Celica T Sport?

Bakedgoods

Bakedgoods

Bakedgoods

Capodecina
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It's a while before I get my new car but to be honest it's pretty rare that I see one of these around and I do like the look of them (although the interior is awful).

From the reviews i've read they seem to have good handling and are reasonably quick whilst being affordable.

So what are they like? Does anyone here own one?

How to they fare against something like a Fiesta ST, or a Clio 172/182?
 
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I love Celicas too. In fact, I went to see a couple the day before, albeit the non GT versions. I think Solaris had a GT version, not sure if he still does. Surely the Celice is more of a sports coupe and not a hot hatch like the Fiesta or Clio and the handling would be different.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17889649&highlight=celica

I thought the interior wasn't bad at all; if you want awful interior, go sit in a Hyundai Coupe.

Pricewise, I do think those with decent trim packs and bodykit still command a premium.
 
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Nothing in it as far as performance goes according to Parkers (take with pinch of salt). I'd give the better handling to the Clio.

Celica - 1.8 VVTi (190ps) 3d 7.2 s 140 mph 189 bhp

Clio 182 - 2.0 16V (182ps) 3d 6.9 s 139 mph 180 bhp
 
Had one for just over three years and 70K. Sold it a month ago for something "more practical". Loved the car, was the first proper car i had.

Got it with 22K on a 03 plate in jan 06. Part chopped it last month with 94K on it. In all that time I had normal servicing done, replaced a water pump and two sets of tyres. I thought it was great running cost wise.

They come in 140 BHP and 190BHP (T-Sport are all 190's) and loads of fun once you get used to the lift. They like reving high, lift occurs at 6200 rpm and thats when they get fun. everything under that is sensible and tame.
 
A mate at work has had one for a few years.

They're very long. I mean deceptively so! And the engine isn't really that torquey all things considered, it's the revs that give it the 190 bhp. He was surprised how I could keep up over some twisty back roads but then I can imagine he'd decimate me from a standing start and on a long straight.

I'd have one anyway!

He treated it pretty badly yet it held up well so reliability seems top notch!

Oh and as plasticky the interior is, I actually quite like it but that's a personal thing I guess.

EDIT: Oh and watch the boot lid, caught my head on that a few times... Heh.
 
Hello, this is my t-sport:

290409Clean1.jpg


Lightly modded, sideskirts and replica spoiler from the GT model, lowering springs from the GT model and aftermarket alloys. Great fun to drive, the 190 vvtli works similarly to Honda's VTEC engine, its 140bhp until you get to 6.2k revs where it will give you the full 190 until the redline at 8.2k.

It doesn't have a lot of low down torque but it means you can drive the car perfectly sedately with good economy etc. until you fancy a bit of fun :) Can be quite a quick car with the right driver that can keep it in lift. Very reliable as long as you buy a facelift version in which case the lift bolts are much less likely to snap. Facelift version also comes with a much nicer darker interior (which is a bit plastic but a perfectly pleasant place to sit nonetheless, t-sports give you full leather too).

Basically I love it, brilliant handling for a FWD car, especially with the TTE springs that I have. Reliable, I would argue that there isn't much, if anything, thats better looking for the money, good boot space if you need it, great driving position etc. :)

Completely different car to the Fiesta or Clio, my mates just bought a 172 and the driving position in that car is utter gash, can't comment on the Fiesta though.
 
I'd probably own one of these if i could fit in it :p (too tall)

Whats so bad about the interior btw? it might not be to the same feel to some german cars but its hardly horrible? far from it i'd say! ;)
 
Nimzicki said:
Hello, this is my t-sport:

290409Clean1.jpg


Lightly modded, sideskirts and replica spoiler from the GT model, lowering springs from the GT model and aftermarket alloys. Great fun to drive, the 190 vvtli works similarly to Honda's VTEC engine, its 140bhp until you get to 6.2k revs where it will give you the full 190 until the redline at 8.2k.

It doesn't have a lot of low down torque but it means you can drive the car perfectly sedately with good economy etc. until you fancy a bit of fun :) Can be quite a quick car with the right driver that can keep it in lift. Very reliable as long as you buy a facelift version in which case the lift bolts are much less likely to snap. Facelift version also comes with a much nicer darker interior (which is a bit plastic but a perfectly pleasant place to sit nonetheless, t-sports give you full leather too).

