Thoughts on Caldina GT-T vs Altezza Gita

crispy'86 · Post by **crispy'86** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:17 pm

Just having a debate and comparison between a GT-T or a Altezza Gita for our next car, what have people found reliability wise and fault wise between these two?
My partner and i are looking at either getting a manual gtt or a giita 1gfe motor 6 speed.
So far i'm aware of caldina's warping the exhast manifolds, anyone have issues with turbo's, gearboxes, rear diff's, transfers packing in?
Also Altezza's apart from general maintenance what craps out other than the probable coil here and there, other wearable items.
Any known common faults with abs, airbags, or engne electrical failures in these two?

GTTpower · Post by **GTTpower** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:24 pm

Apart from the manifold issues (sorted on facelift), not too much goes wrong on GTT's. Rocker cover can leak due to 3S lean, also turning circle is shit.
Dont know about gita's, check the stereo works if its the CD stacker version; known to crap out and is sort of a bespoke unit.

Mr.Phreak · Post by **Mr.Phreak** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:27 pm

The biggest fault with the Gita is the 1gfe, it's far too gutless

Rob_GTZ · Post by **Rob_GTZ** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:08 pm

Picked up a 1G Gita last week, has more than enough power for my wife to drive around town.

One look at the engine bays should make your decision easy Chris, so much room to work around the 1G-FE.

Rear Wheel Drive. Enough said.

crispy'86 · Post by **crispy'86** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:17 pm

Yeah also working out the prices of common and uncommon wearable items like wheel bearings front and rear, driveline parts etc.
I'd really like to know if anyone has experienced troubles in the oil pump area of the 3s's as i've heard they can fail with constant abuse and lack of maintenance. Do the turbo's ever let go? Never had anything give trouble but again.maintenance is the key.
Friend has a 1gfe tezza sedan but not convinced with the power . It's alot of money for one of those so trying to see if can get something under 10k landed in Nz through our boss.
Also interested in fuel consumption between the two like how many km's are people getting off a tank with normal town driving in traffic, the odd foot planted on the loud pedal
* And boot space between both

strx7 · Post by **strx7** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:36 pm

the turbo's on GT-Ts do die.
The maintanence on a 1GFE altezza will be cheaper than on a GT-T.

YeMs · Post by **YeMs** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:48 pm

also the all-to-common lower balljoint failure. Although not overly expencive and a 10 min job to replace.

I have a 2jz Gita that i may sell for the right price. its a magic car to drive, dont wanna sell it.. but the possibilty of an expanding family is making me think we may need a bigger car in the near future.

snwtoy · Post by **snwtoy** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:57 pm

I have had my GT-T for 7+ years (I think?), done 80 thousand k's in it.

Apart from the exhaust manifold warp there have been no issues at all apart from general maintenance.

Still goes like a cut cat too. Most reliable car I've had out of the 20 or so I've owned.

strx7 · Post by **strx7** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:11 pm

snwtoy wrote:I have had my GT-T for 7+ years (I think?), done 80 thousand k's in it.

Apart from the exhaust manifold warp there have been no issues at all apart from general maintenance.

Still goes like a cut cat too. Most reliable car I've had out of the 20 or so I've owned.

the entire time you've had it youve changed everything when it was due for it, and it had very few ks on the clock and or had been maticulously maintained before you brought it right?

Garreth27 · Post by **Garreth27** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:29 pm

In the 2 yrs i had my gtt I never had any problems, drove nicely and was well maintained. Mine was auto tho and found it to be quite thirsty on the gas.
Just got an altezza a few days ago, not quite a gita but im loving it. So economical compared to the gtt and quite nice and comfy to drive. I do have a manual 3sge version and not the 1g.

dnalunchie · Post by **dnalunchie** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:47 pm

GTT Manual

Ajz owned one for 3 years.

