johna's automotive blog

My 1989 Toyota Celica GT-R

2025-04-27T12:00:00+10:00

I had previously owned an automatic Toyota Celica ST162 with automatic transmission and I always thought it would be great with a manual transmission.

In May 2007, after selling my BMW E30, I looked at Celicas and found this 1989 Japanese-import GT-R model for sale in the same suburb that I lived in.

I think it was listed at $4,000 and I offered $3,000 which was initially rejected, but later the owner called me and accepted. I should have been suspicious that they did accept my offer.

After a couple of drives I noticed the smell of burning oil and eventually realised the car had a cracked cylinder head. It came with service history that included a recent head gasket replacement that cost the owner several thousand dollars, but it looks like the head must have cracked afterwards or maybe they didn't realise this when they replaced the head gasket.

I also found a bit of rust around the A-pillar and there was no Celica badging on one side of the car, so I guess it had been in an accident at some point.

Being a Japanese domestic market model it had a few different features to the local models, like a digital climate control system, cup holders and unique seats.

I did look at trying to repair the car but got sick of the oil-burning smell and trail of blue smoke so I sold it on after a few months.

Some pictures of my 1989 Toyota Celica GT-R

2025-01-07T12:00:00+10:00

(JDM import)

My first-generation Toyota MR2

2024-03-11T12:00:00+10:00

I bought this car back in the 1990's. I wasn't originally looking for an MR2, but I remember them coming to my attention when I was reading a sports car comparison test in a Porsche book I had. The MR2 did amazingly well in the test and out-performed many more powerful and expensive cars.

I looked at a few and then came across this dark blue 1989 model at a dealer. The asking price was $23,500 and I think it had 80 or 90,000 km on the clock.

It was stock but did have a pop-up removable sunroof, which I don't know if it was factory or aftermarket.

These are tiny cars but still comfortable enough. Well, comfortable for two. I do remember once needing to unexpectedly transport two passengers one night, and they very uncomfortably shared the passenger seat.

I had read about these cars having snappy handling -- this being mostly attributed to the engine's location behind the passenger compartment -- and was always worried about pushing it too far. This was reinforced by a spin on the first day I owned the car which happened to occur on the first corner of the Bathurst race circuit, which was operating as a public road that day.

I took the car away for a few days driving holiday around the north coast of NSW. I drove up the Putty Road and on to Tamworth, then stayed the night in Glen Innes after 640 km. The next day I drove across to the coast on the Gwydir Highway and then down to Thrumster where I went back inland again on the Oxley Highway. After 650 km I stayed the night in Tamworth then headed back the 400 km to Sydney the next day.

I recall the car being totally reliable for the eighteen-months I owned it. The exhaust pipes did fall off a few times and I ended up replacing the exhaust with a system custom-made by a local exhaust shop.

The attached photo is from a brochure and is the same colour as my MR2, which I later traded in on a Porsche 944. I actually considered buying another one of these later, and also looked at a couple of second-generation models too.

Toyota Yaris (XP90) 2005-2011 Review

2021-03-27T12:00:00+10:00

The Yaris is a reliable vehicle with no common mechanical problems.

Some owners dislike the electronic throttle as it makes it hard to maintain speed and controls the engine revs at times.

Clear coat paint peel is not uncommon.

Both 1.3 and 1.5-litre engine options use a timing chain that does not require periodic replacement.

Comes with a space-saver spare wheel.

Image credit: OSX, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Toyota Prius (XW20) 2003–2009) Review

2021-03-27T12:00:00+10:00

The Prius and hybrid engine have proven to be reliable but not without problems like any other vehicle.

If something does go wrong it can be expensive to repair. Battery packs generally live beyond their 8-year warranty but are very expensive should you be unlucky enough to need to replace one.

Image credit: OSX, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Toyota Echo (XP10) 1999-2005 Review

2021-03-27T12:00:00+10:00

Like most Toyotas, the Echo has proved to be reliable with no common mechanical problems.

Common owner complaints are only heavy steering and blind spots.

All engine options use a timing chain that does not require periodic replacement.

Comes with a space-saver spare wheel.

Image credit: OSX, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Toyota Corolla (ZZE122R/ZZE123R) 2001-2007 Review

2021-03-27T12:00:00+10:00

Basic but reliable transport.

Engines have a timing chain that does not require regular replacement.

Image credit: OSX, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Magazine article comparing 1986 Toyota Celica and 1960's Toyota 2000GT

2020-02-19T12:00:00+10:00

Another one of my favourite magazine articles is from the February/March 1986 issue of Sports Car World (Australia).

For the introduction of the ST162 Toyota Celica, SCW compared the Celica to a 1960's 2000GT - Toyota's early (failed) attempt at competing with the exotic supercars of the time.

The article is titled "Twin-cam Treats" by Bob Murray.

The article has lots of information on the 2000GT and why it didn't succeed, and a description of how it drives today. The car they drove was a fully restored example owned by a local Toyota dealer.

There's also details of the newly launched Celica and how the driving experience compares to the 2000GT. They like the Celica and like most other reviews, think it one of the better front-wheel-drive sportscars, but say it's a bit too much like a Toyota.

Interestingly they mention they insured the 2000GT for $60,000 for their road test. These days, these cars are worth around a million dollars.

A Youtube channel that deserves to be much larger: INITIAL DWEEBS

2019-10-09T12:00:00+10:00

It always intrigues me how some Youtube channels grow and some don't... Youtube algorithms work in mysterious ways.

I came across a channel that has been around for close to a year and has content that should be of wide interest but it is only at 669 subscribers at the time of writing. Not that there's anything wrong with 669 subscribers - that's an achievement in itself - but the channel deserves to have lots more.

INITIAL DWEEBS follows a group of friends who work on old school Japanese cars.

Their projects include an early Toyota MR2, a Datsun 280Z, a Honda Civic and a few Toyota Corollas.

They do everything from engine swaps to bodywork and paint jobs.

I love their intro too.

Looks like the recently tried one of the "rebuild in 10 minutes" type videos that seemed to work so well for some other channels. But, no, still triple-digit subscribers.

My guess is that because most of their videos include plenty of swearing that Youtube is limiting their reach. I've heard before that Youtube can penalise channels because of bad language.

If you like JDM cars, engine swaps and restoration then the channel is well worth checking out.

www.youtube.com/channel/UC8U63kf33zyArG7G94WmPYQ