I like to believe that the general population’s insensitivity to the joys of automotive design, engineering and performance is a simple matter of missed opportunity. If the average driver had suckled on Hot Wheels' sweet metallic tang from toddler-hood, if a mechanically-minded mentor had gently and gradually revealed the wondrous secrets of the automotive arts during their teenage years, if they’d been shown how to harness horsepower with skill and respect as adult drivers, they’d share my passion for cars with genuine soul. Meanwhile, Toyota sells millions of Corollas and no one complains. Why would they?
Aesthetically speaking, there’s nothing particularly kvetch-worthy about your basic Corolla. The lines are clean and understated (i.e. unrelentingly generic and utterly forgettable). There’s no wrong answer when describing a three-box design with the requisite front clip folly of swept back headlights and a flashy plastic grille. And the infusion of sculpted amorphic taillights to a snub-nosed posterior isn’t in poor taste.
The ground-effects equipped Corolla “S” is a different– and important– matter. Fully 14 out of 16 photos on ToMoCo’s official website showcase the S: an adhesive-backed insult to the Import Tunerz sporting a dainty decklid spoiler and a tragically short tailpipe extension. Aside from the dressy 16” wheels that show off the rear’s dour drum brakes, the Corolla S’ sport factor isn’t fooling anyone– except (perhaps) for easily impressed, fictional documentarians from the Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. “Nice. Very nice.”
The cabin answers to that description without irony. The Corolla S offers a pseudo-upscale interior with delightfully comfortable cloth seating for four. The leather clad three-spoke rim improves the Corolla’s awkward tiller-to-driver seating position. The S-grade gauges have class-appropriate pseudo-sportiness, although their red and white motif turns to Siamese baseballs by night. And the base stereo hits the requisite highs and lows with moderate enthusiasm.
But wait, there’s less! Rotary knobs and switches are clumsy and clunky, and the chrome trimmed-shifter looks out of place in the cabin’s sea of flat black. More importantly, at every touch point, the Corolla is cursed with Toyota’s latest form of competitive advantage: borderline beancounting. The plastics are harder than cubic zirconium, and the engineering shows a lack of attention to detail. For example, the sun visor sucker-punches the (optional) lighted rearview mirror through its downward motion. Whoops.
Still, price points, polymer pickiness and all that. the Corolla’s cabin is acceptably sporty for people who consider sportiness a series of marketing-related cues, rather than a genuine dedication to harmonious performance prowess. And if you grok that, you’ll understand the rationale behind its dynamic “prowess.”
The Corolla S is motivated by a 1.8-liter four-banger. To compensate for the mini mill’s lack of power (126hp @ 6000rpm), Toyota’s cursed the S with jumpy throttle mapping. Part throttle inputs are an exercise in accelerative overkill; call it slow and furious. Summon some highway passing power and the wide ratio four-speed slushbox gives a whole lot of nothing. Still, a scamper to sixty takes all of eight seconds; not a shameful figure considering the 26/35 EPA window sticker.
If you don’t ask for much, you get plenty in return. At reasonable speeds, the Corolla S’ cheapo twist-beam axle keeps the rear tires composed on all but the sharpest corners. The steering is tight. The S’ compliant suspension and absence of body flex and/or roll delivers a smooth and composed ride. Behold! The Corolla’s stock in trade.
With 122lb-ft of twist on tap, torque steer is a non-issue. Push hard and the hyper-throttle sends the stiff tires howling in disapproval. More understeer and nods of disapproval from pedestrians soon follow. On the positive side, whatever speed you [eventually] achieve is easily retarded with the S’ responsive and linear stoppers, drum brakes and all. Taken as a whole, the Corolla S only feels sporty at 7/10ths. Beyond that, options like ABS, side air bags, and the active handling nanny become mandatory.
Cavil if you must, but there’s no peer for the Corolla’s reputation for quality and durability. Intangibles like that are fine for most, but enthusiastic drivers prefer items like a fully independent suspension and rear disc brakes. If you want more, spend less. The Mazda3 offers more power, poise and interior quality for hundreds less. Even the rightfully-panned Ford Focus serves a fully independent suspension and more gadgets for the same coin. If you look closely, Toyota’s reputation premium threatens to destroy their value proposition.
