2.5RS or Celica GTS?

[ill will]

Hello to all the people out there. I am a guy out to do some shopping but there is a question about these two cars.

First, I test drove them first and found the celica to win the subject on Interior.

The RS looked phat on the outside so did the GTS. The RS is about 2-3 thousand below the GTS.

The thing that i Hated about the subaru is the inside...can we say CHEAP as HELL?? The center console was lose, when i closed the doors with windows down it rattle like hell. The steering wheel is not that pretty. The radio is cheap...only 80 watts?? 4SPEAKERS?? and when i turned the engine on...seemed to take a 2second to switch on. The so called carbon fiber was like totally fake to my eyes. Even the salesman laughed at that.

I have to say that the ride was pretty nice...specially that AWD that i am so curious on what it can do that a FWD can't do.

I was so excited to find the 2.5RS to be nice inside and out...but it almost totally put me down. Now I think I should go for the Celica GTS...unless you guys name some things that the RS has ... potential and all.

I want a car to be fun...maybe race some dudes on the road...not everyday. I want a car with nice interior and power...like 0-60 time.

ps the RS i drove was stick and so was the GTS. peace

[donjuan]

just depends on what you're after. just bought my MY00 RS about a month ago. i also test drove the celica. they're nice cars...but Toyota seems to be catching Honda Syndrome with the price of their cars. IMO the RS has more low-end grunt which to me is more usable in street-driving than rev-power that the celica seems to have. also, this may not be common, but a co-worker of mine bought a Celica GTS and Toyota bought it back (lemon) in 8 days, because of "unrepairable electrical problems."

[WRC666]

The GTS is a very nice car. Better than the RS, I'd say. My 99 RS rattles and squeaks like crazy, the drivers door has rust(warranty) and the AWD doesn't give you an advantage in normal everyday driving. At auto-x the extra weight is a big handicap, too.
If you fit in there, take the GTS.
Still like my RS, don't fit in the GTS(6'4")
=^)

[donjuan]

yes yes, Celica muy mucho bad for tall guys(6-6)...my RS has more headroom than any other car i've had...

[Jewbaru]

The steering wheel and shifter are Momo peices, and some of the best I've used.

Granted, the interior is shaky, and the silless doors make a ruckus when shut with the windows down. It does get the job done.

You can opt for better speakers, I have the 7pc system in my car. I also have a leather interior which is very nice. The CF is fake, and you should just take it off. Subaru was VERY smart about aftermarket stereo's when they built the car. When running wires to the back, it isn't neccisary to drill any holes. It took me less than 30mins to run all the wires and everything for a sub. The sub isn't hooked up, so I'm still running stock. The stock system is great for what it is.

The interior get's the job done perfectly for me. The guages are nice (I love the whitefaces) and easy to read. The shifter and controlls are right where they need to be, and the seating position is nice so I can see the road really well. The pedals are also perfectly placed for advanced shifting tecnique.

Driving wise, the torque curve of the RS is excellent. Very easy to drive, and it pulls hard in all gears.

The AWD is great. Drive it in the rain, or snow. After owning an AWD car, I will NEVER go back to FWD, ever.

The car is quick, you will beat 90% of the cars on the road in stoplight drags, but over long races, you're thru. The RS runs out of steam in the top end. It also responds VERY well to mods, I think Shiv from SCC (who posts here) got around ~20hp from intake/exhaust.

I can't find any REAL negatives about my car, except I drive it too damn much, and I spend all my money on it.

[SilverSuby]

Well, the Subaru's interior is kinda cheap. I don't think you'll find anyone on this board that will deny that.

Impreza's +'s
engine
handling
AWD
handling
getting around in the snow
size of interior
looks
handling
less expensive...for the extra 3K you can probably get 90% of the interior replaced
quicker 0-30 time
higher ground clearance

Celica
better interior
better radio
better gas mileage
higher insurance [in PA]
slightly quicker 0-60 time

Think of it this way:
-Chances are, you're going to replace the radio anyway
-you'll save the gas money in insurance
-it would take a LOT of mods to get the celica to handle like the Impreza
-quality is good either way
-80% of Subaru owners either own more than one Subaru, or will buy another Subaru...with only 4 models to choose from. --- Why do you think that is?

