In the perennial grips of my AADD, the last-generation Celicas have piqued my interest.
I don't know too much about 'em though, other than GTs use a 1ZZ/5-speed and GT-Ss use 2ZZ/6-speed.
I'm assuming they're competent handlers, Celicas seem to always handle exceptionally well and never be recognized for it.
Worth it as a DD that might have to have a kid seat or 100 lb lab stuffed in the back every-so-often? Price seems to be a good deal better than on seemingly equivalent Hondas.
Excellent cars, light, nimble, quick, reliable, good gas mileage.
Love it or hate it exterior styling.
Get one. Don't bother with the GT, in my opinion. The GTS is just too much fun. You buy a GT, you'll look at every GTS with huge amounts of envy the rest of your ownership.
99% of ITR performance for 50% or less the price.
What's the 1% edge the ITR has on it?
Not sure. I bet it's faster at getting stolen.
1%: ITR has LSD>
Per Schroeder wrote: 1%: ITR has LSD>
Ah, true.
Well there ya go!
Was kinda hoping TRD made a LSD for that model...apparently no love for the Celica
The other 1% is the ITR has wishbones for camber curve goodness.
MCarp22 wrote: The other 1% is the ITR has wishbones for camber curve goodness.
According to the wikipedias, so does the Celi, but only out back.
4cylndrfury wrote: Was kinda hoping TRD made a LSD for that model...apparently no love for the Celica
Various aftermarket companies make them, so no harm no foul.
ReverendDexter wrote:MCarp22 wrote: The other 1% is the ITR has wishbones for camber curve goodness.According to the wikipedias, so does the Celi, but only out back.
True. They really don't give up much if anything in the handling department, though, despite that.
The 7th gen Celica is the fastest Celica ever brought to North America in every performance test, including the old AllTracs.
On my short list for MX6 replacement when the time comes.
ITR will have you be the darling for teenage boys everywhere. The GT-S will have you peering with middle-age hair dressers, high school chicks and dental assistants.
The GT-S is a great car IMHO. I had an opportunity to buy a pretty clean black/black GT-S for $4900.
Only the 1% can afford a real ITR. The 99% will steal it within 2 weeks. During those two weeks of blissful ownership you will be asked 100 times if it is a 'real' ITR.
MCarp22 wrote: The other 1% is the ITR has wishbones for camber curve goodness.
This. IMO this is worth WAY more than 1%.
Also, the GTS motor is easy to oil-starve and grenade.
ProDarwin wrote:MCarp22 wrote: The other 1% is the ITR has wishbones for camber curve goodness.This. IMO this is worth WAY more than 1%. Also, the GTS motor is easy to oil-starve and grenade.
False. It happens if you decide to throw some slicks on it and play on a road course, but i wouldn't exactly call it "easy" to do, and certainly not something that's going to happen if used as the OP specified.
Luckily, baffled oil pans are available for reasonable prices if the OP truly has more nefarious plans than specified.
You may also want to check out 05 and 06 Corolla XRS, and 03-06 Vibe GT/Matrix XRS. Same engine as the GTS, with more room for the car seat and the dog. Everyone seems to forget about them, and you dont get the "chick car" car stigma if that matters to you.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Luckily, baffled oil pans are available for reasonable prices if the OP truly has more nefarious plans than specified.
Nope. Entire point of this venture is to have something fun to daily drive, but not so fun that I scheme against myself and try to turn it into a race car.
garaithon wrote: You may also want to check out 05 and 06 Corolla XRS, and 03-06 Vibe GT/Matrix XRS.
Those are at the bottom of my short list.
garaithon wrote: you dont get the "chick car" car stigma if that matters to you.
Not in the least 
I'd drive a pink hello kitty car if it ticked all the right boxes elsewise.
With the same motivation I have looked at those Celicas in person from every angle in every color and on the web for hours and have never seen one I didn't dislike the looks of. Arrggg, because otherwise...
Shaun wrote: With the same motivation I have looked at those Celicas in person from every angle in every color and on the web for hours and have never seen one I didn't dislike the looks of. Arrggg, because otherwise...
I'm convinced they look best with the action package with some meaty 5 spoke bronze rim/fat tire package lowered. Replace the horrible Action Package side skirts with other aftermarket ones and you have win.
A little "loud," but appeals to my inner boy racer.
A little "loud," but appeals to my inner boy racer.
.....punk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK3GOFqVSyI
Vigo wrote:A little "loud," but appeals to my inner boy racer......punk. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK3GOFqVSyI
Looks fast.
:)
I always liked the looks of them. I especially like the blue one above without the rear spoiler
I put a clutch in a GT recently and drove it around. The powertrain was a lot better than i expected. I already liked the interior, and the engine compartment (which you get to know fairly well doing a clutch) was..not terrible.
Compare that to the 01 integra gs/5spd my mom owned for a year, where i found the powertrain to be worse than i expected. Hmmm.
Anyway, i would like to try a GT-S. But, i really think they would need to be able to hit 37+hwy mpg to get serious consideration as a DD from me. Can they? I have this feeling the 6th gear on the gt-s probably isn't tall enough.
Vigo wrote: I put a clutch in a GT recently and drove it around. The powertrain was a lot better than i expected. I already liked the interior, and the engine compartment (which you get to know fairly well doing a clutch) was..not terrible. Compare that to the 01 integra gs/5spd my mom owned for a year, where i found the powertrain to be worse than i expected. Hmmm. Anyway, i would like to try a GT-S. But, i really think they would need to be able to hit 37+hwy mpg to get serious consideration as a DD from me. Can they? I have this feeling the 6th gear on the gt-s probably isn't tall enough.
The 6th gear isn't very tall, no. I don't think 37mpg is impossible, but i also don't think mileage like that is very common. You could probably do it with some mild hypermiling and maybe some aero work. Start with a base GTS without the factory body kit stuff.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: False. It happens if you decide to throw some slicks on it and play on a road course, but i wouldn't exactly call it "easy" to do, and certainly not something that's going to happen if used as the OP specified.
shrug I know a few former owners that have blown motors autocrossing and on the street, on street tires. Its quite a large percentage of the owners too. Wouldn't make me afraid of buying the car, but I would have a plan in mind to correct it immediately. IIRC its not just a pickup issue, the oil pump can be a problem as well.
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