Overview & Reviews
Few cars can claim to have made it through 35 consecutive years on the scene, but the Toyota Celica was such a survivor. Between its birth under Nixon and its death under Dubya, the Celica underwent several changes to powertrains, competitors and buyer demographics but never wavered from its mission as Toyota's entry-level sport coupe.
Arriving fresh on America's shores in groovy 1971, the earliest Celica was mostly memorable for having rear-wheel drive -- a tradition that lasted three generations. A major design shift came when the fourth-generation Celica adapted front-wheel-drive, Camry-based engineering in the mid-'80s. Toyota diversified the Celica even further in the '90s by releasing it in coupe, convertible and hatchback body styles.
Driving enthusiasts complained that these Celicas weren't very sporty, however, so Toyota tried a different approach for the new millennium by introducing a far racier machine. This most recent Toyota Celica restored some bang-for-the-buck to the Celica line, but the appeal of this high-strung, stiffly tuned sport coupe was limited. Ultimately, the company decided to take a different tack in this segment by replacing the Celica with the less athletic Scion tC, whose more relaxed nature, roomier cabin and high feature content are more in line with mainstream automotive tastes.
Someone interested in a used sport coupe or convertible will almost certainly want to take a look at the Toyota Celica. But know that the car's virtues vary with the time period. The most recent models were entertaining, offered good gas mileage and had decent space for cargo (if not people). Excellent reliability was another draw. On the downside, styling was always a bit experimental, and many versions weren't nearly as fast as they looked. In addition, high pricing, even on the used car market, makes the Celica a questionable value proposition alongside less expensive, oftentimes quicker, competitors.
Most Recent Toyota Celica The Toyota Celica's last lifetime was easily its best. Sold for the 2000-'05 model years, this hatchback sport coupe, when compared to older Celicas, offered fresh engines, a lighter chassis, a new double-wishbone rear suspension for improved handling and a thousands-lower price. The new Celica debuted to tripled sales figures and much acclaim from speed-crazed car critics. The standard Celica was the GT, whose 140-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine moved this sub-2,500-pounder easily. A five-speed manual transmission was standard and a four-speed automatic was optional. Still, most of the praise fell upon the GT-S. Its 1.8-liter engine, equipped with variable valve timing and lift (VVTL-i) technology, gave a 180-hp kick in the pants, albeit at a lofty 6,400 rpm. Other GT-S upgrades included disc brakes all around and a six-speed manual transmission, plus the power windows and locks, cruise control, alloy wheels and better stereo that were optional on the Celica GT. Any Toyota Celica from this time period was fun to toss around thanks to highly responsive steering, a well-sorted suspension and strong brakes. Ride quality was tolerable given the car's impressive handling capabilities, but compared to rivals like the Acura RSX, Mitsubishi Eclipse and VW GTI, it was less compliant over bumps and expansion joints. In addition, as rewarding as the Celica GT-S could be when running at high rpm, it took a patient and motivated driver to get the most out of it. Its minimal low-end torque (126 pound-feet at 4,200 rpm) could be a hassle in traffic, while the six-speed manual's notchy shift action and closely spaced gates made it easy to grab the wrong gear. There were other flaws in the Celica's interior, which was victim to an inhospitable backseat, poor rearward visibility and cheap-looking plastics on the dash. Ergonomics were mostly sound, at least, and the front bucket seats were well-shaped despite their limited adjustability. Toyota changed the Celica little over the years. An all-cosmetic "Action Package" joined the options list in 2002, and 2003 brought some styling changes inside and out, plus a newly optional JBL stereo and HID xenon headlights. In any year, the GT-S is the Celica of choice for buyers seeking a true sport coupe experience. However, buyers merely seeking an affordable, sporty-looking coupe will find the standard Celica GT a decent performer. Past Toyota Celica Models The sixth-generation Toyota Celica of 1994-'99 was a decidedly tamer animal. Compared to its successor, it was bigger, heavier and less nimble, and got its propulsion from two lazier engines borrowed from the Corolla and Camry. This Celica kicked off its first year with coupe and hatchback body styles available in ST and GT trim; a GT convertible with a power-operated top joined the party by year two. A five-speed manual and four-speed automatic were the transmission choices for all Celicas. Toyota made a few changes over the years, starting with the addition of some styling touches and sound insulation in 1996. In 1997 the GT coupe variant went AWOL, though it returned to life in 1998, when all ST models vanished. In 1999 Toyota killed off all coupes, leaving only the GT hatchback and GT convertible for the sixth-gen Celica's last year. Generally, we recommend that used car buyers skip the Celica ST, whose 110-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine makes for one dull daily driver. Attaining respectable acceleration entails a step up to the Celica GT and its 135-hp 2.2-liter four, which also had lots of torque for around-town punch, four-wheel disc brakes and more standard amenities such as power accessories and a tilt steering wheel. Among the GT models, consumers should feel free to choose whichever body style suits their tastes, though hatchbacks had exclusive access to an optional sport-tuned suspension that provided better handling. In reviews at the time, we commented