Anyway, reliability be damned. There’s no excuse for the Corolla S’ haphazard approach to spirited driving. At least not for people who genuinely give a damn about such things, or even understand what driving pleasure is all about. In fact, I suspect the S is nothing more than the anti-Corolla Corolla: the model customers choose to say “I drive a Corolla but I like cars.” Like, not love.
132 Comments on “Toyota Corolla S Review...”
Back to TopLeave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You can also login using Facebook Connect.
Toyota Corolla – a unhappy meal for the masses.
I used to be a big Toyota supporter. I learned to drive on a Corolla wagon (‘92!), my first car was another Corolla wagon (‘89). I really disliked American cars for being too focused on big than quality etc…then I drove a new Toyota Penalty-bo…Corolla over the summer. Man, what a POS. I’m sure it’ll last for 1000 years (or 15, whatever), but driving it is like being in purgatory…you know there’s worse, but there’s much much better out there too.
If I was in the new car market, I’d be in the Corolla class of cars market…and I wouldn’t even glance at this thing.
Toyota is trying to rest on their laurels and it shows.
If there’s one thing you should never mistake a Corolla for, it’s being sporty. Performance and Corolla got divorced in 1987 when they ended production of the GT-S.
Corollas are designed for people who don’t like cars, but have to put up with the indignity of owning one. In the end, they get a sanitized vehicle that’s inoffensive, requires no more maintenance than a pet rock, and will be the only thing to survive a nuclear holocaust along with cockroaches. There’s a lot of people on this planet that are like that.
I don’t think it’s Toyota resting on their laurels, they’re just going with what’s worked well for them for so long. People what a car that’s easy like Sunday morning, and you’ve got to give the people what they want.
Good Review but bad taste for Toyota
What is wrong with Toyota? It is almost 2008 it is now time to be more radical.
Where on earth is the Toyota Corolla AE86?
Rumours said that they will remanufacture the King of Drift cars. Hello!!! Kids are waiting Baby Boomers are curious!
I am still waiting after that last Initial D movie that I saw 2 years ago.
Every time I see a review for a car in this segment, I say to myself: “If only Ford would bring over the Euro-Focus”.
Seems to be a mantra repeated often, but yes, only a “pistonhead” would pay the price premium for a superior (exciting) small car.
I disagree with the calls about Toyota needing to be more radical. Vanilla has worked for them in past and they’re not going to change a formula that’s still working.
I don’t think anyone buys a Toyota wanted anything more than a reliable, inoffensive car. If you want a car with a bit more flair, try a Mazda, Renault or Peugeot.
Corollas did not become the world’s most popular car buy having radical designs. From the beginning, they were bland and, in a curious way, that’s part of their charm.
Sajeev -
You got your mitts on a 2009 already?
That reminds me – I suggest that TTAC reviews should mention the model year in the title line, helps those folks who find this site on a search engine figure out if they’re looking at a current or not version of the vehicle they’re researching.
–
Given the Corolla’s whopping sales figures – >300K YTD with a 4.4% loss of sales, they’re not failing too badly with the outgoing model, despite all the harping about how the big T has let the Corolla go too long and the replacement too uninspired.
The Corolla here in Ontario, Canada is a big seller for Toyota, so why change it! Its outsold by the Honda Civic that has held first place for many years.
A have a friend in the UK who drives a Corolla Diesel, wish they had it in North America, I am sure they would do well.
In the end, if they keep going like this, they will go down, like GM.
My mind or what’s left of it after looking at these Corolla pictures just has to believe this is true.
I was going to comment about the diferences between the American and European Corolla…but it really doesn’t matter, can’t be bothered.
“Looks like a Mazda, handles like a (15 year old) Hyundai,” huh? Darn. Some hoons enjoy reliability, too.
Is Toyota trying to compete with Chrysler for the worst interiors? My father in law bought a Corolla to tow behind his RV. Toyota’s lack of interior quality is pretty evident in this thing; misaligned pieces, gaps, trim falling apart.
The Mazda3, especially with the 2.3 engine, beats this thing like a bad dog.
Unfortunately, Corolla-heads will never cross-shop a Mazda.
I’m sure the bulk of people on this site would much rather read a Corolla XRS review. The Corolla S has never been anything other than pure poser BS. Shame on Toyota for even making it. Stick with the CE, LE, and XRS. The S does more harm than good to their image!
Toyota became #1 in the world and now they’re in trouble, big trouble. The big advantage an underdog has is that they increase their reputation by increasing their value to the consumer by producing innovative products and clearly defining themselves within the market. Once you’re the biggest, the only way to make more money is to strip the quality from your products while keeping prices at previous levels or raising them and demanding more work from employees that you marginalize in terms of pay and benefits.
