Things about st205 Celica gt4

[gsrevo4]

I am thinking of getting a gt4 sometime next year.
Is it a reasonably cheap car to maintain?
I am only after a stock one.
Any known issues I need to be aware of when I am inspecting one?

Guidelines appreciated, cheers.

[Prymal]

high KMs , worn figure 8's , usual gearbox syncro wear , and turbo leaks ..

overall they are pretty solid , but no where near as cheap as say a corolla to service as there are quite a few upgraded , one off and high performance items on the car that will wear out with time ..

They are stronger than a suby , but also are a performance car , and most will have higher KMs so expect to spend a little to keep her up to scratch ..

Overall though .. they are survivable

[Heylin]

Im picking they will be similar to Turbo MR2 as far as it being 3SGTE powered.

at 180,000 - 220,000 kms your big end bearings will be getting to end of life, turbo will most likely be blowing oil ($700-$900 to rebuild)

Other things to look for approaching 180,000kms

- HT Leads
- Cap n Rotor
- Fuel pump flow rate (my MR2 turbo was well below spec at 220,000kms)

Also get a full suspension check to make sure everything is in order, by 180,000 your factory springs, shocks, ball joints, rack ends and rubber bushes may be getting tired or at the end of their life.

If its something you plan to own for a while replace things as they break with OEM parts

If its something you want to restore and keep for longer than 5 years use OEM or Upgraded parts depending on what you want to build (street car, show car, drag car, track car)

Just remember you never get much $$ back when it comes time to sell.

[Akane]

Im picking they will be similar to Turbo MR2 as far as it being 3SGTE powered.

at 180,000 - 220,000 kms your big end bearings will be getting to end of life,

Maybe for a Gen 2. ST205's have a baffled sump.

[sergei]

Here is the list of stuff that will go wrong:
1) Superstrut (figure 8 and straigh arms) (~$800 all items).
2) rear diff mount (~$210).
3) radiator (~$300)

Rest is preventative maintenance.

Synchros aren't problem in these cars as used to be in previous models.

Turbo is ceramic and non-rebuild-able. It will whine loudly long before going pop.

Having proper coolant is critical. They run really hot.
If it has rusty coolant don't buy it. Check under cap if there is no sludge (black plasticky stuff).

Also look for usual stuff like split CV boots. Being 4WD is tricky to tell if CV joints are ok. Wheel bearings can be a problem after 200k.
Clutch can last up to 200k and even over that if car wasn't raped.
Oil leak around the back of the head is normal. Gasket not expensive, and not extremely difficult to replace either. New gasket should last you long a while.

[MR2SIK]

Turbo is ceramic and non-rebuild-able. It will whine loudly long before going pop.

How so? My ones been rebuilt? granted its no longer ceramic, but still?

[sergei]

Turbo is ceramic and non-rebuild-able. It will whine loudly long before going pop.

How so? My ones been rebuilt? granted its no longer ceramic, but still?

Your one is probably CT26 core with TO4E bits.

[gt4dude]

I bought my 1996 st205 14 months ago on 132,000 kms for $9000.

Have spent about $10,000 in repairs to date. Now on 161,000kms


turbo
suspension parts
tyres
brake pads and rotors
radiator top tank
wheel bearings

[sergei]

Anonymous ST205
Hi my name is Sergei, and I have a problem:

I have imported my 1998 ST205 3 years ago. It costed me ~$10,000 landed (including alarm, tyres, and tints install).
It had slightly over 100,000km
I have done since over 60,000km

Repairs:
Superstrut components ~$800
Radiator ~$325
Rear diff mount ~$210
-------------------------------------------------
$1335.

Of course I would not include fluids, filter, fuel (and really should not include tyres) rotors or pads as these are running costs.

Of course I spent $450 on rotors and pads when I got it, and ~$1700 on tyres since I got it (first set included in cost of the car), and tens of thousands of dollars on fuel and servicing.

[dnalunchie]

Be wary of anyone st205 gt4 that has had a large exhaust fitted too without proper consideration for boost pressure as increasing the diameter of the downpipe can easily see 20+psi of boost pressure and many people dont know this about gt4's. This doesnt seem to happen to all of them but still could be an issue.

Other than what has been said they seem to be well liked car, can have $$$ issues just like any 4wd turbo but there seems to be more postive than negitive feedback out there.

[gsrevo4]

I bought my 1996 st205 14 months ago on 132,000 kms for $9000.

Have spent about $10,000 in repairs to date. Now on 161,000kms


turbo
suspension parts
tyres
brake pads and rotors
radiator top tank
wheel bearings

GEEZ 10k in repairs

[gsrevo4]

I have a Lancer GSR, not sure how much GT4 costs in comparison O_O

[gt4dude]

i invite u to see my binder folder with every receipt i have in chronological order in plastic sleeves. lol

i love the car and wouldnt have it any other way,

i used to have an ss-1 and ss-3 celica before this, theres no going back.

[sergei]

GEEZ 10k in repairs

It does not mean that every single one of those is like that.
If it is well maintained from day 1 (and not abused), then you should not have any problems.
It is pretty reliable compared to other 4WD turbo in same price range.

[Boosted_162]

Im picking they will be similar to Turbo MR2 as far as it being 3SGTE powered.

at 180,000 - 220,000 kms your big end bearings will be getting to end of life,

Maybe for a Gen 2. ST205's have a baffled sump.

Yep, have to admit after pulling all my sump bits off today from my ST205 motor, theres alot more to it than my ST185 one. Was quite impressed with it

Turbo is ceramic and non-rebuild-able. It will whine loudly long before going pop.

How so? My ones been rebuilt? granted its no longer ceramic, but still?

Pretty sure they do have steel CT20b bits now? Will have to confirm with Chris, but pretty sure mine was rebuilt to standard steel CT20b specs.

Turbo is definately rebuildable however and costs around the $900 mark (mine was $873.56)

[B1NZ]

Be wary of anyone st205 gt4 that has had a large exhaust fitted too without proper consideration for boost pressure as increasing the diameter of the downpipe can easily see 20+psi of boost pressure and many people dont know this about gt4's. This doesnt seem to happen to all of them but still could be an issue.

Do these not have the factory boost cut thing like the ST185's had? I was under the impression that it was hard to get more power out of GT4's because of this? I have never owned one, this is just what i have heard

[gsrevo4]

GEEZ 10k in repairs

It does not mean that every single one of those is like that.
If it is well maintained from day 1 (and not abused), then you should not have any problems.
It is pretty reliable compared to other 4WD turbo in same price range.

Wondering where GT4 would be in relation to GSRs, I had 2 GSRs, they are pretty cheap to maint.

[gt4dude]

Be wary of anyone st205 gt4 that has had a large exhaust fitted too without proper consideration for boost pressure as increasing the diameter of the downpipe can easily see 20+psi of boost pressure and many people dont know this about gt4's. This doesnt seem to happen to all of them but still could be an issue.

Do these not have the factory boost cut thing like the ST185's had? I was under the impression that it was hard to get more power out of GT4's because of this? I have never owned one, this is just what i have heard

boost cut is at 1.25 bar on st205 which is approx 18psi.

the stock ecu is mapped up to 18psi which is just about total fuel dump so its safe (provided u have a fresh turbo build with steel wheel and shaft)

its up on the old st185 which i think is like 13?? or 14??

[DeeCee]

stock boost on a gen1 st185 was like 8psi

[strx7]

Wondering where GT4 would be in relation to GSRs, I had 2 GSRs, they are pretty cheap to maint.

GSR's are EVERYWHERE, GT4's are few and far between