Corolla 1.6 T3 3dr

[PeterNem]

We (my parents and I, we share a car) a few weeks back swapped from a 1.4 V reg astra to a nearly new corolla. Pretty pleased for the most part, although the service from the dealer wasnt exactly brilliant.

On the day we went to collect the car we had to wait about 10 minutes until the guy was ready to see us. We arrived at 8:30 am, like we had said we would, and they said would be fine, and yet they were only just opening up and no one was ready or willing it seems to come deal with us! Fair enough if they were just opening, but they could have easilly said to come at 9:00!

Anyway... part of the deal as we couldnt really haggle much off the price was a full tank of petrol. As we left the forecourt we noticed the fuel gauge was reading next to nothing and the low fuel light was on! So we went back and moaned, and the got us to follow a mechanic to a local staion to fill it up, so we thought.

He put £15 of petrol in and said that was the standard amount they put in. My mum produced a peice of paper sayign we had agreed £30, and the guy was quite chatty and friendly, and actually filled it to the brim for us (about £35), and went on about how they apparantly "always do this" to people!!! How reassuring!

Anyway, niggles about the dealer asside, the car drves well and is supprisingly quick for a 1.6. I had always thought the astra was quick for a 1.4 (and compared to a 1.4 focus or golf it was), so didnt expect the corolla to be that much quicker, but it is definatelly fairly nimble around town and accelerates adquately when pushed. top speed is about the same as the astra, just under 120.

The cabin is much nicer than the astra, an area that was definately a shortfall, however one thing that struck me was there is no ability to fade the dash lights like you could on the astra, nothing major, but i always thought this was a fairly standard thing - is this so or am I missing something?

One thing that is slightly annoying is that the car has done 6500 miles and is due a minor service at 10,000, which is a bit of a blow when we won't have had the car that long!

The car colour is neptune blue (kind of silver looking) and has a rear spoiler and bigger wheels than the usual T3 (the garage says these are the same wheels and rear spoiler as fitted to the Tsport, they are 16" as opposed to 15).

All in all i'm a pretty happy chap. Appart from I am at uni 60 miles from home and we only had the car a day before I came back to uni. Looking forward to going home next weekend though!

Any hint and tips on general care, any potential problem areas that I should keep my eye on etc?

I've only spend a couple of hours in the car, but have not noticed any of the rattles that other people talked about from the rear number plate or the roof lining. Maybe I didnt listen hard enough or this was just a problem with the first batch of cars? This one is on a 52 plate, about 6 months old.

Cheers for your time!

[PeterNem]

One thing I was going to ask...

We have the standard in dash CD player that seems to appear on all the new corollas. Is this compatible with many changer units, or just a specific toyota one (if there is one?). Anyone got any recommendations on a fairly cheap CD Multistacker taht will fit the bill, either 6 or 10 discs?

There are some really good prices on CD stakcers here:

http://www.newimagecarhifi.com/companies.a...me=CD%20Changer

Another thing... the area which in the manual is labeled as the clock on the dash (near the heater controls) is always blank. Is this meant to be so? I assume yes because on this model the clock is integrated into the hifi system LCD display, but it just seems a little odd to have this panel there an nothing on it!

[Starensis]

I agree with dealerships!! 5 weeks later on am still waiting for repairs to be carried out. Sales manger's attitude was appalling to say the least, told me I shoudn't expect a perfect car second hand!!

Toyota need to get a grip with some of their dealers.

As regards you instrument cluster dimming, on the Avensis there is a button built in to cluster with "Dim" emblazoned on it. Push it in & hold ,you should get a bar graph which will rise & fall with dimming of lights.

For Avensis owners, I've just repaired a rattle from behind Electric mirror switch. I removed panel ( just pulls out from bottom ) & found a connector ( which is not used ) just flapping about against ducting. Taped it back & rattle no more!

Only another 7 to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like the new site layout.

;)

[PeterNem]

I've been told on another forum that on the old corolla it was apparantly on the right/underneath of the steering column?!

Can anyone confirm this?!

[runboy]

PeterNem

I have a 1.6 T Spirit and can find no dash dimmer-but then mine has the optitron lights/dash thingy which are a nice light blue colour and never too bright (in fact sometimes not bright enough in strong daylight).

The blank piece in the middle of the dash is where the digi clock goes-I have the clock on mine here next to the security light thingy. You think they could mould the whole dash to exclude this on the T3!.

I have a rattle from behind the electric mirror switch panel too!. I will get the dealer to remove it next time it's in, as well as the noise from the back which I found to be the parcel shelf. The two sprockets at the rear of the shelf bounce around going over bumps-looks like it could be bad design so I don't know what they can do to fix it.

Apart from that the repair to the bumper is still not perfect so is going back for the third time to be fixed (panel gap is just not consistant).

If you read the Audio thread you may see some there about the new Corolla and ICE options.

[dub_boy]

Cant remember on the T2 & T3 but the dash illumination for the T-spirit & T-sport with optitron dash is adjusted by pressing in the odometer button & holding it in then letting go & quickly pressing back in( I think). Check your owners manual, its all in there! (oddly enough!)

Oh & you cant get an aftermarket CD changer thats compatible with the Toyota unit unless you get an RF modulator that tunes the cd in through one of the radio channels!

And I cant believe you had to wait a whole 10 mins at the dealership, thats disgusting!!

[PeterNem]

the fact i had to wait wasnt what really got to me, its the fact while we were waiting they were all just sat about talking about nothing of importance. If I could see they were actually doing something important, I wouldnt have minded.

Had an RF modulated CD Changer before, not going down that route again. It slightly worsens radio reception, and our local radio station is crap so I being able to pick up ones from adjascent regions is important!

[PeterNem]

Mum took the car in today and had the chrome exhaust cap option fitted just to give it theat little finishing touch. She says it's a big improvement over just having the steel bit poking slightly under the rear bumper!

I wont get to see it until Thurs though (when I also get to drive it again!) - home from uni for the weekend!

Will try and get some pics (they wont be fantastic quality tho, I have no digicam but have a picture phone).

[PeterNem]

Oh, actually none more thing! The car supposedly comes with the remainder of the 1 year free RAC membership, however there were no details in with the car at all, no card or anything (we noticed this when we got home). We phoned the garage and they say you don't get a card anymore, you just phone a number which is written in the owners folder thing, and tell them your registration.

Is this true? I'd rather known than have to test this out while broken down somewhere!

[Starensis]

You should get Club Toyota cards in your name, but no specific RAC card!

I phoned Toyota GB Customer care line & they sent me replacements.

[corsol]

1) Dash lights (instrument board - odometer, fuel meter,...)........... changable by pressing buton for different trip counters (press& hold) - you can choose 4 levels of intensitiy.

2.)Abot Cd changer..........Audio system in new corolla is from Panasonic, original CD changer is from Panasonic or Technics(few models)......so search in that way.Maybe U should ask at Panasonic dealer if he can help U...........................The same thing is with for Subwoofer...

3.)....."manual is labeled as the clock on the dash (near the heater controls) is always blank. Is this meant to be so? I assume ........".If U have automatic climate control there must be clock, otherwise no....

[spwolf]

yeah, auto air cars have clock there....

as to cd changer, you can fit few different units, but you will have to buy aftermarket connector that will let you connect to different cd changer:

http://www.add-a-cdchanger.co.uk/acatalog/...__1997_on_.html

(make sure that you check that this connector will work fine with your corolla before buying it)

[PeterNem]

Cheers guys., figured out about the dash light level. Shame its doesnt also effect the radio backlight etc :S:S

I must say tht after having lived with it a while, the corolla's main features (the ones they can advertise) are better than those of the astra, but it'smissing a few little things.

Such as the Stereo display not also dimming. Alos in the astra the vole could be made to compensate for speed. not an advertised feature, but it worked pretty well.

Don't suppose this feature is hiding somewhere and available on the corolla? I find it's audio setup a little dissapointing really.