Corollas Vs. Celica

How are celicas in reliablilty, drive train, performance, modability, etc. Compared to the corolla?

Are you looking for a Celica Twinky?

It depends on the generation of Celica you are talking about. Generation to generation they are vastly different cars. Some are RWD with I4 and V6 engines, some are FWD with small I4 engines, some are AWD with various engines. In general Celicas are better performers than Corollas, especially the GT-s, SUPRA or top level trims. They typically have better suspensions, bigger brakes, larger wheels and tires. Lower level trims are a lot like a Corolla in some generations, take the last Celica for instance, it was highly similar to the Corolla in many ways. Some generations of Celicas are more modible than others. The ones that are highly similar to the Corollas don't have as many mods available, especially powertrain mods. As for reliability, it's good but not Corolla good. It isn't necessarly that the Celica is a more unreliable car. What happens is that Celicas are typically driven harder than Corollas, and they tend to reflect this fact when you are buying one used.

Hope this helps

Depends on the trim of Celica - GT or GT-S? Reliability is relative to the car - in many ways the two share similar powertrains, but the Celica will probably be "driven" harder than the Corolla.

Celica has a little better performance - engine for engine - compared to the Corolla (1ZZ-FED vs 1ZZ-FE). Doesn't have to meet the same target for noise, fuel economy, and demographic that the Corolla was aimed at. Early 7th gen Celica GT-S models were plagued with VVTL-i pin issues and bent valves from mis-shifts. I've known several people that have gone through more than one engine with in the first year of ownership (more driver fault than build quality - but the design doesn't help either).

Biggest difference would be the number of available aftermarket support. Celicas are in a much better position than the Corolla - but not as good as they used to be. Coupled with poor sales, higher insurance rates, and overall functionality - killed off the Celica.

I found myself in a similar situation to yours several years ago. I was on my 3rd car, and was dissatisfied with it in many ways. My beloved convertible was a fun to drive car with every feature known to man, it looked flashy and it helped me to live a carefree lifestyle. The Lincoln I drove was good for taking people places in style and comfort, it was nicer than any other car parked at my Highschool, including the teacher's cars, and man could it git. The 4.6L 290 HP 32V V8 coupled with four wheel disc ABS and an electronically adjustable suspension and steering made for one sweet car. The Contour wasn't any of the things the Lincoln or the Chrysler was. It didn't have many of the features the other cars had, it didn't look flashy, etc. I disliked it the entire time I owned it. When I went to replace it I was faced with a decision. I had driven many other cars, with many different characteristics. I knew I didn't like the Contour but I had to decide with what I could replace it with. I sat down and wrote what I wanted out of a car. I then looked at the list a week later and started crossing off things. A week's time was all it took for me to get rid of all the things I thought I wanted from a car that I really didn't want. This lead me to a much shorter list that the Corolla more than satisfied.

Maybe you should try something similar. I'll give you an example of what I did.

Must haves:

-2 doors

-Alloy Wheels 15" or greater

-Foglights

-Sunroof

-Keyless Entry

-Crusie

-6 Disc changer and Ipod control

-Power windows/locks/mirrors

-Power driver's seat

-Heated mirrors and rear defroster

-9.0 cubic foot or larger cargo space

-Little chrome on exterior

-ABS

-Remote truck release

-Folding rear seats

-Factory Anti-Theft

Nice to haves:

-Leather seats/wheel/shifter

-Automatic transmission

-Self dimming mirror

-Compass

-Outside temp gauge

-Automatic headlamps

-Key as remote

-Pollen filter

and there were others. After a week I eliminated some of the requirements because I felt them unnecessary. I had only owned one two door car, and I liked but not because it had two doors. I also ditched the heated mirrors and power driver's seat because while my other cars had them, they weren't things I actually used. Only one of my other cars had foglights and they always were burnt out, so I knocked that off the list. Two of my other cars had leather interiors which I didn't really care one way or the other on. There were of course more things I eliminted off the list.

This basically lead me to choose between 5 or 6 cars and then I started narrowing from there. At long last it was between the Civic Coupe EX and the Corolla LE. The Civic had one main advantage, the EX had all the features I was after as standard features and I wouldn't have a hard time getting the Civic I wanted. However, it was more expensive than a Corolla with the same features, it cost more to insure and the nearest Honda dealer was 45 miled from home and 50 miles from school. In the end the Corolla won out because of cost, and dealer proximity.

Decide what you really want out of a car, not only now, but into the future a couple of years. Then decide what will fit those needs and then pick what makes most sense for you. It may not be your Corolla, who knows what it will be. Just remember that making a decision about your car based on the now often leads you into a situation where you are stuck with a car that doesn't fit your needs.

Had I done that when I bought my Corolla I would have bought a Celica GT-S or a Tiburon GT, which would have definately been better looking and faster cars. But the cars would have been dissappointing when it came time to return to school and I couldn't haul my stuff or my friends around.