Toyota’s lost the hunger, you can tell with the latest Camry where the beancounters have made their mark, and if GM can get their act together they can use this to their advantage. We’ll see how it plays out, but I think Toyota’s star is waning somewhat.
From the AE86, Celicas, and Supras (especially the MkIV) to this. Mediocracy knows no bounds. And people wonder why I refuse to buy a Toyota. They’ve become the perfect car for people who hate driving.
On this specific model, I had my car at the track not to long back, and some kid in one of these tried to pick something. Lets just say it wasn’t pretty for him.
Lol, what was that about TTAC Toyonda bias? A terrible car is a terrible car no matter who makes it.
Another bad review for a new Toyota. Seems to be becoming the norm these days.
The Corolla’s that are produced here in Ontario at the Cambridge Ontario are second to none in no missing pieces, I guess because its in a non Union plant that the workers make a real effort to do a quality job, this plant also makes a Lexus model, it was again chosen for the quality that this plant excells in and its the only plant outside of Japan that makes a Lexus model!
TWO QUESTIONS:
1.)What the hell does “although their red and white motif turns to Siamese baseballs by night” mean?
2.)What is the hatch on the right of the bottom photo? The Matrix?
-0-0-0-0-0
2 words to describe the ‘Rollah:
Unrelentingly Beige.
I have a friend that owns a 1999 Corolla. As far as I know, it’s been very reliable. Except for the time that part of the exhaust system fell off on the highway, but that was just a year or so ago. He is definitely not a car guy. He’s looking to replace it with…..a Camry. These are the type of people that Toyota keeps selling cars to. The cars are toaster boring, and toaster reliable. And when someone feels it’s time to get a new toaster, they’ll either buy another of the same size (Corolla), or else they’ll upgrade to the fancy 4 slot toaster. (Camry, Sienna, etc.)
I rented a 2006 Corolla this past summer. The only good things were the fuel economy, and the headlights. Everything else sucked. You wouldn’t catch me near a Toyota lot looking at one of these things, but for all the people who couldn’t care less about driving excitement, they’ll buy a
PontiacToyota.I think the Corolla out selling the Civic may be more a function of Honda’s inferior production capacity than anything else. There’s really no reason Toyota can’t sell their vanilla Corrolas and still have a version comperable to the Si. Instead they slap $500 worth of body kit on a regular one and charge you $1500 for it. They used to offer the 180hp version, I guess it didn’t sell or they would have stuck with it.
I figured out exactly how I feel about this car.
Apathetic.
I don’t like it. I don’t not like it. I just don’t care about it. I would never know if I saw one, nore would I know if a did.
And you all must get great Toyotas. Every single one I’ve been in has been a rattle trap, and ride quality as usually shown up as a “well…it has doors so I guess its ok” affair.
These Toyotas will sell like hot cakes — its not about them being great cars, they are not, its about them being decent cars what will run, and run, and run. People buy these for reliability, not as a sports sedan.
But relative to being “great” cars — how have millions of Saturns, Cavaliers, and Sentras been sold?
Not on being outstanding cars — to most drivers its neither an issue or desire. They want, what they perceive are affordable cars that are reliable (to what ever degree they are used to — say a family of Toyota owners will see things differently than a family of Chevrolet owners.
Corollas, Cavaliers (now Cobalts), Sentras all have “sporty” versions with spoilers, bigger wheels and BADGES! Its a cheap thrill/look for a few extra bucks! —
/p
I have to say that I’m wondering what is the issue here. It sounds as if you got yourself a refrigerator which works perfectly well as a refrigerator, but that you’re disappointed that it doesn’t behave like a big-screen TV. So now you’re miffed that you can’t watch cool videos and impress the babes with your perfectly decent if dull refrigerator, even though it wasn’t designed to do that.
Except for some nasty, cheap interior switchgear and the rear drums that deserve a bit of criticism, it seems that the Corolla makes for a very good refrigerator. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but a solid choice for those who want a rugged, dependable appliance without much in the way of home entertainment.
So was the ultimate issue here really with the “S” affixed to the end? I’m wondering if you would have been a bit more forgiving had the almost-a-boy-ricer front air dam and other trim bits not been bolted to it. Maybe it’s an affront to the enthusiasts to see the body kit attached without any of the performance parts to go with it.
