2003 Toyota Celica GT-S Road Test

While it didn't take long for my rebellious spirit to warm to its unorthodox design it was time spent behind the wheel that caused a deeper man/machine relationship to form. It's the kind of car a good driver becomes one with, an intuitive extension of the thought process. Then again it's also the kind of car that lets an inexperienced driver shine.

The updated Celica GT-S is only minimally different when compared to the previous generation car. The same 180-hp 1.8-L 4-cylinder connects through to the front wheels, kicking in like a turbo at about 6,000 rpm when the VVTL-i high-lift cams come in and then revs to the moon and back.

Toyota equips its top sport model with a precise 6-speed manual. It's a joy to run through the gears just for the sake of it, blipping the throttle while trying to match engine speed with revs during downshifts and then spinning the little wonder all the way to its maximum again, and then again, and so on. Boys will be boys I suppose. A 4-speed auto with manual mode can be ordered, but the car won't respond the same way as with the manual gearbox. The engine's 130 lb-ft of torque is less than adequate for spirited driving when configured this way. Then again, those opting for the autobox probably won't drive the car to its limit so it will probably prove sporting enough.