Does the 6th Gen Celica make a good tuner car?

[Corbic]

I ran a search; sorry if this is an annoying post.

I'm currently looking for a cheap second car that can be used to modify. I'm not looking at dropping large sums of money, nor am I trying to get a 14 second 1/4 mile car. Any way, the 6th and 7th Gen Celica's have caught my eye. I have previously looked at 240sx's (overpriced thanks to "driftaz!"), DSMs (under reliable, overpriced) and RX-7s (uh how's this Rotary work again?).

Any way, long story short, every car on the planet has its own trade offs and I'm now looking into a Celica. What type of aftermarket is available (both cosmetic and performance)? How much power can be gained from it? Turbo S/C kits? Expensive?Is there a JDM version not available state side (like the Silvia front ends and SR20dets for the 240sx)? Over all would I be happy with "settling" for a 6th gen (can't afford a 7th unless I trade in my '99 Golf... should this be a consideration? (If so then it would need to be an auto, I'm not a fan of 5spd for daily driving, nor can my G/F drive stick).

Sorry for these newbish questions, any comments welcome
Thanks
Jack

[Kwanza]

Originally posted by Corbic
I ran a search; sorry if this is an annoying post.

I'm currently looking for a cheap second car that can be used to modify. I'm not looking at dropping large sums of money, nor am I trying to get a 14 second 1/4 mile car. Any way, the 6th and 7th Gen Celica's have caught my eye. I have previously looked at 240sx's (overpriced thanks to "driftaz!"), DSMs (under reliable, overpriced) and RX-7s (uh how's this Rotary work again?).

Any way, long story short, every car on the planet has its own trade offs and I'm now looking into a Celica. What type of aftermarket is available (both cosmetic and performance)? How much power can be gained from it? Turbo S/C kits? Expensive?Is there a JDM version not available state side (like the Silvia front ends and SR20dets for the 240sx)? Over all would I be happy with "settling" for a 6th gen (can't afford a 7th unless I trade in my '99 Golf... should this be a consideration? (If so then it would need to be an auto, I'm not a fan of 5spd for daily driving, nor can my G/F drive stick).

Sorry for these newbish questions, any comments welcome
Thanks
Jack

It'll cost a bit of money to build a 14 second 6th gen, not to mention a 14 secon AUTO 6th gen. You either swap or boost... A 7th gen GTS can get into the 14 second range with basic bolt-ons (6 speed version ONLY). Aftermarket for the 6th gen Celica is fair... It's not a Honda or a 240 drifta... but it's alright. There are a few body kits, etc... The power potential however is very big. You can easily swap in one of the best turbo 4 cylinders ever built (3SGTE) or something else. I'd just reccomend you go with a manual. Automatic trannies completely eliminate the purpose of a sporty ride. The only cool "JDM" thing for the 6th gen Celica is tail lights. If you really want to search... you can also do a Toyota Current front-end conversion... but the Curren is quite a rare car.

[Corbic]

As for auto vs. Manuel. Any second car I buy HAS to be manuel. I enjoy driving a 5spd, however for the day to day drugery I dont think I will be ear to ear after a while driving a stick. (I drive 650 miles a week).

[jhbhatia]

Might i suggest a few suggestions:

1. 5th gen alltrac
2. 6th gen 3sgte swap
3. 7th gen gt s/c
4. 7th gen gts (honestly, i don't know what all can you do with a 2zz other than simple intake, exhaust, stuff like that) no that you can't do nothing..i just don't know what!