Good morning! For our final Showdown this week, I thought we’d look at a couple of cool old liftbacks. Why? Because I like them. That’s reason enough.
We were in agreement about yesterday’s Mercedes-Benz diesels; the big old S-Class battleship is the clear choice. The 190D is a neat car, and it will serve someone well, but that someone will be very sweaty by the time they get where they’re going, with the combination of black M-B Tex seats and no air conditioning.
The S-Class may look weird with its two-tone blue paint, but it’s just so much more car. It’s a bit primitive, but that just means it’s easier to work on. And the seller certainly seems to know his stuff, which is confidence-inspiring. In fact, it’s probably a good thing I don’t live in Portland anymore, or I might have to go check that one out.
Now, some of you are going to say that today’s contenders are overpriced, but I disagree. You’d have a hard time finding another one of either car in this condition for a better price. They may cost more than you’re willing to pay, but that’s different. Besides, this is all imaginary money, right? So let’s have some fun and look at a couple of neat old cars.
1979 Toyota Celica GT – $6,700
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Odometer reading: 121,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The original concept for the Toyota Celica can be summed up in two words: “Japanese Mustang.” Like the Mustang, it was based on a family sedan: the Celica was to the Toyota Corona what the Mustang was to the Ford Falcon. It even came in two body styles, a notchback and a fastback, and offered an upscale trim called the GT. Just like the Mustang. The second-generation Celica was a whole lot more well-received than the second-generation Mustang, though.
Unlike the Mustang, however, the Celica never offered a V8. Instead, it came with Toyota’s stout R-series four-cylinder engine, in this case the 2.2 liter 20R. It’s equipped with a two-barrel carburetor and makes 96 horsepower. It drives a solid rear axle through a five-speed manual transmission. This one has had a bunch of recent work done, and the seller says it runs and drives great.
Inside, it’s in pretty amazing condition for its age. The vinyl upholstery isn’t torn, the dash isn’t cracked, and even the carpet looks clean. It has the original radio, even, but the seller says only the AM band works. AM radio does still exist, by the way, but man, are your options limited. I think I’d sacrifice some originality for a nice Bluetooth connection.
It’s rust-free, it looks like, and really straight. The paint looks a little dull, but it might be shinier in person; white paint can play tricks in photographs. The wheels aren’t original; they’re from a later Celica, but they don’t look out of place. I do feel like that big rear window is crying out for a set of louvers, though. Does anybody still make them for this car?
1987 Volkswagen Scirocco – $7,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Berthoud, CO
Odometer reading: 124,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The VW Scirocco isn’t that far off from the Mustang idea either, really. It’s based on the more mass-market Golf (Rabbit here in the US), but the Scirocco actually came out a few months before the Golf. So is the Scirocco a sporty Golf, or is the Golf a more practical Scirocco? Chicken, egg, whatever. The original Scirocco was a Giugiaro design, but this second-generation one was an in-house Volkswagen design. I like the older model better, personally, but I wouldn’t kick this one out of my garage.
In 1987, the Scirocco was available with two levels of power: VW’s good old single-overhead-cam four, or a twin-cam 16-valve version. This car has the former, which if memory serves makes 90 horsepower instead of 123. It drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual. The seller says it has been “gone through extensively” in the past year, and has all new suspension and exhaust, as well as a full tune-up and a bunch of new gaskets and seals. It still needs a professional alignment after the suspension was rebuilt, but it runs great.
This interior is in really nice shape too. The seller says there are a couple of cracks in the dash, but they’re hardly noticeable. The air conditioning “needs a charge” (of course it does) and the HVAC blower fan is noisy and probably needs replacement, but everything else is in fine shape.
This car was originally silver, but it was repainted last year in this rather striking green. It’s not an original VW color, but it sure does suit this body style. Unfortunately the door sills were not painted, which may or may not bother you. It has teardrop-style wheels which the seller says are original, but I thought those were exclusive to the 16V version. At any rate, they look great on there.
These cars could have been someone’s only car when they were new; they’re certainly practical enough. But these days, owing to their rarity, they’re better enjoyed as weekend toys. But that’s fine; daydreaming about driving either one would be a fine pastime during the week while you’re stuck in a meeting. My question for you is: which one would you rather see in your garage when you open the door on a Saturday morning?
I really like the Siroccos of this era, my best friend was a VW guy in those days and I was with him on a few test drives of the 16v (never pulled the trigger, he kept his ’84 GTI).The paint is a distraction to me…would have preferred the original silver. I was going VW initially, but swayed over to the Celica. These things never blew anyone away but they were perfectly suited as grand tourers, even in this very modest spec. The lack of stuff is a good thing at this point – even carbureted, it will be reliable and dead nutz simple to work on. The paint says nothing but “meh”, but that’s in line with the trim level as well. It’s honest, and has my vote. Louvers are still available, but they aren’t cheap
I prefer the looks of the Scirocco over the Celica, but I feel as though there are too many red flags. All that work and they won’t bother taking it in for an alignment? And of course the AC “just needs a charge”…
I’ll take the Celica after checking it very carefully for rust; I just wish it was a more interesting color.
Today is a day for “both”, but since that isn’t an option, the Celica narrowly gets my vote.
Today is a day for “both”, but since that isn’t an option, the VW narrowly gets my vote because green.
You do make a very pursuasive argument.
I’m taking the Celica with the unkillable engine, 120k miles is nothing for that drivetrain.
