Ask the Car People.SM


Toyota Celica (Hatchbacks / All Years)

1544 messages,  Last post on Jun 16, 2013 at 5:59 PM

You are in the Toyota Celica Forum.

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

Messages Page 118 of 155

#1170 of 1544 by tlcman

Dec 07, 2004 (7:22 am)

Hi all, I am a Toyota lover, and have been trying to find a car (with the help of my son) to help him purchase as a graduation present. Hes been looking all around and has about 5,000 to spend. Hes been to the SC lexus's decided up keep was to hefty, he likes the 1995 Saab 900 turbo... but like a typical swedish person those cars are picky and you dont know what you will replace. Then he came across the mid 90's celica and stuck on it. I was expecting him to find some drag racer, but since the GT 5 speed that he is trying to find only has 130 HP im a bit less worried. I too like the lines of this car, but thats besides the point. What kind of problems cn he expect to run into with this car, estemating around 100,000 miles. Lets say it has been properly maintained. Can any one help me here? Also are they a true dedicated sport coupe? can they hold there own in the world of bigger faster more powerfull cars? Also is there a limiter on the speed of this car? im not to worried about it but for example my honda had a speed limiter kick in at 125mph
thanks
-mike

#1171 of 1544 I never tried by nippononly

Dec 07, 2004 (1:25 pm)

to see if there was a speed limiter, but I had a friend whose ('95, '96?) Celica GT I used to borrow quite a bit, and this car was definitely style over substance, like many of the Celicas between the mid-80s and the Y2K model.
 
"Also are they a true dedicated sport coupe? can they hold there own in the world of bigger faster more powerfull cars?"
They are coupes certainly. Their performance envelope is roughly the equivalent of the present-day Corolla, with 20% better handling when the car was new, but probably about equal now given the 100K miles on the Celica. Corollas can hold their own certainly, and the Celica will be OK too. The mid-90s Celica was one of the porkiest ones ever. On the plus side. the GTs mostly had ABS, which is a good thing.
 
"What kind of problems cn he expect to run into with this car, estemating around 100,000 miles."
Check those CV boots! Also, that model still had a timing belt due for replacement at 90-105K, so check it has been done or factor it into the cost of the car. That gen of Calica was a fairly low-sales one, so there aren't enough of them out there for them to get a "rep" for systemic problem areas.

#1172 of 1544 Trade in by guitarzan

Dec 07, 2004 (4:11 pm)

Yes, the Celica loses a huge percentage of value.
Zinger, someone proposed to me that once the Celicas are no longer available, the used prices will go up significantly. What do you guys think?
 
I think it is hard to pawn off a car whose standard tire is a summer tire that lasts 15k miles.
 
My car has 45,000 miles. The hatch doesn't stay up, never did. When new, they replaced one shock. I came back, they replaced the other. As soon as the weather got cold, the hatch would fall down. I went to the dealer, let them know that I think the parts are faulty, that they never worked. The service manager is going to pay for 2 new shocks. Wouldn't be a big deal, except the parts are $110 a piece!
 
I just found a TSB on this, so it was a known problem, although the dealer didn't know of this bulletin. (Makes me wonder!) I'll give a copy to the dealer, to help them get paid for the repair (?).
 
Anyone know if a scratched moonroof can be repaired?
 
No permanent snow yet. Winter tires still in a pile!

#1173 of 1544 Re: Trade in [guitarzan] by zinger

Dec 07, 2004 (6:34 pm)

Replying to: guitarzan (Dec 07, 2004 4:11 pm)
I was referring to the Pontiac GTO taking a huge depreciation hit after I drive it off the lot buying it new. I was going to trade my 2000 GTS 6SP but have decided to probably just keep it. It just handles too damn good to give up.
 
But my hatch is rattling over bumps and that is very annoying - I am going to take it in to the dealer to see if they can fix. They quoted me $100 per hour to fix.
 
The Celica is basically a go kart and just as much fun.

