Yep, this week’s installment is about a Toyota Corolla- one of the most-recognized cars in the world. Truth be told, so much has been said and written about this venerable car, I’m not sure how much I can add to this discussion, but I’ll take a crack at it. The automotive press, slanted as it is toward performance, has usually tended to dismiss the Corolla as a bland “vanilla” transportation appliance. If the statistics are right, since the Corolla’s introduction in 1966 almost 50 million car buyers worldwide have ignored that opinion and bought one anyway. They’re so ubiquitous, there’s a good chance you’re going to be at least a passenger in one at some point in your life. That got me to thinking about all the Corollas that have crossed my path before this one.
For example, one of my earliest memories of a Toyota Corolla involves a white ’71 two-door my dad’s friend Jeff owned. Jeff drove me to school on many a rainy Portland morning, and I remember he smoked like a chimney (didn’t almost everyone back then?). We’d be stopped at a light, the tiny wipers whirring with a mechanical drone as the wind blew the traffic signals side-to-side almost in sync with the back-and-forth of the blades. As the smoke filled that little Corolla and I watched those signals swing rhythmically from their braided cable, the whole effect was stupefying.
Besides the ’71, Dad bought a ’75 wagon (in lemon-yellow, no less!) to replace the much-loathed Vega. We had that car for several years and it made a number of trips across the Cascades to Klamath Falls, often during the summer. This, mind you, was a car with black vinyl seats and no A/C (cue the four Yorkshiremen: “Well, we had it tough!”). Otherwise, here’s a tally of model years that I’ve been in, either as passenger or driver: ’78, ’81, ’85, ’90, ’93, ‘09 and, of course, the 2013 that is this week’s feature. All those Corollas…but this is the first one I’ve actually owned.
Left: Jeff’s ’71 was white, but otherwise pretty much the same as this example. To my knowledge, he never parked it in a field next to catalog models, though. Right: Except for those much more contemporary wheels, Dad’s ’75 looked like this, right down to the color. I don’t think we had a roof-rack.
As you can see, I’ve had some real, butt-in-the-seat experiences with Corollas of multiple generations. So getting back to that “vanilla” criticism, let me make a counter-argument: first of all, vanilla is a wonderful flavor- especially for ice cream. By itself, it is subtle yet distinctive. There is a creamy goodness to a well-made vanilla ice cream that pleases but does not overwhelm. Vanilla also mixes well with toppings: you can add to it without taking away from its basic goodness, and at the same time it enriches the toppings, transforming the whole mixture into a new and flavorful creation. So if the Corolla is vanilla, maybe it’s vanilla ice cream.
A Corolla may not be your bowl of ice cream, but you gotta admit, this isn’t a bad-looking car, especially in this color and with the alloy wheels.
When it came time in 2014 to finally break down and buy a second car, Ms. D and I had no reservations of buying one of those “vanilla” Corollas. We’d always managed just fine with one car up to this point, and in a pinch when we needed a second vehicle, Mr. O’s Nissan pickup was at our disposal. But now Miss E was growing up, and she enrolled in the “Running Start” program at Clark College. This lets high-school age kids take college-level courses and simultaneously earn both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. And all for pennies on the dollar compared to normal tuition. Yowza!
Clark College was 10 miles away in Vancouver, and we knew we needed a second vehicle so Miss E could drive herself to school without leaving us sans car during the day. At first I thought about buying an older car that would be dedicated to that purpose. But the Yaris now had over 100,000 miles on it and we thought we’d get ourselves something a little newer and let Miss E drive the car she was most familiar with. By this point, I was a total Toyota fan-boy. We considered a second Yaris, but we thought maybe something a little bigger and more comfortable might be in order.
Not sure why Toyota went with this HUGE back-up light.
I decided to take small risk and find a near-new car to save some money. Our Corolla had 30,000 miles on the clock when we bought it. It had been a California car, so coming from that mild climate, the body and paint were in near perfect condition. Buying slightly used also meant we got some things I wouldn’t normally consider if buying new, the “extra sprinkles” on our vanilla as it were: a power sunroof, fog lights and factory alloy wheels. All in all, I figured we saved between $6,000 and $7,000 compared to buying new Corolla similarly equipped. That was more than enough savings to justify the purchase and 30,000 miles on a Corolla is practically nothing. The car was still in diapers. Then there was the color: Barcelona Red. I’d never had a red car before. So now we had a well-built car with a storied nameplate, with extra features and in a pleasing color. What’s not to like?
