Faults:

Air con stopped working a long time ago, did not bother to fix. ABS light came on - fixed by local garage for only £100, just a sensor. Suspension shocks were replaced at last service. I had the brakes done as well. Exhaust is also blowing slightly but nothing to worry about for now; will get it welded or replaced next time I am at my garage.

The car wouldn't start one morning - my fault, original battery was getting very old and I should have changed it for a newer one sooner. The car never let me down at any other time.

It has had every service since 2006 and been very reliable, no engine or transmission issues. Interior and exterior are showing some signs of wear, but this is acceptable for the car's age.

General Comments:

For a 16 year old run of the mill hatchback car, this Corolla is still running very well. I've never had one of these cars before, but when I bought it 10 years ago used, I had always heard about this cars reliability being among the best, and the car certainly has lived up to that, so cannot complain.

Smart looking car in black metallic. "Colour Collection" is a silly trim level / special edition name for a mid range specification car. It has electric windows all round, nice alloy wheels, air con, etc, all the expected equipment of a car from its time. Seats are comfortable and there is surprisingly good amounts of space for a smaller hatchback car. Cabin is refined enough and smooth, gets a little noisy on longer journeys though if you are on the motorway a lot.

The 1.6 petrol VVTi engine has been boringly reliable, never an issue. Fast enough for every day driving and does a solid 40 miles per gallon. Tax and insurance are OK, the car is all round very economical to run. Repairs, which are thankfully rare as the car is so reliable, are pretty much as cheap as you can get for a car nowadays.

I have had mine a long time and I suppose it will not last forever, however if you are looking at getting one now, anything around the 2006 age range will only cost you about 2 grand or less, and you will have a reliable enough car that should last a couple of years trouble free if it is a well looked after car. The Corolla is still a good choice family hatch for longevity and reliability, no matter what your budget.