Faults:
Carburettor went at approx. 260000 Ks.
Starter motor went at approx. 265000 Ks.
Head blew at approx. 295000 Ks.
Drivers side window became stuck / very hard to wind up.
Boot would not stay open because boot hinges broke. Had to hold it open while loading / unloading car.
Probably a few other small problems - just general wear and tear.
General Comments:
I bought this car for my wife from a dealer for $4,500 in 1999. At the time this was honestly the best example of a Corolla I could find for under $5k. Very frustrating when a model is popular and hard to find - my wife had to have one!
This car was a good little runabout. It was a sedan with factory air-con and 3 speed auto. It used a small amount of oil between services and occasionally blew grey smoke when started. It was a bit gutless on the highway for overtaking etc. Around town the performance was fine however.
This car had a lot of heavy use from us over 5 years and beside the problems listed above was a good car. However it didn't quite live up to the impression I had that these cars were rock solid, reliable small cars.
Once the head went in the car I bought a newer car and patched it up to sell. Someone still gave me $1,500 for it even with its mechanical and minor cosmetic issues (fading paint, minor surface rust etc). I sold it unregistered.
This type of car is worth considering if you are on a tight budget and want economical motoring. I would suggest finding the best low kilometre, well maintained example you can find. Don't touch anything with high k's unless its dirt cheap!
24th Feb 2009, 07:17
Hey I agree, I have one one these beauties as well.
I agree on the con of your drivers side window was sticky.
Mine also is hard to roll up & down, though only when the weather is cold, it's fine in the warmer months.
She is white and has 169,000kms on her.
The head blew at 165,000, and again at 166,000. Would have gone a 3rd time as well, due to the fact it was re-assembled twice with the timing belts not correct, and caused the engine to displace about 30-60% of its power back out the carburettor.
Anyway this was eventually discovered and fixed for $99 by a mechanic who wasn't as big as a sumo, and actually knew what he was doing.
Ended up spending about $5000 dollars last year alone on serious engine troubles (DUE TO HUMAN ERROR, THE CAR WAS NOT AT FAULT IN ANY WAY.)
Read below for my views on this.
All up my views on this car:
This car I inherited off my grandparents with 135,000 on the clock in about 2004.
Since then it has been the best car ever, for the most part.
Steering is awesome, and gladly it's not power-steering.
I have a couple of very close calls driving this car in environments I was not used to driving in, and each time this car has been so reliable, thrifty and short that if I was in a car that was longer or not as nimble, I would not be here today *period*
Steering once again sorry, just the FWD factor, plus the short wheel-base provides an impeccable turning circle.
Also Toyota's patented "SR Super Responsive Steering" is as it is written, perfect!!!
Engine is a stock 1.6L automatic - the 4AC engine's power is factory 58hp FWD.
Don't be fooled though, This car is super light, and the torque to weight ratio balances the 58hp quite well indeed.
Saps in BMW's faces go red with anger When you pass them at 140kmh on the motorway with ease. LOL.
In the Aautomatic version of the 4 speed 4AC - AE82 86 CS. The gears are aspirated quite the same as the manual version respectively, with 3rd and 4th being quite close together, and 4th is nearly like an overdriver on 3rd.
Respectively with the auto 4 speed, 4th is last/top gear.
And in the manual edition 4AC, 5th is last/top gear, so the comments are relative. Owners will understand.
If you want to improve this car's ride even more, try changing your tyres up to a wider and more shallow bead.
I just put 2 kumhos KH15's? on the front with wider flatter dimensions on the front, and I love it!! It now turns with ease and even tighter. I'd recommend it to anyone who's experiencing wheel shudders between 80 - 100km; fixed my issues, can't wait to get another pair, they are that sweet.
Oh Cons:-
Suspension is rooted dead kaput!!!
Feels like I have the suspension from a hot-wheels car installed. Shakes the tar out of everything, bloody horrible it is.
Anyway, if anyone has had their suspension done/replaced with successful results, and are happy with it, could they please post relevant details to this link on how and what sort of suspension anyone could recommend would help me out a lot. Thanks.
Anyway, I love this car and I want another with lower kms. Searching for an 1986 AE82 CS Hatch under 50,000km on the odo. under 100,000km is also desirable.
Could go on forever about how great this car is, but it is also in constant need of little jobs on it, and forever needs the next thing repaired, as I'm trying to bring mine back to showroom condition. When I'm rich and famous I will have the money to blow on it. LMAO.
But still ever requiring a lil' TLC here and there as an old Corolla will.
Never had any problems starting it, and has never broken down on me due to its own faults.
Last word:
I LOVE MY COROLLA XOXOXO.
** TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO OVERBLOW AND LOWER THESE CARS WHEN THEY HAVE LOW KMS ON THE CLOCK, YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!
YOU ARE SABOTAGING ONE OF THE BEST CARS EVER BUILT BY TOYOTA. THESE CARS HAVE PERFECT FACTORY SETTINGS IN MOST EVERY WAY AND SHOULD BE PRESERVED IN FACTORY STANDARD CONDITION TO THE BEST OF ONES ABILITY. **
Hope this rare blog is helpful to someone, and I've really enjoyed all of your writings as well.
Thanks all!