Like all ’13 Corollas, ours has the 1.8-L 132hp DOHC four. The somewhat long-in-the-tooth 4-speed auto that’s in our car has been efficiently shifting gears for other Toyotas for years, so I know that it is going to be reliable. Yep, there’s my practical side rearing its head again. Inside, the Corolla has that clean “late-00s” dash layout. 2013 was the last year of the ’09 generation…things got busier-looking inside with the 2014 model. Ergonomics are excellent- everything is logically placed and there are real, honest-to goodness knobs for the climate control. I’m a huge fan of knobs, and you can quote me on that. You can keep your flimsy sliders, up/down toggles, and confusing touch interfaces, thank you very much. (Yeah, I know, cars with automatic climate control…yada yada.) Seriously, I don’t understand why, if a perfectly good solution to a problem exists, that you have to ditch it just because it isn’t the latest and greatest. I mean, cars still have round wheels, right? Some things just work better.
Late 00s/early teens Toyota interiors were some of the cleanest ever, nicer in my eyes than the “great wall of dashboard” look some current models have. Count me as a fan of the design, if not the materials used.
Actual knobs! (The touch-screen only controls the audio.)
A large, easy-to-read typeface on the gauge cluster is much appreciated.
Like so many other Japanese cars from the late 00s and early teens, interior materials could be better. I made this complaint about the Yaris, too. I remember the ’93 Corolla I rode in had almost Lexus-like-quality materials. Almost every surface in this Corolla, save for the seats (obviously) and the door trim inserts, is hard as hard and unbendable as Tommy DeVito’s* heart (or maybe his head. Probably both).
This piece of trim popped out one day a couple of years ago. It’s probably just a rare random defect, but I expect better from Toyota. It’s not a huge deal, but still.
On the road, the Corolla is, well, a Corolla. It feels composed, is reasonably quiet given its size and class, and there’s little drama. Pretty much about what you’d expect. Sure, steering is a bit numb and the handling is about average, but that’s not why people buy Corollas. People buy these cars because they know that day in and day out, as they slog through the muck of life, the Corolla will be there for them to make that journey a little easier. Peace of mind. That’s what Corollas are for.
So far, our Corolla is living up to those expectations. We’ve put 75K on the car since 2014 and I only had a couple of minor incidents when the car wouldn’t start right up. The first time was a very cold morning and the guys over at Les Schwab said that the original Toyota battery was kind of wimpy. They recommended a heavier-duty battery and so I had it replaced. The second time, I’m not sure…maybe there was a little water in the gas tank? I haven’t had any problems since then and it’s been over two years. Our car also has also been recalled because it has Takata airbags. I need to get on this because I’d prefer that neither my, nor Ms. D’s face be shredded by hundreds of pieces of tiny shrapnel if either one of us is in an accident. I’ll give Toyota a partial pass on that since they didn’t actually make the part. Other than that, smooth sailing, which pretty much sums up Corolla ownership experience. Smooth. Like good vanilla ice cream.
Matt, I noticed you used the “she” pronoun when talking about your Yaris, but you’re not doing that here. Okay, you got me. I have to admit as nice as this car is, I have a soft spot in my heart for the Yaris. Even after Miss E bought her own car and no longer needed to use one of ours, I found myself driving the Yaris way more than the Corolla. Comparing the two, the Corolla absolutely had the better ride, was quieter, and was more nicely equipped. But there was a “fun factor” to the Yaris that was somewhat missing in the Corolla. Maybe it’s the size or my completely irrational nostalgia for the Tercel. I don’t exactly know. But though we had never intended it to be this way, the Yaris ended being “my” car while Ms. D mostly drove the Corolla. We don’t have the Yaris anymore, but I find myself driving its replacement just about as frequently. You’ll find out about that car soon.
The Corolla at one of my favorite places to walk: Lewisville Park near Battle Ground.
