1984 Toyota Celica GT 2.4 from North America

Summary:

What else will go past 250,000 miles and not burn oil?

Faults:

Replaced Alternator, Starter, exhaust from the cat back, clutch slave and master cylinders, brake master cylinder, and heater fan. About $300 of work all done by myself.

Replaced Original Clutch at 245,000 Miles, although it wasn't a problem yet.

After doing some long awaited work to the car (replace clutch, seals, timing chain, shocks, etc) about a week later, my radiator blew out (the original) which was 88 dollar replacement. Turns out the thermostat went out (which had been replaced when I did the timing chain 6mts before) A 20$ 160 Degree failsafe thermostat cured the problem.

General Comments:

This is my second Celica to drive as an everyday driver. My first was an 82 GT Hatchback (Similar to my current one) but had the carbureted 22R engine and front end damage (as it was my first car, and lets face it, a 16 year old will wreck his first car, several times even) but junkyard parts and TLC kept her going though the thick and thin.

I stumbled across my 84 GT Hatchback one day while driving to my friends house. I stopped and asked a guy mowing his lawn if any of his Celicas were for sale. He had one. Turns out it was his sons, and he was only the second owner. The car needed brakes, exhaust, and a tuneup. The familar rust in the fender wells and on the hatch, but overall was in good shape, with a straight body and good tires. It started right up and drove great except for the very low brake petal. I talked him down and purchased the car for $700.

A week later, I drove the car all the way to the beach in North Carolina and back (about 1400 miles total) not knowing if she would make it. She did :) And ever since, shes been going strong. In the past year, I have put over 20,000 miles on the poor thing, but she keeps taking it.

The engine has only been removed once by muah, and had too many orig. parts for comfort, but it let me know it hadn't been messed with. The parts include:

Shocks

Fuel Filter

Clutch

Engine

Exhaust

Radiator

Heater Hoses

Thermostat.

BUT: The car does not burn ANY oil what-so-ever, and has never had a rebuild.

I love this car and intend to keep it for ever and one day restore it back to complete and beyond factory :) But until then, I baby her, yet abuse her, and she still keeps on tickin.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th May, 2003

30th May 2004, 12:29

Quite simply put.. NOTHING goes that far w/o burning oil. I am the 3rd proud owner of my 82 Celica GT Liftback, and it has 234,020 miles on it, and the only thing not original is the radiator, water pump, fuel filter, thermostat, and clutch, along with minor parts like the rear hatch shocks, and of course tires. I wanna restore my Celica as much as possible too. They're the sexiest cars ever built.

26th Nov 2007, 19:27

I purchased a 1984 Toyota Celica GT hatchback a few weeks ago. It had a little over 325,000 miles on it. I attempted changing the oil, but the filter refused to come off.

I plan to rebuild this baby to where it would be acceptable to be raced at Portland International Runway. It is a great Drift car. The 22re 2.4L fuel-injected engine surpasses my friends 1984 Toyota Corolla SR5, which carries a 22r 1.8L caburated engine.

I recommend this car to all teen drivers!!

18th Jun 2011, 02:40

I had the same problem in New Zealand in 1992 with my 1984 Celica; it had a 4AGE engine in it. Fantastic car!

18th Jun 2011, 15:05

2003 Durango, 297000 miles, same engine, burns a quart between 5000 mile frequent Jiffy Lube changes.

1984 Toyota Celica GT 2.4 from North America

Summary:

I wish that car will still made today

Faults:

It already had close to quarter of a million kilometres on it when I bought it for a thousand bucks so you have to take this with a grain of salt:

I replaced the radiator (it would overheat when idling...)

The entire exhaust system.

The hatch had just begun to leak when I finally traded in the vehicle.

General Comments:

Of all the cars I've owned, this car was by far the most comfortable to drive and that 4 cylinder engine was virtually bullet-proof. The body of the vehicle was about to fall apart (courtesy of Ontario's heavily salted roads in the winter time) but I would have transferred that engine to my next car without hesitation. A great car to drive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th January, 2003