HONDA CIVIC TYPE R VS CELICA GT/ T SPORT??/
Discussion
I've not driven the 190 Celica, but I've test driven 2x of the 140 versions
and the Civic is so much better. Only real weakness on the civic are drive shafts and gear synchros I believe
I had a drive shaft go on mine, but other than that no issues in 2 years of ownership.
I nearly bought another FN2 recently but have gone for a Megane R26 instead.
and the Civic is so much better. Only real weakness on the civic are drive shafts and gear synchros I believe
I had a drive shaft go on mine, but other than that no issues in 2 years of ownership.
I nearly bought another FN2 recently but have gone for a Megane R26 instead.
Having driven both and owned a Corolla T Sport (Face-lift) then I would say that they are different cars.
Firstly the FN2 is bigger and feels more current. Boot is huge and massively practical.
The Celica is a nice car and will be more reliable. I had no issues with my Corolla at all which has the same engine. Boot is big and if you don't have a young family then is more than enough.
Performance wise they are similar but hitting lift needs to be worked at. You can easily drop out of the power band in the Celica that's for sure.
Interior I think the Civic is better as it feels more modern. Seats are better but the seating position isn't. You feel like you're sat on the Civic rather than in it. Celica is nice and the GT is a lot better than the T Sport version. The Corolla T Sport (Face-lift) is nice but not as good as the Civic.
If you are serious about either of those cars then go drive them. Civic has a huge aftermarket available for it. The Celica GT is incredibly nice looking, much better than the T Sport and the FN2.
Personally I'd have a Celica GT if it were in mint condition and didn't cost a ridiculous amount of money.
Firstly the FN2 is bigger and feels more current. Boot is huge and massively practical.
The Celica is a nice car and will be more reliable. I had no issues with my Corolla at all which has the same engine. Boot is big and if you don't have a young family then is more than enough.
Performance wise they are similar but hitting lift needs to be worked at. You can easily drop out of the power band in the Celica that's for sure.
Interior I think the Civic is better as it feels more modern. Seats are better but the seating position isn't. You feel like you're sat on the Civic rather than in it. Celica is nice and the GT is a lot better than the T Sport version. The Corolla T Sport (Face-lift) is nice but not as good as the Civic.
If you are serious about either of those cars then go drive them. Civic has a huge aftermarket available for it. The Celica GT is incredibly nice looking, much better than the T Sport and the FN2.
Personally I'd have a Celica GT if it were in mint condition and didn't cost a ridiculous amount of money.
Thank you for your response! This was very useful.
Very true about the Celica, the performances are very similar but I would imagine that the Celica handles a lot better due to its shape. Despite the Celicas practiaclity I believe the civic would be a it more easier to live with and is not as garish to look at ( I live in London suburbs )
Any of the well looked after examples of the GT are extremely expensive (£6000-7000) and I am not personally not a massive fan of T sports and would need to put a fair bit in (trd spoiler, lowering, change alloys and trd interior)
I think I will give both a test drive as I imagine the VVTLI and VTEC work in very different ways, but I am leaning towards the honda due to their being a lot more better examples about, especially with the 2009 models having LSD and aux connections and an upgraded sound system which makes the car easier to live with for sure.
Thank you bro!
Very true about the Celica, the performances are very similar but I would imagine that the Celica handles a lot better due to its shape. Despite the Celicas practiaclity I believe the civic would be a it more easier to live with and is not as garish to look at ( I live in London suburbs )
Any of the well looked after examples of the GT are extremely expensive (£6000-7000) and I am not personally not a massive fan of T sports and would need to put a fair bit in (trd spoiler, lowering, change alloys and trd interior)
I think I will give both a test drive as I imagine the VVTLI and VTEC work in very different ways, but I am leaning towards the honda due to their being a lot more better examples about, especially with the 2009 models having LSD and aux connections and an upgraded sound system which makes the car easier to live with for sure.
Thank you bro!
I had a 7th gen celica for a while, it did make the power but at 7k rpm, so you cant drive it spiritedly unless you are really revving it and will look a t
t with a screaming engine. Also the gen 7 celica had terrible brake fade, I cooked mine during road use to the point I had zero brakes at a junction and had to go across, thankfully it was empty. Even a brake upgrade to slotted drilled discs didnt get rid of it.
Never driven a civic type r.
t with a screaming engine. Also the gen 7 celica had terrible brake fade, I cooked mine during road use to the point I had zero brakes at a junction and had to go across, thankfully it was empty. Even a brake upgrade to slotted drilled discs didnt get rid of it.Never driven a civic type r.
Had a 140 Celica which was a bit slow. Its an ordinary corolla in a pretty frock - it's not a sports car. You'll be out run by any two-bit TDi hatchback.
Drove a 190- they are just as gutless until lift kicks in, but quite fast when you're ragging it. But if you drop under lift-revs you'll really feel it. It got tiring having to keep it over 5k and you feel a bit of a twit always banging about like that - I only had it an hour. I couldnt live with one day to day - I'd rather turbo the 140 and have a better power band.
drive very nicely though - great steering and brakes, confident cornering, nice gearchange and seating position.
I think if they came with a 2.2 D4D or a V6 option so it had some poke they'd have churned out millions of the things (like Audi TTs)
But celica is practical - I got a tall fridge freezer in it with back seats folded down, and I slept in it a couple of times too. Its not as big as civic, but dont thinks its MR2 Roadster-like either! Cheap to run too: 40mpg, corolla-priced parts.
Celica is the looker of the two, but its not flashy so we never had bother with anyone keying it or not letting us out of junctions etc that I got with my G6 celica a lot.
Never driven the civic, but other Hondas we've had (CRV Mk2, Jazz) feel way better quality and, while talented are not as engaging. I understand the civic is not a normal honda though...
Drove a 190- they are just as gutless until lift kicks in, but quite fast when you're ragging it. But if you drop under lift-revs you'll really feel it. It got tiring having to keep it over 5k and you feel a bit of a twit always banging about like that - I only had it an hour. I couldnt live with one day to day - I'd rather turbo the 140 and have a better power band.
drive very nicely though - great steering and brakes, confident cornering, nice gearchange and seating position.
I think if they came with a 2.2 D4D or a V6 option so it had some poke they'd have churned out millions of the things (like Audi TTs)
But celica is practical - I got a tall fridge freezer in it with back seats folded down, and I slept in it a couple of times too. Its not as big as civic, but dont thinks its MR2 Roadster-like either! Cheap to run too: 40mpg, corolla-priced parts.
Celica is the looker of the two, but its not flashy so we never had bother with anyone keying it or not letting us out of junctions etc that I got with my G6 celica a lot.
Never driven the civic, but other Hondas we've had (CRV Mk2, Jazz) feel way better quality and, while talented are not as engaging. I understand the civic is not a normal honda though...
I've had a 140 Celica a Corolla t sport, had a civic 1.8 as a company car and nearly bought an fn2 type r:
The only 1 I'd have now would be the Celica, the 140 is slower but is better geared than the 190 meaning it's much better on long drives (the 190 is revving hard at motorway speeds).
The 190s like the Corolla need revving hard which, which feels like effort, to keep moving well and the gearing is annoying at motorway speeds.
The civic feels bigger, heavier and more planted than the Celica or the Corolla but, whilst still requiring effort to keep in the vtec window felt like less effort than to keep a Toyota in lift. Only reason I didn't go for it was the suspension was very very harsh
In summary: If you can live with less power a Celica 140 is the pick of the bunch, if you need the power I'd say Civic vtec over Toyota Vvvtli harsher suspension but better engine
The only 1 I'd have now would be the Celica, the 140 is slower but is better geared than the 190 meaning it's much better on long drives (the 190 is revving hard at motorway speeds).
The 190s like the Corolla need revving hard which, which feels like effort, to keep moving well and the gearing is annoying at motorway speeds.
The civic feels bigger, heavier and more planted than the Celica or the Corolla but, whilst still requiring effort to keep in the vtec window felt like less effort than to keep a Toyota in lift. Only reason I didn't go for it was the suspension was very very harsh
In summary: If you can live with less power a Celica 140 is the pick of the bunch, if you need the power I'd say Civic vtec over Toyota Vvvtli harsher suspension but better engine
Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 5th January 20:02
RedAndy said:
I didnt realise they were geared differently
still would turbo the 140! I wonder how the Supercharger from the Corolla affects the 190? (yes faster I know, but how drivable?)
Yes, different gearing which makes the 140 a much better long distance cruiser, I've a vague memory of someone on Celica club trying the 140 gearbox in a 190 but the gearing meant it was hard to keep in the right rev range for lift still would turbo the 140! I wonder how the Supercharger from the Corolla affects the 190? (yes faster I know, but how drivable?)
On the same site someone put the Eaton supercharger from a mini cooper s onto a 140 with food results. The standard approach though is to use a rotrex supercharger.
I was a passenger in a supercharged 190 at a meeting many years back, it was epic.
For anything Celica related drop over to celica-club dot co dot UK, friendly bunch and can help with any questions
Thank you for the help guys! 
I am going to settle with the civic R due to a number of reasons, these being:
Interior and comfort
Power - minimal difference
Aftermarket opportunity
A lot better examples out there, unfortunately Celicas in the UK are quite hard to find at a decent price, any of the GT models are £7k plus including on the UK Owner groups, I feel as if i could get a lot more car for that money, whereas for the same price (maybe £800-1400 cheaper) you can get a decent 2011 with the LSD and xenons on the civic.
Albeit, the Celica is undoubtedly a legendary, fun, beautiful, and cheaper car to run, its annoying they cut the production and makes me wish I was born 5 years earlier.
THX FOR THE HELP
I will likely post on here in about a months time when the civic breaks and need help with it lol
Stay blessed
I am going to settle with the civic R due to a number of reasons, these being:
Interior and comfort
Power - minimal difference
Aftermarket opportunity
A lot better examples out there, unfortunately Celicas in the UK are quite hard to find at a decent price, any of the GT models are £7k plus including on the UK Owner groups, I feel as if i could get a lot more car for that money, whereas for the same price (maybe £800-1400 cheaper) you can get a decent 2011 with the LSD and xenons on the civic.
Albeit, the Celica is undoubtedly a legendary, fun, beautiful, and cheaper car to run, its annoying they cut the production and makes me wish I was born 5 years earlier.
THX FOR THE HELP
I will likely post on here in about a months time when the civic breaks and need help with it lol
Stay blessed
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