Excellent hard worker, and roomy compared to a Civic
Paint. Some of the worst paint I've ever seen on a car. Leprosy by 2011. I recommend heavy UV wax.
Other than the paint, the car is a great and dependable vehicle.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 8th April, 2017
Reliable and fuel efficient
Regular stuff (front brakes* once, battery once, tires once).
Door to storage compartment under stereo broke off (known issue).
* This base model 5-speed sat in the used car parking lot for 2 years (I walked by it daily with the dog), so the brake rotors were shot soon after I got it. Remember, I live on an island surrounded by salt water with humid winters (add salt spray from cars driving by this dealership).
Summary - for all intents and purposes, I could say that nothing has gone wrong with this car.
Most reliable car I have owned.
Performs better than I would expect an entry-level economical fuel-sipper to.
One flaw: driver's seat gets really uncomfortable after about 4 hours of driving (I'm 6'1").
Overall, very satisfied.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 9th April, 2014
Reliable, efficient transportation
A few days after purchase the oxygen sensor went; replaced by dealer free of charge 09/10.
Brake rotors warped when purchased; replaced myself 09/10.
Various oil leaks; covered under warranty. Head gasket, front crank seal, oil pan gasket all replaced.
Clock comes off and on as it wishes 08/11. Have not yet replaced, but plan on doing so.
New tires 09/11.
Idle hunts when cold; dealer said it is a dirty throttle body. After 35 seconds or so the idle is perfect.
I love this car. My last car broke down all the time, and this Corolla has never once left me stranded. It has had some simple problems that were generally replaced under warranty. The oil leak was just seepage, but the dealership decided to replace a bunch of gaskets because the warranty company was paying for it anyway, and it would prevent larger problems down the road. The oxygen sensor went right after I purchased the car, and after some arguing with the dealer, they replaced it for free.
Recently the clock has been going off and on whenever it feels like it. After some research I found out that it is the solder points on the back. They are very tiny and not worth trying to repair. The parts department at the dealer quoted me 281.00, so I did some research and found a bone yard that I can purchase it from for 30 dollars.
The car is fairly comfortable. I use it to haul around my three little cousins frequently, and although it can be tight with all their junk they need to keep themselves busy, it is still roomy for a compact car.
The gas mileage is pretty good; I get about 30 on the freeway and 25 in town.
The shifter is a little more stiff than my past vehicles, but I have learned to like it over time. I also like the 60/40 split back seats. Perfect for when I have to carry something a little longer, like our fishing poles. I can still fit the youngest two kids in the backseat, the little guy is still in a booster seat, and the oldest is big enough to sit up front. So, I can still seat four with two-fifths of the seat folded down.
The blind spots are not bad. I had a hard time adjusting to the four doors, but if the mirrors are properly placed, the blind spots are rarely a problem.
The car is a little light on the freeway during a windy spell. It blows around a little more than most cars, but never enough to frighten me.
Overall, this car has been amazingly reliable, and posed no real issues or problems in the year I have owned it. I will hopefully own this car for a long time to come.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 7th October, 2011
16th Apr 2017, 02:57
The 5-speed manual Corollas are borderline speedy - enjoy :)