My last college roommate had this Celica, except notch-back instead of fastback. Same fleshy-beige color as well. Polishing it isn’t going to make much of difference, either. It is just a dull color.
An advantage of the notch, it kept the liter bottles of Cuervo we bought in Nuevo Laredo out of sight of the customs agents, so we could bring back a bit more tax-free than the daily allowance permitted. Since we made margaritas as frequently as Starbucks makes frappuccinos in Summer, it was a welcome advantage.
Man, I generally don’t like Toyotas, but today it’s my choice. I just wish it were a better color. The VW is nice enough, but the bad paint would bother me too much. So two good choices with bad paint. The Toyota is RWD, so that breaks the tie.
Celica. It’s in great condition and would a great weekend toy
Celica no question. The car of the 80s! You *boing* asked for it, You got it, Toyota!
These are both really good, but the Celica is a classic. Gotta be the Yota.
DAMMIT MARK.
I am weeping. Weeping. I want them both.
The Celica is let down only in that it is the awful beige that Toyota rode to a kind of invisible stardom. The rest of the car is everything I could ever hope for. I would drive it away today…
…to sign papers on the Scirocco! Note, I cannot spell that word correctly on the first try, ever. And then I would grab someone, anyone, to take both of these beautiful old rides to my place and then daily them until the heat death of the universe. They are both sturdy, reliable, modest performers who won’t let you down.
BOTH.
I really like both, but the celica is a depressing color, I like the green on the VW and they are like legos can drop a VR6 or a 16v 4 into it and it would rock!
I voted VW because of the color, but after actually looking at the listing videos for both, I think I voted wrong. That Toyota is so cool! Too bad it’s in such a depressing color. It’s close to me, so I’m glad I don’t have the space.
In a reverse of yesterday, no a/c seems more appealing than a fixable one. Having never driven one, I never understood the Sirocco love and this isn’t helping me get it. Plus, that steering wheel in the Toyota is too cool.
I normally prefer the more modern, fuel-injected option to the carbureted troglodyte crawling its way out of the misery of the 1970s. But as a unique Sunday driver that I would not need to rely upon, the Celica gets my vote.
The VW is cool and has that 80s angularity I like, in a shape that evokes the DeLorean. And I like green. But not that green. It looks like a respray. I’d need a little more spice than a 1.8 liter to risk a 40 year old VW.
I have had more fuel injection systems leave me stranded than any carburetor, ever. I know FI is generally better…right up until it isn’t.
Always a Toyota guy, and I have a 90 Celica GTS from the old Pro / Celebrity races in Long Beach (Dwight Yoakam drove mine), so yeah I need another Celica.
If it was a first gen Scirocco, I’d vote for it, but in this case the Celica wins
The paint color on the VW really bothers me for some reason. Not quite teal, not quite green.
The Celica is a better car than any VW, so it wins by default.
Back in the day, it was the Scirocco I wanted – Not the Celica.
So I’ll take the Frog.
I’d vote for the VW but I feel like I need to punish that seller for all the vertical photos.
I have rejected more cars than I can count simply because the photos in the ad were all vertical. But sometimes I just have to, because I like the car so much.
It’s a stealth IQ test for sure. How can I trust someone to have properly maintained a 45 year old car if they can’t even turn their phone sideways to take a picture?
Vertical is the more natural, stable way to hold your phone.
My mother had the notchback version of this Celica, was great to drive. Celica for the win.
Since it is fake money, I will say both. the Celica would be my choice if I could only take one. It is nostalgia for me though. and it is a good spec. But the Color is definitely not as attractive in this contest. the VW was never something I liked as a kid, but I can dig it well enough now. I think I would just alternate between each to drive daily and when one breaks the other goes into more duty until it’s sister can be made whole again.
I was all set to say both, until I got to the paint on the Scirocco. Bonus, that Celica is local(ish) and I’m having a hard time not scheduling a test drive for this afternoon. I don’t need a third car, I REALLY don’t need a third car….
But here I am opening Facebook Marketplace on my phone.
The Autopian should give custom shirts to anyone that buys a featured car.
I keep telling myself I don’t need a 5th car (parking would suuuuuck) but that doesn’t stop me from browsing Marketplace.
I’m giving myself until noon to talk myself out of it. Yeah car classifieds are a regular meal for my Internet Dining experience.
Do it. And report back.
If i was local i would definitely check it out. That thing is sweet!
Tough call this morning. I went with the V-dub, mostly because fuel injection.
No contest. Celica.
One of my college roommates bought that model Scirocco brand new. Black w/ that grey interior. Sharp car but definitely would not have received the JD Powers ‘initial quality award’.
I am a simple man. Show me a RWD, stick shift, Japanese sports car, and I will vote for it. The Scirocco is…fine. but it’s not the Celica. The problem is that instead of reupholstering the driver’s seat, I’d probably put some Brides in there. And then source Watanabes. It would be very bad for my wallet.
They were not very sporty, I can attest to this from child hood experience, though they were long lived and were not as gutless as say the comparable VW Rabbit we had as well.
“They?” I’m a little confused as to which one you meant. I presume Scirocco since you mentioned “Rabbit” but…
the Celica was not very sporty, the later supra on the Celica chassis was a step up, but the basic 4 banger celicas were just adequate. though the manual and the size helped in a malaise era.
the Scirocco with under 100 HP was probably close tot he gutless Rabbits we had as a kid, I don’t know though, I never really wanted one even after I saw them.