Prospective Caldina GT-T owner!

[Mark H]

Hi all

I've just joined today. Great forum you've got going here.

I'm considering getting rid of my 2003 Avensis wagon and going instead for a Caldina GT-T (chalk and cheese, I know, but I need some more power!).

Just wanted to get some advice on whether the car I'm eyeing up is a good deal. It's a 2001 GT-T (silver), tiptronic, with 69,500 km on the clock and is the facelift version. It's from a Toyota yard, and is a 'Signature Class' vehicle (i.e. it comes with 2 year mechanical warranty, 2 years' 'free WOFs, and 2 years' 'free' roadside assist). The asking price is $22,000. For those in the know, is this a reasonable price? (from my research on TradeMe and AutoTrader, this seems okay, especially given that there don't seem to be many 2001 GT-Ts around).

On the GT-T that I eventually purchase, I'm hoping to make some minor mods by fitting extractors and a free flowing exhaust system to rack up the power a little more, as well as 16" or 17" alloys to replace the factory 15" jobbies. Does anyone know where good places in Wellington/Lower Hutt are to get these 3 things done? (there's good ole Pitstop/Midas and Mag and Turbo Warehouse, but I'm unsure if these are the best places for price, quality, etc...).

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Cheers

Mark.

[strap-on]

As an indication at my old work we had one with about 80,000 k's was slightly older about 1998 with mags body kit and exhaust and that went for 16 k from memory.

You might be able to find a cheaper one somewhere else if you shop around, depends whats important to you. ( ie wether low k's or extras or lower price) Sounds a little pricey to me but the warrenties etc make it slightly more worth it.

A bit of drive, but I know of two in palmy that are right around the corner from each other good prices too (ones my old work so I know they are a good yard)

I cant post the page straight in but...
http://www.centralautocourt.co.nz/stock.htm if you go there theres a silver one on the second page

http://www.rossthurstoncars.co.nz/stock.htm theres a black one there I think thats a good deal

Hope that helps

[Spannergal]

Not trying to knock Toyota NZ at all, but if you are looking to mod the GT-T that you eventually buy, I'd be cautious about buying from Toyota as the mods may jeopardise the mechanical warranty. TNZ tend to be pretty good at honouring their warranties, but like everyone if there's an out it can be used.

[MasCam]

As above with the signature class warrenty.

If you are planning on modifying your car to an extent then you might be better off getting it from somewhere else as toyota sig class tends to be slightly more expensive as they are a bit better condition than the average (the rougher ones are put under the sold by toyota or SBT banner) and they have the full mechanical warrenty. You can modify with TRD parts but some of these are a reasonable price some get stupidly expensive even with the Revhead discount

If you got some 17"x7.5 wheels with a 30 offset you could always argue that those were the specs that TRD had on thier upgrade wheels but you were unable to get those because they were discontinued. All info from the TRD website.

Chris

[groupagt4]

id just get one of trademe toyota is a rip off

[strap-on]

There are advantages to buying cars from a yard, yes they are more expensive than buying privately but they have to make a livelyhood, in these days with the MTA and such its very hard for dealers to be "rip off's" they have to make a living and they do alot of work making sure the vehicle is good enough for the customer to buy, there are a lot of laws that mean that vehicle has to be ace, or you have to know what you are buying

[adam_ae111]

the best thing about signiture class is that you know your car will be mint but any part that you modify will no longer be coverd by the warranty.

[Mr Revhead]

for that money, id almost start looking at the st246 rather than the st215.
with a signature class warranty you do get really good support. better most if not all other warranties. note its a warranty not insurance like drive right etc

[Mark H]

Hi all

Thanks for your replies.

Lots to think about!

Part of the problem is deciding between a 2001 GT-T ($22,000) or a 2002 GT4 ($27,000). Both are signature class.

