fto's

[AdamB]

I think you would have enjoyed the celica especially a GT4.
I used to get 18 MPG, tyres would last at least 8000 miles, and the oil was ?60 (trade) on a change!!  
bloody expensive to run! stick with a golf - its much easier on the pocket.

As for the "chronic fifth gear" - I've never experienced it on any of the imports I drove (150 mph on the Clock from the GT4, with a bit left to go!). But I think reputable importers remove them.
My mate's selling his MR2 because he reckons it is too tail happy in the wet!! I think he just need to slow down maybe
I have more fun in my cab than I ever did in the GT4 though

[tinman]

I was actually torn between the Celica or the Golf all those years ago. Made the right choice as Celicas are going down with age. There are no good ones left, and they are rare as anything on the roads nowadays.

Tin

[Danr]

My mr2 was great in the wet   but mine was a mk1, wish i still had it now   would look nice parked next me golf  

[warne16v]

drove my mates g reg celica gti-r a few weeks ago handling was great but didn't think acceleration was in the valvers league,but i loved looking down that bonnet with the lights up

[AdamB]

was the GTi-R the import with rear wheel steering?
I drove a prelude with rear wheel steering - it felt like the back end was sliding out on roundabouts - didn't inspire me with much confidence!!

[free]

get him on a nice bit of stright road. bout 4mile, you should get 135, 140 out of it, i did mine out 1,  .  ok so it needed a full rebuld a few months later but it did it!!

[Overseer]

never got to drive a celica... but i did drive a mk2 mr2 t-bar last summer, and I drove a tiptronic FTO a few months back..

definitely prefered the mr2.. but i wanted more seats. so that's why i was looking at celica's/fto's.. love my mk3 valver now tho

[golfvr6]

Thats a very nice motor you got there mr. overseer  

[Grovit]

Currently drive an Accord Type R which will be getting sold early next year as new house / baby etc on way.  Hence why I'm returning to my routes to buy a Mk II Golf Gti.

The Accord is a great car - Fast in a straight line and highly competent through the bends (The LSD helps with that).  It's also darned good looking (IMO) with it's nice subtle factory kit and it's purply black paint.  Also the Recarros inside are the best seats I've ever had, and it has 4 door practicality as well.  Rarity factor is high too.

However - in a way it will be a relief when it's gone.  Petrol is to be 98 RON only so Shell Potimax have done very nicely out of me thankyou very much.  The car is quite valuable and I'm paranoid about where I leave it.  Oil is fully synthetic and it seems to drink quite a lot of the Castrol RS as well.  I was that paranoid about something going wrong with the cambelt tensioners or gearbox synchro ( a common trait on Accords) that I bought an aftermarket warranty for ?275.00.  Also insurance isn't the cheapest either.

Finally build quality is not what I expected it to be.  Sure, it's acceptable but its not Germanic.  I would hand on heart say that my previous Golf and 2 previous 3 series BMW's were better built especially considering their age versus the age of the Accord.

Jap cars have there plus points (VTEC engines being the best one I think ), but would I buy another.............hmmm, not sure, probably not.