Used Toyota Celica (6th-gen) review

Likes

Superb reliability and longevity (if maintained)
Good levels of practicality
Typical Toyota build quality
Not commonly purchased by hoons so hopefully a safe history

Dislikes

Does not come close to meeting modern safety standards
Not overly sporty for a sports car
Finding a good one may be a challenge
High potential for crash damage

Get Finance

See video on youtube

Publish: October 15, 2021

Stuff you should know

It’s been 15 years since the Celica bowed out of the market, leaving behind a wildly varied seven generations that kicked off in 1971 and went on to underpin a rich (and occasionally) infamous motorsport providence stretching from WRC to Bathurst production car victories and Pikes Peak Hill Climbing.

While less heroic than Supra nor as sporty as MR2, Toyota’s everyman/everywoman sport coupe once enjoyed major widespread appeal: well over four million units sold globally, some 112,000 in Australia. Despite some tasty rally-bred homologation GT-Four specials (ST165/ST185/ST205), more pedestrian versions have (as yet) failed to muster up much of a cult following with car fans. And thus, used Celicas have become one of the thriftiest choices for cheap used sport coupe.

And none riper for the picking or leaner on the hip pocket than the sixth-generation ‘S200’, the inimitable ’90s Celica sold local between early 1994 and replaced by the sharply chiseled ‘S230’ seventh generation by the turn of the century. Toyota Australia puts total gen-six sales at 10,994 units.

Our staple version was the ST204R series, a three-door liftback powered by the 2.2-litre naturally aspirated 5F-SE four driving the front wheels through a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed auto transmissions. The ‘S200’ gen was also sold as a two-door coupe or convertible in various overseas markets.

It launched in high ZR trim from around $43k and was joined, in 1995, by an entry SX guise some eight-grand cheaper. Its 100kW and 196Nm was, for its day, not too shabby, though its somewhat leisurely nine-second amble to 100km/h from a standstill wasn’t much to write home about.

Still, at around 1200kg, there’s not much to the sixth-gen Celica: you still had to option air-conditioning, even on the ZR, though cruise control, CD player and dual airbags were standard fitment in top spec. (Airbags were optional on SX). Its light weight made for a reasonably sporty vibe and a modicum of athletic ability in the corners, even if the most bulbous Celica in history failed to drum up kudos as a proper driver’s machine.

Towards the S200’s twilight, in 1998, a mid-grade SX-R joined the Celica fray, essentially the base SX with a smattering of tart-ups, including red/black interior styling. However, the six-generation didn’t enjoy much evolution under its curvaceous skin throughout its lifecycle. A handful – some 77 examples – of pukka ST205 GT-Four Rallyes made it to Oz in 1994, more than a few ending up as Toyota dealership principals’ ‘demonstrators’ and are now prized, big-dollar collectibles.

The regular ST204R is vastly humbler. While not as collectable as earlier models or nearly as sharp – in all senses – as its feisty seventh-gen 140kW ST230 replacement, the regular sixth-gen machinery makes for a fairly interesting, reasonably stylish used wallet-buster.

Second hand? More likely fourth, or sixth, or eleventh. Later-day ’90s Celica are unicorns in anything like fit condition and there’s fair chance a budding new custodian will inherent the past ‘crimes’ of owners past. Few will have been babied, solid servicing histories will be veritable crap-shoots, and many examples still on the road will have lapped Planet Earth more than a handful of times. You have been warned…

Read on for tips on how to arm oneself on safari to unearth a decent example of Toyota’s sporty buck-banging liftback coupes. Or what sort of potential horrors might await eager tyre-kickers.

