Celicas?....slow? Options

[rzanology]

This is something that’s been in the back of my mind every time I take my car our for a spirited drive. I keep remembering people saying "those cars are slow" or "our cars are slow." I'm have a veeery hard time understanding where they are coming from. Back when I had the 7a in my car...I could see that point to a certain extent. But even against other 1.8...the 7a still fairs very well. Now 3 weeks after my 5s swap....I find my car is ridiculously fast. It doesn’t make sense how fast this car is. I've had everything from 2000 maximas...GSRs and even civic with b18 swaps trying to catch up. And this is with a slipping clutch. The car gets to 100 every time with out a problem. When compared to other cars in its class like the eclipse or even the 240....the specs are pretty much even. Not to mention the celica is way lighter than both. My question is....why do people keep saying stock celicas are slow?

If people knew what strong performers these cars were and the type of potential they have...they'd be a lot more popular.

[Akimbo]

GSR's and b18 civics?

With all due respect, a Celica will lose to either of those. I also find it hard to believe we're any faster than a Maxima. Maybe you should drive something else to base your opinion on. I think 5SFE's are slow, yes.

[rzanology]

a few weeks ago i was with you on that one. Have you tried any of them to see where you fit in? I have 3 maximas under my belt....95...2000 and one of the other ones...think it was a 92 or 93. There were always people in the car with me or on the road to watch it. I think from a rolling start the 2.2 is nothing to play with.

but you still never answered the question....why do you think they are slow?

This post has been edited by rzanology: Jun 14, 2006 - 3:43 PM

[CelicaST202]

7a and 5s not fast enough, unless its 3SGTE or SR20DET.

[Michelle95celica]

I have the 2.2 5SFE in mine and before getting my Celica I had a '96 Chrysler Sebring LXi with the 2.5 V6 in it, that seemed pretty fast but my Celica seems faster, my buddy has a '93 Taurus (not a SHO) with a V6 and he can keep up with my '98 Neon (SOHC/Auto) but he can't beat my Celica, I pull away from him with ease...then again my car has no backseat and no interior materials from the front seats on back, LOL.... I have raced a few local cars including an '00 Civic SI, a mid '90s Integra, a '95 or '96 Prelude, and a few ZX2s and beat them all, none of them have any major mods besides a muffler, intake, maybe a header but then again neither do I, besides I have Nology Hotwires, new performance plugs, an Apexi muffler, and a worn Weapon R intake, so I would estimate that my car probably has about 145-150 HP, probably a little bit les but it pulls hard and gets to triple digits fairly smoothly, it's not superfast but it does perform better that you'd think a litle 4cyl would, some of my friends thought of it as slow too...I do however want to turbo it just so I can hear that sweet little WHOOSH..chiff chiff chiff...LOL

[Manta5x]

I was near a Chevy Monte Carlo and it took off... it looked like how the enterpise on star trek the next generation looks when it goes into warp.

[j0e_p3t]

my st's pretty fast... until it reaches about 3500 rpm.

[crismillencolin]

After owning a 96 2.0 16v prelude and now a ss1 (3sfe) 2.0 16v celica i think my celica is slow.......it gets to 80-90mph fine but after that its a bit ... ... .. well... ... .... ghey . The prelude shot to 130mph (on private ground) without me even really noticing , i highly doubt the celica (JDM - still 112mph blocked) would even get near that

[fastcelica20]

yeah. another celica vs civic/maxima/etc etc. i must say the 5sfe isn't as slow. its not fast. it's not slow. its just okay. im a pretty average guy (5'9, 165ish lb) and my celica pulls nicely though NOT fast. you guys must be very light if your celica is going fast. but guys put in a 3sgte and you'll zoom zoom zoom.

[thedro]

yeah, when i first got my car (5sfe) i thought it performed the same as a se-r spec v or at least i could keep up wit it and not lose it.. but i raced my cousins se-r spec v which had had headers, cai, totally un restricted exhaust and i realized how foolish i was. mine was totally stock but still my goal was to keep up, and he flew right by me as if i was parked.

i see our cars as a not fast car, but faster than normal cars. ive taken on civics, eclipses, and 240sx's. but they are all stupid ricers, who put fart cans on. and as years go by, faster 4 cyl cars keep comin out. the srt4, rsx s, ser spec v, etc. so our cars seem slower too hahaha.

so i guess our cars can be fast or they can be slow, depending wat u are comparing it wit. since i am around a eclipse gsx (t3/t4 ) , also a 300zx turbo 89, and a modded 96 maxima, my car is the slowest of them all. but its true celicas do have potencial, and i do plan to get some of that potencial out of it.

[trd94]

my st's pretty fast... until it reaches about 3500 rpm.

my st was like that but after turboing it now at 3500rpm the t3 kicks in and pulls like at bat out of hell all the way to 63-6500rpm and in 3rd gear on my auto trann it runs around 123mph then i let it go to overdrive and it wants to keep going but i chicken out still not as fast as my 240sx after i turboed it but that is a differant story

[celicast3sgte]

nevermind... not gonna do it

This post has been edited by celicast3sgte: Jun 14, 2006 - 9:49 PM

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

I can live with my 5SFE. Its definately not a fast motor, but it does have nice acceleration under normal driving due to nice low-midrange torque and short gearing. On the highway it accelerates very nicely I think, theres no need to downshift if you need to pass, especially if the revs are above about 3500 rpms. If anybody thinks that its fast though, then I must suggest you drive something with a turbocharger or at least a strong N/A motor.

