2001 Celica GT - Good, but not perfect...

I recently had an opportunity to test drive a 2001 Toyota Celica GT, and it was a mixed experience overall.

Like the Mitsubishi Eclipse, you have the fighter plane cockpit feeling when sitting behind the wheel of the Celica. This is a pro as far as I'm concerned, but even so, it isn't the most comfortable vehicle ever made. I can tolerate it's cramped interior, but others may not. Definitely try before you buy. For me, the driver's seat provided good support, especially in those high speed turns. The back seat is very small and while I *think* an average person could get in it, don't expect them to be comfortable.

This Celica GT came equipped with a 140 HP 4 banger and a 5-speed manual transmission. The four cylinder engine runs like a sewing machine and delivers the famed Toyota reliability. However, it doesn't have a lot of umph behind it. My 97 Nissan Sentra isn't that much slower, and its an econo-box. Something like a Nissan Altima V6 would eat the Celica for lunch off the line. The Celica's engine does generate some decent torque, but you have to rev pretty high before you can get it. It's low end torque pretty much doesn't exist.

The clutch is unforgiving. It's quite a bit more sensitive than the clutch in the Nissan Altima, the Honda Accord, or the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Combined with the fact that the engine generates very little low end torque and you get a potentially dangerous combination, especially for a stick-shift beginner: it's very easy to kill the engine on take off. If this were to happen while you were pulling out into busy traffic it could prove...inconvenient. Also, it could prove to be annoying to some in a heavy stop-and-go traffic situation.

On a positive note, the sensitive clutch does make the Celica very good on speed shifting.

The Celica has killer looks, IMO. The only sporty import car that is better is the Mitsubishi Eclipse, which I am reluctant to buy due to its suspect reliability. With one of the low-profile rear wings (I think the high profile ones look stupid. They just scream "look, I'm in high school") it will definitely turn heads.

The handling is superb. Might be the best handling vehicle I've ever sat in, period, the end. This nimbleness will make it good for dealing with heavy traffic.

Like any sports car, it has significant blind zones.

It also gets very good fuel economy, which is a pretty good consolation prize for its relatively weak engine. You can expect approximately 30-32 mpg on the highway.

The instrument cluster isn't anything to shout about, but it gets the job done. You do have a tachometer and a digital odometer, which are nice touches. The gauges aren't heavily recessed into the dash, which will please some. The stereo can be a bit difficult to deal with, but this has as much to do with the car being a manual transmission (and thus, you need both hands to drive) as it does with the placement. The 5-speed shifter is very ergonomic and a pleasure to use.

The stereo is about what you would expect for a factory stereo. Not bad, but if you're wanting to seriously rock out, some modification is in order.

The A/C worked fine. Not much more I can say about that. I don't know about the heater, as it was 95 degrees outside when I test drove the vehicle.