Faults:

The door locks sometimes froze in the winter and one of my wipers fell off. Total cost of repairs: around $40, at 195,000 km.

The spring holding the hood closed broke at 198,000 km (yesterday); had it repaired for $70.

The suspension is totally soft, feels like I'm riding a boat, but it feels good (unless I hit a pothole).

A little bit of rust, but it's nothing considering the car is 20 years old.

General Comments:

Rita is an amazing car. I've had her for almost a year now, and I've spent almost nothing on her. Insurance, oil changes, new battery. Doesn't take any coolant, almost no engine oil unless I drive her too hard (which I very seldom do), and people say she's an exceptional car.

The previous owner was an 86 year old man who bought her new, but he died and it was sold to me.

Faults:

Repairs required for minor brake problems.

A.C. compressor out.

Struts replaced.

General Comments:

It is the most reliable and cheap car I have ever owned - purchased in 2003 for $2900; I haven't spent over $600 in non-maintenance repairs since I got it. Consistently surprised.

Handling is unimpressive compared to newer cars, as well as road noise. So it is not particularly comfortable, but it's hard to dwell on that if you take how much I paid for it and divide it over the years I've had it, I have not paid more than $362.50 per year for it. Makes everything better.

AC is out as of Summer 2010, but windows still roll down :)

Performance-wise, it's not fast, but then again, I don't expect it to be.

Easy to repair.

Small enough to park just about anywhere, and the wagon holds a surprising amount of cargo. Combined with the roof-rack, I've been able to move in this car.

Faults:

Routine exhaust work (expensive on these wagons).

Alternator died/replaced.

Major rust problems.

Locking differential computer failure.

General Comments:

The Corolla All-Trac Wagon is one of the finest cars ever built. The engines in particular are extremely reliable. Mine still purrs like a kitten despite its high KM. The 1.6L engine is someone weak but acceptable.

This car is a dream in the snow, and drives circles around most modern AWD cars. I have even taken it for some moderate off-roading on old logging roads and mud pits with little difficulty.

They are however fairly rare, and finding one with a good body and low KMs is difficult. If you do find one, get it!

I will keep driving mine until it dies. Likely, the engine will still be going strong when the car is a pile of rust.

Faults:

Nothing can phase this car, period.

General Comments:

I have put 30,000 miles on this car in little under a year, with only changing the oil and that's it! I run the hell out of it too, but it stills keeps on ticking. Not to mention I spend maybe $100 in gas for the whole month.

I have hit a deer going 40 in this thing, and the deer bounced right off surprisingly, and side swiped somebody with very little damage done.

This car is a beast. It's only negative, is it's kinda uncomfortable to drive and it won't catch your eye, but it makes up for that in all the money I've saved in it.