This is a serious car-change question. I recently changed my Fabia vRS for a Sport, which is a very nice little car to drive etc. but I've been missing the type of car that the vRS is and I'm wondering about going back there. I can't afford a new vRS at present but I could afford a used one. The thing is that I'd rather have something that's more "grown up" but not as big as an Octy vRS.

So the Toyota Celica has caught my attention. Ticks the boxes on the outside, I think it looks good, like the Coupe styling, nice interior, decent running costs on paper, decent performance, should be fundamentally reliable.

But I've never driven one or even ridden in one, so are they OK as a used buy? What are they like to drive? What are they like to live with?

I'm looking at a 140bhp version (the 190 is just too mad for me) which is plenty quick enough on paper and is supposed to pull better at lower revs.

The change wouldn't be for at least 6 months yet so I have plenty of time

having driven one they are plenty fast enough, look pretty, ultimately reliable and reasonably cheap to run.

But sadly as a lot of jap. performance cars are they are soulless, and are like a top quality fridge. i.e. ulltimately they do the job, and that's it!

My opinion only.

They're quality cars with a great interior and good handling, if a bit small in the luggage dept.

A 190's not as quick as a re-mapped Octy vRS though. Allegedly...

Hi

My last car was a Celica 140 and in short the Octavia VRS which I now have is a far better car from all angles.

I had the Celica for 18 months and as expected it was as reliable as a very reliable thing. Handling was good, however the brakes were poor and the power was only adequate. I am a regular visitor to the Nurburgring and the Celica was woefully inadequate as far as power is concerned, hence the change to the VRS.

IMO the Celica looks great, inside and out, but does look far more of a sports car than it actually is. From a practical point of view, the 2 door drove me mad and the rear seats are really only adequate for small children or Douglas Bader. MPG is very similar to the VRS.

I'm not slating the car, because overall I did enjoy it and we all have different expectations from our cars. In isolation the Celica is good, in comparison to the VRS, it doesn't compare.

I did drive a 190 Celica, which was much better, however the 2 door thing was still an issue for me.

Hope that helps and feel free to ask if you need any more info.

Lance

Thanks guys

It does look great and the 2 door sport car thing is what I'm after. I'm not worried about the rear seats as I rarely use them in the Fabia as it is! MPG is OK on paper but I am not doing a lot of mileage anyway so that should be fine. A small boot also isn't a worry as I've only had food shopping in the back of the Fabia and there's plenty of room for that in a Celica.

I've just had a test drive in an 03 140 with 16" wheels and I loved it! Definately would want one of these cars, all it needs is the right deal

How about the MR2 Roadster?

*gets coat*

Our industrial placement student turned up in one of these and offered to race anyone in the department as he reckoned it was the fastest thing on the roads Suffice to say, he soon changed his mind after a 15 minute passenger ride in the Scooby

Saying that though, it seemed to be pretty well made and reliable, right up until the point he stuck it in a ditch and wrote it off

Chris

Not driven one but definately prefer the look of the older models,the two previous incarnations.Nice.

I used to have a toyota celica GT-4 old old style one, and to the boys on the GT4OC, the new toyota celica just never lived up to what they thought it should have been. too soft, too hairdresser, front wheel drive etc etc. But that aside, I think its a pretty good car for what it is.

One thing I would say, is that are you sure its smaller than the Octavia?? sure it probably looks sleeker and smaller, but I have a feeling that its suprisingly large. Check out the dimensions first!

have you compared it to the hyundai coupe? on paper look similar, might be interesting for you to try them both to satisfy you that the celica is good.

Yeah, I'm looking at the Hyundai as well either a 2.0 or the V6 would fit the bill, hopefully I can try one tommorrow!

The deal for the 03 Celica was crap though, they'd only give £6700 for a 2month old Fabia with less than 2k miles and wanted £10995 for theirs and wouldn't budge on it :(

There are plenty more out there I'm sure

Hmm, MR2 Roadster: Nice but I do need SOME luggage space at least

Or you could get a 2 year old Mazda RX8?

How about a Prelude? I think they made them til 2001 but maybe thats a bit too old?

Love it or hate it styling...

Great 2.2 VTEC motor, but also grp17 insurance.

Certainly worth a test drive and... ok, I'll shut up about Hondas for a change.

2.0 Hyundai Coupe is the one to go for!!! Easier to mod and it's not a bad buy for the cash!!!

2.0 Hyundai Coupe is the one to go for!!! Easier to mod and it's not a bad buy for the cash!!!

You silly Ar5e! Go and sit on the Naughty Step until you can think of something better to say on the subject!

2 yr old Mazda RX8 - Won't find one of those for £10k, insurance will be steep and high running costs = no chance.

2001 Prelude - thirsty and yeah older than I was considering, doesn't look "special" enough to me.

2.0 Hyundai Coupe - Yep, would be on the list at 2-3yr old and £10k, won't be modding it though.

At least the Sport isn't costing me anything in the meantime

Early S2000 with 60k on the clock ?

Too old, too much insurance. Otherwise tempting.

I looked at the celicas before getting my vrs and the one thing that put me off is the insurance. Its like group 14/15.

A 2nd hand Celica is the same insurance as my vRS

Just tried a Fiesta ST. It were crap. Steering is immensely heavy, same for the gearbox and the driving position sucks. Boneshaking ride as well, couldn't live with that.

A 2nd hand Celica is the same insurance as my vRS

Just tried a Fiesta ST. It were crap. Steering is immensely heavy' date=' same for the gearbox and the driving position sucks. Boneshaking ride as well, couldn't live with that.[/quote']

Thats put my mind at rest - was wondering if I should have perhaps test driven the Fiesta ST before deciding on the vRS. Still, might try a Fiesta ST anyway, 'for the hell of it'.

The other very nasty thing about the Fiesta ST is that it wants to follow every single bump and camber in the road. It's hard work just keeping it straight at times. :(

I was most disappointed, but at least it's one car off my list Still gonna watch out for a Celica.

A 2nd hand Celica is the same insurance as my vRS

:eek: I couldn't get insured on one (hence why I said it would be expensive)

Although I could get insured on a brand new Octy VRS for like

£1500 !! :eek:

I have a quote sat in front of me for £285 for the Celica and only a few pounds more for an Octy vRS. By comparison a Civic Type R will set me back £318 All fully comp and protected no-claims

Makes the Celica very attractive does it not

I'd be tempted by a Celica, nice car, the wife nearly got one a few years ago, and I thought about it before I bought the TT. Not hugely powerful or quick but handles very well, good fun to drive.

Fiesta ST is a hoot!!!! I loved the test drive I had in one. Only thing that put me off is the motorway driving. it is no motorway machine, it needs a 6th gear.