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Collekshun by proxy 1996 Toyota Starlet


jon928se

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My sister in law is embarking on a Collekshun tomorrow morning (In NZ). I think she would fit right in here so have sent her a link so she can join in if she wants to.

No point keeping it a secret for you all to try and guess which ebay ad it was, as its a private sale and being in NZ as well no chance. She's buying a 1996 1.3 Auto Toyota Starlet from Christchurch NZ. First step in the collection will be bus from Dunedin tommorow. Possibly the last long distance bus out of town for a while due to CV19 shutdowns.

Hopefully she survives the epic bus ride and the return drive back to Dunedin with no issues.

ER if you read this, please sign up and figure out what Woollarding is. An obligatory petrol station photo is required when you get home.

If any one has any gems of information re 1996 Starlets please post them here.

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I've owned a 1996 Toyota Starlet, it was my second car.

Mine was a 1.3 5 door "Reflet X" (Yes, "Reflet", not "Reflect"), which meant it had such luxuries as a power folding mirrors, adjustable headrests on the front seats, a 5 speed manual gearbox (!!!) and a Japanese special air filtration device on the parcel shelf at the back. An excellent little car for a youngster with no money like me!

What I always thought was remarkable was the fuel economy it delivered,  in spite of having 230,000kms, and being very tired mechanically - it burned heaps of oil, and the clutch slipped if you even looked at the pedal. 

One "gem" I guess I noticed was that driving it harder just made more noise, and used more fuel, but progress was not appreciably quicker? I don't think they take well to being driven flat out. At least mine didn't.

Good luck in light of Covid and the lockdown.

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I had this little honey for a brief spell last year. Lovely as it was it was no use to me so I passed it on to a mate who uses it as his daily. It was a 1.3 Auto too. Definitely more at home around town but it drove very well. I'm a big convert to Toyota for the way they build stuff generally.

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Thanks to my brother in law for telling me about autoshite.

I brought my 1996 1.3 Auto Toyota Starlet on Tuesday in a private sale in Christchurch, NZ. I live in Dunedin which if you don't know is 361km or 224miles south of Christchurch. It was an epic journey to get there involving getting up extremely early to catch the 7.30am intercity bus to Christchurch.

I meet the seller on the outskirts of Christchurch since I didnt want to drive in the city. I just wanted to head straight back to Dunedin in light of the country going in lock down for next four weeks. It was a quick exchange, I had a quick look under the hood and a general look around the car and then I was off. I love the fact that it has roll down windows!

I filled it up with gas and headed back down south. (The car was a quarter full and I filled up the tank for $41, petrol $1.75 per liter, I used just over half a tank to get home). The car is noisy it rattles alot. But the drive is smooth. Its super fun to drive. I didnt push it and keep  the speed to about 90kms on the state highway. Just cruising.  I did go over a 100kms a few times and the car handed that just fine. I kept driving, hoping to make it back to Dunedin in one go, since the bus trip was so boring and took over 6 hours with a stop in Oamaru for 20 minutes and a 45 minute stop in Timaru. The highway runs close to the sea all the way down so in parts you have some lovely views. But I had to stop before I got to Dunedin cos I had some leg cramps so i pulled over at the Moeraki Boulders, which are a popular tourist site, if you like round rocks on the beach. I had a nice walk on the beach to the round rocks after 15 minutes I got back in the car and went home. It took me just over 5 hours, as I say I was just cruising most of the way and coming into Dunedin there are some big hills the car struggled a little with those but I think that was because I am not use to the car and didn't want to push it too hard at the end of a long journey.

I took a picture at my first time filling the car up in Christchurch before the trip. And some pictures of the car at home in Dunedin.

1407004813_1EmStarletFirsttriptothegasstation.thumb.jpg.ab3010b0f70598fd10888202128a9936.jpgEmmStarlet1.thumb.jpg.71711c5e31708bd2ac276d94bf5be047.jpgEmmStarlet2.thumb.jpg.a1bd47d9d9fc4c9c7bd164474973dceb.jpgEmmStarlet3.thumb.jpg.fe3cbdfbba42775dc1c3a89da84d9da0.jpgEmmStarlet4.thumb.jpg.67509e79620283b3b7a928d9092ee03b.jpg

 

 

 

Oh for my brother in law, apparently Woollarding is a homage to 80's Top Gear legend William Woollard, in which you need to look intense with a foot on the bumper, delivering your piece.

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  • 1 month later...

Well, the starlet is probably no more. EmmStarlet got spun around by a sheep truck on Thursday and pushed down the road sideways for about 100 metres. Fortunately fairly low speed about 40kmh (25mph) but the side of the starlet is bashed in a bit and the doors don't shut. EmmStarlet is fine just a few bruises and a bit shaken up but no serious harm done. 

The boss of the trucking company has offered her and delivered today a 2000 VW Beetle 2.0 Auto with 200kms on the clock in reparation. From a quick google it seems the beetle is probably worth about the same as the starlet (but more than she paid for the starlet.) She has friends who used to own a truck inspection business who are going to look at it tomorrow. In pre-covid days I would have flown over and had a look myself but thats a non starter at the moment.

I've seen the pictures and the Beetle looks fine. Cars don't rust in NZ like they do in the UK so thats not an issue. It's a 2.0 so will be a bit less economical than the starlet but not appreciably so and she doesn't do many miles.

What is there to look out for on these ? I know they are essentially a MkIV Golf / AudiA3/Audi TT under the skin but I know little else about them.

For the couple of other Dunedin shiters Whats the best way of disposing of the starlet, I am asuming tha it will have some value in parts ?  

 

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I'm sorry to hear about the loss of the Starlet (But pleased that your sister is not seriously injured). Even if the Beetle works out, public transport services nationwide are currently free!

Whilst I've never used them, "Japanese Auto Parts" specialise in Toyota wrecking and parts, here's their website: https://www.japaneseautowreckers.co.nz/
They're based in Kaikorai Valley but I assume they would have a pick up service? I'm not sure what the operating situation is at the moment in light of the Level Three lockdown, but I presume they would be allowed to operate so long as they can operate "contactlessly". 

Other wreckers in Dunedin include: (But again I don't have any experience of these sorry)
http://otagocarremoval.co.nz/
http://www.pacificautoparts.co.nz/

While I don't know much about VW New Beetle's specifically, I understand that the 2.0litre non-turbo petrol engines use a cambelt, and unlike the Starlet, if the cambelt breaks, major engine damage can result. Might be something to check as I think the cambelt interval is something silly and frequent like 4 years/60,000km?

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