Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

This is a JDM 1.8L Station wagon, which is known as the Fielder, but in NZ and AUS it's known as the Corolla Wagon.

Import models seems to be more agile, better on fuel economy, but have the same Toyota reliability.

This model of mine is called S, which comes with a 1.8L engine, and the differences from NZ new ones are the front grille, interior light glows like Lexus, better seat, tinted rear windows, and the climate control is digital. Also the gear lever for the auto is quite polished looking.

I have driven both NZ new and imports. In fact we have half a dozen of these at work, and import models drive no different, but it feels like import models have a bit more go - might be differently tuned.

Mine hasn't done lotsa Ks yet, but one at work has now crossed 600K on the clock and drives no different from when it had 150K on the clock.

These are brilliant cars, nice seats, roomy, roof rack looks really cool, and the best part is fuel economy. I have managed to get 5.2L to 100km on the open road, and in the city I average around 6-6.5L to 100. That's where this beats NZ new models.

I would highly recommend people having these cars. Models from 2000-2007 (E120) are much more solid as well as roomy inside in my opinion.

I never hope to sell this. A 120 bucks service kept me going for miles, and it has given me no trouble whatsoever apart from wear and tear on tyres, light bulbs etc.

Faults:

Literally nothing.

General Comments:

Comfort - Soft, like most Toyotas, but it's not a squidgy sandwich. Can be a bit crashy on rougher roads above 70kph, but cruises quietly below 90kph. Cruises happily at 50kph in sixth gear on a flat road. At 100kph or more the engine noise starts to intrude a bit as it goes above 3000rpm. A six-speed gearbox would be nice.

Economy - Excellent. I can get 600km from one 50L tank of 98RON petrol (but when I fill up, it's always filling to 45L or less, as the fuel gauge drops faster in the last quarter).

Reliability - The best. I've had nothing go wrong with this car at all. Just follow the servicing schedule.

Safety - One airbag for the driver, as most of the time it's just me in the car anyway. Doesn't have ABS or ESP.

Performance - 85kW doesn't sound like a lot, but this car is light (only 1100kg), so it does get going if you let the engine rev out. Surprises bigger, heavier six-cylinder cars off the line to about 80kph. Handling isn't fantastic due to the soft suspension, but again because the car is rather light, you can chuck it around a fair bit. Pushes into gentle understeer when you go too fast. Lift-off oversteer on wider, faster bends makes it fun. Brakes are decent, they help the light car pull up pretty fast.

Also, it's pretty discreet, and isn't bad looking either.

As always with Toyotas, it does everything well, but nothing brilliantly. Highly recommended.

Faults:

The clutch went within a few months of me buying it used, but it was 'borrowed' while I wasn't looking, so that's not the car's fault, but my poor choice of friends.

Aircon died 2 years ago. It needed a full recon, not just a re-gas.

General Comments:

Very anonymous, & I don't think I was ever pulled over or waved into a booze bus while driving.

Adequate performance, I drove the car between Adelaide and Melbourne (~800km) a few times, and it was fine cruising constantly at 110-120km, and had plenty to overtake. This was with the car completely full with my possessions during an interstate move.

Very cheap to run. I worked out the average fuel consumption of the most recent Melb-Adel trip by comparing the trip meter and how many litres I put into it, and I think it was just under 7L/100km.

I'd still own this car if it wasn't for a new hobby that requires the space of a hatch (this was the sedan). I'm considering just buying the hatch version of this one actually.

The most annoying thing was the air con dying, and having to make the Adel-Melb drive over summer without any cooling, but how many car air cons can go 7-8 years without a service before finally dying?

If you need a car, and just a car, then it is a great choice.