Toyota Celica Coupe (1999 - 2006) 1.8 VVTi 3d Owner Review

After not owning a car for 20 years, bought a celica as it was cheaper to insure that a mk 3 golf 1.4, a mk 2 1.6 focus and even a mk2 1.4 corsa! Compared to those cars, this looks better and is faster. Boot is surprisingly large and even bigger with the backs sits (which are useless) down. Car handles great and engine has a split personality. Under 4000 revs, normal car which sometimes feels it’s need more pulling power. Take it over 4000 revs and it goes! Gearbox is a treat. 6 speed short ratio box but you really need to work it to keep the revs up. Love how you sit low and the steering wheel it vertically positioned. Makes me feel like I’m in a proper sports car and not driving a milk float. Massive windscreen and rear visibility is slightly limited. Get one with a spoiler. It looks so much better with one and can be used as a parking aid I.e knowing where the end of the car is. Bad points. Some models/years suffer from oil burning so you really need to check the oil monthly. Boot struts can go, but cheap to fix (£12 for the struts and if you have the right tools you can do it yourself). If you do view one and the advert says it’s well looked after, do this simple thing. Open up the glove box, remove the two plastics screws with a very simple twist and check the cabin filter (white box behind the glove box, pull out the tray where the filter should be). If it clean it’s for me has been well maintained, if it’s dark grey, either get some money knocked off or walk away. The engine is bullet proof as long as it’s been serviced well. So far I’ve had a new clutch kit, new front and rear brake pads and discs and rear calipers fitted (euro car parts were doing a 50% discount so I bought the parts and only needed them to be fitted) and new brake pipes done. I think I could sell it for more than I bought it and I only use it on the weekend. Only done 3k in it since I got it. I feel it will collectable as you could mod it if you wanted (not for me though). Overall it’s cheaper to insure than the cars I mentioned above, faster, and better looking. If you like driving, you’ll like this car.