I like the look of the GT4 better, but in fact the GT-T has BETTER safety credentials: the GT-T has VSC, LSD and traction control (as well as 4WD and ABS), but the GT4 at my local dealer only has ABS and 4WD! From what I can gather, all those safety features were standard on the tiptronic GT-Ts, but only optional on the newer GT4s. Good one Toyota!!

So...in the end, do I pay more for a GT4 that looks more modern and has a better interior, but inferior safety credentials, or do I go for a GT-T that is cheaper and safer, but less modern looking???

M.

[flygt4]

also consider what you get with the facelift model over the prefacelift, clear tailights, white dials, and nicer seats and interior, and consider the premium you pay to get that.

i looked at facelift gt's when i was shopping for one, and ended up with a pre facelift as i couldnt really justify the $3000-4000 jump over the earlier ones. you can still find lowkm examples of 97/98 if you look hard, although the newer seats are much much nicer, and ill probly tradeup once the warranty expires on our current one.

we got an sbt model which i understand is their lower level of warrantee, when we got it they had a deal where it was doubled, so we ended up with a 98 gt nonturbo with 2year warranty and 70km for around 13k from toyota

[AJz]

damn thats a high price for a GT-T

i swooped up mine for 9.5g, 1998, Blue, manual, 130,000k's, 1 year warranty

22g for a facelift from a DEALER is stupidly high

[Muzzie]

for that money, id almost start looking at the st246 rather than the st215.
with a signature class warranty you do get really good support. better most if not all other warranties. note its a warranty not insurance like drive right etc

Whats the difference (for those of us less clued up)

[fivebob]

I like the look of the GT4 better, but in fact the GT-T has BETTER safety credentials: the GT-T has VSC, LSD and traction control (as well as 4WD and ABS), but the GT4 at my local dealer only has ABS and 4WD! From what I can gather, all those safety features were standard on the tiptronic GT-Ts, but only optional on the newer GT4s. Good one Toyota!!

Unless they changed it when they did the facelift, the Tiptronics didn't come with a LSD. It was only on the manual ones. VSC and Traction control are one in the same, not really true VSC as it doesn't utilise the brakes or suspension for stability control, only the engine.

There were several models of the GT-Four, only one came with all the bells and whistles, including a LSD, IIRC it was the GT-Four N. The one you're looking at for $27,000 is probably the base model.

[Rollin007]

$22G does sound quite high to me for a 2001. I got mine (just over a year ago) for $15500. Granted its only a 98 and had done 80 000ks but the 2000/1 facelift models i was looking at were still only about $18-21G from memory. I managed to get a 3 year unlimited km warrantly from NZ Drive for $1G. Havnt had any probs with the car and when it was due for a cam belt replacement the water pump looked suss so the warranty kicked in and paid for most of the labour and pump. I dont really see an advantage of a Signature class warranty over any other.

And dont even get me started on the hideous ST246 shape...

[Mark H]

2001 GT-T:

At first, I though $22K seemed steep. I've tried to work out an objective way of determining if it is! If one allows for $1000 for each 10,000kms travelled, $1,000 for each year the car is newer, and $1,500 for the waranty, it stacks up pretty well.

E.g. there's a 2001 GT-T for sale on TradeMe that's travelled 114,000km, and has no warranty, and is selling for $16K. This has has travelled 45,000km more than the one I'm looking at (=$4,500) and has no warranty (another ~$1,500). Thus, add $4,500 and $1,500 to the asking price of $16,000 and one gets $22K....

Seem okay??!

GT FOUR:

The GT4 comes in three models:

-The 'N spec' (has LSD, VSC, Recaro seats and a few other things)
-The 'GT4' (strange model name...)
-The 'C spec'.

The 3 models are discussed here: http://english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/toyot ... na/2002_9/

The one I'm looking at for $27,000 is the middle one, the GT4.

I've looked on Toyota's website. There are only a handful (about 4) GT4s being sold by Toyota in NZ. None of them are the N spec version!

LoL, yes in terms of looks, people either absolutely love or totally despise the GT4! I love the front end, but the arse is a little odd...

M.[/u]