Some people just like to have the look along with the predictability, but don’t require the horsepower. If white-faced gauges and a set of fog lamps are what it takes to get Grandma to feel more sporty in her Frigidaire, then just play nice, bless her heart and give it to her. (It’s that time of year, you know.) Although at this time of year, she could probably use the disc brakes, too.
There was an ad in this morning’s paper stating that there would be a $1,000 cash rebate on all new Toyotas. Is this just regional?
I think you are right, the problem is the “S” badge. Other cars in the segment have sporty version too, and they come with, at the very least, more powerful engines. I think having a top end version of a car helps the entire range, young people who can’t afford an Si buy the base Civic and get a spoiler or 16″ wheels, maybe even the decals from the sport version and maybe even entertain the idea of doing an engine swap down the road. For current MY Collora drivers however, what are they trying to emulate, Corolla LE owners?
Corrola S is actually the middle of the range Corrola so perhaps it isn’t fair to judge it in the company of Cobalt SS, Sentra Spec-V etc. The comparable car to those was the expensive Corrola XRS, which no longer exists.
Sadly, I know more about Corolla’s than I would like to admit. My aging parents are enthusiastic Corolla connoisseurs. They relish in the car’s practicality and have no use for powerful and more luxurious vehicles. I understand their affinity for the appliances; it fits their simple retirement lifestyle and Depression era conservative sensibilities.
But I think you were much too kind in your review of the Corolla S. I’m deeply offended by non-functional “performance” styling. It’s a fraud. So what if the instrument cluster glows orange if Toyota couldn’t squeeze even 5 additional horses from that engine. Ground effects and spoilers? How about lower and firming up the suspension instead. It’s not so hard to do. Think Si or Mazdaspeed 3.
I know, Toyota made the Corolla XRS and nobody bought it. Maybe that’s because the market was lulled to sleep after years of the impotent S. Besides, I don’t think anyone knew the XRS even existed (other than P.J. McCombs).
Obviously, the ‘S’ stands for stupid, not sport – as in, anybody that believes that the S-optioned Corolla performs any sportier…
Pch101…
I think the problem we have isn’t that we expect our fridge to act like a 102″ plasma screen. I think the problem is, we are expecting it at least ahve some niftyness to it, like an ice machine and water dispenser and super cool option that lets us set the temperature at exactly 31.20078573939912993 degrees…but it turns out to just be an ice cooler.
I feel the exact same way as this reviewer. I’ve never owned a car that was fantastic on gas or had amazing build quality. But I had some of the best times driving across the country in my old pony cars than I would ever have in one of these things.
The truth is most of the population does actually want just a bland, boring and predictable car. People like us who want something with more personality and don’t really pay attention to resale value or how many shades of brown the car comes in are not the majority.
When it came time to replace my mother's (third) Toyota back in 2002, she only had one manufacturer in mind. Toyota. Period. The last two Toyotas (1981 Corolla and a 1992 Camry) had served her extremely well, and she was pleased as punch with her mechanic. Granted, she resides in Germany and has had the same mechanic (German Toyota dealer) for nigh on 15 years now, but she genuinely trusts the brand.
She bought a 2003 Corolla LE with all of the options boxes checked, giving her the leather/sunroof, etc…not that most people buying the Corolla are looking to option it out to the nth degree, but she did. Result, zero issues in four years of driving.
Sure, it isn't a road rocket and won't get most people's pulse pounding, but Toyota has always found great success with the Corolla. It is her Fridgedaire, and that's exactly what she wants/needs.
Taken in context, the Corolla is an excellent vehicle. Reliable to a fault and easy to drive, plus even with the auto slushbox, it returns admirable fuel economy. Is it her dreamcar? Hardly. But for the last four years she's been confident knowing when she gets in the car each morning, it will start and take her to and from work without fail. For her, the peace of mind that comes with owning the 'Rolla are beyond the worth of having a snazzy car that she has to keep returning to the dealership for service.
With my father having passed away 10 years ago, and both of her children in the US, it's reassuring to know that car trouble is one less thing she needs to worry about. She'll continue to drive it for another 6 or so years before deciding on her next car. It's not a Mazda3, nor does it need to be. There is room in the automotive world for the Corolla and it should be reviewed in the context that 95% of its owners buy it for.