Apart from the manifold issue he never had a problem and it was fun to drive and super comfy and fuel economy on open road was pretty good too.

my 2 c

snwtoy · Post by **snwtoy** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:19 pm

strx7 wrote:
snwtoy wrote:I have had my GT-T for 7+ years (I think?), done 80 thousand k's in it.

Apart from the exhaust manifold warp there have been no issues at all apart from general maintenance.

Still goes like a cut cat too. Most reliable car I've had out of the 20 or so I've owned.

the entire time you've had it youve changed everything when it was due for it, and it had very few ks on the clock and or had been maticulously maintained before you brought it right?

I've changed thing when they've needed changing - eg new rotors earlier this year, oil regularly, radiator flush once or twice, brake pads and tyres regularly etc. It had 110 on the clock when I bought it, and was very very tidy for it's age yes.

FST4RD · Post by **FST4RD** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:28 pm

not really technical... but the GT-T is a much better looking car then the Gita.

Out of curiousity is it Git-a? Gee-ta? or something else?

matt dunn · Post by **matt dunn** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:30 pm

Garreth27 wrote:In the 2 yrs i had my gtt I never had any problems, drove nicely and was well maintained. Mine was auto tho and found it to be quite thirsty on the gas.
Just got an altezza a few days ago, not quite a gita but im loving it. So economical compared to the gtt and quite nice and comfy to drive. I do have a manual 3sge version and not the 1g.

Anything 4wd is going to be less economical than the comparable 2wd,
due to the simple fact that there are so many more mechanical components to turn, weather full time 4wd or not.

BZG Wagon · Post by **BZG Wagon** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:36 pm

Pros:
* Amazing value for money.
* Great to drive (especially on long trips).
* Economical for what it is (10L/100kms, driving with a bit of zeal & sticky tyres).
* Loads of room & storage compartments galore.
* Sticks to the road (gravel included).
* Easy to pass - you can easily get away without having to change down on passing lanes.
* Not too bad at towing (I have a small boat + loads of bikes).

I've resigned to the fact that no matter what I buy, my next car (albeit it newer) will be slower & handle worse.

Can't comment on a GITA since I've never owned one. I thought they were butt ugly when they came out, but they don't bother me so much now.

OMG so shiny! · Post by **Dell'Orto** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:36 pm

FST4RD wrote:not really technical... but the GT-T is a much better looking car then the Gita.

Out of curiousity is it Git-a? Gee-ta? or something else?

Guitar, definitely

BZG Wagon · Post by **BZG Wagon** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:38 pm

strx7 wrote:the turbo's on GT-Ts do die.

I have never heard of a turbo going on a GTT. Seen quite a few with higher kays then mine (well over 160kms - 190kms) & still going strong, not blowing any smoke etc.

strx7 · Post by **strx7** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:11 am

BZG Wagon wrote:I have never heard of a turbo going on a GTT.

we get workshops and private people ringing up for them reasonably regularily and we aren't even a toyota specialist dismantler. they are worth reasonable $$$ too. I got $950 for the one off my donor motor about 5 years ago.

crispy'86 · Post by **crispy'86** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:22 am

Yeah my fiance reckoned she likes look of altezza's but i'm not overly sold on the look of them.
I'm still doing the pros and cons of both, GT-t do have more moving parts/ power loss through the drivetrain being 4wd. Altezza's not so much.
Just gotta do bit more homework.
I've found most GT-t's are all modded up i.e. wheels, lowered either lowering or coilovers, etc etc

Phothog · Post by **Phothog** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:14 am

BZG Wagon wrote:I have never heard of a turbo going on a GTT.

The turbos only crap out when people dont service them for 20,000 + kms..
im just rebuilding a caldina turbo now, there was that much oil buildup & sludge in the bearing housing, it was luckly just required a kit, (and manifold grind)...

My GT-T has done 285,000 kms still going strong, but needs some parts thrown at it. I try & do my servcing at every 2,500kms because of an unknown history.

Chris.