Ask the Car People.SM


Toyota Celica (Hatchbacks / All Years)

1543 messages,  Last post on May 02, 2013 at 11:26 PM

You are in the Toyota Celica Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Celica, Coupe, Hatchback

Messages Page 102 of 155

#1007 of 1543 90-99 CELICAS-HEAVY AND UNDERPOWERED? by zombo

May 09, 2003 (10:26 am)

I would think long and hard before buying a celica of this particular vintage. I had a 92 GTS and loved it at first,it looked great had a super stereo[system 10],leather interior,and all the bells and whistles.But after about 3 months it's extreme lack of get up and go had me bored and looking for another car.Poor gas mi.around 22 average was also a big minus.Toyota basically made the 86-89 celicas[quick and sporty]into a heavy underpowered[except the all-track] 'chick car'and performance and good fuel economy would not return til 2000.I remember seeing a 99 new one going for 25k next to a new 2000 gts for 23k so they were also overpriced when new.Just MHO of course.

#1008 of 1543 90-93 GTS by nippononly

May 09, 2003 (4:15 pm)

curbed at about 2750 pounds and had about 135/135 hp and torque. These numbers are almost identical to the numbers for the 96-02 non-VTEC integra, which is not generally considered a slow car, I think.
 
The 90-99 celicas were 300 pounds heavier than their predecessors, without a power increase, which would be noticeable to anyone who had owned an older one. But they were in the ballpark for performance with their peers at the time.
 
The real genius Toyota injected into the current celica is they went back to the old weight - base GT at 140 hp has a curb weight of just 2425 with a manual.
 
Now as for price, well, celica has always been a little overpriced, IMO. But OTOH, so are many Toyotas. And the celicas do tend to hang around for a very long time, so in the end they pay you back for your higher initial investment.

#1009 of 1543 NUMBERS DON'T ALWAYS TELL THE WHOLE STORY by zombo

May 09, 2003 (10:32 pm)

I really don't pay much attention to the 0-60 times or torque figures that the car mags tout so much.All I know is when coasting along in 1st when I stepped on the gas in my 86GT -97hsp,118 ft lbs torque it jumped foward,the 92GTS felt like it was accelerating into a strong wind ,like something was holding it back.As far as gas mi.,I knew people with 6 cyls who were getting better mpg. A complete tuneup and diagnostic did not help.When the car mags did their 90s comparos the Integra GSR and turbo Eclipse were always featured,the Celica was left out as it couldn't compete, performance wise.The 90s Celicas were nice cars ,but mediocre perfomance and fuel economy ruined their appeal for me.

#1010 of 1543 90s celicas by nippononly

May 10, 2003 (11:11 am)

were "lo-po" by today's standards, and the reason they were never compared to the GSR and Eclipse Turbo was because one was rated at 60 hp higher, while the other had a 30 hp advantage.
 
The couple of years they made all-trac turbo celicas in the 90s, however, they did just fine for themselves in competition with these other brands.
 
Something that Honda has always known, and Toyota found out or remembered somehow when it reversed celica's course with the year 2000 redo, is that lighter is always better in a sport coupe.

#1011 of 1543 RESEARCH ON KELLY BLUE BOOK SHOWS by zombo

May 10, 2003 (6:43 pm)

That the value of a 99 celica GT loaded with all opps. in exc cond. goes for 13,770 dealer retail and 10,695 private party value which is a ways off the 25k price 4 years previous.Compared to a new RSX type S at 23,650 it was a poor value then and now.Good thing Toyota saw the light and made it lighter,faster,and much less costly.Otherwise it probably would've gone the way of the Supra.

#1012 of 1543 by tundradude

May 18, 2003 (4:02 pm)

Now that I own a 91 Celica GT, here is my comments. Its a slower car, especially after my last car, an 89 Corolla GT-S. However, it does get 30 mpg and it rides like a Camry. Its a wonderful highway car. It had 151,000 when I bought it last November. Now it has 162,000.
 
Lets look back in performance and the Celica. The first three generation Celicas all had moderate performance with so-so gas mileage. My first two cars were 78 and 79 models. They averaged 18 mpg with 10.4 0-60 times. The 86-89 generation not only put some performance in the car, but told many police stations around the country to get faster cars to catch them. My 89 Corolla was built in a similar nature. The same generation Celicas also got cool mileage. I have heard some of them breaking 40. The 90-99 Celicas went heavy, but kept a 4 cylinder for insurance reasons. You know that all Celicas and Camrys or Coronas in the past have been the same chassis and engines. The Camry just got the 6 cylinder and the Celica did not. Toyota did the turbo thing, but high prices kept it limited. Its nice to see the Celica become faster again, now that is built off the Corolla class. However, there are compromises. A new Celica is not going to ride like a 99. However, fuel economy is up and of course the same goes for power. The current Celica is now in its fourth year. What will Toyota do next? More torque? Keep it affordable?

#1013 of 1543 according to by nippononly

May 18, 2003 (9:47 pm)

Automobile mag for June, they will keep it basic in the next iteration, which will be here in 18 months. They are going to go "180 degrees" from the current look, which "has not been popular". I am surprised they think that: when the current gen came out it was a huge hit. Just like anything sporty and geared to a younger crowd, it aged quickly and now sales have slowed. But that does not make the design a disaster by any means. They sold way more of this one than the last. (50K+ per year when it was new).
 
Will remain a 4-cyl, 2-door car.
 
I personally had an '83 GTS for a long time, and it was plenty fast enough - it was so light. The mileage remark was right on, though. It got about 27 most of the time.

#1014 of 1543 by guitarzan

May 19, 2003 (10:09 am)

I have seen so many of the current Celicas around. Unfortunately, I see red ones all the time also (mine is red.) I'm a very critical person, and I think this car is super cool, one of the best designs around.
 
They're gonna blow it with a completely new design! There's no where to go but "down"!

#1015 of 1543 but by nippononly

May 19, 2003 (3:39 pm)

they have to change it sooner or later! And annual sales now are down to niche levels - they may drop under 10K per year this year. Toyota must be anxious to bring out a new one. I am glad they will not be dropping the model line, and will be keeping it true to its roots (a light 2-door, economical sport coupe)

#1016 of 1543 CURRENT CELICA LOOK IS VERY COOL by zombo

May 23, 2003 (9:08 pm)

But if Toyota is going to change it,let's hope it is in the area of increased interior room and performance to compete with the Acura RSX.The only area that I'm not too impressed with is the rear slablike valence panel design,but in pictures the Celica with no rear spoiler looks remarkedly more attractive.I've yet to see one with no rear spoiler in NJ.Studies show that over 60% of new car buyers are women,so let's hope that the bean counters don't have their way and 'Chick' up the Celica again.With the new Scion division going after the younger buyers this is a distinct possibility.

Messages Page 102 of 155

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement