good, decent, reliable transportation at a fair price

(first draft)

the 2004 toyota corolla LE automatic was the first new car I ever owned. I drove it for 26,000 miles before i went way up and got a 2006 subaru impreza wrx limited.

the 2004 corolla is virtually identical to 2003, 2005, and 2006 models. It is said that 2007 will be a new or vastly redesigned model. 2007 should be a redesign. The main competitor, the Civic, has been completely redone and is actually better than this 9th generation corolla. The vw jetta and nissan sentra are also full redesigns. Consider that Honda put out the Fit and Nissan is pushing the Versa (both of which are cheaper than the corolla) Toyota would make a good move in redesigning.


The first thing that stands out about the Toyota corolla is that it is a Toyota. Toyota's are awesome. They can take a beating and still keep going. I used to drive a 1987 toyota celica. I got into a few fender benders with the 1987 celica, but it still could keep going.

Toyotas have a great record as being reliable, with no need for major repairs during the first 100,000 miles. This is a fair statement, not an exaggeration.

The 2003/4/5/6 corollas are about 16,000 brand new and well equipped. Depending on what year you get, the price should be reflective of the age. Visit Kelly blue book (kbb.com) to get an idea of what a corolla will run you.

This price tag of 16,000 for a brand new, well equipped corolla is a little more expensive than the hyundai Accent. But Toyota's price is still very fair considering you're getting toyota quality.


Engine:
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the engine is 126 horsepower, unless u get the XRS model which is 170. the xrs has pretty much the same engine as the late celica (which didn't go out with a bang... but rather... the latest celica faded out on a note of tepid sales, due in part to tough competition in the tight sports car field).

the best word to describe the engine is Adequate. it is not weak when accelerating onto the highway, passing another car, or climbing a hill. In like manner, this is not a fun sports car. When pushed, the engine can put out 122 ft-lb of torque at 4200 rpm. This is good for people who simply want to get from A to B.

If you want a fun to drive small car less than 20, check out the Mazda 3. Or if you can finance a little more, check out the new VW GTI.


Suspension
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I have not driven an XRS so i cannot comment fairly about that trim level. but things written about the xrs on the internet say that unless the xrs is pushed, it feels just like the other corolla designs.

The LE I drove for 1.5 years would always lean or tip a little when i changed lanes fast or wanted to take on a mild-moderate curve. the CE and LE models are somewhat tall with about 6 big inches of road clearance. When I first saw them, I immediately thought they would be more likely to tip or lean a little.

The S and XRS have rocker panels and spoilers to make them look sportier. And indeed, they do look bigger and more impressive to someone seeking a sportier ride.... but make no mistake, the suspensions aren't really that different, and those extra body panels aren't going to keep you much more stable in fun driving.

The suspension is best described as comfortable, A to B, near luxury. The term, baby Lexus, is very fair in terms of ride quality. The terms fun or sporty, shouldn't be used to describe the suspension.


Interior
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One of the best things about the corolla for an A to B driver is the inside. The LE comes standard with nice looking wood-trim. Gauges are big and easy to read. Controls are easy to access. There are about a million little places where you can store maps, napkins, sun glasses, a cell phone. Interior is very well done.

The back seat is decent. Back seat head room is 37.1 inches, Hip Room 46.2, Leg room 35.4. It is a good size compared to the competition. But don't expect to put 6' tall adults in the front and back, at least not for long trips.


Final Words
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Overall, this is a very good buy for an A to B driver. It is reliable, comfortable, and fairly priced. Considering you're getting a car from a company about to become the largest automaker on the planet because of its well-established reputation as a durable car maker... the Corolla definitely deserves a look.

For those of you with price in mind, if you get the 06 corolla soon, you probably could save some money. an '07 version is probably going to be newer and thus slightly more expensive. Car dealers are more likely to shave the price of an '06 so they can make room for the '07's.


For those of you who want a funner ride but want to stay near the 16,000 mark, consider the Mazda 3, one of the funnest cars to drive and handle in the small car segment.

kenho04@yahoo.com