Corolla S is actually the middle of the range Corolla so perhaps it isn’t fair to judge it in the company of Cobalt SS, Sentra Spec-V etc. The comparable car to those was the expensive Corolla XRS, which no longer exists.
It might be fair to attack it for being a poseur, I’m not sure. I was just tossing that one out there as a discussion point.
I could see going either way on this one. On one hand, if my memory serves me, I think that Toyota has often labeled their sporty US-market models with pretty lengthy suffixes such as GT-S, etc., so maybe calling it just an “S” is Toyota’s way of reminding us that they don’t really mean it. On the other hand, it’s not my job as a consumer to figure out what “S” is supposed to mean, so if Toyota raises peoples’ expectations unreasonably and then can’t deliver, then punishing it seems fair enough.
My sense is that people buy Corollas not because they are hot, fast, sexy or worthy of a tuner, but because they are rock solid and nearly impossible to break. Some of these people want a bit of flair, even if it’s just for looks. They could have called it an Appearance Package and left it at that, but they just shortened it to S.
A friend of mine happens to be an avid fan of her refrigerator (Corolla) because she just can’t kill it, it’s fairly cheap to buy, and even cheaper to run. To her, that’s as good as it gets, and she’s happy as can be. If she’s a feeling a bit frisky the next time that she buys her next Corolla (and you know that she will buy another one), then she will be a perfect candidate for this car.
All that makes me wonder whether Toyota was wise to effectively cease building true performance models for the US market. Personally, I think that’s a poor idea that could catch up with them, because performance improves the breed. But so far, they’ve been making plenty of money without listening to me.
Sammy B: we already reviewed the Q-ship XRS before it died off. Check it out sometime.
crc: no, Chrysler interiors are far, far worse.
starlightmica: I tested the 2008, this is an internal miscommunication for sure. New (old) pictures are on its way. As if you haven’t seen tons of them on the road, but you know.
shaker: you and I both say Euro-Focus. And the price penalty wouldn’t be that bad if they are made in Mexico…since they are already sold there.
fellswoop: the red dashes/numbers on a white gauge face are baseball-like when the backlighting illuminates them. Just an opinion.
Pch101: agreed, and I tried to give credit where its due. (great ride, nice seats, super fuel economy) but the value proposition of this fridge is not appealing. Why get this fridge when you can get the same in a Korean fridge for thousands less? Or a Mazda fridge (honestly, the base Mazda 3 is an appliance) for a little less? Or a Focus fridge with extra compartments (great standard features and SYNC) and a better warranty for the same price?
Its important to ask questions. Just because you shop for a car like a fridge doesn’t mean you can’t look at different brands and make an informed decision. And fridges do have different ergonomic designs that can differentiate themselves from their competition. Unless you’re a Toyota reputation-hound, it usually comes down to purchase price. And I’m here to make people think about this class of cars more critically.
More to the point: some appliances are better appliances than others.
I’m sure Toyota is watching demographics carefully. Selling bland to the old is profitable right now, but eventually the old die off so they will need to apeal to the young again, maybe that’s why there are rumors of the AE86, Supra and Celica revivals in the works in the somewhat distant future.
It’s not really fair to criticize the ‘S’ for it’s lack of sportiness. It’s just an appearance (poser) package. If you want better performance they have the XRS. How much an improvement the XRS is, I don’t know.
Sajeev, please comment on the “awkward tiller-to-driver seating position”. It it still as bad as the previous version? Does the newly added telescoping wheel help?
Overall I am underwhelmed by this ‘new’ Corolla. It seems more like a typical Big 2.8 refresh. But since no one else other than Honda want to build economy cars that actually get good fuel economy, I’m sure they will continue to sell a ton.
Sajeev:
Great follow-up post! Props to the entire TTAC team for being one of the few blog/commentary/journalism sites out there that evolves their writing through the reader submitted comments. Show a willingness to stand up for what you originally wrote, and that you’ve got more than two brain cells to rub together post-article.
Here’s something interesting:
Base Corolla CE: $14,405 US/$15,785 CAD
Base Corolla S: $15,450 US/$21,135
Base Corolla LE: $15,615 US/$21,900
W-T-F mate.
It would seem in Canada the S is a pretty horrible deal all around. I don’t see any glaring difference in the options list either.
Prado: since they don’t have the XRS anymore (it died last year) it IS a good idea to knock the poseur package…and my article’s underlying arguement of surprising lack of value in all Corollas.
