I am thiking of getting a Toyota celica GT4 (the 4wd turbo model) as a daily driver. has anyone here ever had one - what do you think?

 

Either ST185 or ST202. I prefer the look of the older model but with newer model having 255 BHP looks like quite a handy bit of kit.

 

Isn't it the same engine that the MR2 Turbo has - I'm sure that can be tuned cheaply enough to reasonable power.

 

Waddya fink?

 

Please don't say get a scooby - I can't stand them and want a coupe. I just cant think of any other 4x4 turbo coupe that I could pick up for about 3k.

I think scoops has a GT4, or at least he did have one for deffo. I guess he's the man to give advice about everyday driving for one of those.

2nd Car? WTF???? this should be your first car!!! ;)

The never version is the st205 not the st202. The st202 is the same shape its just they are the gt and st models.

Youre right in saying its the same engine as the mr2 turbo, its the 3sgte, in the st205 version (which is what i have) its the rev3 variation which uses a map sensor to control fueling rather than afm's on the rev1s and 2.

As a daily car, its a tough one. Fuel economy isnt great but its better than a 300. The main problem i have with mine is that the standard rear strut brace which cuts across the middle of the boot kinda limits the size of some of the things you can fit in it, but dont worry you'll fit your shopping in it.

The 202 version have bigger boots as in the gt4 model they had to raise the petrol tankin to the boot area due to the 4wd.

ANy knocks on driving from the front will be due to the fig8 suspension bits, apparenly these go at around 60k and are quite pricey to replace.

Other than that they are fantastic machines with bulletproof engines.

Any more question give me a shout. You jammy git i wish i could afford to run mine daily, but due to mileages a have a shit slow but very economical diesel pug.

good info can be found on these sites

http://www.gt4ec.net

http://www.gt4oc.net

http://www.gtfour.com

http://www.st205.net

i had a st185, with a couple of mods it would piss up to 100mph (when i was on a track). i would definitely have another one.

 

ooh and i'm lead to believe standard the 185 is the better handling of the two, but i never did drive the st205 version so can't say first hand.

Cheers guys... After much reading I am deffo going to get one of these as my daily driver. I have a couple of questions. The 1992 ST185 (mk 2 I guess) looks to be the better car for an every day car - how easily can it be brought up to the 255 bhp (or

300bhp would be an eventual target) of the ST205?

 

How does a 4wd car compare in handling to a rwd zed? As I have never driven a 4wd sports car.

I had a ST185 Jap import about 7 years ago. The imports have 225hp as standard. Loads of grip, handling eered towards understeer as most 4wd's do, but it was amazing pulling away from the lights in the wet with foot planted to the floor. Could do great 4wd powerslides/drifts in it.

 

Well built, reliable and nicely specced. I loved the electric seat side bolster support, you get in it and move the button and it literally squeezed you in the seat.

 

Apparantly a better drivers car than the ST205, but as above I never drove one to compare myself.

I took a ST205 for a test drive once, amazing fun to drive!! It was the WRC edition with the big spoiler and (iirc) flared wheel arches. beautiful looking car.

I had a Audi s2 and loved the sure handling the 4wd system gave, you find yourself going into bends faster and getting on the power earlier, in the wet its a pure godsend and if I could afford another as a second car I would.

an exhaust, air filter, boost upgrade to 1 bar (you will need a fuel cut defensor to do this. you can actualy make one like i did) and it becomes a different car to drive.

 

i sat on the rear bumper of my friend's evo 6 with these mods.

Any advice on what model to go for as a daily driver? mk2 ST185 or mk3 ST205?

 

I do think the ones with popup lights look better than the bug eyed later models and if they are essentially the same engine they would be similar power....

I've go mine running at around 1.2 bar which is about the limit of the stock turbo and injectors and is around 300 bhp, i had it dynod but the fly wheel figure of 310 was only a calc estimate from the wheel figure.

with it being 4wd it certainly handles and grips far far bette than the zed. My zed has kyb's and eibachs, my 4 is on stock suspension and it would have left the 300 for dead. All being said after losing the back end once in the zed i was always a bit reluctant to keep chucking it around in case it bit me again.

dirty sanches mentions a WRC edition, thats the one i have, the only differences are lots of bits which dont work like a chargecooler radiator spray bar and anti lag. Only 5000(or was it 2500?) built IIRC seem to have a bit more kudos than a normal one but for no real reason. All wrc's has raiser blocks fitted to the rear spoiler to make it bigger and if i'm right have ABS as standard where it was normally an option on the earlier models 94 to 96.

Ps dont get while one, it makes the panel gaps look huge in my opinion.

for a cheap dailt id go for a 185

daily even.. d'oh

TBH I'd avoid the 205, but not because it isn't a great car, it's just that as a daily drive it's not going to be much more economical than a TT Z32. Back along I was thinking of getting rid of my zed and somebody offered me a silver one in p/x. From the pictures it looked immaculate. Lovely car, but absolutely not what I was looking for.

Then a ST185 it is then! I will look for a 91-93 model. Where is the best place to buy one from? The owners club doesn't seem to have many for sale.

Celica GT4?

 

Great little daily driver so you can keep the Zed for special occasions ;)