Faults:

Door handles stick up and have to be pushed down.

Rear wheel bearings and hubs $40.

4 shocks and struts $200.

Power steering leaks, but it's pretty slow so I just have to add some every two months or so.

Check engine light is on for exhaust recalculation; it doesn't affect performance and cost too much for me to care to replace it.

General Comments:

This car is great. I may have over paid for it a little back when I bought it. I used to buy whatever used car looked cool on Craigslist.

I got a super reliable car that seems like it's gonna keep on lasting. The other great thing is it gets fairly good MPG (around 30ish) and parts are really cheap.

PROS

Zippy enough.

A/C works.

Has a big enough trunk.

Easy to work on.

Cheap parts.

CONS

Seats are not that comfortable.

A fair bit of road noise, but not the worst I've driven.

This car has been great to me. I don't feel like it will just break down on me. It's the first beater used car that actually had every thing working.

It's getting a bit of rust on it now. I just use some spray paint, because who cares what it really looks like; I mean it's 20 years old, it's not like I'll lose anything on it.

The rear wheel wells and rear mount points are really rusted; I managed to put a jack through it.

I recommend this car if you can find one that has been maintained.

Faults:

Apart from the usual maintenance (oil, brakes), the only expense has been for new engine mounts recently, as there was considerable vibration in cold weather until the car was warmed up.

The gear selector light went out a while ago, and apparently replacement involves taking almost the whole car to pieces, so I won't bother.

General Comments:

Still gets good mileage. On a trip from Vancouver Island to Reno last summer, the average was 35 MPG.

Not a powerhouse, but the engine does the job. It's a very smooth and pleasant car to drive. Some people say the seats are a bit hard, but I like them and the driving position is just right for me. I never feel tired after a long journey.

Like another owner here, I like my older Corolla so much I bought my daughter one (a 1994) for university. It's a bit more spartan (base model), but has all the same virtues as mine.

Once these eventually wear out, I'll probably get some more! The newer Corollas don't seem to be in the same class for build quality and reliability. I'm happy to be cheap and cheerful.