by "Adam Stickland" (goldman27)
Published 03/01/2017 at 12:46
by "Adam Stickland" (goldman27)
Published 03/01/2017 at 12:46
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STARS: 1
I’ve personally had a liking for these cars ever since I played Need For Speed Underground 2 on my GameCube. I’m also well aware of the 2ZZ-GE motor that powers this thing, as I’ve eyed Corolla/Matrix XRS’ in the past.
The only thing is I’ve never owned one, or had a ride in one, so I’m not sure what the interior on them is like, or how they are for maintenance/ride comfort. So, I would like some opinions from you fellow Opponauts as to whether or not it’d be the sort of thing for a 20-year old to own. (Any advice regarding how they handle in the winter is greatly appreciated too!)
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
03/01/2017 at 12:49, STARS: 1
I’ve always liked them too, not the looks....oh hell no...I like the light weight, small, high revving manual havingness of them
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
03/01/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 1
I’ve rarely seen them at CP prices. They’re good cars with a good engine. Also regarding snow, less sudden oversteer but you’d be wise to get winter tires regardless of driven wheels.
"djmt1" (djmt1)
03/01/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 0
Honestly the only reason I would buy one would be to rip the engine out to put into this:
Otherwise I would go for the extra practicality in the Corolla.
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
03/01/2017 at 12:52, STARS: 0
Coworker used to have one, he liked it well enough.
I just could never get over the “fell out of the ugly tree” looks.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
03/01/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 0
You mean those things never came with a 2ZZ? That’s a crime against humanity if I’ve ever seen one!
But since all ZZW30s now require engine swaps, why not go Honda K-series or even an F-series?
"djmt1" (djmt1)
03/01/2017 at 12:57, STARS: 3
Because the 2ZZ is literally drop in and I agree when aliens decided whether or not to uplift us into the stars they will look at this decision and probably glass the planet for Toyota’s foolishness to use the 1ZZ instead.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
03/01/2017 at 12:58, STARS: 0
Maybe they didn’t want it to be too similar to the Lotus Elise.
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
03/01/2017 at 12:58, STARS: 0
A friend of mine has got a >200k km daily driver, so I guess they’re reliable. Interior is plastic fantastic for the most part, but the touch points (steering wheel, gear lever, handbrake) are great.
Not sure why it wouldn’t be a thing for a 20-yo to own?
"djmt1" (djmt1)
03/01/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 0
I don’t think Lotus would of minded since they built this for GM:
and shhh, don’t tell anybody. It was better than the Elise.
"Jarrett - [BRZ Boi]" (jarrettw)
03/01/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 0
My mother drives a ‘04 GT w/ the MT, Tsunami package.
It’s got 120,000km on it. Absolutely bulletproof. The only thing she’s had to replace early was a battery.
One thing to watch out for is insurance. It may cost a 20-year-old more to insure this than something like a 350Z. (I was able to compare rates between these 2 cars, at the time I was looking for insurance and these were what my parents owned)
These cars get a lot of flak for being FWD, slow-ish, but you can certainly do worse.
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
03/01/2017 at 13:07, STARS: 0
The Elise came with the 1ZZ as well, just not in the US.
"Adam Stickland" (goldman27)
03/01/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 0
Really? A Celica is more in insurance than a 350Z? Dang, and here I was thinking the 350 would be higher because of its street cred.
Not that I could afford a 350Z anyway. I’ve yet to see an unmodded, under 200K-km example fetch below $10K...
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
03/01/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 0
Even the last Scion tC was better than most FWD cars out there without shouting performance everywhere it went. The Celica is just fine.
"Jarrett - [BRZ Boi]" (jarrettw)
03/01/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
I imagine that it has something to do with only having 2 seats. Less passengers to maim in case of an accident.
"Adam Stickland" (goldman27)
03/01/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 0
Eh, if I can look past the likes of an Aztec, I could really care less how ugly it looks, as long as it isn’t something mainstream (i.e., Kia Sportage, Chevrolet Aveo).