I was in a similar setup with my Corolla - nothing wrong wanting a little bit more power, disc all around would be nice (at least a heck of a lot easier to change), decent aftermarket support, reliability, safety, decent gas mileage. In the end - it was cheaper to get another car to get those features.

Also S/C Corollas due use more gas - the fuel system stays the same, but the S/C adds a 5th injector for A/F enrichment, and runs your existing injectors longer. But stay off the gas and mileage is not too bad - maybe a 10% hit. Stay on it and I've heard that some guys get mileage in the teens with the S/C.

Some people have tried fitting the TRD supercharger into 8th gen Corollas - but I have yet seen or heard of one that is working. There was a guy on another forum that was going to prototype the TRD S/C fitment for the 8th gen Corollas (already pretty far into a turbo kit, already setup rear-disc kit for 8th gen Corollas). But like most things in life - he got screwed big time - but should be up and running very soon (if he hasn't laready done so). He sometimes posts here - goes by Dr. Tweak. Right now he is looking for someone to part with their car to use a test mule for a turbokit. But will not be free - the guy needs to eat too - I think he was asking for about $5K for everything (pretty cheap really).

Twinky,

I didn't have to think about what I need in a car that much but I did to keep me from making mistakes. I suggest you think hard as well. There isn't anything quite like the feeling of disliking the car you have when you could have had what you wanted had you known what it was you wanted. I wanted to be decisive this time and get something I would like the entire time I owned it because it was exactly what I wanted. That meant custom ordering a 19K Corolla. It took 3.5 or 4 months, but it got me exactly what I wanted, almost. I ordered the car with the 6 spoke alloys and it came with 5 spoke alloys. Well, I was so set on the exact car I ordered and am so picky when it comes to cars that I wouldn't take it as it was. The dealer had to swap one of their Corollas for another one from another dealer 60 miles away that had the wheels I wanted so they could swap the wheels with the wheels on mine and get me to take the car.

Anyhow, the 9th generation Corolla has a folding rear seat as a standard feature and the trunk is larger than the 8th generation. However, the XRS doesn't have a folding rear seat because it compromised the rigidity of the car too much and caused suspension troubles. Another car I can suggest for you that has decent cargo space, good power, decent fuel economy and is a good handler is the VW GTi. It isn't cheap to maintain, it is kind of hard to find one compared to the Corolla and it doesn't have Corolla like reliability but it is a more fun to drive and faster car with good cargo space and a certain coolness factor.

fish, dr tweak is VERY active on 6gc.net. he does alot of 6th gen celica swaps at pheonix performance and does alot of wireharnesses for peoples swaps.

So I guess I can get a newer more current corolla, but they are too bulbous, bubbly, big, tall, and eggy. The tires look too small for the car like its misproportioned. The 3 biggest things about the current corolla I don't like, shape, turning radius is larger, and the ride height. Wow, I drove an 03 corolla S and wow just wow, I felt like I was sitting almost as high as a 2000 pickup truck, and the suspension did not feel sport tuned at all, it felt too mushy and I couldn't feel the road as much as my 98 corolla can. So my other alternative is getting a good gas mileage vehicle that is more modable, toyota, and more hp.

Twinky,

I've driven lots of different types of cars and I know one thing: Any given car has a mission in life, you can only measure it against what it's mission is, and nothing else.

A Corolla isn't meant to be a sports or sporty car. It isn't meant to be fast, it isn't meant to be connected to the road, it isn't meant to be alot of the things you seem to want out of a car. Car and Driver said it best, a Corolla is an excellent transportation appliance. Its mission in life is to be an inexpensive to own and operate car with excellent reliability. It does that perfectly.

Is that what I want out of a car, is my ultimate dream car a transportation appliance? No it isn't. My dream car is a lightweight sports-like car with a convertible top and a totally connected driving experience. But that isn't what is best for me now. It isn't what I need to haul my stuff, it isn't good for taking my friends out on a Friday night. It won't let me give freshman who don't have cars rides home on weekends.

If you want a car with the connectedness and all that, try a Mazda3s. I've been driving one of those for the better part of a year and it is a pseudo-sports car. It has a sexier look than the Corolla, bigger wheels (17"), ground effects, the euro tails, etc. The interior is hot. The handling, braking, steering are all tight and sports car like. The acceleration is good on mine but won't be as good on one you can buy. I have the non Cali version, you get saddled with all that emissions crap and a lower performing engine, but it's still faster than a Corolla. It comes in a 5 door hatch and a 4 door sedan. Trunk space is tighter than the 9th generation Corolla in the sedan but bigger than the 8th generation. It comes with standard folding seats and stabilizer bars front and rear, 4 wheel disc brakes are also standard and there is the optional automatic transmission called the Sport AT that is a blast to drive. It's just like a stick but it downshifts for you when you stop and you don't have a clutch.