First car....

[buvelianhappard]

I am about to buy my first car, and I have a few questions...

I am looking at two celicas, and would like to know which is better?

1.) 1997 GT 121k miles, new tires, manual, great condition

$4500 or best offer (blue book is $4600 good - $5100 excellent)

2.) 1995 Toyota Celica ST Liftback
4 cylinder, 1.8 liter
5 speed
145K miles (approx.)
a/c, power locks/windows, cruise control, tilt steering, cd
player(new), moon roof, spoiler, emergency brake

$3175 (blue book is the same price)

I am wondering which is better. Are these cars reliable even at these high of miles? And, I am confused about what a liftback is (vs hatchback or notchback).

Thank you very much

[jaybratt]

Personally I would probably go for whichever has all the extras you want. The st and gt can be easily upgraded to compete with eachother. If you are into fixing up cars the st actually has more performance parts available and doesn't weigh as much as the gt. Celicas are extremely reliable cars. Even with this high of miles. A liftback is basically a hatchback. It means the whole back window lifts to open the trunk. A coupe means the trunk is seperate. I don't think the 94-99 celicas are coupes unless they are convertibles. If the gt has no air conditioning that may be bad. I have none in my 91gt and I hate not having it. My new 91 gt4 does though. The manuals are more fun to drive and seem to have less problems. You have a pretty close choice here. Give us some more info as to whether you care more about power or MPG or customizability.

[buvelianhappard]

Thanks for your help. The second one has power windows, and new tires. I really doubt that it doesn't have ac.

I am most concerned about reliability, mpg, and I guess customizability is next.

For a first car, I do not need extreme power, and I am thinking on passing these two up because they are manuals.

Most my driving will be city, and I have never driven a manual. My mom drove an old 80s car with a manual and she hated it so she is trying to steer me to an automatic for my first car.

Thanks

[blakscorpion21]

i would get the gt its a little quicker. mpg the st will get more. they are both extremeley reliable. i would rather have a manual because i have an auto and it gets a liottle boring to drive. the liftbacks are better looking than the coupes to me. the gt prob. has just as many aftermarket parts as the st theyre just more expensive but they are better quality.

[barkroc2]

gt all the way

btw st has an e brake you say? the gt doesnt???

[buvelianhappard]

lol, I forgot to take that out. My friend sent me the description and it had some sarcasm in it. I took out the "functional steering wheel" though.

I am leaning towards the GT because it is closer, however for a first car I am nervous about it being manual. I am going to drive my dads van for 6 months, then when I am ready, (and if I get this car) I will move to it.

It seems like too good of a deal to pass up though b/c there aren't many for sale in my area. I just hope nothing goes bad b/c of the miles.

Is there a weak spot for celicas (a common problem)?


Thanks

[jaybratt]

I have heard from three import mechanics that some of the older celicas like these have weak clutches. They all said that they can't handle much heat. Riding the clutch can cause it to heat and for a first time manual driver this might be difficult.
You can get a good Exedy or ACT aftermarket clutch for a few hundred.
Go for the manual though. I think it is best to learn on a manual as your first car because if you don't you risk getting old and not knowing how to drive a manual.

[blakscorpion21]

the altrernator might give you problems i have had to replace mine twice. and ive heard of many other people with the same problem.

[buvelianhappard]

Ok, thanks for the help.

Most of my driving is city traffic, so automatic would be best, and I don't want to stall in an intersection, but there aren't many celicas around me.

[jaybratt]

Oh, c'mon stalling in an intersection isn't that bad. My 91 gt was my first car and I stalled a lot when I was learning. I stalled once in the middle of a four lane intersection and the car wouldn't start again. My clutchswitch or something died.

Another time when I first started driving I stalled because I was so nervous because a cop was following me. Then in a hurry to take off again I peeled out. I took the next turn and the cop didn't follow. FUEWWW!! Those kind of experiences make memories. Especially if there was someone with you.

[buvelianhappard]

Wow...I want an automatic

[blakscorpion21]

mines an auto and mine died in the middle of thge busiest intersection in my town because my alternator didnt charge the battery. some people in the car behind had to help me push it through moving traffic. that sucked.

[jaybratt]

Listen to blackscorpion, you definitely want the manual!!! Plus if down the road you decide to fix it up people will flick tons of 5H1T at you for driving an auto.

[buvelianhappard]

Thanks for the input. I'm going to take a look at the car. If I do buy it I won't be able to drive it for like 6 months b/c right now I cannot even drive an automatic very well (only driven like 6 times).

[jaybratt]

You'll pick it up quick. Most people don't have the brains to research a car before they get it so at least you've got some.