"Adam Stickland" (goldman27)
03/01/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 1
*Always thought the 350Z’s actually had back seats*
*Realizes the logic behind Jarrett’s comment*
*Starts looking at MR2s...*
"feather-throttle-not-hair" (feather-throttle-not-hair)
03/01/2017 at 13:40, STARS: 1
Personally, i like them. I’ve driven one, but it was like 10 years ago, i remember it feeling pretty solid. That engine is fun, a couple of co-workers have elises and the 2ZZ is the most on/off engine ever produced on a mass scale. Yes, that doesn’t technically make it the best engine for going fast purposes, but it makes it among the most fun...hell this was already open on another tab in my browser.. https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/6011253367.html
I’m not a huge fan of the looks, but otherwise I think they’re pretty underrated. They’re crazy light, lighter than the two generations of celicas that came before them and you can feel that lightness when you go around corners. If you’re looking for a fwd performance car that will be rewarding to drive (which, i think you said you were 20? That’s a good thing to be looking for at your age) I think you can’t do much better for the price. Think of it as getting a discount based on looks.....
"Mr. Plastics powered by GreyGoose" (greygoose)
03/01/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 0
Co-worker drove me in one when I was 16. I remember thinking it was like a racecar because of the styling and a new car at the time, haha. My mind was skewed back then though. I do remember liking the gauges and they were white backlit, which was pretty neat and different from most of the green at the time.
"MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig" (MR2_FTW)
03/01/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 0
I don’t have much experience with the Celica, but I do daily drive a Matrix XRS with the 2ZZ and 6 speed. AMA.
"MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig" (MR2_FTW)
03/01/2017 at 13:49, STARS: 1
MR2 is the answer when you don’t want to assimilate into the MX5 hive mind.
"AndyG_UK" (ajg1974)
03/01/2017 at 13:51, STARS: 0
I had an 04 T-Sport (the one with the VVTL-i engine here in Europe) for nearly a year (car was only 2 years old at the time). I had always loved the look of them and looked at many before I bought the immaculate, one owner, low mileage one I bought. All the ones I had looked at and test drove previously had been the ones with the normal 140hp VVTi engine, all them with the premium interior and exterior sports packs, they were great. I saw the one I bought up for a really good price at a local Fiat dealer, had been taken in part ex against a brand new Punto TD, they just wanted it gone, hence the good price. I had never looked at the T-Sports before as they were too expensive. I regretted buying about 2 weeks after getting it. It was noisy, had to the the shit rung out of it to go fast, was not nice to drive in traffic or until it was warmed up, was only a nice car to drive on fast A and B roads, was awful on the motorway (my Abarth 500 was more civilized on the motorway!). I should have bought a VVTi engined one which had more sound insulation, softer suspension etc.
My Celica is my biggest car buying regret ever, I just not got on with it nor fell in love,I traded it in for an Astra Sri and money back my way and was glad to see the back of it.
God it was a good looking car though!!
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
03/01/2017 at 13:55, STARS: 1
Maintenance/reliability is fine. At this point you’re dealing with age more than anything else.
Driving experience is similar to an Integra GSR or RSX Type S, but the swoopier/wedgier styling in relation to those cars compromises the interior room and visibility.
Winter capability is just like any other fwd car with an open diff, which is to say very dependent on tires.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
03/01/2017 at 14:07, STARS: 0
Looks like a Mercury Cougar.
"MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig" (MR2_FTW)
03/01/2017 at 14:25, STARS: 0
It’s not EXACLTY drop in, but it’s definitely not too bad.
"The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!)" (steve-still-hasnt-wrecked-the-powershift-in-his-12-ford-focus)
03/01/2017 at 15:46, STARS: 1
My sister’s high school boyfriend had a standard GT with an automatic, so I can’t comment on the drivetrain, but I do remember the rest of the car. It was uncomfortable to get into and out of because of the low seats, had poor visibility. His leaked oil like a sieve and had a series of electrical problems, but that’s probably a function of it being owned by a recent college grad who never opened the hood while she owned it.
Also, you get a star for remember NFS: Underground 2 on Gamecube. That game was my jam in middle school/high school.
"CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)" (ccpbb)
03/01/2017 at 20:17, STARS: 1
I’m currently driving a Matrix XRS on Blizzaks, and it’s not too bad. Open diff might roast some tires prematurely if you’re not careful. Race clutches are not the way to go. Combined with the lack of sound deadening in most place and how the rear speakers are a literal sound barrier between the rear seats, there might be quite a bit of sound from the exhaust.. You can chuck it around corners. the 81k redline engine is super fun on mountain roads but can result in 11 mpg on the low end or 35 mpg on highway journeys. No one takes a second glance at you.