Celica Review (Part 2)

6: Running costs (Rating: 8/10)
With the newest Celicas now several years old, even good low-mileage cars aren’t worth what they were, so depreciation is less of an issue than ever. As a result, thanks to the Celica’s excellent reliability record, it’s possible to run a Celica for a surprisingly small amount.

It’s not all plain sailing though, because if you’re an enthusiast driver the fuel consumption can be painful at just 20mpg for a hard-driven Celica 190. Insurance shouldn’t be too costly though, as 140bhp Celicas are in insurance group 13 and the 190bhp jumps just a couple of groups.

7: Reliability (Rating: 8/10)
In typical Toyota fashion there’s little to worry about when it comes to reliability, as even hard-driven cars seem to give few problems. However, there are one or two things that it’s worth keeping an eye out for. Perhaps the most important is whether or not the car is a grey import. If it is, not only might the car not have the correct UK specification, but it may also not be properly rustproofed, so watch out for corrosion in the floorpans and inner wheelarches.

Heavy oil consumption is normal; a litre every 600 miles is usual once 40,000 miles have been clocked up, so check the engine hasn’t been run without any oil. You should also ask if there have been any ECU upgrades to increase the power. If so, the car may have been thrashed mercilessly so check for play in the transmission as well as worn tyre shoulders to indicate hard driving.

8: Safety (Rating: 10/10)
Toyota didn’t put the Celica through any EuroNCAP crash tests, so it has no rating. However, the car’s standard equipment list should offer some reassurance as it includes disc brakes all round with anti-lock technology and electronic brake force distribution as standard. Even better, posher Celicas are fitted with stability control, brake assist and traction control – but entry-level models don’t come with these features, unfortunately.

There are also twin front airbags along with side airbags too, plus seatbelt pre-tensioners, three-point belts for those in the rear as well as the front, plus side impact bars in the doors. So in short, the Celica comes with all the safety kit you could want, to help you avoid a crash or look after you in the event of one.

9: Equipment (Rating: 10/10)
In typical Japanese fashion, this is one of the Celica’s high spots, as it comes with a raft of standard equipment for which you’d pay extra if buying from many of Toyota’s rivals. For example, leather trim, an electric sunroof, CD player and climate control are all standard, with the only major options being metallic paint and 17-inch wheels; the standard items measure 16 inches across.

10: X-Factor (Rating: 10/10)
With good looks, decent dynamics, superb reliability and masses of standard equipment, the Celica makes a great sporting buy. The cabin lets it down, but in return there’s reasonable practicality while purchase costs are admirably low.