What goes wrong

Look for rust. Make sure to check the sills, especially where the door meets the front wing, the wheel arches, the exhaust, be sure to inspect underneath the car and check the underbody. Also look around the windows and windscreen, under the bonnet and in the boot, be sure to lift up the carpets in the boot for signs of rust as well.
Make sure to check for accident damage and repair work carried out incorrectly or poorly. E.g check that the panel gaps are accurate, the paint matches in colour and texture and there is no over spray in the engine bay or under the wheel arches.
Interior trim can fall apart of peal from door cards however, this is easily fixed.
Drivers seats are most likely beginning to show their age with torn materials, again, easily fixed.
Mechanically there are no “common” issues or faults as such but it is critical that a car of this age (and most likely very high mileage) has a full and thorough service history.
It’s important to understand that buying a car of this vintage will require regular maintenance and expect to replace items such as suspension struts/shock absorbers, clutches, brakes and general consumables on a potentially regular basis.
It is critical to know when the timing belt has been replaced. If there is any doubt on when the timing belt was last replaced, replace it immediately. A broken timing belt generally equates to engine failure which to repair, may cost more than the car.

Look for rust. Make sure to check the sills, especially where the door meets the front wing, the wheel arches, the exhaust, be sure to inspect underneath the car and check the underbody. Also look around the windows and windscreen, under the bonnet and in the boot, be sure to lift up the carpets in the boot for signs of rust as well.
Make sure to check for accident damage and repair work carried out incorrectly or poorly. E.g check that the panel gaps are accurate, the paint matches in colour and texture and there is no over spray in the engine bay or under the wheel arches.
Interior trim can fall apart of peal from door cards however, this is easily fixed.
Drivers seats are most likely beginning to show their age with torn materials, again, easily fixed.
Mechanically there are no “common” issues or faults as such but it is critical that a car of this age (and most likely very high mileage) has a full and thorough service history.
It’s important to understand that buying a car of this vintage will require regular maintenance and expect to replace items such as suspension struts/shock absorbers, clutches, brakes and general consumables on a potentially regular basis.
It is critical to know when the timing belt has been replaced. If there is any doubt on when the timing belt was last replaced, replace it immediately. A broken timing belt generally equates to engine failure which to repair, may cost more than the car.

Look for rust. Make sure to check the sills, especially where the door meets the front wing, the wheel arches, the exhaust, be sure to inspect underneath the car and check the underbody. Also look around the windows and windscreen, under the bonnet and in the boot, be sure to lift up the carpets in the boot for signs of rust as well.
Make sure to check for accident damage and repair work carried out incorrectly or poorly. E.g check that the panel gaps are accurate, the paint matches in colour and texture and there is no over spray in the engine bay or under the wheel arches.
Interior trim can fall apart of peal from door cards however, this is easily fixed.
Drivers seats are most likely beginning to show their age with torn materials, again, easily fixed.
Mechanically there are no “common” issues or faults as such but it is critical that a car of this age (and most likely very high mileage) has a full and thorough service history.
It’s important to understand that buying a car of this vintage will require regular maintenance and expect to replace items such as suspension struts/shock absorbers, clutches, brakes and general consumables on a potentially regular basis.
It is critical to know when the timing belt has been replaced. If there is any doubt on when the timing belt was last replaced, replace it immediately. A broken timing belt generally equates to engine failure which to repair, may cost more than the car.

While this generation Celica is not overtly sporty or fast, it lacks in providing any level of modern safety standards, it also lacks any sort of technology and they are getting quite old and have most likely travelled hundreds of thousands of kilometres, there is a substantial flip side to these points.

Considering what this generation of Celica generally costs to buy currently, there are very few other cars that offer such incredible reliability and genuine longevity while still being highly enjoyable to drive while providing such understated sports car styling and dynamics.

Plus as this generation of Celica was never known to be an overt performance car, there is a high chance the example still running haven’t been all that appealing to abusive or anti-social owners, and therefore, they are hopefully in better condition than some of the other sports car alternatives.

We highly recommend buying this generation Celica but this recommendation comes with conditions.

Refer to our used car buying guide and only purchase an example that it is in excellent condition, has a full and thorough service history and shows no signs of abuse, mistreatment or questionable repair work.

Note: We’d recommend a thoroughly serviced, well cared for Celica with higher kilometres over a lower kilometre example with a questionable history.