Basically I love it, brilliant handling for a FWD car, especially with the TTE springs that I have. Reliable, I would argue that there isn't much, if anything, thats better looking for the money, good boot space if you need it, great driving position etc. :)

Completely different car to the Fiesta or Clio, my mates just bought a 172 and the driving position in that car is utter gash, can't comment on the Fiesta though.
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I remember seeing your pics when you first posted them. Very nice again.

2 questions:

The low driving position ever hindered parking in tight spaces? It is bigger than it looks and you can't quite see the corners when sat down (even with seat raised).

Ever managed to get 2 fully grown adults to sit in the rear seats, or do you reserve that privilege only when they need some punishment? :D
 
Thanks mate :) The driving position has never hindered parking, the fact that the previous owner removed the rear wiper though has caused a rare issue with getting out of a space on cold winter mornings though :p The problem I find with parking the car is not so much the size but all the crazy angles, especially the window line messes with your perception of what is 'straight' but then that might just be me :D

I've never tried to get anyone in the rear seats that isn't my gf but shes only 5'4 so that doesn't count. However other people on the celica club have said that normal adults will fit fine but they won't want to be there for very long ;) The rear slopes down quite dramatically so I wouldn't want to try and wedge anyone over 6 foot in there though to be fair.
 
Ive had one for 2 years and I still love it. The rear view is rubbish but you get used to it, I just open the door and lean out, its never prevented me from parking. 2 full grow adults will happily fit in the back but I wouldn't recommend it for long journeys.
 
I had a celica 140 a few years back. If you can live with the impracticalities it's good fun reliable car. Like the 190 you really have to rev it to make a decent pace so it's definately not the sort of car you can just leave in a high gear. I did a few track days and found it to be 100% reliable. I loved the driving position, you sit much lower down than you would in a clio. The interior isn't great and it's very plasticy and the glovebox was a joke not even being able to fit the log book into. The back seats can come in handy for short journies but it's going to be uncomfortable for anyone bigger than a 10 year old.
 
I'm after one of these also and I've been reading up on them a lot. I hear the brakes can be awful and corrode easily if there isn't daily use. That being said, it wouldn't stop me getting one.
 
The standard brakes aren't awful but they can corrode quite easily so most owners just upgrade to EBC brakes or similar when the corrosion sets in.
 
I funnily enough went from a Fiesta ST to a Celica GT and in all honesty you can't really compare the two.

The Fiesta was a cracking little car and I do still miss it a little bit but it just doesn't compare in the way it drives. I found the fiesta was a tad high sided and as a result wasn't as chuckable in to the corners as I would have liked. The Celica on the other hand just loves it even if the traction control does have a habit of beeping for no reason what's so ever.

I have never had any issues with people in the back of my car there is plent of leg room so my mates just kinda slouch down abit to avoid baning their head on the top. I have however found it rather tricky to park. I have only just got my car back from the garage as I had a bit of a incident and reversed down my neighbours car as I find there are several nasty blind spots so extra care has to be take doing certain manuvers.

The best way to look at the engine is to as already mentioned think of it as vtec found the the CTR/ITR but only not as violent. You can definately tell when the lift kicks in but it is no where near as raw or violent as V-Tec is.

I love my car though and I don't regret the change at all.

P.S you need to get the TRD rear lip Nimzicki :D
 
There's a good deal on a replica TRD rear on a CCUK group buy at the moment in case you missed it.
The brakes aren't bad as such they are just spongy, if you jam your foot down a bit harder they are fine but some better pads and different disks help sharpen things up.
 
WILD9 said:
There's a good deal on a replica TRD rear on a CCUK group buy at the moment in case you missed it.
The brakes aren't bad as such they are just spongy, if you jam your foot down a bit harder they are fine but some better pads and different disks help sharpen things up.
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This the Tech Carbon guy? if so I was 4th on the list :D got my C-One style scoop today so just waiting for the rear so I can get it all sprayed and fitted :cool:
 
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BenjiSayers said:
This the Tech Carbon guy? if so I was 4th on the list :D got my C-One style scoop today so just waiting for the rear so I can get it all sprayed and fitted :cool:
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How is all of his stuff? I've been following it but not religiously and not sure how happy people are with his stuff.

I heard he is replicating the Sports M skirts :drool:.
 
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