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Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

CELICA

Good looking and great to drive, the Celica is everything a coupe should be

Used Toyota Celica Coupe 1999 - 2006

Compared to its contemporary rivals, the Celica looks pretty expensive. A Honda Prelude, Hyundai Coupe or Alfa GTV will cost you less to buy.

However, all except the Hyundai suffer problems more frequently, according to Warranty Direct, which adds to the costs of running one.

Sadly, when things do go wrong on the Celica, they tend to cost a lot to fix. True, average Celica repair costs are no worse to the GTV's or Prelude's, but they're high, too.

Otherwise, the Celica shouldn't be dear to run. The 140bhp engine returns 36.7mpg on the combined cycle, and even the 190bhp gets 33.6mpg. That's much better than the Alfa GTV or Ford Cougar.

Most Celicas fall into group 13 insurance, the only exception being the 190bhp, which is group 15. By class standards, that's pretty good - well ahead of the GTV, and on a par with the Ford Cougar and Vauxhall Astra coupe.

Good looking and great to drive, the Celica is everything a coupe should be

Leaving aside the many special editions which appeared towards the end of the Celica's life, your choice is little more than what colour you want.

At launch, the Celica was a one-model range, and the only significant addition came in December 2000, when a more powerful 190bhp engine joined the range. Although it had extra equipment - leather upholstery and climate control, for example - it really isn't worth the extra.

It has little more pulling power than the 140bhp version, and you need to rev the socks off it all the time to access the extra horsepower, which is too much like hard work.

The less-powerful car is every bit as quick in the real world and looks just as smart, so it's the model to choose. Even the equipment is good, with air-con, ABS, alloy wheels and electric front windows. If you want more than that, find a model with the optional Premium Pack, which includes leather upholstery and climate control.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.

Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.

With the Celica, all you really have to look for is the right combination of colour and trim. The company consistently finishes high in our Reliability Surveys, and the Celica has always been well received in JD Power surveys, rated the best coupe in 2006 and in the top 20 overall in 2005.

According to Warranty Direct, problems with the Celica are rare, but half of them come from the suspension. A further third are down to the engine. Other than that, the only problems we have heard of are brake discs rusting on cars that don't get much use and the tailgate struts collapsing.

There have been just two recalls. The first affected cars built before September 2000 and concerned brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder. The second was for cars built in 2002, where fuel could spill out of the filler cap. Affected cars needed a new valve or a replacement fuel tank.

If you're after a coupe, the likelihood is that you want something with great looks and a drive to match. The Celica scores highly on both counts.

It was designed as a coupe from the outset, so there's no chance it will be confused with a similar-looking hatchback, such as the Vauxhall Astra and Citroen Xsara.

It's every bit as good to drive as it is to look at, too. You sit in a suitably sporting low driving position and, in traffic, its typically light Toyota controls make it easy to get around. Then, on the open road, you can really enjoy the crisp steering, slick gearchange and sharp handling. In many ways, it's the best of both worlds.

The trouble is, it's really a car for a couple only. Although there's plenty of space up front, the two seats in the back are incredibly cramped. The Astra coupe, for example, is far more accommodating.

Used Toyota Celica Coupe 1999 - 2006 reliability

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Used Toyota Celica Coupe 1999 - 2006 review

With the Celica, all you really have to look for is the right combination of colour and trim. The company consistently finishes high in our Reliability Surveys, and the Celica has always been well received in JD Power surveys, rated the best coupe in 2006 and in the top 20 overall in 2005.,According to Warranty Direct, problems with the Celica are rare, but half of them come from the suspension. A further third are down to the engine. Other than that, the only problems we have heard of are brake discs rusting on cars that don't get much use and the tailgate struts collapsing.,There have been just two recalls. The first affected cars built before September 2000 and concerned brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder. The second was for cars built in 2002, where fuel could spill out of the filler cap. Affected cars needed a new valve or a replacement fuel tank.

What to look for when buying a Toyota Celica 1999 - 2006, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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