Hello all, newbie here! After some searching, I recently purchased an R26. I've originally driven Celicas, the last being a 31 year old GT4 and this has certainly been quite a change for me! Despite R26s being pretty abundant (was searching before the lockdown) I had to go to a lot of viewings before finally settling on this one: There were a lot of duds out there, as you'd expect, but this one seems pretty honest and true. Bar needing four new tyres, she has a full service history and the belts done end of last year. Ideally I wanted a yellow or blue one, but the ones in my budget were knackered, so went for this one! It's been great fun so far, the way the car handles has really blown me away. Not amazingly powerful, but was expecting that anyway! This one has had a stage one done by RS Tuning, but nothing silly. Sadly under lockdown now, I only got one weekend to enjoy: Anyway, looking forward to getting to know the club. Really found the Celica club helpful with my old cars, especially when it came to advice and finding parts. See you around!
Wellcome to Megs paradise! As you, I recently have mine and waiting the end or quarantine to enjoy it. Meanwhile, here we have a lot to learn!
hi and welcome, nice car, lots of knoledgeable people on this forum, for track or road use, like all of us sadly can't use them, apparently not considered exercise to drive them for fun, shame that...
Thanks all for the welcome! This is definitely a good time for some learning and to give our cars some tlc! Nice, which one did you have? My plan is to get an ST205 once the virus hopefully settles down and I can move. Definitely feel I would need a garage for one and would just bring out 2-3 times a year for shows. They're not as nice to drive as the Meg for sure, but they feel a bit more special. Just as a daily, or really more of a weekend car. I work five days a week in London and commute from Kent, so don't get much time to drive in the week. Plan is to get another GT4 for shows. See you're down in Plymouth, I'm from Cornwall, lovely part of the country! It is a real shame, I'm really itching to take the car out for a proper drive now the weather has changed, but limited to one drive to the shops a week! My first questions to you all would really be, how do people feel about modding R26s? From where I've been with the Celica lot, it was really frowned upon to mod them too much, in terms of aesthetics anyway. I've always wanted a car I could visually mod, not rice, but something subtle. Would maybe change the wheel colour on this and then the belts to match, obviously keeping all of the original mods to be able to revert to standard? Liking the idea of an R26r spoiler too. How is that viewed here? Car has a Stage 1, but I can see I'll pretty quickly want to up that. Likely will go down the Stage 2 route, so will need to source an air intake and intercooler. Thanks everyone!
Wow, that's super clean, love it! Rare projectors on that too. Is that a C-One kit? I've been keeping an eye on them, but prices are starting to get quite silly!
in regards to modding...i had the same opposition from members when i had a Integra DC2. No one worrys about that on here,especially as now a lot of R26`s are being turned into dedicated track cars. R26R spoiler is still a popular mod..will leave a hole in your roof though,which needs to be welded and painted,or a grommit added to cover the bolt hole. If you dont already have it,the shortshift mod is the most bang for buck mod on these cars...contact phil watkins if you dont have one. In regards to a stage 2..its excepted that the absolute ceiling for power and torque on a stock engine is 300/300. The rods are weak on these cars,and will be approaching double the torque they were designed for at 300lb/ft. So take that into consideration.You will also need bigger injectors if you want to run 300+. Some have run big power for considerable time,others have not been so lucky...so pay your money and take your chance.
Appreciate the advice, thank you! I feel a bit less worried about mods now, not talking anything too ricey and that can't be undone. Didn't know it would leave a hole in the roof, I'll make sure I get it taken somewhere professional to be done then, don't trust myself with a welder! I'll talk to Phil Watkins then. Mad, the shifting already feels so short to me, but I am coming from the tractor shift of an 80s car! That's already sounding like a lot of trouble... I usually stay on the side of caution, so Stage 1 may be the way to stay. Doesn't mean I can't upgrade other parts. Thanks for your input, really appreciate that :-)
bloody timed out Yes the roads are good down here, better off of the main routes These cars are all about the handling rather than looks, different wheels to fill the arches, coilovers to get it a bit lower, then good tyres, then engine and brake mods, then it will run rings nearly everything out there.
Was completely stock jdm import when I bought it, projectors came off the parts car, yes it’s a c-one front and rear with trd skirts, hydra nemesis ecu, full recaro interior, hybrid turbo etc etc, 320bhp 340lbft, loved it, sold it for 4.5k probably worth about 10 now!
every possiblity,it already has the shortshift.Wont be to many that dont have it by now. if its short,and positive..its been done. the standard shift is vague and long winded.Very easy to put it in the wrong gear standard.
as ian said...unless you are going full track,then making sure the steering,suspension,and bushs are all in order is really the priority on these cars.They are getting old now,so most suspension bushes,droplinks,engine mounts. etc are tired. The car should be pin sharp...but many are not now, as age has got the better of them. A well overhauled R26 on premium rubber and good brake pads like RC5+,CArbotech xp8`s or various DS pads ,is still a capable B road weapon. Even after all these years,a R26 on a deserted road(easy these days!),is capable of eye widening pace.
Thanks for this Andrew. Definitely agree it's important to look at suspension and brakes before power! My plan was to take down to K-Tec when this all blows over for a check over, but sure some people here will have bad things to say about them. Always the way with big garages!
Ktec are pretty good to be fair,ive used them several times for work. However, for mapping, etc, I made the pilgrimage from the south coast up to Leeds to RS Tuning. Sent from my LYA-L09 using Tapatalk
i did the same..drove from the south west to leeds fro my stage 1 many years ago...so that says something! EFI seem to be just as expert in megane tuning,so consider them to. I will travel anywhere in the UK for expertise. A engines a bloody expensive item to replace if tuned badly..
That's promising to hear. Mine has already been up to RS Tuning for a stage 1 a while back, but will take down to Ktec to have a check over and service when I can. MOT is due in July, but not sure if we'll be allowed out by then!
