Shed Of The Week: Toyota Celica

Ignore the sensible pants comments, this Celica could be the perfect Sheddist's coupe

Everyone has their own idea of the perfect shed - but what are the key requirements? Shiplap, or tongue and groove? Dip or pressure treated? Air rifle or shotgun? These are the crucial questions that must be answered.

Regular waxing proves its worth here

It's just the same when choosing one's ideal motoring Shed. Our end of year popularity round up always shows the rich and varied taste of PHers. Most of us like the idea of a big horsepower beast, a poky 4WD estate, or maybe a screaming hot hatch.

But at a grand or less, the bigger the performance appeal, the bigger the risk. When it comes to actually laying out your hard-earned wonga on a car that you wouldn't be frightened to get out of the garage, different factors come into play. Boring things like running costs and reliability. If you can combine that sort of stuff with a pinch of style and some on-demand excitement every now and then, you've arguably found at least one kind of Perfect Shed and you may well be a man my son.

This week's contender, a '94 Celica GT, might just be the ultimate in terms of everyday usability, style and fun. Since October 2012 we've had three Celicas pass through our Shed doors, including a rare fourth-gen T160 from the late 80s, but none of them have been sixth-gen four-lamp T200s like this one. Running from '93 to '99, the 1,150kg T200 liftback married accessible performance with affordability and more than a little of the Supra's swoopy styling.

Well it will all still work at least

Look at what you get. Coupe looks that are maturing nicely with age. Unburstable 175hp 7,000rpm twin-cam engine. High seven/low eight 0-60. Four-seat practicality and a usable boot. On this one we have no apparent rust, meticulous service history, and the option of a five-minute return to standard spec. Overlay that lot with a touch of investability, some WRC motorsports rub off from the GT-Four and low classic car insurance premiums and it's hard to find a reason not to steam in with your wedge.

This one's a 2.0-litre, not a 1.8 passing itself off as a two. The gear ratios can feel a bit odd, and gen 5 owners will tell you that their cars handle better, but anyone from 2015 getting into a vaguely sporting car from this era for the first time will feel like the mists have been lifted from their eyes.

What can go wrong? Not much. This is a Toyota, remember, and the Celica is the world's best-selling historical sports marque for a reason. There were no recalls on the car that we can find. Keep an eye on the oil level and try and treat it to the decent stuff: it will reward you in the long run. Cambelt replacement every five years or 63,000 miles is cheap and easy. The rest of it is normal age-related wear and tear on consumables, body panels, suspension and brakes.

And apparently it does nearly 40mpg too

Other than that they'll keep going for ever. American owners have reported 300,000 miles up with no significant problems. One chap had incurred the princely sum of $258 worth of repairs in 14 years' ownership of his 257,000-miler, and that was on replacing a rusted-out exhaust manifold. If you want more reassurance there's a good owners' club here. Nobody seems to have a bad word to say about the car.

Sure, it's FWD and it won't blow your socks off or set your trousers on fire, but nor will it make your wallet explode or inflate your head with angst. Sometimes, in the real world, it's nice to wear cool pants.

Here's the ad.

This is my beloved Celica GT. Unfortunately, moving house and a long commute means I've had to change car. Mechanics and general public often remark on the superb condition of this car and I have been meticulous in caring for it since gaining ownership almost 2 years ago - it is regularly waxed and detailed, kept under cover and I can produce a detailed itemised list of all work done since the first owner in 1994. I intended to keep this car for a long time so spent a lot of time and money to restore engine and suspension performance to original factory performance. This really is a brilliant all-rounder car: after using it for a couple of months initially for my commute, I can give recorded proof that 39 mpg is attainable, but at the same time it is more than happy to go like a rocket if you hold onto gears a bit longer, with remarkable handling. I'll be very sad to see it go, so I hope it goes to a good home where it will continue to be loved as I have!
The only modifications from stock are as follows:
- Previous owner swapped to alloy wheels
- Orange side indicators replaced with clear covers (EU/CE stamp approved)
- Sony head unit with USB/aux in
- Focal two-way speakers in driver and passenger doors
- K&N cold air induction kit
I have retained the original air box and panel filter (almost new filter) should you wish to reverse the modifications and return the car to completely stock.

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LotusEspritTurbo

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