Thoughts on buying newish Corolla

[GDII]

Looks like the 1/2ZZ models are the ones to go for. I don't think they are after the newest Corollas so the years they are after have the ZZ engines.

Lift bolts look easy to change before they break and if it's auto over revving shouldn't happen. Did they come in auto?

1ZZ looks like a good choice with no apparent problems.

[Mr Revhead]

A 2zz auto would be worse than a Blacktop auto

[GDII]

I imagine it would be but I won't be driving it. They don't appear to be too good at driving manuals anymore which is unfortunate.

[91 ZERO]

Have a mate looking at one so wrote this up for him - and then saw this post so copied and pasted! have a 2001 6 spd 2ZZ.



Fuel use - Open road - very good - just last week did Wellington to Wanganui to Fielding and back to Wellington and only used just over 1/4 tank, with two other people in car and driving with moderate throttle use. Around town fuel consumption is not great, but still quite good.

Room - Decent sized boot on these model hatches, with rear seats folded down, there is HEAPS of room. With the front passenger seat folded down as well, I have managed to fit a full single bed in! - matress and base up on an angle. Enough leg room all round and enough head space. 3 in rear starting to get crowded but definately not squashed.

Grunt/Speed - 2ZZGE is obviously designed to be revved, and accelerates very quickly indeed when the high lift is used, 2nd gear will take you to 110kph. If that is not your thing though, it is nice knowing the ability is there to overtake very easily should you need to etc.

Probs - Get the high lift bolts sorted - only $3 or $4 bucks each, and if you get Toyota to do it, only around 30min labour from memory.

Faulty oil pumps, understand this can occur after the fitment of aftermarket and/or lightened crank pulleys/harmonic balancers, unless it has one of these fitted don't worry about it, but do use good quality thinner oil eg. 10w/40 or similar.

Rear wheel bearings - can be pricy to get fixed, but this is rare from memory.

On the whole, very easy to drive - much nicer in my opinion than the next generation Corolla. Lots of space and good on fuel. Hold their value too. Glorified shopping trolley maybe but still has fairly sports looks.

edit ...oh the over revving thing - common sense really, if you drop it to second gear at over 100kph you are asking for trouble however from 6th to 3rd at 100kph will take you to about 5600rpm which lets the high lift kick in very shortly after for overtaking (4th will go a bit too low and leave you waiting).

[1I1]

After having a drive and being a passenger in Craig (bones on bikes) manual 2ZZGE RunX in the weekend I'd be happy with one. Only thing that kinda bugged me was I wasn't use to how easy it was to get to rev limiter. It caught me out each time - Sorry Craig!!

[GDII]

That's some good info 91 ZERO. Thanks.

[91 ZERO]

Actually 1T1 ^^ just reminded me of, the only thing that bothers me about the car at all, is that when driving, unless you are 6'1" tall or taller you can't see the bonnet or the front of the car at all! It's like driving in a video game It's road... then windscreen ha. Other than that, love it!!!

[snwtoy]

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.

Not sure if serious? The Corolla isn't great, but a Tida?? I drove a rental one in Aus from Canberra to Perisher and back. never will I set foot in one again, I'd rather walk they're that scary/unsettling to drive at anything close to the speed limit on the open road.

[GDII]

I never have that problem. I'm 5'9" and I hit my head on most car roofs with small bumps in the road. I can see the front of the bonnet in my SW20 when I drive it.

[91 ZERO]

I imagine it would be but I won't be driving it. They don't appear to be too good at driving manuals anymore which is unfortunate.

On that note mate, I convinced my friend to buy one, and she got the auto. Not too sure how different it is up in the top end, I imagine it wouldn't quite have the same punch as the manual, but would still be good.

[91 ZERO]

I never have that problem. I'm 5'9" and I hit my head on most car roofs with small bumps in the road. I can see the front of the bonnet in my SW20 when I drive it.

Well in that case there will be no prob with headroom ha. I am 5'10" and have heaps of headroom! It's just the heavily sloping front I find wierd to look over!