Our Corolla never took the trip to Klamath Falls, by the way. By 2014, my folks had moved up to Woodland, Washington to be closer to us. However, it has taken us to some other scenic locales, especially the Oregon and Washington coasts. I’ll leave you with a few pictures from those trips.
Washington SR-4 heading west toward Cape Disappointment.
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, Washington
Oregon Coast looking from a viewpoint along US 101 near Manzanita.
*Joe Pesci plays this character in “Goodfellas.”
Mr Ponderosa, I’m not intending any unkindness when I say that the sedan Corolla is the most visually retiring of a range not noticeable for extrovert originality (or indeed, perhaps just not noticeable at all), nor that a splashy Alfa 8C-red paint job and alloys on it are high heels and a skimpy dress on an ancient grandmother, but I will opine that it is a choice that lacks the gobsmacking visual zing and zoot of the hatchback.
I drive the super-race hatchback version of this very car every couple of weeks, and, once I’ve stopped staring at that bodywork and noting how far above the sedan it rises, I note other things. They include the utter competence of the 1.8, the entire decency of the 4-auto, and most of all, the vaultness of the build at about 7 years and 80K, in my case.
That is, I genuinely note the sheer damn quality of the thing every time. It’s that good.
Sure, sure, it’s occasionally a bit slow, the steering came from a ps-3 game (though what car these days doesn’t?), and it’s not interesting as an automotive object for an enthusiast to drive, but I DO know exactly why 50 million have chosen a version, and the same will, eventually, again.
Unlike the ’75 your dad had – a number of which I’ve driven and been in years ago – it’s utterly respectable to drive, not vague, not moany, not rolly-polly, not poorly-seated or crappy-riding in the way a ’75 was against a similar (unreliable) Euro from the era. It is a proper car, and nowhere near as deficient in enthusiast function as many an internet drooler would make out.
In short, if I were in the same position, I too would’ve bought this, absolutely.
Your COALS have been good fun, and thankyou for your considerable efforts in sharing them. Perhaps their sub-category should be “The Enthusiast’s Realities”?
The US has a hatchback Corolla now, but there was no equivalent stateside in 2013. Scion later released the iM here, which was Toyota Auris, etc., in other markets. Anyway, I’ve always been more of a sedan person, though I appreciate a nicely-styled hatch. That being said, next’s week installment is about a non-sedan car (and I won’t say any more than that!).
The 2013 equivalent was the Matrix, but I too prefer sedans when going above subcompacts in size.
You’re correct…I had forgotten the Matrix was still around in 2013, so few were sold that year.
I think it might been about 2007-2008+- a few years when I saw a 93 Corolla advertised at a nearby Toyota dealer for a fairly decent price. I drove to the lot and looked at the car… it was quite anonymous looking in it’s dark grey paint (by the way, darker Corollas must make great getaway cars) and even the interior was grey.
Anyway, started to get into the car for the road test and that’s when I discovered that while the Corolla and Civic are about the same size, the 93 Civic’s longer wheelbase made getting into the front seat so much easier.
The Civic is a pretty good car, the Toyota, at least until 10 years ago is in my opinion a close second. Sure, it has that mini Lexus vibe going for it, but if you aren’t a woman or an average sized guy (I am on the tall side) you may not be comfortable behind the wheel.
I like your comparison of the Corolla to vanilla ice cream, and I too prefer knobs & buttons to sliders & touchscreens for the HVAC controls. To my knowledge my family has had only 1 red car: my mom’s 1997 Mercury Tracer LS (basically a rebadged Escort) in Toreador Red Metallic. It replaced her ’83 Plymouth Horizon and stayed until around 2010 when a 2006 Focus SE ZXW (station wagon) took its place after it essentially needed a whole new transmission. She currently has an ’07 SE sedan after I–accidentally–over-corrected the other Focus on a sharp curve & the ’88 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera from my deceased grandparents (HER parents) had to take over until we could find a more suitable replacement at the same price. Things got tough with the Ciera’s age, but it managed to last nearly 3 decades before being donated to Goodwill.
