Toyota Celica T-Sport

[unfrankable]

Am seriously thinking about buying one of these. Will be coming out of a VX220 and need a bit more practicality, not expecting it to be the same as the VX but i had a Clio 182 before. How does it compare to this? What are they like to live with?

Anyone had any experience? Any advice would be great, thanks

[bint]

unfrankable said:

Am seriously thinking about buying one of these. Will be coming out of a VX220 and need a bit more practicality, not expecting it to be the same as the VX but i had a Clio 182 before. How does it compare to this? What are they like to live with?

Anyone had any experience? Any advice would be great, thanks

I had a 140 for a couple of years - have driven Tsports and 190s too and highly recommend the cars. Not in the same league as a VX220 but you'll have alot of fun with it. I'd say it's comparable to the 182 but the 182 probably handled better as standard. You'll need to tweak the TSport a bit before it's better. They are fairly economical as the VVT-Li does have an effect and help. Insurance isn't too bad and neither is servicing etc.

Practically they're great - huge boot, you can get passengers in (tho would advise mebbe not on a regular basis) and won't go wrong.

Check the lift bolts have been replaced on it - depending on the age - as the early models did have probs, but that was more the 190's than T Sports.

For more info/answers to all Q's etc - go to www.celica-club.co.uk

[havoc]

182 will be the more fun drive and a lot quicker. Celica will feel the nicer/better car, look better, last better, be more practical and generally do the 'sensible but still interesting sports coupe' job well.

Alternative could be the Hyundai coupe (new one).

[m12_nathan]

Could you get an Integra instead or do you need a newer car?

[unfrankable]

Thanks for the replies.

Hyundai- Not a fan i'm afraid at all.

The Teg is a lot more appealing however the age and mileage of even the later ones puts me off slightly. Tempting as it is i was after something newer. Oh and group 18 insurance is on the steep side.

I thought the Celica may be the perfect compromise between the VX (too hardcore as an only car) and a hatchback (good as the 182 was).

They look so much more classy than a hatchback even if people with heads struggle to sit in the back.

[stevo707]

I've had my T Sport a year now and I'm quite happy to keep it much longer However I have never driven a VX220 or a Clio 182 (although I had driven my mum's 1.2 and the awful driving position put me off ever considering one tbh). On balance I do prefer the T Sport to my previous cars, including a Leon Cupra (lifeless engine) or Civic Type R (great engine but lifeless steering). Yes there may quicker ways to go from 0-60 than the celica but this car can still bring a smile to your face at legal speeds whilst keeping the engine "in lift" will keep you occupied.

The Celica is underrated insofar as it probably still is one of the best FWD chasis' still in production.

You should look to get a set of TTE springs which lower the car subtly (about 30mm) but more importantly make the handling even better. These work with the factory shocks and keep any warranty valid. Drive the new GT to get an idea as this comes with them as standard. I would recommend going for an 03 onwards (T Sport) rather than an earlier 190 - I found the steering and suspension tweaks they underwent a real improvement on the older cars.

Just my 2p worth

Edited by stevo707 on Saturday 5th August 00:13

Edited by stevo707 on Saturday 5th August 16:20

[stumartin]

Gazboy said:

I always found the cabin of the 190 a 'nice place to be'. If you like the 190, you'll like the Hyundai Coupe btw.

I do, and I didn't. The Hyundai by comparison is flabby, slow, heavy and soulless. And the engines are amongst the most inefficient lumps ever to wind-up in a "sports coupe". The build quality is also rubbish. My 2p worth.

[stumartin]

havoc said:

182 will be the more fun drive and a lot quicker. Celica will feel the nicer/better car, look better, last better, be more practical and generally do the 'sensible but still interesting sports coupe' job well.

The 182 isn't a lot quicker at all, maybe a second in it to 100. And, having driven both and bought the Celica, the Clio is not the most fun to drive. People are too keen to write-off the Celica without having driven one to appreciate what is a genuinely very good chassis and superb steering. I will also never get bored of bits of my bodywork not falling off, or the fact that the Celica has "done a few miles" and doesn't rattle like Pierre left a handful of spare change in the door panels.

Plasticky though the Celica is, it still feels a much nicer place to be than the Clio and the driving position is far superior.

I will say however, that the Clio's brakes are better and it has less inherent understeer and more low down torque. And I can only assume that Toyota obtained the stereo from the Early Learning Centre. But, minor faults..

[unfrankable]

Thanks for the replies.

I've sat in the Hyundai and i wasn't impressed, nor by the engine specs i'm afraid, or the way it looks................

I haven't been able to drive a Celica yet- went to see one on Sat but was being sold as i got there. I've driven the Corolla before with the same engine and wasn't too impressed, maybe a bit of extra weight and the fact the car hadn't warmed up properly. Oh and the fact that i'd stepped out of the VX maybe.

Do they take a while to warm up? For some reason the 'step up' to VVTL-i didn't seem as ferocious as the VVT on the Clio. I thought with the lack of torque the 'step up'would have been more noticable.

[stumartin]

unfrankable said:

I haven't been able to drive a Celica yet- went to see one on Sat but was being sold as i got there. I've driven the Corolla before with the same engine and wasn't too impressed, maybe a bit of extra weight and the fact the car hadn't warmed up properly. Oh and the fact that i'd stepped out of the VX maybe.

Do they take a while to warm up? For some reason the 'step up' to VVTL-i didn't seem as ferocious as the VVT on the Clio. I thought with the lack of torque the 'step up'would have been more noticable.

All engines take a while to warm up. What do you mean by "step-up"? Did you get it into lift i.e. above 6500rpm where the extra hp lies? The VVTL-i unit won't let you into lift until the engine's warmed up properly, but this doesn't take ages (not that I've tried red lining mine out of the car park too often).

Fairly obviously, the Corolla is a small family car with a sporty engine thrown in the front and warmed up suspension, whereas the Celica is a purpose built coupe. Neither are anywhere near as dedicated as a VX220 / Elise and aren't comparators, however you should find the Celica markedly different (read: better) to the Corolla.

The strengths of the Celica don't lie in straight line speed, however acceleration is adequate to exploit the handling / chassis and in the real world you won't notice the difference out of a corner.

Your best bet is to drive the 182 and the Celica, together with whatever else you're looking at, back to back on the same day. That way you get a comparison and go with your preference - the 182 is a great little car. You can also drive the VX home and then decide actually you'd rather keep that