2002 Toyota Celica GT - Fast, Cool, and Furious

My car is a 2002 Toyota Celica GT.  I bought it brand new back in the summer of 2002; a long time ago, but only if you measure it in terms of years.  It had just come off the assembly line, and it cost just under $20,000.  It is a 1.8-liter, automatic transmission, power windows/locks/everything car.  It gets about 35 or more miles to the gallon depending on where I drive it.  For all sporty/compact cars released in 2002, it ranked second, in overall safety, only behind the Subaru WRX.  In addition to all these technical specs, the car just plain looks cool.

Flashback to 2002.  I needed a new car.  I wanted something that offered everything from value to safety to power to the always desired coolness factor.  My first, and only, choice was to search for a Celica.  I went to a few Pittsburgh area Toyota dealerships but couldn't find a Celica in the color I wanted (black).  Most Toyota dealerships will have a few dozen of each model (Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Corolla and Land Cruisers), but only about two Celicas on the lot.  (They can be tough to find in your specific color and/or transmission type but don't give up.)  I didn't want to settle for a silver one and didn't want to wait a few weeks for a black one to come in.  I also didn't want to spend an extra $6000 to get a GTS model.  The salesman said the only difference between the GT and the GTS was some horsepower, engine size, and the $6000.  It is not worth it.  My GT will top nearly 140 MPH, the GTS will hit about 150.  That is not worth $6000.  So on I searched.

Eventually I found what I wanted, but with a twist.  It wasn't black, it just looked black.  The official name of the car's color is Cobalt Blue.  At first glance it looks black, but under certain lighting or conditions, the car has a dark blue tint to it.  It is so cool.  Plus it is incredibly rare.  It is the toughest color to get on the Celica.  I had to have it.