We have ended up owning something from each of the (formerly) Big Three and actually are doing it all simultaneously at this very moment: my dad’s ’97 Jeep Wrangler (though my brother actually drives it; he’s in the Mid Carolina Jeepers Club), my ’05 Chevrolet Astro, and all the other Ford vehicles still at hand–’04 Expedition Eddie Bauer, ’01 Ranger XLT (pictured below next to the Tracer), ’08 Shelby GT500, ’08 & ’11 Ranger XL.
As for anything Japanese, my brother has a 2017 Subaru Forester XT, and if it counts, I have a trailer built from a 1985 Nissan 720 pickup. We pretty much have everything. 🙂
I’ve been eating a lot of vanilla ice cream lately, for some reason…
Thanks for posting the picture of your vehicles. I had a colleague when I lived in southern Oregon who had a ’97 Ranger in that exact same color. I borrowed it once to get some topsoil and remember it was a nice little truck.
I am in complete agreement with you about vanilla ice cream. All of the distractions fall away and you can tell whether or not the ice cream is good. An excellent analogy with this Toyota.
All of my Toyota experience has been one class up in the Camry. My stepmom, who drove Olds Cutlasses for about 15 years has met or exceeded the Cutlass run with Camrys in recent years. My experience has matched yours – they are exceedingly competent, well-built and visually pleasant. But they lack the kind of soul or personality that makes me fall in love with a car. Most people, however, do not need that little extra bit and Toyota gives them everything they need.
I recall having an experience similar to yours. For one summer I traded my Honda Fit to my daughter who had an internship out of state. I got her 98 Civic in exchange. I thought I would love the Civic, and it did certain things better, but in the end I was thrilled to get my Fit back. The Civic was more comfortable and civilized, but it was not fun like my Fit.
Quick – you have to buy some more cars. I don’t want this series to end. 🙂
I’ve had cars with personality. Boring is better. Enthusiasts say their car has soul. When it won’t start. Again.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the series. It amazes me that I’ve been able to write about my ordinary run-of-the-mill cars and people will actually read about them and get something out of it! I’ve got one more of my own cars to write about. I am thinking about writing some pieces about the cars dad had growing up if I can scrounge up the pictures. I had coffee with him yesterday and planted the seed with him. I also have a couple other ideas for pieces of other cars I’ve driven regularly, but didn’t actually own. So I’m not going to go away completely.
Excellent news! I too have found your series extremely interesting, these are all fairly regular cars that I mostly have not owned myself and they are in fact interesting, as all cars are once you get beyond the “oh, boring” mindset. One can definitely be an “enthusiast” without driving, owning, or constantly wrenching on something out of the norm. The cars that let people live their lives they way they want to and do it well, those have succeeded at their mission.
You write interestingly on top of that, so it’s not just a regurgitation of facts and figures, but adds the context that makes the difference.
Thanks, Jim, I appreciate that. I’ve always thought that there is more than one way to be enthusiastic about cars. If someone is into performance and modifications, they can knock themselves out. For me, it’s much more about life experiences- where cars have taken me and what they mean to me. And I enjoy driving as much as the next person, but for me it’s about the trip itself, not how fast I went on the trip.
A Corolla like yours is the only Corolla I’ve ever ridden in. A rental for my wife, I did drive it also.
It was an enjoyable car, with perhaps my biggest knit being the relatively nasal sound of the 1.8. With the busyness injected into the interior as you mentioned, these likely are peak Corolla. I have a 94 year-old great aunt with a Corolla of this vintage and, ideally, I’d like to get my hands on it when she’s done with it. Most unusual of all, it is black.
I think you wrote about that rental Corolla, didn’t you? I remember reading that and thinking…yeah, what he said.
Yep, sure did. Had to re-read it myself.
Of the three I rented in short order (the Corolla, a Focus, and a Sentra), plus knowing what I know now, the Corolla would be my pick of the litter all day.
I remember that comparison. Sure makes me want to steer clear of the Sentra!
I’ve only driven Corollas as rental cars, so obviously missed out on that glorious red paint.
All of them, except one, have been fully intuitive to drive and totally fit for the purpose of rental car, and indeed for daily transport for 90% of the population.
