My Celica GT-S

2003-08-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

I got the windows tinted yesterday. I did it mostly to keep the contents within the car obscured. I may have to remove the tint if I find it interferes too much with the radar detector.

2003-08-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

Got the oil and filter change done yesterday, and while I was there I had them install the new bumper lip. When I picked it up, one of the mechanics asked me some questions about the side skirt and said that my ride looked really good.

Just need to do two more modifications (installation of molly wing and wheel arches), and then I'll be done for the time being. (At least until they bring the C-One Carbon Fiber Hoods here)

2003-08-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

I hit 36,000 miles on Friday. Time for an oil change. I'll go down tomorrow and get it done. I should do my own oil change but my car is hard to get under without a lift.

2003-06-10T16:07:00.000-07:00

GPS system is finally installed. I had the decks mounted on Thursday, but they didn't hook it up right, so I could like play CDs and DVDs but not get GPS data or FM stations. I brought it back to them today to go over it again and they figured out that the guys who installed it the first time had the wires plugged in into the wrong places. So it all works now. Now I need to read the instructions...

2003-05-26T16:14:00.000-07:00

I hit 30,000 miles today. I think I'm going to take it in tomorrow to get the service done.

2003-05-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

My TRD headlamp covers arrived yesterday, so I took the opportunity to go and get the car washed and then installed them. They look good. I'll post pictures when I get the chance. I think my car's a pretty good balance of show and go now. The Seven is almost done. Once the GPS gets installed, I think I will be finished with the mods.

2003-05-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

I really like the new handling on the car. It feels very different now, in a very good way. I guess that's why I like working on cars -- you can see and feel the results of what you've done with them.

2003-05-06T23:20:00.000-07:00

More parts arrived today. The wheel arches and the bumper lip that I ordered back in February. The Silver Seven (yes, that is what I have decided to christen it, after nearly 2 years of owning the car) is really coming together nicely. I got the car back today from getting the suspension, sways and exhaust changed out. The car looks and feels different. The car was lowered about an inch or so. those little parking curbs that I used to be able to park over I can't clear anymore, and now I must exercise caution on changes of elevation. However, I do already notice the increased grip on curves and the change in the ride. Just a few more things to do left on the car and I'll be done. The exhaust sounds good too... deep and throaty, but not annoyingly loud. Supposedly it adds about 15hp.

2003-05-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

I took the car to get the parts installed this morning. Unfortunately my dealership no longer offers rentals (too bad, I got used to driving a Prius on days that I got my car worked on), so I had to go to Enterprise to rent a car. I had a choice of a Gallant, a Lancer, and a Geo Metro. I took the Lancer. Handling is pretty nice, although it could use a little more umph in the engine. I don't have much need for a four door vehicle, although if I was looking for one, the Mazda RX-8 would be at the top my list.

2003-04-07T10:03:00.000-07:00

Ordered the suspension kit and the new exhaust for my car today. Those should be here in like a week and a half.

2003-04-06T22:53:00.000-07:00

Put in the radar detector yesterday. It arrived like 3 weeks ago, but I've been lazy about putting it on. The thing works beautifully. One thing I realize now is that your car is radared and lasered more times than you are aware of.

2003-03-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

I plunked down some cash for the Valentine 1 Radar detector today. That'll go in sometime this week as soon as it arrives. No more tickets for me.

2003-02-26T02:54:00.000-08:00

The sideskirts are done. Looks pretty sharp.

2003-02-22T22:20:00.000-08:00

Going to take my car in on Monday to get the sideskirts fitted and painted. I tried to do it myself, but there wasn't enough ground clearance for a screwdriver, much less myself. It should look pretty awesome when finished. I just need to wait for the rest of the pieces to show up...

2003-02-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

Installed the hoodscoop, radiator grill and fill-in decals today. It took about two and a half hours, not too bad. Definitely a nice little weekend hobby. Starting to look pretty sharp. I would have dry fitted the side skirts today, but it's way too cloudy to do it. I don't want to be halfway done and then be caught in a thunderstorm. I took some pictures. It looks nice. I'll try to post some pics when I have time.

2003-02-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

I picked up my hood scoop today. Looks awesome. Now to wait for a dry day.

2003-02-14T10:49:00.000-08:00

As a Valentine's day gift to myself, I bought a new lip and some wheel arches for my car. Those probably won't show up for another month/month and a half, since they are coming from Japan.

