Faults:

Brake pads decreased at 35000km.

Brake disks decreased at 35000km.

Power steering has been becoming feel-less since 55000km.

Engine noise has become louder recently.

Fuel consumption has been getting worse.

General Comments:

I like this car, because of its spirited acceleration and engine power above average for this class. For example, it accelerates from 100km/h to 140km/h in 11.64sec (faster than VW New Beetle with 1984cc engine) and posts 0-100km/h in 11.3sec (as fast as the Ford Focus 2.0 with 145ps, and faster than the Citroen C5 2.0 with automatic transmission!). In fact I recorded maximum speed of 190.68km/h with its limiter kicked in, and on chassis dyno it records 191km/h with some space left, so its potential maximum speed is close to 200km/h (well above manufacturer data of 165km/h!).

In such sense, it can be called as a "giant-killer", but things are not so simple.

Its build quality is not too high, especially the brake system has been rather fragile, as decrease of pads and discs. And the tone of AM/FM tuner is just lemon, frankly speaking! Power steering has been becoming feel-less since 60000km.

I'm afraid the car was made by part timers with little skill and training, owing to Toyota's business policy in those days. In early 2000s, Toyota's quality became worse and worse.

Now, Toyota has quit using part timers in its assembly lines, so reliability of Toyota vehicles would become better and better, and regain its legendary reputation, I do hope!

PS.

Its fuel consumption is 12km/l average now, rather worse than 16km/l average of before 65000km. It will be largely for CVT automatic transmission's fatigue.