Toyota Celica (2000 – 2007) Review

Item: Toyota Celica (2000 – 2007) Review 2024
Author: Administrator

Toyota Celica 4x4 Turbo '89

£16,620

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Toyota Celica (2000 – 2007) At A Glance

Smart looks and sharp, rewarding handling. The 190 has a terrific high-revving engine. Well built and so far very reliable.

The rear seats are tight for space. VVT-i engines can develop a thirst for oil after 40k miles.

When the seventh generation of the Toyota Celica was unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in 1999, it was hailed as a return to form for the much-loved Japanese coupe. Here, finally, was a Celica that not only looked good, but handled brilliantly.

Keeping the weight down and putting a wheel in each corner was the secret to its on-road behaviour. And, thanks to the badge on the nose, reliability came as standard. Power came from the 1.8-litre petrol engine, tuned to either 140bhp or 190bhp.

At the time, it was heaped with praised and earned the label of the best-handling front-wheel driv coupe at the time. But it would be the last of its kind - after 36 years, Toyota killed off the Celica and we're still waiting for its replacement.

Ask Honest John

How much is a 2004 Toyota Celica worth?

"We have a 2004 Toyota Celica 1.8 VTTi . It's a genuine 'two lady owners' (the original and my wife for the past 4 years) with a full service history from the supplying Toyota Main Dealership for the first 16 years and a local independent garage for the past 4. It has a genuine mileage of 52,000 and full MoT. She is now downsizing and I wonder if you can give her an indicative asking price for her to sell it privately?"

This is an interesting one as it's clearly not your average 20-year-old car and has been very well cared for, with a much lower than average mileage. It sound great, but it's not an especially sought-after car. We'd try asking for around £2000 in a private sale.

Answered by Craig Cheetham

Should I buy a Toyota Celica?

"I fancy a Toyota Celica as a second car. Probably a T Sport 190 bhp (but not the GT with a big spoiler) 2005ish for approx £5,000 to £7,000. Should I buy with leather, is silver grey or red a good colour? Which model do you advise? I would buy from a garage, not private."

I see the appeal but that's quite a lot of money to spend on a 17-year-old Celica. If you're prepared to pay top money for one, you can be really picky about condition, specification and things like service history (a full history wallet is important if you're considering it as a long-term investment). They're pretty reliable but check oil levels (excessive oil consumption is common) and look out for signs of rust or general neglect. A Honda CR-Z could be an interesting, slightly newer alternative.