2000 Toyota Celica GT-S review from North America

First off, the variable-valve timing bolt which is also known as the "lift bolt" snapped in half not too long after I got the car. I decided to replace the head cylinder instead of extracting the bolt itself. But to give people an idea of what it does, it basically keeps the rocker arms from rotating when the intake cam engages. Therefore you get that boost at 6200rpm. Without it the power is very, very bland.

The next thing that really got on my nerves was what I thought were the brakes. It would not stop squeaking. I later found out the shims were rubbing against something inside wheel and it’d produce a squeaky sound every time the wheel rotates one revolution or so. I solved the problem recently with off the shelf lube. But it took me a while to pinpoint that problem.

The last problem I had with the car was the alternator belt. From time to time it would squeak when it’s cold or damp outside, but recently it had a continuous slipping noise that would never go away. I even sprayed it down with belt lube, but to no luck. I took it to Tuffy (shop) where they replaced it for $85.

Like most cars when I first get them, I almost never run them hard. It gets babied for months before getting let loosed. In this case, the celica was driven gently and I avoided racing it. Truthfully, I never got it passed 6200rpm for the first couple months I had it so I had no idea what sort of power was underneath it (bought the car with the intent of only cruising). My attitude changed one night when a friend of mine challenged me to race his v6 firebird. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to let out once a while. What happened next made me felt like I owned a budget Ferrari. As I was going up the rpm I could feel the power growing and all of a sudden this instantaneous rush comes out of nowhere. Wow! I thought to myself, so this is what VVTL-I feel like!? The lift was as strong as ever and the feeling was similar to a turbo (my last car was a 626 turbo and the celica certainly felt faster than it above 6000rpm). Not to mention it handles very well.

I don’t know where to begin with the appearance. It turns heads almost everywhere it goes. So much I’ve got very sick of the attention it gets. The car’s look has the aggressive stance and out of the factory it sits low to the ground. The car is lower on stock springs than most cars with aftermarket springs. Let’s just say it’s a head turner.