Newbie: Stationed in Vista, CA

[projectshadow1]

OK! So I followed a friends advice and searched for a thread for Celica's and I found this. I didn't see a sticky for people to make their intro's so hopefully I'm not ticking anyone off when I post this.
My name is Ben (i'll update my profile info in a bit) I'm a 19 year old college student who has 2 jobs (soon to be 3), no car, and no cosigner.
Initially I was set on getting a coupe Honda civic or 240 SX, working on it, using it for driving, and also racing at qualcomm.
But one morning while I was on my morning run, I saw a 7th generation (2000) Celica for sale. I fell in love with the look of the car, and could only wonder what the inside felt like.
So I pursued my options, test drove a few, looked at modifications, and then looked at purchasing one. However in these times it's hard to get anyone, much less a college student, a loan for a $8,900 car.
I'm thinking about my options for financing, but I would really like to know a Celica owners opinion on getting such a car. Honestly I enjoyed the look of the Celica, it was something that I'd like to drive around in. So i'm open to your opinions and suggestions.

Oh and before I forget, while I'm asking all of this, I might as well tack on if anyone knows about a prior generation Borla exhaust system that could be modified to fit the 7th generation Celica. I'll continue to search the threads for the answer until then.

[yakboyslim]

GTS or GT?

Look into tacking the car onto a student loan. It's the best financing you will ever get in your life so go ahead and use some of it. You can get student loans that pay out in a check that can be used for anything, and as long as you get ones that can be used for living expenses it is not frauding the lender at all. Sallie Mae offers one called "tuition answer" but all student loan lenders likely offer one.

[projectshadow1]

"GTS or GT"
Depends on which one sounds better and can perform without loosing too much MPG. I'm also concerned about auto vs manual. I've learned a little bit of manual but not enough to test drive a car yet.
In regards to student loans, will I need a cosigner? I was late to hop onto the credit train, so i have a score of 700+, but only for 3 months...

[Zero]

GT-S manual by far. It still gets great mileage for 40 more hp.

Please don't get an auto, you want to run it at Qualcomm, right?

Being that I own a GT auto, I later regret my decision about getting this one. I wish I had gone with a 6-speed GT-S despite not knowing how to drive manuals.

[mrluilou]

everyone is going to tell you to go w/ the manual gt-s but it's all about what you prefer and can afford.

[Soo__Fuego]

ur in college, get urself a 2-3000 dollar car that hella reliable, getting urself a loan may end up straying u away from ur studies because ull be too concerned about making payments ................. once ur a lil more settled in a better job and dont have to worry about 2-3 jobs + school then get a car loan imo

[lamboceliGTS]

Do what you can afford. A celica makes a great college car if you can afford it. They are easy to mod, reliable and get good gas mileage.

[TasteOfInk]

I honestly would tell ya to wait. While Celicas are nice cars, and you might get caught up worrying about modding it more than anything. I agree with the people who say if you can't afford it, dont get it. I just got another celica, and i am already debating dropping 1-2k on it because there is so much you can do to it.

If you are looking to race, get the GT-S 6spd.

[cocoajumpo]

if you're going to get one go hard or go home. get a gts :thumbup:

[pnoygts]

welcome

[WakeRider]

Yea get a GT-S. I ended up buying a GT because the price was to hard to pass. I am kicking myself because I didn't get the GT-S but a GT is better then nothing ;).

[projectshadow1]

Woohoo! Plenty of responses. Thank you all for your support thus far.

Zero- Qualcomm racing is just one fraction of my lifestyle, but your argument supporting manual GTS (along with others) seems strong enough for me to go ahead and modify my search to open up to gts Toyota celicas.

mrluilou- believe me I have kept affordability in mind. I've done the numbers, and once i get this third job and minimize my other two jobs so that I will still have time for school study, I will be making just under 2,000/mo. Doing minimum payments + gas + insurance + tuition (just for the college i'm at, I will use a student loan for university) i will still have plenty of money to spare.

Soo__Fuego- does a 13/hr federal student job plus a few extra hours from two minimum wage jobs seem like a comfortable income to you? Like I said before, I will be getting 2,000/mo, please tell me in your honest opinion, if that's enough for affordability.

lamboceliGTS- The gas mileage was a real winning point in my decision. If I minimize my usage of the car itself to only when I need it and use public transportation when possible, I would barely spend any of my income on gas in comparison to that of others that I know.

TasteOfInk - I’m sorry if I seem to come off mod crazy. Initially all I want done is to put in a different exhaust system than stock. Hopefully I’m not coming off as too idealistic when I say that I want to wait as long as possible before doing any more mods beyond the exhaust system.

cocoajumpo- Well said, I modified my search

One question remains unaddressed, and I have yet to find the answer to it...

Does anyone know about a borla exhaust system that I can modify to fit the Toyota celica 7th gen?

[Smaay]

you would basically only re-use the muffler of the Borla. all the piping would have to be changed

[03GTSTRD]

Welcome to the forum! Good luck searching for a GT-S.

[03CELI]

Soo__Fuego- does a 13/hr federal student job plus a few extra hours from two minimum wage jobs seem like a comfortable income to you? Like I said before, I will be getting 2,000/mo, please tell me in your honest opinion, if that's enough for affordability.


I know this question wasn't for me but I make a lil more than that and trust me, it's not. Last year I was working 40+ hrs and going to school full time. Unless you hate sleep, it's not a good idea. And at 13/hr you won't make 2,000/mo. You're 19 so taxes will reduce your paycheck and insurance is also a big factor. If you have help from your parents then that would be grate. I pay for all my own bills (cell phone, rent, car, insurance...) and I was struggling last year. I don't want to discurage you but listen to the other guys when they say wait for when you're better settled.

[gts_jer]

get a civic. cheaper and its a honda. especially for a college student. and someone whos about to work 3 jobs. and if u get a girl pregnant.....hahaha ur gonna have a hard time paying for that car. plus civics have a lot of mods that u can do to it if u want a modified car. and then get a celica.

[hulkster]

get a gts. they are usually in the same in price range anyways as the gt so its a no brainer. just a matter of finding one as there more rare then the gt. and defenitly get the manual.