I'm thinking about getting a Toyota Corolla, is this a good choice?

[devilgrrl]

My car is on it's last legs, so I plan on getting a new one in the fall. The cars I've been looking at are the Toyota Corolla and the Mazda 3. Does anyone here own one of these vehicles? If so, what do you think?

Just wondering :shrug:

[GOPisEvil]

1. Toyota Corollas run forever.

My old Mazda truck was dependable as the day is long, too. Toyota generally has better fit and finish than Mazdas though. But, I think the Mazda 3 is nicer-looking.

[MissMillie]

6. I own a Corolla

It's got 170K miles and still going strong.

I highly recommend it.

[whosinpower]

2. My next vehicle would be

a volkswagon jetta - diesel. Hard to come by, and expensive, but volkswagon holds their value far far better than other cars, and the diesel can easily do 50 mpg. With today's fuel costs - any little bit helps.

[truthspeaker]

3. Mazda-3 is more stylish looking

Toyota is making boring-looking cars in their old age. The quality is still there, though. But a Mazda should be almost as good.

[LisaM]

4. Get the Corolla

I had (still have) the hybrid Nova/Corolla from the late 80's and it still gets more than 40 mph. It's needed a few things along the way (most notably, the clutch wears out, but then, I live in Seattle) and I think the fuel injector needs replacing) but it's a great car.

[Bertha Venation]

5. Grrl, you simply cannot go wrong with Toyota.

The Corolla is a great car. Take care of it and it will take care of you -- forever. Change the oil, rotate the tires, do the scheduled maintenance, and you'll have a car you can give to your great-grandchildren. I'm not kidding.

Good luck with your choice!

[LynneSin]

7. Don't buy brand new - get a certified used from Toyota

Not sure when you say "new" you mean "brand-spanking new never been used" car or just "new" as in something to replace what I have but not necessarily "brand-spanking new never been used"

Corollas will last forever which is why I bought one back in 2001. Bush was in the White House and I didn't want to be stuck with an expensive, gas-guzzling or unreliable car. My corolla was all 3 things I wanted: A reliable car that was reasonably priced and won't suck up gas.

When I bought my car, I purchased a "Certified Pre-Owned" Corolla from my local Toyota dealership. The price was about $5,000 less than a brand new car, had about 12K miles on it and had a warrenty better than brand new. And all their pre-owned cars went through rigorous testing process to be classified as "Certified"

Definately worth the savings!!! In fact all car manufacturers have some sort of "pre-own/certified" program!

[tandot]

I own a 98 Toyota Corolla. I just had one problem that was

covered by warranty.

I get 34 miles per gallon. I drive about 500 miles per week.

I am very satisfied.

[devilgrrl]

8. Thanks for all the responses. :-)

I got to tell you, I'm going to miss my old ford with 172,000+ miles. That car has taken me coast to coast, north and south. With the exception of minor repairs over the years (brakes, water pump, alternator, tires, etc...), I never had a problem with it. :cry:

[Soopercali]

9. Toyotas rule!

I have a 90 Tercel sedan and an 85 4WD Tercel wagon. Great cars, both of them.

My first choice after Toyota would be Subaru.:thumbsup:

[CO Liberal]

10. I've Never Heard Anyone...

...use the words "Toyota Corolla" and "piece of shit" in the same sentence.

Mazda, on the other hand, is partially owned by Ford (Fixed Or Repaired Daily).

I'd go with the Toyota.

[Ksec]

11. Buy American

if at all possible. We need your business and the quality is there now. They rival any import today. I know, most cars are made of parts from everywhere.

[GOPisEvil]

12. You mean like the NUMMI plant in California?

That's where Corollas are made. In fact every Corolla sold in North America is built in North America. I think there's a plant in Canada, too.

FYI - Ford is making the new Futura in Mexico. http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0308/18/a01-246858.htm

[LynneSin]

14. There is a blurry line between what is "Made in the USA"

which made me feel 100% comfortable buying a Corolla because mine was made in California!

[Ksec]

15. yes. Which was a brilliant marketing move by Toyota.

I understand what you guys are saying though. Its true enough that the lines are blurred beyond any normal vision being able to decipher . The corporate world has done a great job at that.

[truthspeaker]

20. Then it's a Saturn or nothing (and Corollas are better than Saturns)

I prefer to support American workers, and I drive a Saturn now, but if Detroit insists on conitnuing to build inferior cars what are we supposed to do?

