84 Celica as Daily Driver?

[JOH20J]

 Hi, new member here. I love old toyotas, and have recently come across a nice 84 hatchback for sale. It has had the timing chain and water pump replaced, is a three owner car, and looks to be good. If it checks out in person, I was wondering how realistic it is to use this as a daily driver? I've always heard the praises of the 22re, but have never owned one. Would appreciate any input, thanks!

[twotone_ra64]

Welcome!! I highly recommend and even encourage driving it everyday, as it is just so much fun. The 22R-E is pretty torquey and can get you 30+ mpg if you drive gingerly. By that, I mean no more than 65 mph on the highway. The liftback body style is extremely practical for carrying stuff around, and the 4 seats can fit (smaller) adults nicely. Of course, be sure to check all the fluids, replace any old hoses and check for rust (if you live in or around the rust belt).

[Sigma Projects]

They are great and pretty practical. Only down side is the rear seats, but if you're ok with it only fitting smaller people everything else is great. The boot/trunk is pretty huge for a sports car, the rear folding seat makes it even better. Even the coupes have a large trunk space. They're not the best on MPG, but still pretty dang good and easy to maintain and work on. Valve adjustments are super fast on these. Plus you got this forum with all these people who know how to fix almost anything on these cars 

[swan song]

The acceleration is too much for a daily driven car. This car is TOO fast! 

[sirdan]

Very practical, in stock form the 22re is very reliable, headgaskets are one of the few things to worry about and timing chains. My advice would be drive it a bit then do a steel guide timing chain, new headgasket, do the water and oil pump too at the same time and slap a cam if you want to since your already there. Then you know its reliable. When your driving something this old a little mechanical knowledge and some friends to get rides to work from are a big help. You won't need them all the time but every once and a while you will.

[ozzie]

The acceleration is too much for a daily driven car. This car is TOO fast! 

[danf]

I've been daily driving one 6 months of the year for 14 years now. I don't drive them in the winter anymore as I had rust fixed on them. During that time I had two problems that left me stranded, a failed fuel pump and a failed igniter. I fixed them and moved on.

Some people I know were like "You're still driving that??" 

[cknowles3]

Another consideration for daily driving these is the people you will meet!  Folks stop and look as you go by and come up to you in the parking lots...  sometimes to ask what it is, but more often to share their memories of past ownership and proclamations that it was their favorite car they ever had.  These are the ones who will seek you out, curse themselves for ever letting it go, then ask you how much you want for it!

[swan song]

Another consideration for daily driving these is the people you will meet!  Folks stop and look as you go by and come up to you in the parking lots...  sometimes to ask what it is, but more often to share their memories of past ownership and proclamations that it was their favorite car they ever had.  These are the ones who will seek you out, curse themselves for ever letting it go, then ask you how much you want for it!

They also tell you about how cool it must be to own “that car from back to the future”

[danf]

They also tell you about how cool it must be to own “that car from back to the future”

That's nothing. I had someone come up to me and say "Hey! Nice Mustang."

[Sigma Projects]

That's nothing. I had someone come up to me and say "Hey! Nice Mustang."

That's happened to me on a number of occasions, but to be fair they have this really confused look on their face seem to be thinking "I don't know what this is, but for some reason I want to Mustang"

[シーロス]

I just bought a 84 GT Liftback yesterday and was stuck in traffic in the first drive, but when I took her out late at night I had so much fun in it :D Already looking forward to dailying it. I have a soft spot for 80's cars and bought it with 77k miles on it. Just have to fix some rust on the body and I'll be good.

[twotone_ra64]

I just bought a 84 GT Liftback yesterday and was stuck in traffic in the first drive, but when I took her out late at night I had so much fun in it :D Already looking forward to dailying it. I have a soft spot for 80's cars and bought it with 77k miles on it. Just have to fix some rust on the body and I'll be good.

Welcome shirosu and congrats! Post up some pics in a new thread.

[swan song]

What’s the deal with the name? If it’s because you speak Japanese, “hajimemashite.” Anata wa nohongo o hanashimasu ka

[Sigma Projects]

I just bought a 84 GT Liftback yesterday and was stuck in traffic in the first drive, but when I took her out late at night I had so much fun in it :D Already looking forward to dailying it. I have a soft spot for 80's cars and bought it with 77k miles on it. Just have to fix some rust on the body and I'll be good.

77K miles on it? Damn that is low. Welcome to the forums! Yes, post up in the introduction let us know a bit about yourself.