple Foreskin
No , you can get the sport shift or the 6 spd

I just found all these TSB's right from toyota regarding the Celi 7th gen

Belt Tensioner
Bodyside Weatherstrip
Brakes Making Clicking Noise
Check Engine Light
Dealer Codes for Programming Factory Alarm
Daylight Running Lamps Removal
Loose Door Handle
Moonroof Creaking Noise
Problemos with Auto GTS Transmission
Sunshade Removal Instructions
Shoulder Belt Appearance Fix
Speedo and Tach Fluctuations
Seat Belt Tongue Plate Stopper
Sunroof Separation Problem
Tighter Shifter Springs
Tire Inflation Pressure and Wheel Torque
Valve Adjustment
Valve Adjustment Steps
Various Rattle Noise Solutions
Various Rattle Noise Solutions Warranty Info
Wheel Balance Adjustment
Wind Noise Reduction Steps
6spd Selecting Gear Problem

I haven't had any of those problems yet, so I must be lucky.

OA
 
Nah. I'm not going to do that for a while. I want my new wheels first.

OA
 
I like the hight of the car as it is now. I don't like it when the top part of the wheel is covered by the wheel well. I was looking at the OZ Superleggeras,
front_wheel_004.jpg
.
If you have any other wheels, please tell me.

OA
 
Your car may look kinda funny on nice rims and no drop or kit on it.
What kind of rubber you wrapping it in?

Also... Does your friends Celi have the reverse beeper for when he shifts it into reverse? And if he does A) how annoying is it? and B) would he be interested in disengadging it?
you have the sportshift so I dont think you have it on your car

I have lots of really nice rims and kit combos that I can show you
 
I don't think his has the reverse beeper. I didn't even know that they still put those in cars. I'm not sure about the tires either. The celica is pretty low already. There isn't an ugly space that shows off the wheel well and suspension. I'd really like to see the rims and kit combos. I don't really like chrome however.

OA
 
I was just looking at a Celi myself to rice up nicely just so I can say I have one too.
I was looking to do the following to it.

Exterior
----------
Blitz Front Bumper
Veilside Skirts And Rear
Kaminari Race Wing w/ Carbon Fiber Blade
VIS Invader Carbon Fiber Hood
Sparco Hood Pins
TYC Elegante Red Tail Lights
OEM S2000 Antenna
PIAA 7500K Spark Blue H7 Bulbs
PIAA 7500K Spark Blue H3 Bulbs
PIAA 1156 Hyper White Signal Bulbs
PIAA 168 Hyper White Wedge Bulbs
PIAA 921 Hyper White Reverse Bulbs
Street Glow Gold Series Blue Underbody Neons

Engine/Exhaust
----------------
Injen Race Division Cold Air Intake
Tanabe Super Racing Medallion Cat back Exhaust
Custom 2.25" Straight Piping
TRD Oil Filter Cap
Hotshot Headers
Unorthodox Racing Complete Pulley Kit
Apexi SAFC II

Wheels/Brakes
----------------
19" Racing Hart CR Silver 2-piece Rims
Nitto X treme NT555 225/35/19 Tires

Suspension
-------------
Tein Basic Damper Kit
Tanabe Front Strut Bar
TRD Rear Struts

And a WHOLE bunch of crap done to the interior and some more engine work. I got a lot of the ideas from other project Celi's I have seen and I just started taking down a lits of some of the stuff i would like on it.
 
Back