And I tested the current 2008 model, we’ll be changing the pictures ASAP.
Whew, that was some goooood Friday reading. Nice work Sajeev. Whereas plain Corollas are invisible, yes, the S version is offensive.
I only logged on to make the same comment as Starlightmica. Consider it seconded. I clicked to read a review of the 2009 model.
My very first car was a 77 Corolla with an intermittent 5th gear. You know, I think everyone should learn to drive with a low-power RWD car in the northwestern winters.
Pch101: sense is that people buy Corollas not because they are hot, fast, sexy or worthy of a tuner, but because they are rock solid and nearly impossible to break. Some of these people want a bit of flair, even if it’s just for looks. They could have called it an Appearance Package and left it at that, but they just shortened it to S.
Bingo. I think we forget that posters on this site do NOT represent the typical American car buyer. The Corolla has a satisified following, and as long as the wheels don’t fall off or the transmission doesn’t grenade just after the warranty ends, they’ll like this one just fine, too.
And before we get the inevitable “Toyota is turning us into appliance drivers, why can’t it be like the good old days, when everyone drove exciting, stylish cars (aka, the 1960s)” rant, please note that cars like this have always been the bread-and-butter of the American new-car market.
Don’t look at the typical car show as a reflection of what most people were driving in the 1960s. Most people drove a Chevy product – Chevy II/Nova, Chevelle and Impala/Caprice – with mid-level V-8, power steering, AM radio and maybe power (drum) brakes. Most people weren’t driving around in Corvette convertibles, Hemi Mopars and Shelby Mustangs.
Most of those Chevys were sold on the basis of reliability, room and some flair (but nothing out of the ordinary, and certainly nothing that would scare the neighbors). And you could purchase an SS model with all of the cosmetic goodies that didn’t perform any better than grandma’s mid-level Chevy – which is apparently the niche that this “S” version now fills.
It’s just that along the way to the 21st century, Toyota did a better job of adjusting the formula to match evolving regulatory requirements and consumer expectations, while GM completely lost it.
Sajeev: And I’m here to make people think about this class of cars more critically.
Well said, Sajeev. That is the point of criticism after all.
So many of the commenters here are so completely missing the point (save Pch101 who obviously gets it) in their hatred of this car and, by extension, Toyota.
With just about any product you can buy you can visualize a pyramid-shaped market. There is a large base, representing the majority who simply want something that gets the job done. At the top of the pyramid is a very small number that demand the best available (or simply have the money to buy the best whether they care about it or not). In the middle is what you might call the discerning consumer (or enthusiast).
The Corolla and the like appeal to the majority who make up the base of the pyramid. Face it, they ain’t you. People who lust after (or own) the Cayman S, or the RS4, or the 335i will never get the Corolla or the people that buy them. Much like the majority of people that are happy with their $300 home theater surround sound system will never get the guy that spends $150k on his stereo setup.
So be critical of the tacked on body kit, the rear drums, and if, like Sajeev, you have actually driven the thing feel free to be critical of handling and performance.
But for Pete’s sake stop with the blanket hate of this car and the people that buy them. They don’t hate driving, they just don’t care about it enough to spend more than they need to on transportation. If someone buys a $200 digital camera instead of a $2000 prosumer D-SLR does it mean they hate taking pictures?
All these people predicting Toyota’s downfall because of cars like the Corolla: when you’ve made billions of dollars selling cars in a free marketplace let me know. Until then, my money’s on Toyota.
Dean, you beat me to it. Tales of Toyota’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
(No, I am not a Toyota fan, I have never owned a Toyota, I do not plan on ever buying a Toyota. But this is the kind of car my better half likes, and she is more representative of the car-buying masses than I am.)
My mom bought a Blue Corolla S in 03. She had owned a series of POS "American" cars in the past and one good car-an early 80's Sentra Wagon-all bought used. She's getting up there in age and wanted to a)treat herself to a new car, b)buy a car that would last for 15 or more years until she figures she will be driving little if at all anymore, and c)buy a car that won't drain her depleted bank account through repairs and fuel costs. Given her previous experience with Chrysler and Ford products, a Toyota Corolla or four cylinder Camry were her first choices.
She liked the look of a blue Corolla S that the Toyota dealer had and after test driving that car as well as some others at different dealers-Accord, Sentra (horrible), etc.-she decided on the Corolla. I only wish that I had known how good a Mazda3 was at the time and could have steered her towards trying one of them or that she had felt she could wait until Scion xBs were more available (they had just come out and she was impressed by the interior room of the one sitting in the showroom).