The one that wasn’t was a brand new one a year ago in New Zealand – the controls for many features were not intuitive, a gearshift trying to match a BMW’s, a reversing camera instead of a window you can see out of and, worst of all for us, a boot smaller than a Holden Barina’s. 2 people’s holiday luggage should fit any hire car from an airport Avis, especially one that is sold as a 4 seater. Big fail.
I haven’t been in Corolla newer than ours. The current one with its “styled on Q’onoS” face leaves me cold. I realize Toyota is trying to inject some “excitement” into the Corolla brand, but I find it god-awful ugly.
Disappointingly, I’m not on board with the appearance of the new Corolla, either. It just looks like a potato to my eyes.
A potato with very angry eyes! (Wasn’t that in a Toy Story movie? Mrs. Potato packs Mr. Potato’s “angry eyes” in case he needs them.)
The range of people and their automotive experiences on this site is (IMO) CC’s biggest strength.
In the past week alone, from a patina power wagon, to a glowing review of the Ferrari of crossovers, and to this bread and butter vanilla COAL, we are the most (*) catholic of automotive connoisseurs.
(*) When spelled with a small c, catholic means: a wide variety of things; all embracing.
I really like this red Corolla. It says “I’m not out to impress anybody, but ain’t I pretty?”
Yes you are!
Exactly- I love reading about other people’s rides, especially cars I don’t have much personal experience with. Cars are very subjective choices, so it’s interesting to see what goes into people’s thinking when they choose one. We find strength in diversity.
I’ve had seat time in many rental Corollas, and while they’re not the most exciting cars on the road, you can’t fault them for what they are – good reliable transportation with no drama. Most of the time, that’s all you need and it’s why a Corolla is on the short list of cars I would actually buy if I was in the market. I completely agree with your vanilla analogy. The only complaint I had about a Corolla was more related to my height (just under 6’). My wife and I drove a 2011 to Florida and back, and while it was trouble free and delivered great mileage, it could have used just a little more legroom – I was kind of sore for a few days after we got back. The next generation has managed to solve that problem. Thanks for a good Saturday morning read, and I’m looking forward to your next COAL.
Yes, the next gen had several inches more wheelbase, and was noticeably more roomy. At 6’3′, I feel quite comfortable in them, even the rear seat.
I echo the same sentiment about lack of legroom for tall people. When we were car shopping in 2011, I remember the sales person trying to sell us on a Corolla and I told her up front I had driven them before and they don’t have enough legroom for me. She insisted and when I sat in the car, even she admitted it didn’t look comfortable for me. Surprisingly, the Gen III Prius we ended up with had significantly more front legroom than the Corolla.
One of my brother’s, who’s about the same height as me, bought a 2011 Corolla as a cheap commuter car. He suffered uncomfortably with that car for about 3 or 4 years before he had to get something roomier (2016 Mazda 3). His Corolla was a 5-speed. I drove it a fair bit and it was more fun than the typical automatic Corolla.
I also concur with the other commentary, this has been an enjoyable series to read.
Thanks, dman63. I’m a pretty average height/build guy, so I fit into most cars without too much trouble.
As I mentioned in another reply, I have one more COAL of one of my own cars, but I’m looking for angles to write a few more beyond that. It’s been immensely fun and rewarding.
Your entire COAL series should be required reading for all automotive marketers.
Decades of producing boring but reliable cars has given Toyota a level of brand loyalty that few other manufacturers enjoy today.
Clearly you love your Toyotas!
Ha! Thanks for the comment and I guess my Toyota love is pretty transparent.
I reviewed this generation Corolla at TTAC when it first came out in 2008. I actually borrowed both it and the outgoing version at the same time from a friendly dealer, and compared them. I actually preferred the older one, as it was a bit more compact and nimbler and still had the hydraulic power steering and the interior had nicer materials. The hardness of the interior was a bit shocking at the time. The 2008 did have more width and felt roomier. But I still appreciated its overall solidity and surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride.
I bought a 2017 LE sedan for my daughter’s group home; this version is even longer and its interior accommodations are surprisingly roomy; it seats four adults in utterly uncompromised comfort. And its interior is less hard, Toyota having had to back away from the that as the expectations changed. Its interior is quite nicely finished.
It still has the 1.8 and four-speed automatic, which is actually a very well matched and suitable drive train for 99% of drivers and conditions.
