2007 Toyota Corolla CE 1.8L from North America

Summary:

It's a great fun car, and reliable, but also very rattle-y

Faults:

Multiple things have gone wrong. I've replaced a headlight, the hood lever, blower motor, serpentine belt, and ignition coil. The bad ignition coil was causing a serious misfire making the car undrivable. Still the most reliable car I've ever owned.

General Comments:

Very reliable and fun. I call the car Buzz. My car feels really quick! It's also very rattle-y, and noisy. I can hear the engine for sure. But it's been a solid ride.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th April, 2024

27th Apr 2024, 21:34

Aside from the blower motor and the hood release, the other items are general maintenance.

29th Apr 2024, 22:55

What about the rattles and the noisy engine?

1st May 2024, 18:51

Rattles normal for a car with almost 150k miles. 4 cylinder engines in compact cars are always noisy, too.

1st May 2024, 20:01

It’s a 17 year old car with a little four cylinder. What would one expect? It’s bound to have a few rattles.

3rd May 2024, 19:47

Perfectly OK because it's a Toyota; if it were Ford or GM there would be criticism.

7th May 2024, 20:34

Would they though?

Iron Dukes were notorious for horrible shake and vibration at idle unless you turned up the idle screw just a tiny bit. That didn't stop people from buying them.

A car of this spec with 150k miles of any make will still have rattles of some kind. These are econoboxes with lots of plastic, again, that goes for any manufacturer. My sister had an early 90s Cavalier and then a mid 90s Civic. Both made it to 300,000 miles, both interiors were shot near the end and had plenty of rattles and noises. Both were eaten by rust due to our salted roads and driven hard, but the engines went on to be enjoyed in other vehicles, oddly enough. I'm tired of this domestic vs. foreign nonsense. Do people not realize that Toyota currently has just as many if not more parts built in North America than GM?

2007 Toyota Corolla VVT-i T3 1.4 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Still a dependable car after all this time

Faults:

Really nothing beyond the consumables and wear and tear expected of age. If I am being really picky the air con is no longer working, and the car is cosmetically looking tired, but again, it is an older car now. There is also a very small oil leak coming from somewhere but no big deal.

The car has been serviced and looked after properly from day one. I bought it used and cannot comment on the first few years, but it was an approved Toyota used car with full dealer history upon purchase, and I have used reputable independents every year since for servicing and repairs.

General Comments:

A smart looking car in silver, this Corolla has been my daily driver for many years now. They are famously reliable cars for a good reason and that is why people buy them. Be aware however you must look after it like any car to get this reliability.

The car is nothing special to look at or drive. But being a 2007 model, it still looks and feels modern enough to use everyday, despite turning 16 years old this year. The 1.4 petrol engine is quiet, and returns a genuine 42 mpg on average. Not fast by any means, but has just enough power for city driving and motorway cruising.

T3 model has A/C, electric windows, and very comfortable seats. A nice car to be in. In-fact the quality feel of the materials is so good that I wish they styled the interior better - that is the only let down, it is very Japanese and generic looking with black/grey plastic everywhere that just says "functional" and no more. Still, that is all you expect from this type of car. Noise levels are about average and the car is good enough for long or short journeys.

Reliable and economical, the Corolla is still the car for anyone who wants hassle free motoring.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd January, 2023