dosenöffner

Just curious what the people on this board think of the GT4. Particularly the ST205 model (4 headlights).

I've had one for the last 3 months. Curious to get other views before I post mine. Previously I have had an STi Impreza and a Type RA Impreza and an ST185 WRC GT4 + 28 other cars.

Midmotorsteve

same engine as mr2 turbo, so you can get shed loads of reliable power with some mods 245 bhp standard, 270 - 280 bhp with filter exhaust, and a few more psi, in japan they get 750bhp out of the 3sg(t)e !

XT

A bloke in Greece transplanted an engine from an ST205 to an ST185 and after some serious mods the car is producing 500+ bhp(tested in a tuning mag in Greece). its needless to say he is kicking some serious ****. He is planing nitrous injestion. This engine has real potential!!
By the way, my best mate has the ST185, great car but the engine feels very restricted. Low range is average, medium range feels good but at high range the engine runs out of breath, can you suggest any mods that you did to yours??

Dark Blue Mark

I wanted one a wile back but went for a MY99 impreza instead. It strikes me as a tough car with an engine designed with loads of overkill! I would feel far more comfortable tuning a Celica than my scoob. It also looks quite heavy / solid. Also like the front end, its one of those cars where you hold your breath while you work out what it is

Any interior pics?

MB

dhorwich

The engine is tuneable with a fair bit of money but the car is way to heavy...

I used to have an ST185..!

Dan

skiddus_markus

They have a lower boost setting in 1st and 2nd.You can override this with a boost controller.An aftermarket air filter and exhaust should help it breathe better at the topend.

Dream Weaver

Midmotorsteve - any pics of your 2?

Fancying swapping my NA for a turbo at the moment. Would you recommend it?

Sorry for hijacking dosenoffner

fatherpierre

It's deffo worth it!

That kick in the back when you floor the b@stard is well worth the extra runnings costs.

[Edited by fatherpierre - 1/30/2003 9:45:54 PM]

Midmotorsteve

i'm in a normally aspirated at the mo as well, done a lot of research on the turbo though and been out in a few modded ones, its almost i daily question i ask myself, fastest feeling motors i've ever been in. I concluded at the mo i can't afford to run one as a daily high mileage driver. But fully intend to have one by this time next year, i want a post '94 car, easier to mod than the early cars, also more predictable handling. In the process of looking for a mk1 to strip for track use, whold deal would cost less than the insurance premium on a turbo Group 20.

Turkish1

I dont know what they drive like as I have never had a go of one, but it is a mighty fine looking car. There is an M reg black one around by me and it looks awesome, very nice cars.



Turkish1

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

ST205's are much better than the ST185 before it, but they are still a bloody nightmare to work at. Some parts are fairly cheap, but others arent.The front suspenson joints on the import models ( multi link setup as per UK Carina GTi ) gives bother, and can cost a lot to replace. The ST205 doesnt seem to blow head gaskets every week like the earlier model.
Generally they drive OK, but uprated parts for the 205 are not as easy come by as the 185, but the 205 is already much faster anyway.
As for tuning, the 205 is a much better/stronger engine, and also doesnt have the crappy airflow meter of the early car.
I managed to get 330bhp and 300lbtft at PE's rollers out of a mates ST205 a few years ago, with just a turbo, exhaust, boost controller, and Apexi AFC and S-ITC along witha bit of water injection, at 20psi.
Even if they do have a few good points ( good brakes ) I would still avoid them like the plague. I like my hands and arms without severe cuts everywhere. I hate working at these cars, and no refuse to do so, as they were not designed by right thinking people. Obviously humans played no part in building them.

XT

YES, they are difficult to work on. I am just going to mention the simplest thing. OIL FILTER. you have to take the alternator off to change it(ST185). In order to take off the alternator you have to take off a screw underneath the alternator, and believe me there's only space for palms half the size of mine. i know that because the alternator broke down 2 weeks ago. i still have scars on my hands from the procedure. Japanese cars are very difficult to go wrong, but if they go.....

CC

not quite a 205 but i have just got hold of a mr2t (same engine more or less) and fair do's it does go well. seems to be very screwed together too. needs a bit more go though to make it impreza/cosworth/etc fast .

ustolemyname??stevieturbo

iTrader: (1)

The ST205 oil filter is much easier to get at, underneath the car, from what I can remember.

I suppose there is one car that is harder to work at than a Celica...Thats the MR2 !!!!!!!!! back breaker or what!!!, combined with sever cuts everywhere.

mook

Not wishing to hi-jack the thread, but I'm looking at purchasing an ST185 GT4, hopefully an RC or Carlos Sainz version - which I believe runs the 3S-GTE engine and chargecooler of the later gen 6. Any hints and tips would be much appreciated, thanks

PhilsGT4

Hi,
For info on buying a GT4, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GT-Four-Owners-UK/messages is a good source. I bought a ST185 GT4 JDM about 4 months ago - and I haven't looked back. The only thing I would suggest is like you said - go for the CS/RC as the water to air intercooler is loads better than the air to air - also I believe the synchros are stronger than on the earlier ST185's ...(mine is on its way......

Hope this helps
Phil

BOB.T

What was the one Sainz used to drive, Marlboro sponsored, pop up head lights? That shape is

SideShowBob

I test drove two, one jap, one UK.
Nice cars with very good build quality, but I found them to be very dull, and you were always aware that they weigh a hell of a lot, not sure how heavy they are, but it felt a very heavy car.

Not a huge amount of fun, not chuckable, and it felt disconnected, Id look elsewhere.

DazW

iTrader: (1)

Hi dosenöffner,

Well Ive got one, had a 205 for 3 years & have owned my 205 WRC for about a year thought about a Cossie & a Tyre R but went for GT4, why? well its incredibly well built, looks good, has pedigree & cost about half that of a similar aged Escort cossie- leaving quite a few pennies to 'improve' things ...yes they are heavy (1420kg), compared to a Scoob, but certainly not much heavier than the Es'cossie or my previous car, an Evo 'grale- they 'feel' heavy due to bomb proof build & being pretty refined for a 'rally rep'- and yes they do lack a bit of 'feel' like most 4wds but these things can be rectified ...watch that front suspension tho, as mentioned previously the bushes are pricey (£500 per side) although you can get reconned uprated poly ones for about half that

DazW

ST205 WRC

mook

Cheers Phil, I'll take a gander . I'm already a regular on the celica-club.co.uk forum, but gathering as much info as possible.

Bob T > Pretty much mate. I think it was mainly sponsored by Castrol, but yeah,that's the one -



I'd like in black preferably, will make a carbon fibre bonnet all the more subtle

[Edited by mook - 2/4/2003 2:22:42 AM]