It does a a suite of Toyota’s safety systems, which took some of the staff a bit to get used to, as they invariably drive older cars. But they love it, and are thrilled not to be driving a marginal beater like in most of this small non-profit agency’s other group homes.
I’ve been a Corolla fan from way back, having spent a lot of time in a ’72 1200 and a ’76 1600. And I’ve written a lot of Corolla love on these pages over the years. It’s always good to see some more though.
I went on the Edmunds.com website to look at the various specs for the 2017 Corolla. They show 2016 as the last year for the 4 speed automatic and not 2017. And in 2016 is was only in the ” L ” trim level.
That 1.8 liter Toyota is a “stout” little engine, it’s a shame they did away with the equally stout 4 speed automatic transmission.
Do most Corollas come equipped with a CVT now? I guess Toyota’s CVT is a pretty good one, but I still think I’d pick the 4-speed if I had my ‘druthers. Toyota kept that transmission a long time, even as other manufacturers were putting 5 and 6-speed autos and CVTs in their Corolla competitors. My dad’s ’12 Civic has a 5-speed auto, but I don’t notice a huge difference driving it compared to our Corolla. I had to rent a 2016 Hyundai Accent once, and it had a 6-speed auto, but it often felt like the car had a hard time selecting the appropriate gear.
I’m fairly certain that Corollas now come with a CVT; some models are available with a manual. What is interesting is that the RAV4, which is essentially a Corolla wagon, retains the torque converter automatic. I don’t know why this is so unless the automatic is better suited to all wheel drive.
Like many others my riding/driving time in Corollas has been pretty much limited to rental cars. They were all competent transportation modules that took the worry out of vacation driving.
Well, the Corolla TS (Touring Sports) below is essentially a Corolla wagon. Mind you, there’s also the Corolla TREK. Which is essentially a TS with 20 mm (!!) extra ground clearance.
Good COAL, P-Matt, again!
You’re right, Toyota reportedly improved interior materials in the generation after ours, though I’ve never actually sat in one. Anyway, I figured CC would be a place where Corolla love would be appreciated! I’ve read a few of your Corolla pieces and I think one of my favorites was the one about the “almost free, almost perfect beater.” The Corolla is a car that just keeps on giving.
An excellent story, and yes, our Corolla affairs started in 1977 when our family had 9 of them in a row, swapped out every month at Hertz when we were here in the US temporarily. They took us far and wide all over the western US, without hiccup.
My driving school taught me some driving lessons in both an ’83 and an early ’84, i.e. a rear wheel drive one and the first front wheel drive one, looking back I realize that to someone who didn’t “know” any better RWD vs FWD made zero difference, i.e. most of the consumer market.
Then a big break until my wife’s family had a very late ’80’s version that I drove from OC to Seattle in one go, the car won me over somewhere around Sacramento.
After that a rental one in New Zealand (the bug eyed one, not sold here) which was as solid as they all are..
And the last one was the one I drove back home from St. Louis when my flight got cancalled a couple of years ago, almost 800 miles in one shot without issue or major complaint. Great car.
I really like the current one, especially in hybrid form, it seems like frankly a better Prius. Everyday styling (which I like on this one), comfort, and astounding mileage.
I’ve also had seat time in plenty of Corollas, and my favorite generation is actually the 1998 to 2002. Elegant vanilla styling, interior materials not as nice as the prior generation but not bad, and it was still light enough that the 1.8/4-speed combo was quite peppy for its time. I strongly considered one, actually.
I rented a 2011 for a week, and, like you state, the quality of the interior materials was greatly wanting. Unlike you, however, I couldn’t look past it and this car wasn’t anywhere near my short list when it was time to buy.
I agree with everyone above – nobody can make a vanilla car interesting like you, Matt :-).
I had a friend who had a 2000 Prizm, which was basically a Corolla of that generation you mentioned. He loved it. He had a fairly long, mostly rural commute from Shady Cove to Medford, so he put the miles on fast, but it never let him down.
I’ve appreciated the Corolla for a long time. A friend in ’84 bought a new 5 door liftback for his family, and I found it to be a fun, nimble car to drive. I rented a ’90 to drive home from the airport, and it was even better.