However, all-in-all, my mom got what she wanted, a dependable car that gets very good gas mileage and has decent styling. It may not be the car that I or the other folks on this board would buy, but the Corolla certainly does address a market segment, a very large market segment, people who want dependable, low cost transportation.
The Corolla S just offers a different look, a little flair, for those who want it. By the way, the interior of her Corolla has held up just fine and still looks better than the interior of a new Cobalt SS that I looked at in '03. I've also noticed that the Corolla S body kit looks absolutely disgusting with most colors but good on a few, including blue IMO.
Reading this review brought back memories of a youtube video of a young ricer talking up his corolla circa 2003 MY… he pointed to the alternator and said it was a supercharger… pointed to the head and said it was a vtec head then qualified his statement with blithering bafoonery. Oh what a great moment in intarweb history. Yes for the record he had a big wing on his corolla too. This video is the stuff of internet strokers… the ending is where it gets good.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Ry6Cf4EHI0
Lumbergh21 :
But for Pete’s sake stop with the blanket hate of this car and the people that buy them. They don’t hate driving, they just don’t care about it enough to spend more than they need to on transportation.
I think Sajeev’s review made this point perfectly clear.
Oh… my previous comments were all based on the impression that this was a review of the soon to be released 2009. I’m predicting that 90% of this review will still apply to a review of the ‘new’ S model! Maybe 3 stars at best for the 2009.
Corolla: reliable and frugal; that’s why my mother-in-law likes it.
Good lord, people sure love to bust on Toyota for not making sporty enough cars. I think a lot of this stuff is exaggerated now that Toyota is in the spotlight. I drove the Mazda 3 with the 2.0 and the Corolla back to back, and I didn’t feel like the Mazda was a better car for people who don’t want something sporty. The Corolla’s acceleration was just as good, if not better. The Mazda can’t match the fuel mileage. The Corolla has weak steering and handling, but the Mazda had an incessant vibration through the steering wheel on the interstate. The Mazda interior was better looking, but the materials seemed about equal in quality. Throw in the Corolla’s better reputation and the Corolla probably looks like a better buy for people who don’t care about handling.
None of the alternative Corollas (Elantra) can come close to matching the fuel economy or the trouble free reputation. That’s worth the price premium to some. I can’t make further comparison as I haven’t driven the new Elantra.
This isn’t supposed to be a sporty car, so it makes me laugh when I see someone post something like “The Mazda 3 with the 2.3 will spank this thing!”. The people who buy these cars could honestly care less, and thank goodness. I shudder when I think of a world filled with testosterone induced drag racing at every light, people throwing revs at each other, and talk about how my car is superior because it accelerates to 60 .2 seconds faster. It’s not enlightenment, it’s a disease.
Robert Farago :
November 30th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Lumbergh21 :
But for Pete’s sake stop with the blanket hate of this car and the people that buy them. They don’t hate driving, they just don’t care about it enough to spend more than they need to on transportation.
I think Sajeev’s review made this point perfectly clear.
I didn’t write that, but I do agree with the sentiments. So, I’ll take credit for it anyhow. :-)
However, all-in-all, my mom got what she wanted, a dependable car that gets very good gas mileage and has decent styling. It may not be the car that I or the other folks on this board would buy, but the Corolla certainly does address a market segment, a very large market segment, people who want dependable, low cost transportation.
Lot’s of folks have this sentiment: that the Corolla is ‘dependable’. It is and has been and probably will continue to be.
HOWEVER…
How long will it be (if it hasn’t happened already) until the bean counters who are responsible for the sub-standard switchgear start cutting corners under the hood and in the drivetrain? The reliability “gap” has already been shrunk to a shadow of its former self. And no one seems to be arguing that the fit and finish of Toyota is what it used to be.
What we are seeing here is probably the near-term zenith of Toyota’s popularity. Once people cross shop other vehicles and realize they can get equal (or better) reliability with unquestionably better appointments, Toyota’s sales will plummet. Or get sucked up into rental fleets. Sound familiar?
Dean – thanks for your comment – it needed to be said.
Sajeev – “an adhesive-backed insult to the Import Tunerz sporting a dainty decklid spoiler and a tragically short tailpipe extension” – priceless!