badmana, here in the US, you can go out and get a GTS for $22.4K. A WRX will run you $24K.
MSRP on a WRX is $35K and some change CDN. A Celica optioned out will be quite close to that. Its a fair comparison, IMHO.
OK… Bought one.
Pros - feels like youre in a sports car when you’re in the driver seat. Has a TV in the dashboard. Better rear vision than I had imagined, having driven similar low-centered cars.
Cons - mild shakes at above 100mph, and I would believe that handling becomes very suspect after that.
Summary - I’m gonna use this car to get me away for the weekends, but not for any kind of performance driving.
Actually, the new-body Celicas do remarkably well in autocross style performance driving. I believe a GT model is consistently one of the top finishers in the SCCA Solo II nationals in the G Stock class. So don’t sell it short too quickly.
I thought I’d like the new Celicas, but after riding in one I have to disagree with Consumer Reports. It’s tiny, with little rear visibility. The back seat is godawful - I’m 5’9" and my head kept hitting the ceiling and the glass. The front seats look futuristic, but they’re too firm for my taste, and the headrest doesn’t move.
One Toyota dealer I visited actually recommended an older Celica or an Acura RSX instead of the new Celica. I’d suggest trying the RSX before you decide… it has more power (160/200hp vs. the Celica’s 140/180) and more features for about same price.
I also think a WRX is a better value than a Celica. And, you get four doors, and all-wheel-drive. It’s a better sports car, AND a better car for utility. And, they’re cool. WRX’s turn heads.
WRX’s run with Audis and 3-series BMW’s. They’re in a whole other class, and not much more money.
Oh, and if the slight increase in price for the WRX is too much, look at an Impreza RS. It’s cheaper than the Celica, and it’s pretty much identical to the WRX except it’s got a 2.5L 165HP engine instead of the WRX’s high-strung turbo 227HP mill.
WRXes don’t run with Audis and BMWs. WRXes are significantly faster than pretty much any of the smaller cars those makers put out, except for the S4 and M3. A WRX will kill pretty much any of the normal cars BMW/Audi make, though.
I agree, WRX’s are not something many cars can keep up with, and I’ve raced my friend’s WRX with my Matrix XRS…it wasn’t funny.
One thing I don’t like the WRX for is lack of cup holders (only 1), horrible corning on such a powerful vehicle (holds only 0.83g stock compared to my Matrix at 0.87g), not so great stock tires, non-stainless steel exhaust and a host of other small things. It seems to me Subaru spent a lot of money on the engine and drive train but none on the frame!
All I know is that they are pretty cool looking because they stole a design off Porche, and they got excellent crash test ratings. Also, what consumer reports won’t tell you (or what I think they don’t tell you) is that the chevy impala is a pretty safe and reliable car. You can get a sport’s appearance package on it and it’s not only a sporty car, it’s very useful and economical. It has good gas mileage and the 2004 models will have a 240 hp engine (They are changing the look.). For more info. on the impala, visit this site:
http://www.chevrolet.com/ss/ss_flash.htm
Also, for the 2003 model, http://www.chevrolet.com/impala/index.html