Tell me about 5th gens - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

_JAY · 06-07-2006, 04:49 PM

Hi guys! I don't post here much but I read the forum a lot. Anyway, completely on a whim today I test drove a very nice '90 GT-S and liked it quite a bit. But I don't know a lot about these cars and would like a bit of background...

The car seems to be in decent shape for a '90, totally clean inside, decent outside (although the passenger front fender had obviously been repaired with bondo and resprayed - looked fine though.) No visible rust anywhere else. It has 314 000 km on it. It's got the 5S-FE and automatic transmission, seemed to run and shift very well.

So, some questions...

Is 314k high mileage for this drivetrain? What kinds of problems should I look out for with the 5S? How about the automatic? (The mechanic said he replaced the valve cover gasket due to an oil leak BTW.)

It's a NO SUNROOF car with air conditioning. How rare is this combination? Seems like a lot of 5Gs I've seen don't have air. I must have air and I hate sunroofs.

Can I fit 14" wheels on a GT-S? (What's the bolt ptn. anyway, 5x100?)

The car is at a small garage/used car dealer out of town; they're asking $2900 but it's really clean. Engine bay is clean, interior is mint, outside looks nice, etc. I think I can talk them down a bit though. What's a good price for a loaded GT-S with that kind of mileage?

Anyway, I fell in love with the interior (after driving an AE86 which is made entirely of plastic and recycled beer cans, the Celica is quite classy) but would really prefer a manual if I can get one. Does the "plain" GT model come with the same interior?

Thanks guys! Any info is greatly appreciated.

- J

alltracman78 · 06-07-2006, 07:11 PM

Wow, that's alot of miles.
~194,000.

Just a word of advice, most of us are in the US, and use the English system, not metric.
Most have no clue how many miles that is.....

Anyways,
In no particular order,
Standard size wheels on the GTS are 14 or 15", depending on trim.
Bolt pattern is 5 x 114 I believe.
It sounds like the GTS you have is NOT loaded.
Loaded GTS comes with auto ac, moonroof, 15" aluminum wheels, leather, system 10 sound, and a bunch more stuff. A factory alarm was also available.
A GT interior will be similar, depending on trim.
As far as interior, the seats won't be as nice, and it won't have as many options, depending on what this one came with. Door panels will be the same, unless the GTS has system 10 [it will have a 8" woofer in the door]. Dash layout is identical, as is center console. There was an option for a larger center armrest. I don't know if it was availabel for the GT/ST.
The GTS and Alltrac only have the widebody [those sexy fender flares].
That is a bit high milage, but the Celica is reliable past that, depending on care....
Have you looked underneath the engine to see how clean it is?
Valve cover gasket replacement is normal for that many miles. Also expect the dist seal to leak, as well as possibly the rear main and oil pan, and cam seals.
The head gasket will also probably leak, but only oil in the back, not a combustion leak.
The trans is pretty much bulletproof. Transmissions are Toyotas strong point.

I don't know what it's worth up there, every region is different.
Look for rust in the rear wheel wells, on the fender seam. Also under the car, on the 2 "rails" that run front to back on the floor pan.

One nice thing, the 90s only [in the US anyways, I believe Canada is the same] came with a MUCH nicer cloth. The 91 ^ is alot rougher. If it doesn't have leather.

alltracman78 · 06-07-2006, 07:15 PM

Also, the power steering pump and high pressure line tend to leak after a bit.

_JAY · 06-09-2006, 11:33 PM

Thanks for the info! I bought it.

(190 000 miles!)

Got it for $2700, I think I did well. It's got everything you listed except leather & moonroof. Nearly loaded then.

BTW, I don't have an owner's manual... What octane gas can I use with the 5S-FE? It's running fine on plain Sunoco 87 right now, but I don't know if it retards the timing automatically like some cars do?

- J

ELCelica · 06-10-2006, 03:03 AM

I'll agree with that, I had a power steering line problem on my 1993 GT. Interestingly mine has AC but no sunroof/moonroof, who knows. looks pretty nice, wish the US got the 3 spoke steering wheel.
also i think bolt pattern for wheels is 5x100, check www.tirerack.com, they can tell you.

alltracman78 · 06-10-2006, 01:41 PM

Nice.

Reminds me of my first GTS....
Keep those seats nice. That is soft cloth.

You also didn't get the larger center armrest.

87 Is perfectly fine.

And yes, it is 5 x 100, not 5 x 114.