Faults:

Standard maintenance for about the first 200k miles.

Dome light died (wiring, not bulb or fuse) after a long time.

Odometer stopped counting at 299999.

Got airbags replaced on recall.

A/C needed to be recharged.

O2 sensor.

Gas cap replacement.

General Comments:

I've had this car my entire adult life. I know it better than I know my husband. It's also more reliable.

For a small, front wheel drive car, it's amazing in snow, ice, and rain. It's good on unpaved roads. It's easy to drive. It's hardy and easy to repair. Rear brakes are drums, which is minorly annoying.

I have since talked four family members into getting Toyota Corollas. I can't possibly say enough good things about this car. At 330k miles and 17 years old, it is still reliable. And that's saying a lot.

Faults:

The original tires were only good for about 50,000km. The replacement tires lasted twice that long.

I had a noisy wheel bearing at 126,000. The Toyota dealer told me it was my tires, so I had it fixed elsewhere.

The brake pads were replaced once, then all brakes were redone at 162,000. I did that myself.

Most maintenance was done by the Toyota dealer.

Overall, I could not have asked for better reliability.

General Comments:

My fuel mileage averaged almost exactly 40mpg (UK gallons) over the time I had it.

I towed a 4X8 utility trailer, which I used for home use.

I had a roof rack I used for canoes and a rooftop cargo box I used occasionally for extra cargo space.

In the winter I carried chains, and they came in handy a few times.

It served as a multipurpose vehicle for me. It was very economical and very reliable. I really could not have asked more from it.

It was written off when someone rear ended me at a stoplight. It was not badly damaged, but with the cost of repairs, the age and the mileage, it was not considered worth fixing. The insurance company paid me out for the car.

At the point of write off there were no outstanding issues. The car was running like new and showing very little aging. The interior was still nice and the paint was holding up well.

It never had any squeaks or rattles, ever.

I bought the car originally from a car rental company. When it was written off, I went back to the same company and bought a 2009 Mazda 3 sedan. I bought the Mazda because it is a more sporty handling car, and it came in RED.

Faults:

At about 85k the belt tensioner went bad, a 360 dollar part, but covered under warranty. Other than that, nothing has gone wrong.

General Comments:

This car was bought new by my father in 2004. He drove the car for about 40k and then lent it to my sister to drive while studying at UK. My sister beat the crap out of the car until I bought it Feb. of this year. I continued to do the same, and this car has never let me down, ever. I do however advise against treating this car like crap, as they tend to really deteriorate quickly.

Faults:

After the warranty expired things started going wrong.

At 27,000 miles the charcoal canister assembly had to be replaced. Cost: $200.

At 28,000 miles the filler neck assembly and gas cap had to be replaced. Cost: $450.

Now at 28,500 miles there is a fast oop, oop, oop sound coming from the left front wheel area when I drive over 30 mph. I have to go get that checked out now. Terrific.

General Comments:

To say I am disappointed is an understatement. I bought the Corolla because I thought it would run like a horse and have minimal maintenance issues.

Toyota quality has taken a plunge and their reputation is sullied in my eyes. I would not buy a Toyota again.