Stock #6843
Exterior Overview
After the Japanese bubble market came Y2K. Cars were stripped down in a “back to basics” renaissance, netting a healthy assortment of affordable, stylish, and reliable sport compacts. Toyota pulled out all the stops for its 7th-generation Celica redesign, and the result is something that feels modern in form but classic in essence. This 2000 Celica TRD Sports M is a limited production model, with all the factory goodies and performance upgrades brand enthusiasts yearn for. TRD churned out just 1200 of these spritely sport hatchbacks, with this one-owner example being number 393. It’s set off by sleek Spectra Blue (8M6) paintwork, and touts only 145k verified miles on the clock. Set off by a TRD front bumper, side skirts, rear spats, and an OEM rear spoiler, the cosmetics look the part, save for some minor paint imperfections. Gunmetal factory alloys complete the aesthetic, alongside complementary TRD badging. This zippy front-drive coupe has the makings for a fun daily driver or capable weekend runabout. It boasts a high-revving motor, slick shifting 6-speed box, and an absolutely dialed drivetrain, complete with a factory LSD. Rare, rowdy, and a certified neck breaker, this Japanese Classic is an affordable, yet savvy investment!
Interior Overview
For the early aughts, the Celica’s interior design was forward-thinking. Looking back on the past 25 years, we’d say it’s even aged gracefully! The TRD sports package turned things up to eleven, with a full blue color-keyed cabin. Blue accents span the seats, steering wheel, and shift knob, and ooze the nostalgia of the 2000’s sport compact boom. It’s also a safe cockpit, boasting dual SRS airbags up front. It’s evident this special edition was well cared for in a prior life, as the blue suede upholstery shows no major defects outside from some driver’s side bolster wear. The material is mirrored in the door cards, and the remaining upholstery is in good condition, from the headliner to the grey carpets beneath. The center stack is easy to navigate, and features a bluetooth equipped USDM BOSS audio upgrade, and optional digital automatic climate control. Both work like a charm, with the latter doling out cold A/C and hot heat at a moment’s notice. Power windows, locks, and mirrors are all operable, although the latter no longer electronically fold. Factory TRD instrumentation is easy to read, and boasts a 240kph speedometer for those who like to live dangerously. The rear bench allows easy access into the trunk, which features a factory strut brace. Overall, it’s hard to find major gripes with the cabin. Most everything is operable and in good condition, and save for a bit of wear to the finish on the steering wheel and shift knob, this superb Celica really impresses. Even the original owner’s manual and maintenance booklets are included.
Mechanical Overview
The 2ZZ-GE is a gentleman’s powerplant. Engineered by Yamaha and adapted by Lotus, it feels almost illegal to have this peppy four banger under the hood of an economy car. With a refined chassis and loads of good maintenance performed by our trained technicians, this Sports M is turn-key ready to canyon carve or hard park at your monthly Toyota cruise-in. The 1.8l churns to life care of a new 12v battery. It benefits from a fresh oil and filter service, and a resealed oil pan to keep lubrication internal. To aid combustion, four new spark plugs were installed across the board, and we installed a new mass airflow sensor for good measure. The VVTL-i equipped four banger is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox that powers the front wheels. It’s a communicative transmission that lacks any grinds or hitches. The throttle response is fabulous and the 2ZZ sings all the way to redline. We converted and replaced the outdated Super Strut suspension with a more standard McPherson layout. This Celica wears new coilovers on all four corners, and we rehabbed the suspension with new front lower control arms, lower ball joints, tension arms, swaybar links, and swaybar bushings. We also replaced both front wheel bearings. With the handling dialed, we only had to tend to a new lower engine mount to get this Sports M road-ready. The power steering is light yet communicative and the factory alloys are wrapped in good Yokohama rubber. Fresh off a four wheel alignment, this Celica is backed by tons of good maintenance, and is a killer performance bargain!
*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.