#1174 of 1544 by guitarzan

Dec 07, 2004 (6:59 pm)

Didn't you write this? "Problem is my GTS will probably get $10K-12K on trade. I am having a hard time doing it - even if it was straight up price wise I would still having second thoughts. My 2000 is mint and looks new."===absolutely! Don't worry about the GTO, because values on the Celicas are lousy too!
 
I was window shopping recently...the dealer started by offering me $9,000 for my GTS with 40K.They brought the offer up...but sheesh!
 
Is it your hatch rattling? When I inflated my tires just a little more, it began sounding like the swiveling cargo cover began jumping on bumps. You would think the hatch would sandwich it tight enough where it couldn't move up and down. Anyway, that's what I suspect my sound is, but not sure.

#1175 of 1544 "go kart" by nippononly

Dec 08, 2004 (10:14 am)

is putting it mildly. There is nothing anywhere close to the Celica's price range that has such sharp, perfect handling (Mini comes closest, but Celica is the king). Now if only they had made the powerband with the valve lift a little wider than 6200-7800 rpm. And maybe reduced the sticker JUST a tidge...
 
It will be weird when the Celica is gone and the Matrix and Corolla XRS with (almost) the same powertrain are still around.

#1176 of 1544 Toyota GoKart by zinger

Dec 08, 2004 (7:51 pm)

Replying to: nippononly (Dec 08, 2004 10:14 am)
Yup - you dont realize how good it is until you get into something else. I tested the GTO for 24 hours which all the mags say has good handling. It feels like a school bus compared to GTS. GM is now offering $5K rebate on the GTO! Id buy it if I didnt have the GTS. If I did more highway driving the GTO would be the way to go but for whipping around town the Celica is more fun.
 
It is unfortunate Toyota didnt put some advertising behind the Celica. But it is really a small market I guess. Im 39 with 3 kids and I am the only one in it 99% of the time. Winter beater is a 94 Cutlass and we also have a Town and Country Minivan for the family. Life is too short not to drive a car that makes things interesting. I do think though that the GTO would be more fitting for someone of my age group however because at times I feel like grandpa in the GTS.

#1177 of 1544 funny by nippononly

Dec 09, 2004 (11:19 am)

over in the Civic SI thread someone who is 35 was saying something similar. Both cars look very young. That fact contributed to my selling mine after such a short stay with me. I had owned a number of used Celicas but never a new one, so I bought one "on instinct" when the 0% 5-year financing was available briefly around Christmas '01. But in the months I had it I got many many comments from co-workers, friends, and others about how I was "trying to regain my youth" and all this other stuff (I am 35 also), and eventually the good-natured ribbing just got a bit tiresome!

 
So now I picked an RSX, the "grown-up's version" of the Civic SI and a really nice car, but one that definitely has inferior handling to that Celica. It's OK though, it has other characteristics (besides looks) that give it the edge. And now I don't get those comments any more...

#1178 of 1544 Re: funny [nippononly] by zinger

Dec 09, 2004 (11:42 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Dec 09, 2004 11:19 am)
I bought mine used in Jan 02 for 16700. Leather loaded 6 SP 22K miles perfect condition. I tested the RSX a year ago just to compare it with the Celica because it was rated overall higher. I decided to stick with mine. I have gotten some comments too. I dislike more the plastic interior and plastic wheel wells. The stereo does crank pretty good and I think I am going deaf from it. The car definitely draws alot of attention which I can do without. The guy from Pontiac keeps calling!

#1179 of 1544 depends on by nippononly

Dec 11, 2004 (12:49 am)

your personality of course. Some people want to stand out and get peoples' attention, and there is nothing wrong with that. Me, I am a blend into the woodwork kind of person!
 
The Celica had too much interior plastic for me too. Hard, kinda cheap plastic. The RSX doesn't have that, but I wouldn't mind if my car had the auto-open and cloe moonroof that the Celica has. And ohhhhh, that Celica's handling!

Messages Page 118 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