1999 Toyota Celica Convertible review from North America

Mechanically speaking, nothing has gone wrong.

The brakes are original and don't need to be replaced quite yet. The automatic transmission shifts as smooth as butter, and the engine purrs like a kitten. The factory 8 speaker stereo sounds great, even with the top lowered.

I did have a problem with the drivers side window overlapping the rear quarter window, thus, not having a tight fit. I took the car to the dealership to have it re-aligned (under warranty). This car is a convertible, so there is no window frame for the windows to slide up into. Therefore, the windows must be adjusted perfectly.

1999 is the last year for the Celica Convertible. A new design came for 2000.

Fun to drive. Handles great and corners as if it's on rails. I've taken freeway ramp curves at 70+ MPH, and the car doesn't lean, nor do the wheels chirp.

The 2.2 liter engine borrowed from the Camry is somewhat powerful enough, but could use some more horsepower. A Honda Civic SI can easily run circles around the Celica. However, Toyota's engines have become faster in recent years, but the celica body style has changed too, unfortunately.

The front seats are very comfortable, and all of the heater/AC/Stereo buttons located on the center console are easy to reach. The back seat is cramped and will only accommodate 2 children or adults under 5'8".