[SubyRacer]

awd kickass fwd's ass bro

but the gts has a better 0 to 60 stock at 7.3 seconds. scc rated the 99 RS 0-60 at 7.7 seconds. but it is beleived that the 2000 RS actually has about 10 more hp than the 99 because of a better intake system (even though SOA never changed the spec ratings for MYOO) and ive seen lower 0 to 60 times for the 2000 than the 99, like 7.4 and 7.5.
but 0 to 100 on the RS sux. but u can fix that with mods.

[Jewbaru]

oh yea, GTSs have a nasty habit of blowing tranny's and motors because of the 6-speed box. Toyota may have fixed that problem now.

Don't buy into the statements about AWD not doing anything in the dry. It works all the time. Also, for an AWD car, it weighs a meager ~2800lbs. Find another AWD car with power everything, cruise, ABS, sunroof, and 4 doors, that is that light.

[JGard]

As for the AWD, whoever said that it doesn't make a difference for all driving, they couldn't be more wrong. In a drag-racing standpoint, no wheelspin. Goind around turns, you won't understeer like a bastard (as you would in a FWD), and there's always rain, and if you live in snow country, as i do, then it's even better. But i have driven FWD, RWD, and AWD, in all situations, and i would never go back to FWD, even if you paid me. RWD, probably, but now after driving AWD, i'm hooked. Good luck man

[SubyRacer]

i know the impreza has the best and the lighest awd drive system.

also awd does kickass in dry conditions, impreza handles like no other. and u can get just beautiful lauches in races (so ive heard, dont own one yet).

[B. Foyle]

If you're pretty young and/or are looking for a much more of a sports car, get the GT-S. I hear it's damn impressive from everyone who drove one. I personally chose RS sedan over it for the added safety (and fun) that AWD provides, and for the much more added room, so I can fit 4 of my friends (2 of which are quite large/tall) in there at once (plus me). I highly recommend you to read the SCC's reviews of both RS and GTS in the April issue and in the current one. Here's the links I got: Impreza and Celica

[T-WRX]

Don't forget that the Celica has no low end torque. I have test driven a GTS 6-speed, and felt like a criminal taking a new engine and winding it up to 8000 rpm. There's nothing there until the second cam kicks in.

The Sube has that wonderful low end SOHC torque, with a great exhaust note.

As for low speed handling, though, the Celica was TIGHT. Didn't get to slalom it due to the sales guy sitting to the left of me.

JD

[WRC666]

I just realize that GS-R's and SE200R's kick our butt most of the time , the Nissan has only 140hp, but a limited slip in the front.
Of course the AWD works all the time, I just think that it is overrated. The RS is still an awesome car (doh, I'll keep mine), the GTS is a good, if different, car to have fun with. And being loyal to a carcompany means squat, just look at all the loyal GM owners (flamesuit on) ;-)
If you want performance in a stock vehicle, get the Type-R Integra, best overall performer. Even without AWD.
You might start now to brag me down...
LOL

[ill will]

Ok, so you guys say all this good stuff on the RS 2.5...I am going to purchase a 2001 car. I did some numbers with the dealer for the subaru...the car with leather seats came to be 21 even without tax and tags, 22,830 with tax and tags.

The Celica GTS came to be 22 even and 24,300 with TAT. Not very much of a differnce.

Now 0-60 timing on both cars: 2.5RS = 7.4
Celica GTS = 6.9 not 7.3 SCC, i heard is not accurate, Road&Track rated it in 6.9secs and typeR integra 6.4

I live in NEW JERSEY where the weather is everything. I also don't want to hook up my car that that that much but just much. I figure, if i get the RS i'm going to have to put much money into it to make it look and function good.

Also, I don't know the reputation on the Subaru's in total than as the Toyotas. Toyotas have been out since day one...I asked the DEALER in subaru on whether the Subaru is a good car that will run me 200,000 miles like toyota would, he just laughed with nervousness. i just dont know.

[Swivel1000]

Just drive both and have fun..as simple as that.

you will also learn that magazine times mean about dick...

matt

[10th Warrior]

a big plus for me was the potential of AWD. i hate FWD and you can only do so much to it until you reach the limits of adhesion. the GTS interior is very nice (although i don't fit at 6'2") but i love the steering wheel, stick, and pedals on the RS. they are really nice. i don't know about the new one, but i used to drive a 93 Celica GT and in anything but the nicest weather and road conditions, its handling and performance were pretty poor (see earlier comment about FWD). anyway, what you want out of a car is very personal, and either is an excellent choice in cars. have fun with either one you get and be sure and drive it fast and furious like these cars were meant to be.

