a bit faster...

Jono8

Jono8

Jono8

Caporegime
Joined
20 May 2007
Posts
41,032
Location
Surrey
So I have had my Toyota Celica 140 for over 6 months now but i am already a little bored with the performance of it. I really regret not getting the 190 bhp/lift version now and im wondering whether it would worthwhile upgrading to one now? Has anyone done anything similar?

Are there any other cars below the £5000 mark that would quench my thirst for speed better? Well, I know there are but looks are quite important to me and i think the Celica is one of the best looking cars you can buy (i know many of you won't e.t.c.) so something with a modern look and decent styling would be a plus.

So, any ideas? I guess i just want something that will give me a bit more excitement :p

P.S. I can't afford something with a huge engine that is going to guzzle petrol
and insurance is a factor as well as i am 22.
 
Subaru Impreza WRX STI, nice fast cars, 2L Petrols though. Are a bit dated, but performance wise they make up for it. For about £4k you can get a nice example but saying that I'm sure most have been screwed about.

Honda Civic Type-R's are nice nippy cars too with 180BHP IIRC, look nice, not much torque but the VTEC makes up for it.
 
Last edited:
st220? Maybe not to your looks,

e46? could get an early facelift saloon or a prefacelift coupe for this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1747674.htm

1747674-4.jpg


PS they're not expensive to insure, I live in an "E" postcode with an unsettled insurance claim so no NCB and a fault claim against me, at 22, for £1100. would be ~£5-600 with my NCB in a good area, and I get 25-30mpg from it.

I looked at celica 190s before buying mine, the e46 is a MUCH better drive.
 
Last edited:
Jono8 said:
P.S. I can't afford something with a huge engine that is going to guzzle petrol
Click to expand...

So obviously he's pretty sensitive to running costs. Which is fine, and makes the choice of a bulletproof 4 cylinder Japanese coupe very sensible.

rG-tom said:
st220? Maybe not to your looks,

e46? could get an early facelift saloon or a prefacelift coupe for this.
Click to expand...

So you suggest a 3 litre V6 Mondeo or an automatic 3 litre 3 Series which he'd need to stretch his budget to buy? Seriously? Don't be ridiculous.

If he's worried about petrol costs it's going to be the least of his concerns when its time for new discs and pads all round an Inspection 2, hello thats £700 please, for example.

Stick with the Jap stuff in the OP's situation. I think trading for a 190 might be a sensible way forward - you get the speed you want without any real increase in running costs.

You also never looked at a 190 Celica before buying yours at all, you were BMW obsessed since the day you scammed a 320d hire car out of Helphire when somebody crunched your Mondeo - the competition could have been free and you'd still have bought the 330i :p
 
Last edited:
[TW]Fox;16703275 said:
So obviously he's pretty sensitive to running costs. Which is fine, and makes the choice of a bulletproof 4 cylinder Japanese coupe very sensible.



So you suggest a 3 litre V6 Mondeo or an automatic 3 litre 3 Series? Seriously? Don't be ridiculous.

If he's worried about petrol costs it's going to be the least of his concerns when its time for new discs and pads all round an Inspection 2, hello thats £700 please, for example.

Stick with the Jap stuff in the OP's situation. I think trading for a 190 might be a sensible way forward - you get the speed you want without any real increase in running costs.
Click to expand...

This is what i am thinking. Price wise i could probably upgrade to a 190 version for not that much more money, if any at all and I can't imagine running costs being that much more than what i have already got.

Was just curious to see if anyone could suggest something that is similar in price and running costs but would offer a bit more speed.
 
Vita said:
Sorry my bad.:o
Click to expand...

Well I was only clarifying, you weren't really wrong. The EK9 is about 180, the EP3 is more. I assumed the OP wants something newer, i.e. from a similar time to his Celica, and not an older car like the EK9. :)

Jono8 said:
Was just curious to see if anyone could suggest something that is similar in price and running costs but would offer a bit more speed.
Click to expand...

Erm, while I'm here, EP3 CTR. :D
 
danza said:
Well I was only clarifying, you weren't really wrong. The EK9 is about 180, the EP3 is more. I assumed the OP wants something newer, i.e. from a similar time to his Celica, and not an older car like the EK9. :)



Erm, while I'm here, EP3 CTR. :D
Click to expand...