favorably about the car's functional and comfortable interior and typically high Toyota build quality. Still, no Celica of this generation was long on sport. In addition to just-adequate power, the engine felt rough, the shifter had long throws and the steering offered little road feel. Despite its tepid performance, resale value has typically been high for this generation of the Celica, making it pricey even as a used car candidate. Unless you want a convertible, the equally reliable Acura Integra offers better value. It's a similar story for the fifth-generation Celica of 1990-'93. Largely similar to its successor, this generation used many of the same parts and came as an ST coupe, GT coupe, GT hatchback and all-wheel-drive All-Trac Turbo hatchback. A GT convertible was added for the second year. For this Celica, a five-speed manual was standard and a four-speed automatic was optional on all models except the All-Trac. Like later Celicas, standard equipment was sparse; this was the last Celica to have only a single airbag. Changes were concentrated in 1992, when all Celicas got a restyling and more standard equipment and many models got bigger wheels and/or better brakes. The ST coupe was powered by a 1.6-liter engine with meager 103 hp. More emblematic of the Celica's sporting intentions were the GT and GT-S, as each had a 2.2-liter engine with 130-135 ponies. This Celica had obesity issues, with the GT-S model weighing nearly 3,000 pounds. As a result, the Celica failed to break 9 seconds in the 0-60-mph run, making it slower than nearly every sport coupe of its day, and slower than Celicas of the '80s as well. Yes, it still had high comfort, a stylish interior, strong reliability and all that other good Toyota stuff, but low power, hefty weight and a high price were three strikes that took it out of serious contention as a sport coupe/hatchback. However, those looking for something unique might want to hunt for the rare Celica All-Trac Turbo. As the name implies, this Toyota Celica used a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine to send 200 hp to all four wheels, doing zero to 60 in about 7 seconds and putting up a good fight against the Mitsubishi Eclipse of the day. While it never would have outrun the final-generation Celica GT-S, the All-Trac proved entertaining by virtue of its turbo-induced rush and all-wheel-drive traction.
I bought my Celica last summer and I
love it. It is fun to drive and handles
really well. I couldnt believe it when
I realized I could take corners and not
have to slow down! Warning: if you are
used to driving a Celica, and have to
drive another car (i.e. a rental on
vacation), drive safely, because I
nearly killed myself when I drove a
Corolla for a few days and forgot that
a Corolla doesnt handle like a Celica!
Toyota makes a great any type of a
car. The car is fun to drive. It
will last 200,000 miles no problem. I
have a 96 Celica it is a work horse.
The only problem that it burns oil, it
has 145,000 miles on it & my Toyota
mechanic says it will keep going and
going. Guess thats why they made the
newer Celicas 6 speeds because of
high engine rev ups.
Pros: Wonderful Handeling, tight
steering, excellent response, on-a-dime
breaks, good arrangment of instruments,
beautiful inside and out. Good gas
economy-Toyota quality and service.
Cons: Seat size. You must be a small to
medium sized adult to fit comfortably in
the front seat, and child-sized to fit
in the back. Huge blind spot, spoiler
doesnt help. Trunk is difficult to
close. Needs more HP to be a true
racing car. Low torque. Lowness to
ground can make hard to get in and out of.
Really a car for the young. I have been
absolutley satisfied with this
car...its amazing to feel the
acceleration and precision of the
response on the highway...
Ive had this car for 3 years with only
a "check engine light" that was minor
and the hatchback cylinders were too
weak for the spoiler. Other than that
no problems whatsoever!!! I live in
Indiana by the lake and the winters can
be brutal to drive through with the low
clearance so this is really a summer
car or southern car.
My daughter has been driving this vehicle for over 5 years and it has been the best vehicle Ive ever owned. The performance has been excellent, the maintenance very low and the overall cost of driving exceptional. The styling of the 97 Celica is classic and even after 9 years the body and paint are in excellent condition. It runs like a jewel and I believe it will continue to give us great service well beyond 150,000 miles. A great car!
I bought this car for the milage and it
has exceeded my expectations!!! Smooth
comfortable ride. Tight, controllable
steering. I am not a small person and
I find it to be very comfortable. The
seats hug you and keep you in place
when you feel like reving the engine a
little. I love the look of it!!! It
has truly made my long daily journeys
pleasurable. The sound system is a
bonus as well. Anyone looks good
driving this car, especially with the
sunroof open!!
This car is sweet, great to customize
to your own standards!
I had a 2002 celica and wrecked it, i
bought 2003 action package one. The car
is awsome.
I purchased the car from Poway Toyota
last September 2003, which makes this
car just 7 months old. I have already
installed Strut Tower Braces on the
front upper and lower, and on the rear,
Titanium Shifters, race pedals, and an
Injen Short Ram Air Intake which added
15 more horses on my stock 143 horses.
The car is beautifully designed, and I
planned to keep it that way except
probably for a 19AXIS Hagen wheels on
a Pirelli PZero Tires and APR wide-body
kit. And yes, I also replaced that ugly
stock FM Antenna that Toyota had on all
Celicas with a rubber mounter high-flex
high performance racing antenna.
I love this car...if I had to do it all
over again I would definetly stick with
it. User Reviews:
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