REVIEW: The 2003 Toyota Celica GTS-TRD

written by Elaine Marshall

In recent history, there have been many things that went over the top, items which take a style so far that it becomes, well, tacky. Take Dennis Rodman for instance. Drag queens. Everything about the 1970’s.

The 2003 Toyota Celica GTS-TRD may be considered by some to be a charter member of this flashy and hopelessly tasteless group. This car’s styling is completely shameless, from the huge spoiler, right down to the yellow TRD badges on the doors. This Celica is screaming for attention.

Attention is something it receives in spades. The week I had this pocket rocket, I noticed that everyone had to take a look, and everyone had an opinion. Wiping nose prints off of the driver’s side window became a daily chore.

Toyota gave the car a small face-lift for 2003, making the front end sharper than ever. The front of this car is so aggressive that it practically pulls a gun on the competition. The TRD edition (Toyota Racing Development) gets a full skirt package, and a rear spoiler so large, it could have been ripped off of a smallish plane. When considering the design of this car, one wonders if Toyota’s design engineers are trying to make up for something, or had something to prove? Perhaps they were trying to overcome some sort of inadequacy?

Despite the crass aspects of the TRD, I have to admit, that this car looks like it’s speeding even when it is sitting complacently in the driveway. The test car was a dark blue; so dark it was almost black. It was a gorgeous colour, but sadly, brought the tasteless yellow badges into even sharper relief.

On the inside, the TRD continues to make a bold statement, with vibrant blue on the seats, mats, steering wheel and shifter knob. This may appeal to some, but I found it all a little hard on the eyes. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I could drive this car while hung over: it would make my head hurt too much. Aside from the blinding colours, the Celica’s interior was a tad unimpressive. Fit was adequate, but the plastic used was a little on the cheap side. On the plus side, the seats were comfortable, with plenty of support, and the aluminum sport pedals were pretty cool.

Once I got behind the wheel and started the car, all my doubts about its looks fell away. Tasteless or not, the Celica is a blast to drive. Under the hood is a 16-valve, DOHC 4 cylinder. The GT-S engine cranks out 40 more horses than its lesser Celica brethren, bringing it to 180 bhp@ 7600 rpm and 130 lb/ft of torque at 6,800 rpm. Over 6000 rpm is where this engine truly begins to shine. Rev that engine, dump the clutch and let ‘er rip, because this car is quick. Previous generations of this engine have been a little finicky, but not this time. It’s a smooth running engine, with an impressively deep rumble. One does wish that this engine’s power was a lower rpm value though. At 6,800 rpm, many Celica drivers may never know their car’s true talents.

Handling on this car is great, accurate and precise. The front suspension features Macpherson struts; the rear suspension is a double wishbone. The ride is a tad hard, but no more than you might expect from any sports car. The test car was equipped with winter tires, but was still capable of quick cornering, with almost zero body lean. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS provided ample stopping power. Slap some performance radials on this beast and it ought to be a hoot to drive.

The GT-S offers a six-speed manual transmission, one of the high points of the car. Sixth speed is designed to be a gas saving gear for highway use, but I have to say, I didn’t use it much. It was just too much fun to downshift, floor it, and damn the fuel economy. Super short throws on the transmission allowed for quick shifting, and the gear ratios make the most of engine power. The shifter was a bit notchy, and took some getting used to. Much to my shock and horror, I actually stalled it once or twice, but once I got used to the shifter, I found myself searching out stoplights, just to have the fun of peeling away from them. In it’s stock form the Celica is not going to blow away any muscle cars, but if you wanted that sort of power, you wouldn’t be shopping at a Toyota dealership.

On the financial side, this particular Celica is one of the more expensive in the pocket rocket category. Base models start at a reasonable $24,645. The GT-S package slaps $6,330 on to the price of the car and the TRD package piles on an extra $1,990, bringing the test car to a grand total of $34,075. It’s significantly cheaper than a muscle car, with better fuel efficiency, but doesn’t quite have the stones to compete with the big boys. Still, in the pocket rocket category, the Celica is a one of the better competitors, and definitely worth a look. Perhaps I could cough up the extra bucks to buy the GT-S package; it is what gives this car all the performance goodies. As far as that extra two grand for the TRD package, I’ll keep that. The package is just cosmetic, and if I feel the need to scream for attention, I’ll just offer Dennis Rodman a lift.

Our reviewer: Elaine’s love of cars started in high school. All the guys she hung out with then were car addicts (two of them when on to be auto mechanics). It was with these guys that Elaine learned all about the automobile. Her first days behind the wheel were spent in a red and white Ford pick-up, (affectionately referred to as The Pig) belonging to one of these guys (Thanks Mike!). After graduation from high school and through university, Elaine’s love of cars lay dormant, until, while pursuing a diploma in journalism at Toronto’s Centennial College, the opportunity to become editor of the Up to Speed section was presented. With a solid background in mechanics (Thanks to Humber College for that!), and her passion for cars still intact, Elaine jumped at the chance and is currently loving that role, while finishing her diploma at Centennial.

photos courtesy of John Holland