Hm, just had a quick read up on them. Definitely could be an option :)
 
Last edited:
danza said:
Well I was only clarifying, you weren't really wrong. The EK9 is about 180, the EP3 is more. I assumed the OP wants something newer, i.e. from a similar time to his Celica, and not an older car like the EK9. :)



Erm, while I'm here, EP3 CTR. :D
Click to expand...

I was reffering to the EK9. Thought because it was a 1.6 fuel wouldn't be much of a issue for the OP. Aswell as it has 182HP:p. They are good looking cars imo.
 
Although if age isn't an issue, and you can afford a well looked after one, I'd be seriously interested in an ITR.

Vita said:
I was reffering to the EK9. Thought because it was a 1.6 fuel wouldn't be much of a issue for the OP. Aswell as it has 182HP:p. They are good looking cars imo.
Click to expand...

I like EK9s, they look really good in the flesh. However, I would personally have a DC2 over an EK9 purely for the looks and slightly more power. I'm not totally sure how the two compare, but I'd imagine that there's not really that much in it. Oh, and it has to be a UKDM DC2. Jap ones look older/gay. :p
 
Last edited:
Old Honda's are, well old. I wouldnt go backwards and the EK9 is an import too, at 22 they are expensive to insure

The Celica 190 / T-Sport drives exactly the same as the 140 but with that magic cam profile change, I loved the drive of a Celica even more than the Integra Type-R which is a bit over hyped I reckon

If you like your car and want to stay with a revvy NA 4 cylinder engine then go drive a 190 / T-Sport, only thing is, insurance is fairly expensive
 
Relentless81 said:
Old Honda's are, well old. I wouldnt go backwards and the EK9 is an import too, at 22 they are expensive to insure

The Celica 190 / T-Sport drives exactly the same as the 140 but with that magic cam profile change, I loved the drive of a Celica even more than the Integra Type-R which is a bit over hyped I reckon

If you like your car and want to stay with a revvy NA 4 cylinder engine then go drive a 190 / T-Sport, only thing is, insurance is fairly expensive
Click to expand...

This is sort of exactly how i feel. I think the older Honda's look a little dated (again, just my opinion) compared with the Celica. I mean, I love my car but i just find myself yearning for more power.

When the lift/cam profile change kicks in is it properly noticable? I know it might sound silly but a nice noticeable "boost" might just be what I need to add that bit of extra excitement that i'm looking for. I suppose i should just go out and test drive one myself really :p.
 
Last edited:
Jono8 said:
This is sort of exactly how i feel. I think the older Honda's look a little dated (again, just my opinion) compared with the Celica. I mean, I love my car but i just find myself yearning for more power.

When the lift/cam profile change kicks in is it properly noticable? I know it might sound silly but a nice noticeable "boost" might just be what I need to add that bit of extra excitement that i'm looking for. I suppose i should just go out and test drive one myself really :p.
Click to expand...

The little tickle you notice now is just the power band of engine. The kick in a 190 / T-Sport, DOHC VTEC Honda, is noticable, addictive and a lot of fun but like anything evetually you get used to it and get bored, thats when mods start :)
 
Relentless81 said:
The little tickle you notice now is just the power band of engine. The kick in a 190 / T-Sport, DOHC VTEC Honda, is noticable, addictive and a lot of fun but like anything evetually you get used to it and get bored, thats when mods start :)
Click to expand...

Noticable and fun enough to warrant swapping a 140 version for one you reckon?
 
Also depends why you are bored of your current car. The 190 has to be pushed to get the power out of it. It is a great car if you're a fan of that sort of power delivery (I.e. it all comes right at the top of the rev band, and there's not a huge amount before). There are loads of drivers who love the thrill of keeping it the power band. The 190 is quick if you are happy to push it.

However, if you're bored of the 140 because you don't like thrashing it but would prefer more torque lower down (I know that the 140 doesn't have variable cams, but still), then it might be that the case that even the 190 won't tick your boxes.

If this is the case, some turbo petrol/diesel VAG warm hatch might be your best bet.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom