1991 Toyota Celica GT convertible from North America - Comments

In July 03 I bought this car from a Chev. used car lot for $2100. The white car had been hit on the pass. side both at the qtr. panel & lwr. front fender. I could tell from the repair job & respray (nothing outrageous-just typical "whip it through" work). Here's what I've done to it since. Jul 03 - Had Treadquarters 4 wheel align it, installed reman. left/right halfshafts $326. Jul 03 - Purchased (optional) new wheels & tires $500. Jul 03 - I replaced dist. cap & rotor, sparkplugs, p/s & alt. belts, radiator flush $50. Aug 03 - Replaced leaking high pres. p/s hose $37. Sep 03 - Replaced rear brake shoes $9. Oct 03 - Rebuilt my distributor with $10 worth of seals & bearing to cure oil leak. Sep 04 - Replaced worn altenator $168. Oct 04 - Replaced orig. front brake pads $13. Dec 04 - Replaced front seal beams with Sylvania Performance $27. Oct 05 - Replaced timing belt (prevent. maint.) with NAPA (Gates) belt. 110k. Also replaced leaking (for a while) frt. cam seal $36.

Jan 06 - Replaced upper & lwr. radiator hoses (preventative) $23. Apr 06 - Replaced worn out (leaking) 117k OEM radiator with new, aftermarket (made in china) aluminum one $261.

Still on the original water pump, clutch, struts, and convertible top. 27-30 mpg city. 31-39 mpg highway. Pass side reman. halfshaft starting to leak grease at inner C/V. I'll milk it as long as possible & replace it myself with another reman. halfshaft $55-80. Drivers side halfshaft still going strong. Just passed inspection.

I have two other reviews on this car listed as a 91. But in actuality... The Toyota sticker shows it being a Celica in Japan-Sep 90. And ASC's decal showing a convertible is made in California-Oct 90. Sold as a 91. Somewhere around $17,000.

I figured I'd add on to my review since it's '09 now. The 91 Celica Convertible now has 149k. I've had it for 6 years now. The top is hanging in there (I can't prove it, but I think it's the original) although it looks somewhat weatherbeaten when compared to new Solaras. The car has never left me stranded nor failed to start. It still has a couple of leaks since the day I bought it. The clutch, water pump, & complete exhaust sys. (which I find amazing) are the original pieces. More later...