[SubyRacer]

scc actually had a had 0 to 60 on the gts of 7.1 not 7.3 seconds. and when they dynoed there stock car against others it turned theirs had 10hp for some reason than the average gts. and i heard that the 6.9 was bs. but who knows, each individual car drives differently and each driver drives differently. i was just trying to represent an average. its all good.

[SubyRacer]

oh by the way subaru's are reliable. i hav a 1995 L coupe. six yrs old and still going strong. no probs whatsoever! and has survived 3 bad accidents. (81,000 miles)

my mom has a 1992 Legacy and all that has ever needed fixin was the air conditioner. (well over 100,000 miles)

friend had 1992 SVX. no probs untill he totallied it. oops. what a dumbass still pissed at him for that. that car was tight. (would rape a celica gts any day )

[Fido]

I notice my AWD all the time. I start quicker, my wheels haven't spun when I thought they would, and I can corner like I was on rails. Whenever I go to the dealership they I always get a salesman asking me what car I have, and I say the 2.5 RS and someone invariably says something like 'Oh, you got the rocket' heh...People LOOK at my car, walk around it, all sorts of stuff. The interior may be cheap, but oh well Even without mods my car is nice, and I haven't regretted getting it for a second!

[XT6Wagon]

Personaly I like the Celica GT over the GT-S, sure its slower but the motor and gearbox are a world better for turbo, and guess what the price difference will buy said turbo. Also with the cheaper car you can buy a used POS, for daily driving, and SAVE money on insuarance, and you pimp ride will not get trashed as quick.

Personaly I would go with the 2.5RS as AWD RULES!!! When my POS beaten to hell subie wagon out runs a vette in a corner, think what a 2.5RS with REAL tires would do.

[gorman]

i was in your situation during spring this year, i was car shopping and narrowed down to 2000 RS, GT-S, and VW 1.8 GTi. what little time i testdrove, i noticed that RS was better in turns but celica and VW suspensions seemed tighter. RS bounces around alot over bumps/railroads, which made me believe factory shocks are softer than others (go agx). anyway, an agonizing decision for me because I knew WRX was coming in spring 2001 (as 2002), and i'm sure it would fix this generation of RS's frequent probs: clutch, hesitation, sunroof rattle.. (be sure to research GT-S and GTI as well). now, if you don't need to buy immediately, i would definitely see how the WRX comes along next year, but price would put it over celica. if you need to buy soon (as I did in spring, but wish i could have waited) the RS is still better choice despite the quirks. -g

[Fish]

The GTS is over priced.. and ugly.

if you are thinking of a GTS, why not a Type R then? it's a better car for similar money..

but either way, I was going to suggest the RS over them anyways..

I love my RS, I don't think there is a car out there in this price range that could fit my personallity better..

hell, I am looking forward to the winter and bad weather... want to get back to working on my drifting..
gotta love AWD..

[Faraz]

clutch was solved with the second batch of MY00 ... I thought with the rest of us...and I guess WRC666 seems we are all wrong ...that the RS out handled the GTS ...those were my two choices, and by the end of the day ...the GTS may look nice and get to 100mph fast ...but I stoplight race, and no GTS beats a RS off the line. Get the RS and take the on the "Twisties" ---that was for Mike YOX

[Daios]

Whoa! EuGeNiLeGTS hasn't responded. Well he has a GTS n also tested my car. I think both sound systems on both cars sound about the same. Thats why you buy aftermarket goodies for the car. You can find a lot of stuff to buy for the RS in this board. Well the GTS does seem faster than the RS on the 0-60 (according to EuGeNiLe). Its all up to you. Why not wait until the WRX comes out? Just think of it.. t-u-r-b-o. Then get a kit to make it look good.

-Daios
MY00 BRP SeDan

[mprezme]

just buy the damn GTS, all ur doing is making it harder on urself. and maybe dissing isnt the word, but seems like ur doing just that, u dont like it, period, buy the gts and make urself happy...sounds like u just want to spend money on something, then buy the GTS and join the other 78384903840394 GTS's on the road. said my 2 cents

PS: dont really see why people keep dissing anything then still make it look like there very much interested. oh well