No chance against a Type-R or Talon. No limited slip, No sport suspension,
and it has the specs of an MX6.
---JCG
----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Pozner <AlanP@identicard.com>
To: <carguychris@hotmail.com>; <autox@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 1999 4:41 PM
Subject: 2000 Celica GT-S
> Chris Walton wrote:
> <snip>
> First off, I was wondering if anyone out there has an opinion on the 2000
> Celica GT-S. I read that the SCCA has classified it in G Stock. I recently
> drove one of these things, and I think this car is going to kick *ss and
> take names in GS.
> <snip>
>
> Hi Chris,
>
> Welcome to the sometimes interesting, sometimes enlightening, often cranky
> :-) world of Team.net. Glad to have you with us!!
>
> I just picked up my '00 Phoenix Yellow Type-R and boy, I sure hope you're
> wrong about the Celica :-) )) Seriously though, I did test drive a '00
GTS
> and I thought it was impressive but I don't think its going to really kick
> a** in GS. Here's why -
>
> 1) Torque - Although Honda/Acura cars are criticized for being torqueless
> wonders the Celica seemed worse at low RPMs then even the Integra GSR. If
> you look at the dyno curves in Sports Compact Car (I forget the month)
> you'll notice that ALL of the Celica's HP advantage over a GSR is above
6000
> RPM. Why? Because the torque curve is fairly peaky. End result is the
Celica
> is going to have a tough time accelerating out of turns compared to the
> DSMs, Type Rs and even GSRs - It's only going to work well at high RPM and
> the tranny, even though its a 6 speed is not close ratio enough to keep it
> there
>
> 2) Big stock wheels - those 16" wheels are going to weigh more than the
> Type-Rs 15" further exacerbating the torque deficit. They are wider but it
> remains to be seen if anyone will be able to fit bigger than 225s in the
> wheel wells (the Type R can get 225s on the front with stock-legal 1/4"
> spacers. I think the DSMs can go bigger.
>
> 3) Limited head room - Without a helmet, 5'8" me was brushing my head
> against the roof. The car I tested had a sunroof so maybe there'll be
> another 1" clearance but still not enough to sit fully upright for anyone
> 5'10" and up. But good luck finding a non-sunroof GTS this first year. The
> dealer I spoke with said the GTS models are all coming in loaded.
>
> 4) Outward Visibility - The GTS was not terrible but front corner
visibility
> was not as good as the Teg
>
> 5) A possible engine glitch? Two magazines have reported a significant dip
> in HP curve at the cam crossover point on the GTS. When I test drove the
car
> I only went up there once and did not notice a dip but I also did not
notice
> a real kick when the second cam profiles took over like you do with
Honda's
> VTEC. I would be concerned that when I jumped on it, it wouldn't be there.
>
> All that said, I was extremely impressed with the GTS handling. Turn-in
was
> GREAT. and the car was pretty darn neutral for FWD. It did not seem as
quick
> to take a set as the Type R but that may be a tire thing. Overall I think
> the GTS will give the Type R and DSMs a good run but I do not believe it
> will dominate.
>
> Regards,
> Alan
> '00 GS Phoenix Yellow Type-R in the garage and waiting for spring :-)
>
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