geraintthomas

But then the standards in those days were a little different. Same thing with the Ford Puma mind, why the suspension is that high I'll never know. I just don't get it. They make a 140bhp celica - fine, make it standard. But when they make a T-Sport, why on earth would they want it to look like Vin's original car? It's mental. Even so, build quality and optional extras are just fantastic on the older generations. Then again I'm only now finding out what they had on the 7 in different countries. Painted headlight inserts, electric folding mirrors, aerial's built into the windows of the Sports M, sunlight sensors for auto-on headlights, etc. Quite interesting the more you go into it.

In terms of looks, the 7's are very sensitive to what you do to them. Now take Vin's machine for example. This is how he bought it: And now look at it. My favourite 7. Looks a completely different car, and just with Toyota optional extra parts too. It's just a shame that these sort of parts weren't just fitted and left on the car as standard. Then we could say "I own a celica", rather than having to say "I own that celica, not a normal one". I agree with the interiors though. The build quality isn't the best on the Gen 7 - but that's kind of what my thread is all about, making it what it should have been. If I had a spare bit of cash, I'd love to buy a Gen 5 GT-Four to do up to the same standard as mine.

Aww yis.

All identical to what I've got running in mine literally exactly the same! Also, these came in the post...

But that's my point - the fact that it doesn't feel dated is purely down to its looks. I'm not slacking off the 7 as I wouldn't trade mine for any other Celica, as I'm all about modern and refined. But when the earlier generations (as explained by Sherv above) have countless toys and features, it shows that they really put their head into making their cars. The 7 seems a little "Oh yeah we need a new celica. Shit, forgot about that" when you compare them side by side in terms of build quality and features. The 7 feels so basic in comparison. But you're right about the 1.8 and 190bhp though. Amazing figures from a 1800cc inline-4 engine. Also that white Gen 5 I saw had a momo steering wheel that was branded by Toyota. Some sort of JDM Rally edition of the Gen 5, which was supposedly more rare than the carlos sainz. Mad.

I drove next to a Gen 5 GT-Four for a while on the motorway yesterday. After about 15 minutes, he held up a sign saying "Services?", so we stopped at the next services and had a good chat. It was a white, Japanese imported Gen 5 GT-Four which was up from 6psi to 16psi, running over 300bhp. He's well into his Celica's, and I've told him about the club. Either way he showed me the car. I thought mine was good in terms of refinement etc, but wow. His had electric seat bolsters that you could move so that they hold you tighter, the steering wheel pops up when you want to get out of the car so you can move your legs more, it had 10 speakers as an optional extra Toyota sound package (I think it had a badge saying Super Sound something), and plenty of other bits and bobs. It was insane. For a car that's at that age, it was hugely kitted out as standard. And I just thought, "why the hell did they stop doing this"? Comparing a Gen 5 to a Gen 7 in terms of looks and you can tell it's a lot older - I don't mean that in a bad way, the Gen 5 is a gorgeous car, what I mean is that it's an obvious looking classic car, what with the block tail lights, pop up headlights and dated interior. It's not what we'd call 'modern' but still lovely in it's own right. So when you compare it to a Gen 7 for example, the only thing the Gen 7 has going for it when it's put up against a Gen 5 is the fact that it looks more modern, inside and out. That's it?! It's not as quick, not as kitted out and not built as well. Don't get me wrong I love my car, but I've had to do quite a bit to it to make it to the standard that it's at now. What I'm trying to get at is this - the Gen 7 was the modern counterpart to the previous celica, as with any successor in car generations, but if you put a Gen 7 in a Gen 5's skin, it hasn't got anything going for it. It's just the cosmetics that what wins some people over. What on earth were Toyota thinking?

Phahahahaha!

Absolutely not. If you're engine is healthy, good oil and at operating temperature, then there's nothing wrong with lift in 1st - like every other gear. Where did you assume that?

Could always re-spray them like I did while you're at it Be sure to mask up the appropriate parts!

I think they do, but I'm sure you can get anti-squeal shims for them. Plus I'll use some grease on the pads, as there's no rubber seals to worry about so it'll be fine.

What Keef said. You need to bleed both top nipples, and as they're not left/right dependant, they could be either one. I haven't fitted them as I need a weekend to do it properly on a driveway. As I haven't got a driveway, I needed to wait until my brother in law was free for a weekend. Also need the weather to be good, and also need to be free myself. It's been a long wait!

Fantastic, that's great advice! I'm sure I watched on AMMO somewhere about bedding in new brakes and it sounded similar to that. Thanks pal!

So excited is an understatement. What's the process of running new discs and pads in properly? The front discs in the photo have marks on them as I trail fitted the brakes previously, and only went a few hundred yards. Is there a certain technique to bed them in, and anything I should avoid? As a side statement - big thanks to FreakyParts for all of this. Cheers!

Ahh that's much better man!

Some MTEC grooved black coated discs, and EBC green stuff pads for the rear! These should help balance out the front Wilwood's quite nicely Plus, the discs and calipers will now match. Also: - 6mm clear hose - 3mm clear hose - Tiger seal - Anthracite spray - Brake pipe clip - 1/4" ring spanner - DOT4 fluid. Christmas all over again.

It's weird, I get a thud too. It's like a metal 'clank' when braking, happens more when going downhill (weirdly), and doesn't happen at all going up hill. I never got round to figuring out what it was because I think it's one of the front calipers. In two weeks, I'll have Wilwood Superlites on the car, and I'll report back to say if the clunking has gone or not. If it has then it's probably different to yours as you already have uprated calipers. If it hasn't gone then I'm assuming it's suspension related, even though my shocks, springs and droplinks have been replaced. I only hear it from time to time though, so I'm not bothered.

Certainly did all fixed

Secondary air injection pump

That's amazing. May have to look into this...

Unfortunately not going to JAE, but will shop around!

Someone's hit the wing of my car, but not massively. Looks to be a handlebar of a bicycle or something, so it's not horrendous. Luckily, the paint hasn't been damaged at all and there's no crease - it's also in the middle of the wing, so as far as dings go it's pretty good. It is roughly the size of a 20p coin though. Before I pay someone to get the ding out, is there any way to try it myself? Like said, the paint isn't damaged, the dent hasn't creased the metal, and I can also get behind the wing if I take it off. Any tricks to get it out? Cheers!

Don't think it works like that?EDIT: Posted late, just read the above - that's sure surprised me!

Not to mention a big impact on mpg

That's the way Just write down the stuff that it needs and work your way through!

Personally, and this is a bold statement (and it's just my personal opinion), they're the best wheels I've seen on a celica. They're beautiful!