Thoughts on buying newish Corolla

[GDII]

My Girlfriends Grandparents are looking at buying a newish (5 years old) Corolla. I don't know too much about the newer ones out there now except that the 2ZZ-GEs have oil pump problems and the lift bolt issue which was fixed in newer models.

They have a 2001 7A-FE lift back auto at the moment. They have owned Toyotas for a long time. TE71 Levin, mid 80s Corona, '96 Townace and '90 EP Starlet.

Are the 1/2ZZ Corollas good to buy or is it better to buy the newer 1/2NZ, 3/4ZZ or 1/2/3ZR models? They don't want diesel though.

[wde_bdy]

Blade Master G.

That is the only answer.

Callum

[GDII]

I wouldn't trust them with that much power. Plus I think fuel economy is what they are after.

[Mr Revhead]

Blade Master G.

That is the only answer.

Callum

How can it be anything but awesome with a name like that!

[matt dunn]

How can it be anything but awesome with a name like that!

lol, Havde you actually driven one?
Someone I know down here has one for his missus,
and gave it to me for drive when it first arrived,
definatly a fast car as a road car and awesome to drive,
just a shame about the price tag, although they have 1/2'd in price since then.

[Jdawg]

I got my parents a 2005 toyota Probox.
2NZ 1.3l vvti motor. Runs like a swiss watch. 130k odd kms on it and the powersteer belt has just started to make some noise. It is Auto and potters around OK and can sit on 100kph all day. I know this for a fact as it has been driven to Dunedin and back. Economical, especially if you don't thrash it. I got 800kms on 1 tank of gas but generally around 700kms.
I would imagine all of the little Toyotas use the same running gear but weigh a little less than the Probox.

[Tha_INS]

I wouldn't trust them with that much power. Plus I think fuel economy is what they are after.

get better economy then a aurion i guess being same engine and possibly lighter chassis

[snwtoy]

Compared to the 2001 Corolla, the 2010/11 Corolla is TERRIBLE to drive imo. I've driven heaps of rentals and the fly by wire throttle, lacklustre 1.8 (heavier car?), and poor handling are a dissapointing package.

[matt dunn]

Compared to the 2001 Corolla, the 2010/11 Corolla is TERRIBLE to drive imo. I've driven heaps of rentals and the fly by wire throttle, lacklustre 1.8 (heavier car?), and poor handling are a dissapointing package.

Any toyota petrol that I have driven with fly by wire throttle is terrible.

[GDII]

I got my parents a 2005 toyota Probox.
2NZ 1.3l vvti motor. Runs like a swiss watch. 130k odd kms on it and the powersteer belt has just started to make some noise. It is Auto and potters around OK and can sit on 100kph all day. I know this for a fact as it has been driven to Dunedin and back. Economical, especially if you don't thrash it. I got 800kms on 1 tank of gas but generally around 700kms.
I would imagine all of the little Toyotas use the same running gear but weigh a little less than the Probox.

Not such a nice looking car. They will still have the Townace so a wagon type is probably not needed. They probably will want a hatch or sedan as they don't make liftbacks anymore.

I wouldn't trust them with that much power. Plus I think fuel economy is what they are after.

get better economy then a aurion i guess being same engine and possibly lighter chassis

Yes that's probably true but even 110hp is enough. Fuel economy would be the NZ engines I think but they lack power. I don't like cars that are too slow. Feel unsafe but can't have too much power for them.

Compared to the 2001 Corolla, the 2010/11 Corolla is TERRIBLE to drive imo. I've driven heaps of rentals and the fly by wire throttle, lacklustre 1.8 (heavier car?), and poor handling are a dissapointing package.

That's not good to hear but I don't think they will want to buy a brand new car. Not sure on the budget as of yet. I'd like them to get a 1/2ZZ but not sure on their exact requirement in terms of performance, options and driveblity.

[matt dunn]

I'd like them to get a 1/2ZZ but not sure on their exact requirement in terms of performance, options and driveblity.

IMO
Grandparents = 1ZZ
Grandchildren = 2ZZ

[GDII]

I'd like them to get a 1/2ZZ but not sure on their exact requirement in terms of performance, options and driveblity.

IMO
Grandparents = 1ZZ
Grandchildren = 2ZZ

I think you are probably right. The 1ZZ has enough power and should be good on fuel. Do they have any mechanical problems?

[fuel]

Compared to the 2001 Corolla, the 2010/11 Corolla is TERRIBLE to drive imo. I've driven heaps of rentals and the fly by wire throttle, lacklustre 1.8 (heavier car?), and poor handling are a dissapointing package.

That's saying alot as the 2001 Corolla isn't that spectacular of a drive either - obviously with the 2ZZ-GE 6spd models excluded.

[Luke - BZG]

I'd go for the ~2006 1zz-fe corolla.

I had one for three years as a company/personal car and was very happy with it. went really well and none of the 12 or so in the fleet had any problems. (one guy managed to break a gearbox but he was special)

Now we have the 2011 corollas with a 1.5 coupled to a CVT gearbox that has a mind of it's own, it's a really horrible gearbox. I'd much rather go back to the older 1.8 and 5 speed corolla.

[gurutasker]

The lift bolts issue is an easy fix if you get them before they break. Have a quick search around and there is some easy 'How-to' guides on how to replace them. Not that expensive either.

As for the oil pumps, from what I know they only went at over-revving, so if you don't accidently shift from 6th to 2nd at 110km/h it should be okay

All in all I loved my Run-X Z. Would highly recommend them.

[BZG Wagon]

Personally I don't like them.

I'd recommend your GF's grandparents look at a Nissan Tida just to mix it up a little and provide a basis of comparison.

[Mr Revhead]

All the 2zz oil pump issues I supplied parts for were caused by either aftermarket pulleys (incorrect balancing) or in one case crash damage. original pulley had a tap in a crash and wasn't picked up until it shat the pump.

[rolla_fxgt]

Yeah I drove the latest corolla from chch to Picton just before christmas, and it was gutless, was worse than the old carbed 1.3 ee90 corollas. Constantly felt like there was something stopping the engine from reving, or developing any power.
Then I jumped in a new camry in Wellington and just about put it through a wall getting it out of a carpark, far better throttle response!

The older 2002-2007ish ones are a much better bet.

[Alex B]

The new Diesel corollas are awesome, even the 1.4.

Drove a brand new GLX a year or two ago, the gearbox was notchy as, felt like a S53 box with 200k on it.

[1I1]

^ the 2.0 ones go bloody good!