Toyota CELICA CABRIOLET (1994 - 1999)
MODELS COVERED:Sixth generation (ST205)March 1994 to September 1999:2-door Cabriolet 2.0 petrol
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
Although Toyotas Celica has carved a niche for itself as a sweet handling, swoopily styled sports coupe, fewer buyers associate the brand with convertibles. The Celica generation produced from 1994 to 1999, known as the ST205 series, produced a Cabriolet model that went almost unnoticed by the British public. Thats good news for used buyers, because if they can track one down, theyll be rewarded with a very underrated vehicle at ultra competitive prices.
The Celica Cabriolet is a delightfully benign boulevardier with a surprising turn of pace when prodded into life. Agreeably practical for a convertible and with generous equipment levels, it also offers peerless reliability and ease of driving. If you want a sporty handler or a car that has interior styling to match todays best you may be disappointed but on most other counts the Celica Cabriolet does the business.
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Prices for the Celica Cabriolet open at £4,000 for the first of the 1994 L registered cars and £4,500 for the first L-plate cars. A 1996 N plate example will retail at around £5,400 whilst the final V-plate cars will fetch nearer £9,000. Insurance is a hefty Group 16.
The legendary
Toyota build quality means theres mostly nothing in particular to watch out for. The engines and gearboxes are strong and long lived, while even the high-performance versions will provide years of hassle-free motoring if regularly maintained. Alloy wheels should be free of corrosion, while the electrically operated hood should function without a hitch and be free or rips or discolouration. A fair proportion of used Celica Cabriolets on the UK market are grey imports from Japan.
As long as they have their SVA documentation in place and you are buying from a reputable source, these cars often offer a cut-price alternative. Remember that rustproofing will not be as comprehensive as UK cars and some minor trim items may be more difficult to get hold of. The flipside is that these cars are usually better specified and will have fewer miles on the clock. You pays your money and takes your choice.
(approx. based on a 1996 2.0 Cabriolet) A clutch kit will set you back about £100, while a complete exhaust system will be about £850, though this includes £450 for the catalyst. A replacement starter motor will be around £135, a radiator about £250 and an alternator close to £190.
As for shocks, fronts are about £55 and rears a pricey £150, with brake pads around £50 a set. A major service should be about £160 and minor one just under £90.
Roadholding levels are surprisingly high for such a relaxed open top and the chassis is admirably rigid. Whereas in many rivals the rear view mirror will jiggle and shake as the car traverses road imperfections, the Celica Cabriolets body is well controlled. Refinement is good with the hood in place although normal conversation becomes tricky much above 50mph with it lowered. With 173bhp on tap the Celica has a fair turn of pace and the engine is a sweet 2.
0-litre unit that will rev to its red line with no trace of harshness. All in, the Celica Cabriolet feels a class act.
It almost seems cruel to hand over as little as £6,000 for a well looked after Celica Cabriolet for which the original owner spent over £30,000 but sometimes these things have to be done What youll end up with is an unspectacular but very competent convertible that wont cost a fortune to run and which can still turn heads.
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