[1I1]

Actually 1I1 ^^ just reminded me of, the only thing that bothers me about the car at all, is that when driving, unless you are 6'1" tall or taller you can't see the bonnet or the front of the car at all! It's like driving in a video game It's road... then windscreen ha. Other than that, love it!!!

Didn't really notice that myself (left the seat how Craig had it) but do find both the ZZE Corollas (a little bit) and more so the current shape Corollas to be a real pain in that respect.

[91 ZERO]

Yeah you're right they do.. It's def not a major, it's personal preference I guess, I mean I went from driving early VR-4's my whole life which had a long large bonnet to look over so you know where the front of the car is, then went to this and it was like hmmm that's odd not having a bonnet to look over!

[GDII]

I have a tall body so when I sit down I am much taller than most people. They look like they have good head room. I can't sit in the back of their liftback with tilting my head right over. Not very comfortable.

It's one of these if I didn't make it clear in my first post. AE112.

[Dell'Orto]

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.

Not sure if serious? The Corolla isn't great, but a Tida?? I drove a rental one in Aus from Canberra to Perisher and back. never will I set foot in one again, I'd rather walk they're that scary/unsettling to drive at anything close to the speed limit on the open road.

+1, we had one as a work car and it was the most insipid festering pile of blargh . The only redeeming feature was that it came with a fuel card

[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.

Not sure if serious? The Corolla isn't great, but a Tida?? I drove a rental one in Aus from Canberra to Perisher and back. never will I set foot in one again, I'd rather walk they're that scary/unsettling to drive at anything close to the speed limit on the open road.

+1, we had one as a work car and it was the most insipid festering pile of blargh . The only redeeming feature was that it came with a fuel card

Don't get me wrong - I drove one from Auckland to Tauranga, then on to Raglan and back and I hate them as much as the next person (it was a month old work car and didn't feel unsafe like your rental- was it damaged repaired or have budget tyres on it?), but they are the ultimate old persons car (if I recall GDII is looking for a car for his grandparents).

They're easy to get in and out of (usually important when you're old), they have a good driving position (you sit high), with plenty of visability and there is a decent amount of interior space for passengers and lugage. They're not fast, but they've got more then enough power for your run of the mill grandma.

The latest Corolla however, is the worst steaming pile of shit I have driven (haven't driven a blade, but it's not something I'd expect you'd buy for your grandparents).
And the stupidity of the new corolla - why would you put a cigarette lighter near the handbrake; GPS cables aren't generally long enough to run 1/2 the length of a car?
The cup holders are pathetic - near the wing mirrors and are too small for a 600ml bottle of coke, but too big for a regular glass bottle (yes - the car spilt ginger beer all over me going around a bend).
It shouldn't be a six speed either - I find you're always changing gear in those bloody things.

I come from your typical 'Toyota family' (my family has had: a Crown, a Mark II, x3 Corollas, x2 Rav4's & a GTT) - my Mum loves her corolla and was hell bent on getting a new one for her next car, but even she hated the new shape after a test drive.

And I didn't recommend they buy a Tida - just drive it and compare to a Corolla and see how they find it. This is how you buy cars: test drive similar brands in your price range to get a feel for what you like and what you hate. And don't buy a steaming pile of shit just because it has a T within an oval on the front.

[/rant]

[GDII]

He ended up buying a brand new Alabaster Silver Honda Civic Euro S auto. It gets delivered on Friday. I hope these cars are good and reliable. So many features and safety equipment. Makes my MR2 look like a steel box with an engine.

[matt dunn]

I hope these cars are good and reliable. So many features and safety equipment.

As much as we all bag Honda's,

I would actually rate them as the next most reliable after Toyota's.

[GDII]

That's good to know. He got it mainly for the looks as he didn't like anything Toyota has to offer currently. Good thing he didn't get the Civic sedan. Not the nicest looking car.

[dnalunchie]

^ the 2.0 ones go bloody good!

haha my old man had only ever driven his two 2.4 NA diesel hilux's that he brought for the farm and then got given a newish 2.0 tubo diesel corolla. He totally crapped himself when he put his foot down to pass. was hell funny.