2003-02-11T22:37:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to pick up my hood scoop from the paintshop today, but the guy called and said he wasn't happy with how it came out, so they're going to add another layer of clear coat to it. Not a big deal, as long as it looks good. It was raining earlier today, which makes me worry about getting time this weekend to do car work. The radiator grill needs to be installed, as does the hood scoop. I need to dry fit the side skirts before I get them painted also. So much to do. The hood spoiler needs to bondo'd and painted as well, but I'm waiting for the hood scoop to come back so I can see the quality of the job.

2003-02-10T21:25:00.000-08:00

I think my hood spoiler arrived today. I'll have to go to the rental office in the morning to pick it up.

2003-02-10T18:18:00.000-08:00

My sideskirts, and the radiator grill arrived today. I hope I can work on it this weekend. The sideskirt looks good enough to mount without painting, but I want to get them painted to match the car.

2003-02-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

Saw a Celica that had done the power antenna mod. It was on a silver GT.

2003-02-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

Took the hood scoop to get it painted. Will probably be done by Tuesday. On the way back, saw two more silver 7th Gens. Everyone's got the S2000 antenna.

2003-02-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

Yup, I was right. It was the hood scoop. Took it around to a paintshop to get an estimate on painting it.I'm looking for recommendations now.

2003-02-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

I went to get my oil and routine maintenance performed this morning. Coming back, I saw a stock black pre-03 GT-S. The only visible mod was the S2000 antenna and a car bra. I think it's funny that if you have a 7th Gen Celica, the first mod anyone does is to change out the antenna. Makes sense, as most Celica buyers buy the car for style more than anything else.

2003-02-05T21:39:00.000-08:00

I need to bring my Celi in for an oil change/maintenance tomorrow. I think my scoop and hood spoilers came today. I got a package but the rental office picked it up. I'll have to grab it from them tomorrow. Now comes the search for a decent paintshop to do them for me.

2003-02-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

Spent a few hours driving stick yesterday. It's a lot like dancing, as soon as you start overthinking the steps, you begin to trip up. It's best to just let it go naturally. Now I want to find a cheap beater to practice on. Shifting is no problem, since I have the sport shift option on my GTS, which has provided me with a lot of practice of shifting via sound. I haven't done a lot of clutch work, so it's taking some time getting used to that extra pedal being there. I have some pretty big feet, so it feels really cramped down there.

2003-01-25T20:15:00.000-08:00

Went to the NorCalCelica meet today. We met up at Stonestown Galleria, in this parking lot behind an old 2 screen theater. Almost 40 Celicas total, mostly 7th Gen, and a few 6th and 5th Gen too.

We all stood around in the back lot, looking at and admiring other peoples' rides. One thing you get a sense of when you see that many Celicas in one place is the uniqueness of each Celica. Some people have left their Celicas alone, some have done extensive work under the hood, some have done extensive body work on the interior or exterior or both... Even my Celica was unique in being the only 00-02 with 03 tails. Wonderful to see, and I've got some great ideas for next mods.

Mall security came over at about one, at which point, we headed over to Chevy's where we had a reservation for lunch. After a meal at Chevy's, we went for a two hour cruise around San Francisco. A procession of 40 Celicas moving down the Great Highway and Skyline Blvd is quite a site to see. It was a good run from Stonestown, around Lake Merced, down the Great Highway to the Cliffhouse. From the Cliffhouse, we drove under the Golden Gate bridge and through the Presidio. It was a really awesome ride. How I would have loved to be able see it from a bird's eye point of view.

2003-01-22T06:36:00.000-08:00

I bought my Celica back in October of 2001. Last week, I put on the first few mods onto the car. The philosophy on my bodywork modifications is this: if you're an average person, unless I point the changes, you're probably not going to notice it. My car can still pass as a stock Celica to the untrained eye.

I put in the S2000 Antenna yesterday, and ordered the headlamp covers, sideskirts and grill cover. The headlamp covers are a special order item which won't be shipped for a few weeks. The sideskirts will need to be painted first before I can do anything with them. I'm probably going to order the other things that need to be painted, and then take them down to get them painted all at once. I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to replace the stock spoiler with a different one yet.

I don't know, looking at the list, there's really not very much left to do to the car. I'd love to get a set of those Hella HIDs, but they're quite expensive, and not really worth it.