Faults:

Generally standard maintenance issues, such as, CV boots split, disc rotors needed replacement, A/C needed to be recharged, A/C lighting bulbs blew. Otherwise very reliable.

General Comments:

This car is the top of the range super strut suspension model, which unfortunately are very rare, but well worth the extra money if you can find one.

The specifications over and above your standard GT APEX model are, super strut suspension, which provides for excellent handling however a firm ride around town. Larger front disc brakes with 4-ABS, the braking of this car is excellent. Momo steering wheel and gear lever.

The car is very easy to drive and provides good performance when required. Being 20 valve it is a little sluggish at low rpm, but performs well between 3000rpm and 7000rpm, above this the performance fades.

Acceleration is good. 0-100km - 9.5seconds. Speed is limited to 190km/h, which is reached with ease. Fuel consumption is reasonable. 15KM/L on a trip, 10-12KM/L around town, or if you've got a heavy right foot.

The interior is good, very comfortable front seats and nice colours. The back seat is fairly cramped, but what do you expect in a coupe. However boot space is good.

Overall, this is a very nice car, they are fun to drive, reliable and economical. If you want true performance from a normally aspirated 4 cylinder car though, the only choice is a DOHC VTEC Honda. You can red line them in every gear and they love it.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

This car is a very smooth, easily driven car.

Everyday driving uses very, very little fuel if you keep it below 3,500rpm, but as soon as you pass 5500rpm the variable valve timing breaks out and goes extremely hard all the way to the 8000rpm red-line.

The handling is probably the most amazing thing about this car thanks to the strut suspension. Throw it into a corner and it has only a slight bit of under-steer before it locks in and corners like its on rails. It is a very lightweight car weighing in at only 1030kg's, making it an extremely agile and fast for a 1.6, while drinking very little fuel.

The interior is quite flash, but doesn't offer anything that other models of the same year don't.

Aesthetically it has very good lines, which can can be helped even more by adding easily accessible aftermarket parts. The car is very cheap for what you get and is probably one of the fastest, easy to insure vehicle for first time owners under 25.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

The Toyota 20v engine seems to operate similar to Honda's V-tec, for those that are familiar with those.

Drives like any other quick, small car up to about 5-6000rpm. From there up the whole engine sound changes and you get some real performance.

Extremly good handling for the money.

This car is faster than the 1600cc vtec Honda, but not as quick as the SIR Integra (1800cc V-tec)