Toyota Corolla

Price Paid:  $14000.00 from jack sherman, bingha

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 corolla le

Summary:
Great car. Not 1 problem with it in 4 years. It's now at almost 60k miles and still on the factory brake pads, and I live on a big hill that it goes down every day. Steering is tight, engine is strong and only downshifts on the highway when trying to maintain 70 up some of the hills. Gets 35 mpg doing town/parkway type driving. Gets 41-42 mpg when setting the cruise at 63 on the highway. Stereo is great, very sharp with good bass and no vibrations. Oil filter, air filter, battery, brakes pads are easy to get to and change. Very well thought out and cheap to buy. No wonder Toyota is killing the big 3.
Now looking for a Yaris to replace a chevy I have......

Strengths:
Almost everything.

Weaknesses:
Transmission controller could be tuned better. Seems to stay in low gear for a tad too long when starting from a stop....minor annoyance. With chevy's and dodges, tranny concern was more like "will it stay together..."

Similar Products Used:
chevy, ford

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Orlando

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 corolla CE

Summary:
I am following up to my May 12, 2007 review of the Corolla I bought new. I was not intending to write another review but I must point out another recent potentially dangerous and unpredictable mechanical failure which recently occurred.

The car now has 40,000 miles. Last week driving on the highway the front end of the car started to shake violently going around 60 mph. I immediately took it to service and was told that the right brake caliper was frozen. The mechanics were very surprised since this rarely ever happens to a car with the miles mine has and it was likely a factory defected part. I was told that the wheel could have easily locked up and I could have been in a very dangerous situation such as a roll-over at that speed. I went along with the repair and was told that the brake hose must also be replaced with the caliper since the extreme heat it generated corrupted the integrity of the hose and it would take two days to get the part since it's a special order item. In essence, I was stranded 40 miles from home.

Strengths:
The only reason why I kept it is because of the gas mileage. In the previous review I said I was going to trade it in when the full warranty expired but I didn't because of the good gas mileage. But this reason is not good enough to keep a car.

Weaknesses:
Read my May 12, 2007 review. From my miserable experiences parts are not easily availabe to get for this car. I had to wait for a week to get a new computer chip module from the dealer and two days for a common brake hose. DON'T LET THE GAS MILEAGE SWAY YOU TO BUY THIS CAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR IN THE TWO YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS TURKEY. Since fuel prices are so high Toyota is building these cars too fast and the quality is being compromised. Given the unique mechanical failures this car has developed, I would advise against buying a Corolla!!!!

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $18000.00 from toyota dealer

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 LE

Summary:
Please see below.

Strengths:
Low maintenance. Good mileage, nice interior, very good for city driving (it is is not raining or snowing heavily). Never had any problem in first 5 years (25000 miles)

Weaknesses:
very bad on a windy day if you are on the freeway. The control is too bad. Bad handling on snowy/icy road. Can't drive without AC on if it is raining outside. Noisy if you want to speed up (even at 60 mph). The toyota service is very poor. TIt comes with cheap tires and breaks so definitely need to change around 28000 miles. NEVER TAKE IT HIGHWAY ON A WINDY OR RAINY OR SNOWY DAY. IT CAN BE A LIFE RISK DUE TO POOR HANDLING AND CONTROL

Similar Products Used:
VW jetta

Price Paid:  $18000.00 from Bob Bridge Toyota

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 LE

Summary:
I decided I was going to get all the bells and whistles, including nice wheels and leather seating (which they advertise, but you can't get in WA state, so I had to have the dealer install it), so the price was a bit more. However, I plan to have this car until it drops dead.

Strengths:
Very reliable, good gas mileage, good pick-up, well built, good maneuverability (except for u-turns...). Nice looking car. Looks kind of similar to a Lexus from the back (well, if you don't look too close!).

Weaknesses:
Can't open the trunk without first disarming the alarm (sets the alarm off). Cannot turn off the headlight when driving. You'd think that would be a plus, but when they load your car on a ferry they ask you to shut your lights off while driving on board. Really wimpy horn. Not a weakness of the car but "dippy service reps at dealership". I asked them to adjust my parking break when it was brand new, and I heard the service rep say to the mechanic: She needs her parking break adjusted because she parks on hills. Whatever! The point is, the parking break barely held on a slight incline. Oh well, you run into dips where ever you go! I've also been frustrated that the dealership sends you coupons in the mail, but if you forget to bring the coupon with you for service they won't honor it (they should be able to look up on the computer to see what they have sent out and to whom!) =)

Similar Products Used:
None. This is the most reliable car I've ever had.

Price Paid:  $14000.00 from NJ

Year / Model Reviewed:
1996 ce

Summary:
This car is fantastic. I drove 12 years without any major problems. Even today, The car still uses the original muffler. I just don't know how Japanese can make car like this (I wish American Auto can catch up. I work in the auto industry)! In the first 7-8 year I didn't spent any extra money for this car.

Unfortunately, my wife had an accident last week on this car. I am still thinking to restore it.

Strengths:
Totla vehicle especially muffler durability.

Weaknesses:
I couldn't remember

Similar Products Used:
Nissan Sentra 1989 was a terrible car. The car died on highay almost killed me.