'91 Miata, or '79 Celica

Follow-up question: Does anyone have a fair gauge on how good parts availability is for the Celica? I know the Miata will be easy to get back on the road, parts-wise, but what about the Celica?

When I had my '79 Supra, back in 1990-92, every part was $80 minimum, no matter where you sourced it. That was a Supra, and that was a while ago. Sorry that's not particularly relevant, but it is my experience.

omg......... did it have to be a 79 Celica??? Hatch or coupe?

20R is ok enough... but the architecture is antiquated... a GREAT swap is a mid 90s twin cam RZ.... TONS of potential... and with a bellhousing swap should bolt to your stock Celica transmission

For repair parts... check Rock Auto for available inventory.... things like trim, and exterior lamps... junk yard only...

when i had my 77 liftback, mechanical parts were easy, cosmetic parts were very hard to source. I was told by toyota that they dont list stuff older than 78, cant even look it up, so what i had to do was look up part #s myself on microfiche that i sourced, then google the part #s which mostly superseded to current #s. But like I said, that was a 77, 79 should be as easy as goin to the dealer. 20r stuff is available, but remember, the last 22re was in 94 1/2, getting hard to find a fresh motor, so rebuild is usually the best option. Unless you want to do a swap

Matt B wrote: The Celica is better at being more interesting. The Miata is better at being... well better at everything else.

This is the truth, and because project cars should be interesting above all, I'd pick Celica.

Keith Tanner wrote: You guys are just rebelling against the fact that the Miata is popular. Damn hipsters...

Miatas are fun, but Celicas are cool.

I wonder how many people are voting "I want you to buy the Celica" instead of "given that choice, I would buy the Celica" Just like the people who think every car should have an LSx engine, but have never actually swapped one.

Celicas are just old economy cars to me, I don't see the magic juju myself. But to each their own.

Ok then....

Given the choice, I would buy the Celica.

I would buy the Celica.

I've owned two Miatas and I doubt that I'll own another one. I like old Celicas enough that I periodically search Craigslist for them, so yeah, I would buy the Celica.

Just checking

Any corrosion on either car?

Not sure about the Miata. The ad says there is some surface rust on the passenger door of the Celica. I emailed and asked the owner to ellaborate, but no response yet.

I'd wait for a better Celica.... either 73-78 ... or 82-85

I would buy the 73 to 77 Celica in a heartbeat, I would buy any cheap solid RWD Celica and I do buy oddball cars all the time.

I do not own a Miata.

I miss my 77 celica lb, that car was great. I was really surprised how evenly matched that car was stock, with my buddy's na miata with bolt ons. When you think about it, same power, same weight give or take. Wish I had taken more/better photos. <img src="" />

Celica

miata

I drove a '79 ST celica for a while; pretty underwhelming but I thought it was stylish. This was back in '94 and I drove it (it was my sisters) for about 6 months. I honestly don't think there was much that excited me about that car, even though I really wanted there to be. It would be refreshing to see one back on the road as I haven't seen one in years, but just know that it would need some work to be fun I think. The miata is fun out of the box.

I think Sport Compact Car magazine did an article on a turbo'd 2nd gen Celica but it was a bit of a let down. Engine swap would do it right for sure.

-Hamid

I would buy the Celica too (as long as it isn't a rust bucket), it's just got more character. I've never owned a Miata, I would love to, but when comparing it with nostalgic Japanese cars it's apples to oranges-the Celica is just cooler, even if it's archaic and slower (which it doesn't have to be ).

You should buy one of these rebuilt 22R's-
22RE Performance

Keith Tanner wrote: I wonder how many people are voting "I want you to buy the Celica" instead of "given that choice, I would buy the Celica" Just like the people who think every car should have an LSx engine, but have never actually swapped one. Celicas are just old economy cars to me, I don't see the magic juju myself. But to each their own.

As someone who has had experience with both, here's my take.

The Miata is less cool than the Celica. It's also more complicated (not that Miaters are complex, more than Celica's are super simple). Unlike the Miata, the Celica has also got fundamentally good, super-super easy to adjust and modify suspension. Yes, I know you can do pretty much anything you want with a Miata suspension, but the Celica is new bolts and five mounting brackets away from adjustable roll center, adjustable instant center, adjustable anti-squat and adjustable roll bars. So, so easy to remake.

The Miata has a much better engine, a much better gearbox and steering so much better it's difficult to articulate. It's also a lot better handling in stock form and has better aftermarket support.

If only there was a car that could combine the Miata's great steering, the legos suspension off the Celica, vintage Yota coolness and a better engine. And just imagine, what if it was even lighter than the Miata and had an almost as enormous aftermarket?

I'd wait and get an E7X generation Corolla.

And yes, they do have an enormous aftermarket. Almost anything that will bolt onto an AE86 will bolt onto an E70.

STOP POSTING E7 ROLLAS DAMMIT!!!!!

I want one so bad it hurts.

E7 is lighter... and more of the AE86 performance aftermarket fits it.... and USUALLY E7s are cheaper then Celicas, or AE86s... although that is beginning to change.

There are 8 E7 body styles....

E7 Corollas weigh in at about 2400, or LESS... The non US models all have mass under 1000 kilos

Well, my ideal would be the E7X Liftback. Is it just me, or do they kind of look like Audi Quattros?

I haven't heard anything back from Celica guy, but the Miata folks are great, so based on that (and the level of aftermarket support/parts availability and my previous experience with Miatae), I'm leaning toward the Miata.

miata