![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() Enthusiast ![]() ![]() ![]() Joined Mar 14, '03 From Long Beach, CA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) ![]() |
The Death of the Celica may mark a new era of toaster vehicles as sales of the Celica slow. This is possibly due to the low price of the Z and the Celica's approching cost of the Z. Initially, Celica sales were up almost 230% from the 6G but sales have reportedly deteriorated.
The death of the Honda Prelude may of influenced Toyota's decision to eliminate the Celica for the 8th generation (in U.S. anyway). What will replace it? Most likely the xC...Toyota Caldina. (or the Corolla hatchback) More as more develops... -Nate ![]() (I really really hope this ISN'T true) |
![]() |
![]() |
|
||
Enthusiast ![]() Joined Nov 25, '03 From Mizzeri Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) ![]() |
Well, I am probably going to get flamed on this, but I disagree with those of you that are calling the Celica a sports car. Now, I do agree that it is a sporty, fun-to-drive car, but a sports car it is not.
The definition above doesn't really address drive wheels, and I may date myself by saying so, but I feel that a sports car has to be rear wheel drive. Again, not trying to knock the Celica, or start a flame war. I would hate to see the Celica die out, but honestly, I wouldn't be suprised to see it happen. It seems that more and more people are so influenced by horsepower figures. Fine. The Celica doesn't put down impressive numbers in that arena, and perhaps this contributes to its populatiry over the last decade. What it does have (or more aptly, doesn't have) is weight. Ever see curb weights on sales brochures? On TV ads? Hell, ever time I see a commercial for a car, it seem they are telling me what horsepower it has. What good is 200 or so horsepower if the friggin thing weights 3000-odd pounds? Part of the problem is that it costs considerably more to reduce the weight of a car than to drop in a bigger/heavier motor that pushes more horsepower. Remember that a car manufacurer also has to meet industry crash standards, so weight trimming has to be done with this in mind. Unobtanium parts can be used, but drive up the base price of the vehicle. It is a heck of a lot easier to slap the public in the face with 200 Horsepowah!! and just skirt the fact that in order to do that they just dropped in a cast-iron v8, so the car's now a porker and corners like the QE2. I am willing to pay a premium for a car that is light on its feet. This often means that the displacement is low (and power is not intimidatingly large). I think that fewer and fewer people feel the same, and even less are willing to fork over a bit more for said nimbleness. I think the Celica is a great mix of practical and sporty. My liftback can carry my drumset, or a set of race tires, or herd of rabid hedgehogs... Okay, so I haven't actually tried the last one, but you get my point. I like the versatility. I hope it doesn't go by the wayside, but I am afriad that the public's perception of what is important in a vehicle has changed... for the worse. |
||
![]() ![]() |
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: May 25th, 2025 - 11:19 AM |