Anyone recommend the BEAMS Gen 6 Celica?

[TotalControl]

Need to see if this model is worth the money really. Have seen a few BEAMS (rarely) but have seen the GT4 to be more or less the same price. Am confused as to what the point would be to purchase one as i have the normal GT at present. Would it be beneficial to just purchase the normal GT and spend the extra on mods?

[Bibbs]

Are they not coded as SS3 or similar? (They are all imports).

The Beams is similar to a Honda Vtec unit, as it has 2 cam profiles on the intake (the black top unit in the Altezza RS had an extra 10hp due to having the 2 profiles on the intake and exhaust). It'll be similar to a standard GT, but with a cam swap and higher revs. This puts out 200ps (198hp) on the red top unit.

They also put them in the last few Mk2 MR2's. It's still a 3s-GE though, and FWD. I'd have an ST205 over it any day.

[bint]

GT4 has more power and grip as it has the turbo, plus the 4WD. The BEAMs is a good engine, is NA and is basically a faster GT with more bits to go wrong (usually superstrut suspension - the SS part of SSII or SSIII). IMHO, having owned an ST, and current drivership of a GT4, if you can afford to, get the GT4. If you want more power and can't afford the GT4, the BEAMs is a very viable option as it's better than modifying the GT (unless you have bottomless pockets and think modifying rather than upgrading is a better option). Alternatively, find a BEAMs engine and transplant into the GT - that's been done before (okay so the donor car was originally an ST, but same difference).

[blowy84]

gt4 definetley, more power, more grip, more aggressive styling, but also unfortunatley more to go wrong and more expensive if it does. that said though still very reliable

[TotalControl]

Thought the GT4 would win this one, but the prices of the BEAMS are on par with the GT4's, wierdly.

[gofasterrosssco]

Can't comment with regards to the Celica, but had an MR2 with the BEAMS unit onboard. Very nice smooth and relatively torqey engine. I guess, like the MR2, the rarety aspect will inflate the price over a 'normal' GT, but basically this is just the next (and final) evolution of the 3S-GE engine. To be a pedant, it does not have a variable valve lift system like Vtec, the VVTi only varies cam timing on the inlet (on Red-top) plus exhaust (on black-top). There are a few other nice touches over the older 3S-GE design, but as I said, just the next step.

I guess if you want a rev-hungry motor, this is the one to go for (does like to rev freely), but I'd think a GT-4 would wave goodbye in pretty much all situations (except when you'd drive straight past him at the petrol station) :-) Slightly different story with the MR2, but you're not looking at those.

Ross