[CO Liberal]

28. My Wife Has a 1993 Plymouth Sundance We Bought New

It was made in Canada.

And I used to have a '96 Isuzu Hombre pickup. It was build in Shreveport, LA - in the same factory as the Chevy S10 and the GMC Sonoma.

[Whitacre D_WI]

13. You should ONLY consider a Corrolla...

...if you want a reliable car that will run forever, get good gas mileage, and have a good resale value.

[forgethell]

16. I've got 190, 000 miles on mine

and have never had any major repairs done, except body work, twice, when idiots ran into me. I drive almos 800 miles each and every week down back country roads, so I have had a little trouble keeping the wheels aligned. If I can avoid the pot-holes and Bambi, I do alright, though

[HEyHEY]

17. I'd get a f1-11 McLaren instead

But that's just me

[welshTerrier2]

18. great car info websites

http://www.edmunds.com
http://www.kbb.com
http://autos.msn.com

how about a VW golf ??

[HuckleB]

19. The Corolla is THE PICK of the cars you're looking at.

They run forever. Unfortunately, their safety ratings aren't up to par with the Civic or Saturn Ion.

[bif]

21. Buy a Saturn.

At least take one for a test drive. I think you'll be impressed.

[icymist]

22. Corollas are good cars.

I almost bought one before my prelude 'poped' up. Rather have a sporty car!

[tsakshaug]

23. 250 K on mine

wires were shot, locks did not work, but it ran

[Romulus]

24. as long as you're not in the DC area

Around here, Corollas are known as the cause of many traffic slowdowns and accidents because, for some weird reason, the people who tend to own them have no clue as to how to drive them. They are either going 45 in the left lane or zooming at 100 in the right.

The first piece of driving advice I got when I moved here is "don't drive behind a Corolla."

[ForrestGump]

25. Corolla, Camry, etc -- Toyota's are as good as a 'normal' car gets

Hondas, too, though I've always gone Toyota -- they're the top two makers for reliability and a lot of other good things. The Corolla is an excellent little car and should do you well for a very long time. I'd choose it over any Mazda -- Mazda makes some good stuff, but Honda and Toyota reign supreme.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. You gonna buy new? Or used?

Toyotas are less expensive maintenance wise than the Mazdas...

[devilgrrl]

27. I was planning on buying new...

why not, I'm anal retentive as far as maintenance is concerned, plus, I bought my current car brand new. :shrug:

[TheRedMan]

29. I own a Mazda Protege and a 6 - recommend the 3

The Protege is the predecessor of the 3. I really like both cars, and have been very pleased with the reliability. I also find that lately Mazda has been really good at making cars that are fun to drive, which has nicely increased my fondness of them.

I won't say that there is anything wrong with the Toyota, because there isn't. I have known Toyota dealers to be, umm, not nice people, and generally find Mazda easier to deal with, and their prices better. Also, you can get the 3 in a wagon, which is a nice plus (my 6 is a wagon).

Really, just take whichever one you can get a better deal on. I am pretty sure you will be happy either way.

[the Kelly Gang]

30. never have to worry about spare parts for a Corolla..it's really

the Japanese version of the 'People's Car'..ie..Volkswagen

[DonP]

31. 3 Toyotas in the family

All still running:

1 has 186,000 miles (1988)

1 has 135,000 miles (1996)

and the "new" one (1998) has 87,000 miles with no major engine work on any of them so far, knock wood.

Just normal wear and tear, tires, belts, brakes etc.

Good investments one and all

[AlCzervik]

32. the new corolla with the

sport package is pretty neat looking, i test drove a 5 speed and it handled well as do most toyotas. I would have bought it but i needed something a little larger. My husband has a 96 camry with 160k miles, running fine.

[jmowreader]

33. Corollas work fine

My wife has a Geo Prizm, which is a Corolla with a different nameplate (and, alas, a different alternator), and it's been a good car. Hers is a 92 and it's needed two things since we bought it used for $700: an alternator, which I bought from an auto electric shop for $80, and a radiator, which I bought from a junkyard for $20.

One thing to watch on the Corollas: the official Serpentine Belt they sell at Pep Boys is wider than the pulleys, so you need to cut off one rib before you put the belt on.