My current car, an ’03 Matrix, is my first Toyota. I took it on a 1K mile trip last fall; I’m not used to depending on a car 17 years old with 150K miles on it with a journey like this, but why not? The car just doesn’t give me a reason not to. And it fits me so well.
So it’s obvious that I’m enjoying this series, Matt, as your automotive tastes run pretty parallel to mine. Your series is engaging and entertaining. And I share your appreciation of rotary knob controls.
If I had my way, my next car would be that red, too.
Well, welcome to the Toyota owners’ fold! The Matrix is more or less a Corolla, so that goodness is baked in.You got the good-looking one, too. To my eye, the second-gen one was styled kind of like a nerd’s shoe. May you have many more years of faithful service from yours.
Long live rotary knobs!
In about 2012, my wife and I thought we’d need to buy another car, since I lent my own car to her parents for a few months… and we thought that situation might turn out to be permanent. We figured that a slightly used Corolla would be a good choice, so I completely understand how you chose that car. At the same time, the thought of a Corolla, while incredibly logical, left us with little emotion. I doubt I would have referred to my Corolla as “she” either.
Certainly unexciting, but I felt that we had enough drama in our lives; we wanted an appliance-like car at that point.
Interesting about the trim pieces popping off… I’ve had several of those types of issues with our 2010 Honda Odyssey. At first I was really dismayed; after all, what about that legendary Honda quality?? But then I realized that nothing (Hondas, Toyotas, or anything else) is built as solidly as that had been in past decades. It’s just par for the course.
I’ll join others here in saying that I’ve enjoyed your COAL series tremendously.
As a car enthusiast I don’t see why more of us don’t daily drive a Corolla. Yes, I have been told I must hate cars/driving. NO! what I do hate is weekends wrenching on the daily driver using the modified classic as a “parts getter”.
I too have a lot of Toyota exposure both personal and family owned. Tercel, Echo x2 Corolla x4. All of them went many hundreds of thousands of km on nothing more than oil changes, tires, brake pads/shoes, rotors and drums. Not the 72 Corroded wagon though.
My Sentra was so utterly boring except for having to replace all the suspension components, some of them twice, as well as doing the fuel pump rebuild kit. Look up 2006 sentra fuel pump issue. My labour is free thankfully.
I was passively looking for a replacement with a manual transmission. I looked at several of this generation Corolla and all the ones I saw with the 5spd had crank windows and no cruise. One even had crank windows and no a/c. What year is it again? One day my online search brought up a 2013 with 5spd and everything but alloy wheels and a sunroof. No touch screen driver distraction device either. With 55k km on it “no haggle” priced way too high imho. I flagged it and a few days later the price dropped to right in line with the no a/c crank window model that had traveled nearly three times the distance.
Two years now with the Corolla, I absolutely love it and I do have a “connection” with it. The manual transmission makes the electric power steering tolerable. The Sentra is nearly forgotten. Except that I sold it dirt cheap to my friend so I get to see it roaming around. Trailer hitch for utility and roof racks for the canoe doing everything it did for me in the same boring fashion. I don’t really fault the Sentra for all the parts that wore out. Fifteen years ago a motorcycling publication declared Main St. Hamilton as impassible by motorcycle. For years that was half my daily commute. They have yet to repair most of Main St.
Thirty years ago, a Carolla was a amazing car. Since then, every make has caught up to it and today it is about as amazing as a Dell desktop. There’s really no reason to choose a Carolla over other cars, except out of habit.
I would agree that the Corolla isn’t as special as it was 30 years ago. However, Toyota still remains at the top of reliability ratings and that’s why I remain a Toyota loyalist. I wouldn’t say that I buy them out of habit, though. I reviewed CR reliability scores for all the Toyota products I’ve purchased and compared them to the competition. Toyota always came out on top.
Ford DCT issue forgotten already?
Cruze never lit up the reliability metrics either, even if they far exceeded the class NVH expectations. The Mazda is cramped, the Nissan is inferior. You’re partially correct in that Hyundai/Kia have closed enough of the gap that most buyers will be equally well served, but the Toyota/GM-Ford gap is 30 years young in the compact car class.