Celica VVTi or Hyundai Coupe
Discussion
I've got a budget of 1-1.5K I quite fancy a Celica, but I'm worried about all the reports of oil consumption, so I was thinking of the Hyundai Coupe (2002-) as an alternative. All the reviews I've read about the Coupe seem to say that it doesn't handle that well.
So I'm a bit stuck now, do I risk a Celica and have to put a litre of oil in every 600 miles or do I go with the Coupe?
So I'm a bit stuck now, do I risk a Celica and have to put a litre of oil in every 600 miles or do I go with the Coupe?
lexusboy said:
If you can get a 2002-> Celica you can get the engine done under extended warranty and you will also find a lot of them have already got the modified short motor in them
I understood it to be the '03 and onwards cars that had the design alteration? Never driven the Coupe myself, but I can certainly recommend the gen 7 Celica. Had mine since January and has been great.
Everything seems to be very well engineered and screwed together.
It does a brilliant job of being two cars in one: Comfortable, quiet and economical on a long motorway cruise - then transforms into a nimble, responsive and grippy b-road terrier at the end.
It's not the gruntiest of motors, but if you keep it singing above 5k (and why wouldn't you) on a spirited drive, it certainly feels quick enough for the twistys.
I came from a Puma and was concerned that it wouldn't have the same eager, darty character through the bends that I loved in that car - but it really is very good on a clear early morning run through the Peak District
rainagain said:
thanks for the replies, I did think about a Puma, but I think it's just a bit too small inside. I'm surprised about the lack of love for the Coupe. The whole Celica oil usage still worries me. I thought the warranty was only extended to seven years and the car needed to have a fsh?
I wouldn't get too hung up on the oil usage. Plenty of people, in fact almost all Celica's are daily drivers and not weekend worriers, so I really wouldn't get too hung up on it.As for the Hyundai, in your OP you say it doesn't handle well. I think a better take is not that it doesn't handle well, it just isn't setup to be as fun. It's perfectly safe and capable of going round corners, it's just maybe not the most fun out of your choices.
I do agree with another poster that at this money I'd also be looking at the generation earlier Celica 2.0 GT, better looking IMO and go quite well, although you have the rag the £$%^ off them to make them really work.
I'd also be looking at Preludes for this money and the fantastic looking Rover Tomcat Coupes, the 220 Turbo is truly rapid although a bit more GT than sports car.
I looked at both a while back with serious consideration to buy one or the other. I bought neither in the end. Not because of any faults with them, more because both were totally unsuiable for what I needed 
Both have their faults. If you can over look the hyundai badge (many cant...) they are very good cars. Interior quality isn't amazing but come on loads since the earlier coupes. Same could be said for the Celica though. It's Jap so the interior is pretty plasicy and poor.
My personal choice would be the Hyundai but the 2.0 16v rather than the V6. As much as a V6 would be great, the Hyundai unit isn't that great at what it does. Optimised for a 4x4 (its from the Santa Fe with very few changes) with minimal performance gains over the 2.0 16v (140hp vs 165hp). The 2.0 16v is also considered the better handling car due to less weight up front.
Get some v6 alloys second hand, slap them on the 16v and youve got a cracking car
ETA : Also as mentioned above. Check out 5th Gen Preludes. Had one a few years back and was a fantastic car. 2.0 16v (140hp) or 2.2 Vtec (180+hp). Avoid the autos and you can't go wrong. Fantastic cars imo and would have over either of the above in a heart beat. Only issue I would have is if I needed a hatch over a boot.
Both have their faults. If you can over look the hyundai badge (many cant...) they are very good cars. Interior quality isn't amazing but come on loads since the earlier coupes. Same could be said for the Celica though. It's Jap so the interior is pretty plasicy and poor.
My personal choice would be the Hyundai but the 2.0 16v rather than the V6. As much as a V6 would be great, the Hyundai unit isn't that great at what it does. Optimised for a 4x4 (its from the Santa Fe with very few changes) with minimal performance gains over the 2.0 16v (140hp vs 165hp). The 2.0 16v is also considered the better handling car due to less weight up front.
Get some v6 alloys second hand, slap them on the 16v and youve got a cracking car
ETA : Also as mentioned above. Check out 5th Gen Preludes. Had one a few years back and was a fantastic car. 2.0 16v (140hp) or 2.2 Vtec (180+hp). Avoid the autos and you can't go wrong. Fantastic cars imo and would have over either of the above in a heart beat. Only issue I would have is if I needed a hatch over a boot.
Edited by Deluded on Tuesday 14th August 09:21
Celica every time. I've owned a Hyundai Coupe, and although looks are reasonable, build quality is VERY bcheap and nasty, gearbox is dreadful, and depreciation is a joke. Close friend has run a Celica for around 5 years, and not spent a penny on it other than routine servicing, just keeps going and going. Looks are starting to become dated, especially the interior, but other than that, Celica would be my recommendation by a long shot.
Edited to add, although you've hinted at VVTi, also think about which celica, 1zz (VVTi) or 2zz (VVLTi) powered, both have very different characteristics. 2zz being more powerful, but also needs to be ragged hard to get the most out of it. Well documented debate, so worth reading up.
Edited to add, although you've hinted at VVTi, also think about which celica, 1zz (VVTi) or 2zz (VVLTi) powered, both have very different characteristics. 2zz being more powerful, but also needs to be ragged hard to get the most out of it. Well documented debate, so worth reading up.
Edited by SeanyD on Tuesday 14th August 09:37
SeanyD said:
... and depreciation is a joke...
Not going to loose much, if anything on a budget of 1-1.5k though. Can get 1k for any car these days as long as it's got 12months MOT and service history. If he buys a goodun, it won't loose any value. The days of roadworthy cars with FSH depreciating to £200 has long gone... The scrappage scheme put an end to thatI've driven a T-Sport Celica and a 2.7 V6 Coupe (3rd shape). Celica any day of any week. So far superior its not even funny. Even the engine sounds better.
I'd say don't bother with the 140 bhp model though. I've driven an MR2 Mk3 with that engine in, and it felt fairly slow (pretty much my only criticism of that particular car though). In a Celica with an added 200 kg of weight, its going to feel very sluggish.
ETA: Pumas are great. Just find one without the added rust.
I'd say don't bother with the 140 bhp model though. I've driven an MR2 Mk3 with that engine in, and it felt fairly slow (pretty much my only criticism of that particular car though). In a Celica with an added 200 kg of weight, its going to feel very sluggish.
ETA: Pumas are great. Just find one without the added rust.
rainagain said:
prelude - yes I'd love one but coming from a diesel even the best man maths can't justify the extra fuel cost. I would also prefer a celica 190 but I can't find one in my budget.
I'd honestly go for a Gen 6 2.0 model over the 140 Gen 7. Although only 2 seats what about an MR2 2.0? cheap as chips now. You might even get an OK Clio 172 for that too (35 MPG).
ReedyGT said:
How about an RX8? Will one not drop into budget? My wife is in a similar position and we have thought about an RX8, but at £1.5K - £2K though...
If he can't afford the fuel bills on a Prelude (which I don't actually think would be all that bad) then he definitely can't afford the fuel, oil or engine rebuilds of an RX8 Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff