Comments: 1-15, 16-17
My concern is with the fact that Toyota Canada is reported to be so exceptional with customer service. My experience has been the contrary. The Celica GTS has next to no low-end torque and Toyota offers no aftermarket parts to up the ante. They didn't even respond to my request. After I had a true cold air intake system added to give me some "get up and go" I had my engine light come on and noticed some rattles from my exhaust. I asked my dealer about this and they didn't even care to respond. I also wanted to have their credit dept. allow me to pay my monthly's on my credit card and they simply stated: "no, we don't allow that and it won't change in the future". They simply don't care about customer service. It is a joke. Never will they get me again!
Probably the reason they won't let you pay your "monthly" on your credit card is because they would have to pay a fee to the credit card company every time you did so.
Probably you should have found out before you bought the car whether they would allow you to charge your card for the car payments.
I have found my local dealerships service department very unhelpful. I took my car in over 2 weeks ago because the engine malfunction light is on. They said the part was ordered. This morning I go to start my new celica and it won't even start. I call the dealership and they tell me nobody is available in the service dept. I am left high and dry the entire weekend without a car.
The reason why the dealership is no longer helping you is because you've added a non-standard (and presumably not approved by Toyota) cold air intake and this will almost certainly have clobbered the warranty.
If the power delivery of the engine was not to your liking why did you buy the car in the first place?
To respond to why I purchased the Celica when the low-end torque is so poor and also about warranty: I purchased the Celica because it looks much better than any other car in its price range (and that counts for quite a bit, too). Also, no, my warranty is not voided because I added a cold-air intake. Obviously I checked with the service provider who did it before I had it installed. The car is still under warranty with an added cold-air intake. The point is, though, I shouldn't have had to do that when Toyota could simply improve the performance of the vehicle in this area (it would not be hard for them to do).
The "service provider" isn't affiliated with or approved by Toyota.
If you fit any engine parts to this car that aren't supplied and fitted by a main dealer the warranty will be voided.
End of story.
My celica 2004 I have also had a lot of problems with the engine light came on the window seals keep coming down and water leaks in and my toyota dealer keeps saying they fix it and they don't also, I have a radeling in the engine and my car has lost power I don't understand whats wrong with it...
I wanted to buy a celica. It looked good, had a great seating position, handled well, and had kick butt fuel economy for a sport style car. But I thought it was a over priced for what you got. You could get other cars that perform just as well for around 5000 to 7000 dollars (cdn) less (celica GT model). The GTS would be awesome if it wasn't 31000 bucks (yikes!). I guess that's why these cars are being discontinued at the end of 2005. The celica is over priced and is not selling.
So someone actually buys a celica, does a minor modification (a cool air intake... COME ON!?) and Toyota compeletly ignores them. That sounds about right. They came across as being extremely pompous when I was inquiring about purchasing a celica.
I guess they sell enough cars to not give a damn. Well, I guess when they got your money...
You could force them to accept payment by credit card by stopping your normal payment system.
When they ask for payment, say you can only pay by credit card.
They won't like doing it as it's more work for them, but it can be done.
It is reasonable for them to ask an extra 1.75% or so to compensate them for the card company's fee.
Not the best method, though.
No manufacturer will sanction fitting a cold air intake because they are vulnerable to water splashes and hydro-lock (water being sucked into the engine, and bending all the connecting rods when the pistons try to compress it).
The celica's engine is a 2ZZ GE which is an aluminium block wt a short stroke and wider bore as cf wt the 1ZZ GE. hence it was fundamentally designed for high revs. the 1ZZ engines are more practical, has good low end torque, but not as much high end bhp as cf the 2zz GE (note Lotus elise uses the same engine) so it was Toyota's intention to provide an engine for revvy, race day kindaa driving.. not really for town driving. Perhaps you could theoretically supercharge it and get your low end torque and low end performance a boost, but that would prob void your warranty... unless you get a TRD supercharger. let us know wat happens.
I had a 1989 Celica until the other day. It had a 2000cc 16 valve motor. The car seemed lacking in torque even when it was new as I was a V8 man before buying it. When new, it got 41 mpg at 55 mph with no stops, so I happily outgrew my need for power. I test drove the new Celica and it, too lacks power and has even less torque at the same rpm than my '89 Celica. The rpm redline on these new Celicas seems more appropriate for an R/C car or even an old slot car, but I would still buy it if I could afford it because it looks terrific and would save me BIG MONEY at the gas pump. Trouble is the sticker price isn't $14K anymore, so I am forced to look at Hyundai cars as a cheap substitute.
I own a 2004 Celica GT-S with action package. I paid way too much for it, about 28k.
I'd say the best part of the car is the look and style. It is not as fast as it looks.
I have had so many problems already, and it's only a year and a half old.
My CD player in it had to be replaced twice, belts in my transmission have been replaced, my stock body kit was falling off, my sunroof had a leak, and now I have high squeaking noises that I need to get checked, but I think the belts need to be lubricated.
I can swear there is something wrong with the transmission, cause the car seems to jump to the next gear or it will hesitate to go into the next gear, but the dealership say it's fine, of course. I am a 21 year old female, they think I am ignorant.
The warranty is a rip-off. In the small print in the manual it states that in order for you to get your "how many year/mile" warranty you need to keep up with the nonsense maintenance which is about $300 every some 15k miles, and to tell you the truth they just review your car, they don't do any work on it (they may replace a wiper).
Another thing is the car is extremely loud inside, on the highway going 70mph you need to blast your radio to hear it. And be sure to have your gas cap click 3 times to close, or you will be sitting at the dealership for 3 hours when your check engine light comes on like mine did.
Any specific questions you can e-mail me at XoCutieoX12@yahoo.com.
This car is way over priced for the type of car it really is. When I was looking for a new car, I test drove one of these. It might look alright, but it is so slow. My bicycle can go faster. This car does 0-60 in about 3 days. Oh and every one I see on the road there is a girl behind the wheel. I have come to the conclusion that it is not a very "manly" car. Toyota made a smart move by discontinuing this car. Its not like they don't sell enough vehicles anyway. I got a Nissan 350Z, and it is so much better than the Celica.
Wow... sounds like a great car. I have to get a look at one up close. I usually don't see them often, but sometimes I do see them in the rear view mirror of my Lancer Evo 8.
What sort of comment was the last one?? 22nd aug '06.
This review isn't about who's car is quicker the reviewer is stating what the car is like to own etc. not whether the lancer is quicker (which it is) but then it is ina completly diffrent class to the celica.
And if were going to start being petty and comparing cars in that way I will let you eat my dust in my 650 hp cossie!