Toyota Celica Coupe (1999 - 2006) 1.8 VVTi 3d (Style Pack) (2003/53) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Someone who likes cheap and cheerful stuff.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They all like it. Everyone is a bit skeptical at first like i was. It's a bit of a stange car and not the most desirable. But once they have been inside and seen how it drives, they quickly fall in love.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I probably would buy another celica. Reasonable performance, good reliability and cheap to run. Couldn't find a reason not to.

What are you likely to buy next?

I am a car enthusiat and like something you can drive properly. The celica isn't quite there but it definately a good car for an inexprienced driver who wants to start off in a fast car lifestyle. Next car, I would like to get would be something with 4 wheel drive & more performance. Golf R32.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£2,150

When did you buy the car?

March 2015

Did you get a good deal and why?

I genuinely feel that i managed to bag a brilliant deal. The car is old but with full service history and only 70K on the clock. It seemed that the owner was giving it away. Similar celicas at dealers were around the £3000 mark.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I previously owned a Diesel sporthatch Astra which unfortunately blew up on me (Never buy a diesel Astra!! The engine is poor with lots of issues and the repair costs are astronomical thanks to a Fiat engine). So, i decided to try and find something with similar performance and reliability. The Celica seemed to fit to bill.

What was the dealer like?

Luckily the previous owner was a perfectionist. The car was immaculate and so were all the service and MOT documents.

What's it like to drive?

Good, but it does always leave you wanting just a bit more. The handling is great. It turns sharply and grips a lot more than would probably dare to allow. The steering does lack feeling. You have to think where the wheels are pointing. The power deliver is smooth but lacks a bit more torque. The engine really comes alive at about 5000rpm when It completley changes character. It is very difficult to keep in this rpm range however when changing through the gears unless you are willing to redline it every time. The gearbox you have to be very careful with when driving the car hard. It is notchy and can be tricky at first. Once you get used to it and use the gearstick firmly, you can make very quick changes which is essential for fast driving in a VVT-i engine.

What's it like to park?

Parking is easy. Losts of rear view visibility and power steering is light.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Nothing so far. The car drives like new. I have booked it in for a full Toyota service in the next couple of weeks which is expensive but is simply for peace of mind and for everything to be thoroughly checked.

What's most practical about your car?

Huge boot - Don't be deceived by the coupe shape. You can fit so much in the back when the rear seats are folded down. Storage - There are so many compartments in the cabin you could probably have a challenging Easter egg hunt.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The leather seats - They are really comfortable on long drives Sunroof - Never owning a car with a sunroof before. It's amazing how a small opening above you can make a drive far more enjoyable.