Should i buy a Toyota Celica T sport as a first car?
Discussion
If you can afford to insure it, it's probably a pretty good first car. Not many common problems with the 190 engine; just make sure the second-cam engages properly at 6000ish rpm (you should feel an appreciable step in power). Of course any car of that sort of age can have issues, but by and large it's a reliable car.
The 130 engine has a few more issues, most commonly the pre-cats failing and destroying the engine. You can take preventative maintanance steps though (a lot of people just remove them).
The 130 engine has a few more issues, most commonly the pre-cats failing and destroying the engine. You can take preventative maintanance steps though (a lot of people just remove them).
I have one, it's great fun to drive. Electrics can be a bit dodgy (part of running an 18 year old car) but nothing terrible.
Check that the idle speed drops below 900 rpm once it's warmed up. If not the idle control valve may need replacing which was a ca. £900 job on mine.
The gas strut that holds up the boot lid might not be up to the job in cold weather as the hatch is so heavy.
It is a 6 speed but all the gears are quite short- expect 4000 rpm at 80 mph in top. Combined with wind noise, the cabin gets significantly noisier above 70.
If you expect to drive into London post 2021, it is not ULEZ compliant.
All those issues aside, it puts an immense smile on my face when it hits 6000 rpm, feels much more enjoyable than a generic small hatchback, has a surprising amount of luggage space, and does
Check that the idle speed drops below 900 rpm once it's warmed up. If not the idle control valve may need replacing which was a ca. £900 job on mine.
The gas strut that holds up the boot lid might not be up to the job in cold weather as the hatch is so heavy.
It is a 6 speed but all the gears are quite short- expect 4000 rpm at 80 mph in top. Combined with wind noise, the cabin gets significantly noisier above 70.
If you expect to drive into London post 2021, it is not ULEZ compliant.
All those issues aside, it puts an immense smile on my face when it hits 6000 rpm, feels much more enjoyable than a generic small hatchback, has a surprising amount of luggage space, and does
Brilliant cars. The t sports have the 190 engine which was out sold about 9 to 1 by the 140 model so are actually quite rare
Celica-club.co.uk is an awesome forum for any help and advice
As above, check lift (Toyota equivalent to VTEC) kicks in and as a matter or course change the lift bolts which part of the mechanism that operates it
Rusty subframes seem to be a common issue but can still be bought from Toyota or tcb for around £300
But seriously sign up to Celica club they are brilliant bunch and will tell you all you need to know
Celica-club.co.uk is an awesome forum for any help and advice
As above, check lift (Toyota equivalent to VTEC) kicks in and as a matter or course change the lift bolts which part of the mechanism that operates it
Rusty subframes seem to be a common issue but can still be bought from Toyota or tcb for around £300
But seriously sign up to Celica club they are brilliant bunch and will tell you all you need to know
Edited by Scottchester on Friday 10th May 15:05
Underrated cars.
A bit bipolar. You can bimble about and get 40mpg in a very quiet comfortable and easy to drive car. Cheap to own and insure and very reliable. Plus you can fit a garden shed in the back with the seats down. Some people call it slow but thats because they're used to skooshing a turbo diesel about from low revs.
Hold the gears up to the redline and these cars are bats
t. They sound like motorbikes, pull hard and corner beautifully. The driving position is wonderful and having the bonnet with air intake visible is kinda cool.
As you may infer, I love mine.
A bit bipolar. You can bimble about and get 40mpg in a very quiet comfortable and easy to drive car. Cheap to own and insure and very reliable. Plus you can fit a garden shed in the back with the seats down. Some people call it slow but thats because they're used to skooshing a turbo diesel about from low revs.
Hold the gears up to the redline and these cars are bats
t. They sound like motorbikes, pull hard and corner beautifully. The driving position is wonderful and having the bonnet with air intake visible is kinda cool.As you may infer, I love mine.
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