Toyota Celica Info Neede

[Haz555]

Hi guys,

I currently own a Honda Civic Coupe LSI and am looking for something new. I have done the standard research, Which car, Parkers, etc but want some real advice from some real owners. I have not won the lottery YET so will probably get a 2000 - 2004 plate with around 70,000 - 110,000 miles on the clock. I plan to take it to its grave and need it to cope with around another 50,000 mile on the clock.

Does anyone have a Celica with high mileage? Have you had to spend much on repairs, is it reliable, is the acceleration good, how does it handle? Basically I am quite taken with the car but I know repairs are costly and don't want to buy something that is not going to last and will cost me thousands of pound and weeks in a garage.

Please be honest and any tips of what to look for when viewing models is much appreciated. I am looking at the 1.8ltr (140BHP)Celica, hopefully with premium pack (leather interior & climate control). I need to get the car by the need of the month latest, the sooner the better as my Honda's exhaust has given up.

Thanks for looking, your help is needed :)

[edwardio]

If you are looking at getting a 140, you need to aim for an 03 onwards ideally. This is due to a design flaw on all the earlier 1.8 VVT-i 140 engines, with the piston rings. NOT ALL develop the issue, but ALL have the flaw. Basically they can excessively burn oil, which if not spotted caused the 'death rattle' due to running very low on oil. This results in needing a replacement engine.

Regular car care, serving & oil monitoring, keeps the issue at bay. So ideally aim for an 03 onwards, as the flaw was fixed by a design change.

Performance wise, there is only a 1 second difference between the 140 & 190. This I know for a fact as I proved it at Santa Pod when comparing results with a number of 190 owners. I used to own a 140, before I swapped the engine to a 190's and supercharged it (only because my 140 engine was an 02 & I didn't want to bring on the oil issue by supercharging it - the engine had already done 113k miles). Despite having my current engine, I would not be upset driving a 140 again.

The cars are very reliable. I've had mine since 2005 & the only thing that actually needed replacing over time was the radiator.

I stock brakes are not the best. My advice would be to upgrade them with better discs & pads as soon as you can.

[Haz555]

Thanks for your response, that is very helpful. I will definitely look out for a 2003 model onward. I feel more confident that it will be as reliable as my Honda. Now I just need to go hunting.Thanks again :)

[Chilean Girl]

Thank you Edwardio! this was very helpful :) I am thinking of buying a Celica also. I had a 2000 Celica for a while but had to leave it in the US and now I want a newer one.