At the moment I'm not too concerned because my 5SFE with high mileage is running amazingly well. Occasionally I have a little bit of belt chatter at idle, but that can be fixed easily enough. I just changed my oil today though, and I can't believe how smooth and quiet it likes to run with synthetic.

[rzanology]

I can live with my 5SFE. Its definately not a fast motor, but it does have nice acceleration under normal driving due to nice low-midrange torque and short gearing. On the highway it accelerates very nicely I think, theres no need to downshift if you need to pass, especially if the revs are above about 3500 rpms. If anybody thinks that its fast though, then I must suggest you drive something with a turbocharger or at least a strong N/A motor.

At the moment I'm not too concerned because my 5SFE with high mileage is running amazingly well. Occasionally I have a little bit of belt chatter at idle, but that can be fixed easily enough. I just changed my oil today though, and I can't believe how smooth and quiet it likes to run with synthetic.

well said. I've driving a 5sfte....and let me tell you....thats a beast. but for what it is....stock...the 5sfte is a very good engine. plus a light 6g body. its time people stop saying their cars are slow....no you dont have a m3 or sti....but compared to the other options out there....we're not too far behind.

[Glitch001]

I wouldnt say its a fast car, the 5s isnt a very strong motor ( as far as racing goes ) The 3s, 4g63, sr20det all strong imported 4 cylinder. The celica (unless its an all trac or gt4) is slow, but its a BEAUTY of a daily driver. The looks cannot be compared, ya the liftbacks are 2400lbs and convertables 2700 relativly light, but no power to back the weight up. Fwd also hinders the preformance a lot. Unless your talking a stroked 3s with a 5s crank and so on and so on, but still bottom line the car is slow without modifcation. Doesnt stop me from loving the hell out of my car.

But look at the other options within the same price range.
Eclipse Gs-t 2700lbs with a boost loving motor. (crank walk issue)
Mazda rx7 at 2800lbs (same reliablity issue)
ect.
ect.

The celica turns on everytime I want it to, I have absolutly no complaints. the 5s is a reliable motor, doesnt require as much attention as my 3s does in the least. In no way am I bad mouthing this car, you seem to LOVE your car but there is a difference between love and denial. These aren't ultimate driving machines with unlimited potential. In your previous posts it seems you like to street race and compare car vs. car, but the ability of the celica on the 7a and 5s is limited in the means of horsepower (volumetic efficency) its just lacking. But it wasnt designed to be a race car, thats why toyota has the all-trac and gt4...sex on wheels.

This post has been edited by Glitch001: Jun 15, 2006 - 3:22 AM

[ILuvMyCelica95]

you people are all crazy. My car is like driving a pretty dump truck. I cross my finger everytime i have to go up a hill, i swear shes not gunna make it someday.

[Glitch001]

Key word Tina...ITS PRETTY. Wanna sell those headlights?

[Heytalktoryan]

I wouldnt say its a fast car, the 5s isnt a very strong motor ( as far as racing goes ) The 3s, 4g63, sr20det all strong imported 4 cylinder. The celica (unless its an all trac or gt4) is slow, but its a BEAUTY of a daily driver. The looks cannot be compared, ya the liftbacks are 2400lbs and convertables 2700 relativly light, but no power to back the weight up. Fwd also hinders the preformance a lot. Unless your talking a stroked 3s with a 5s crank and so on and so on, but still bottom line the car is slow without modifcation. Doesnt stop me from loving the hell out of my car.

But look at the other options within the same price range.
Eclipse Gs-t 2700lbs with a boost loving motor. (crank walk issue)
Mazda rx7 at 2800lbs (same reliablity issue)
ect.
ect.

The celica turns on everytime I want it to, I have absolutly no complaints. the 5s is a reliable motor, doesnt require as much attention as my 3s does in the least. In no way am I bad mouthing this car, you seem to LOVE your car but there is a difference between love and denial. These aren't ultimate driving machines with unlimited potential. In your previous posts it seems you like to street race and compare car vs. car, but the ability of the celica on the 7a and 5s is limited in the means of horsepower (volumetic efficency) its just lacking. But it wasnt designed to be a race car, thats why toyota has the all-trac and gt4...sex on wheels.

not all eclipse gsts or gsx's have crankwalk, mines still runnign strong at 80k but i do miss my celica, mainly for its looks not for its speed bc it was slow as hell

[burneeed]

yah im going to have to disagree with you on the na 5sfe... Sorry its not a fast motor not is it ment to be. Great for economy though!!........ WHy do you think people swap a 3s motor theres reasons.......speed being one of them

[l19tly]

i have a 2.0 16valve 3sge and mine feels pretty quick its restricted to 112mph but it gets there quick i had a bit of a race with a bmw 330ci and he wasnt pulling away it depends on when u change gear my car limits at 7250rpm if i change at 68oo-7000 it keeps pulling,just depends how you drive it