Hi There!

[sjrainsford]

Hi there peeps!

It's been a long time since i've been on this site, but I may well be back! A little background info for you: I frequented this site when I had my crackin Toyota Avensis a couple of years back, then I upgraded to a Lexus GS300. Anyway, times have changed and the fuel was too much in the end (wish I kept hold of the Avensis!). I then moved to a Volkswagen Passat 1.9TDi sport.

To cut a long story short, these German cars don't seem as good as people say they are! So i'm thinking of coming back to good oll Toyota!

My main like so far is the latest Corolla. Would be looking at a 1.6VVTi as these seem not bad, and probably the Tspriit. Not sure about all the model variants but this one seems to have all the kit. It wouldn't be brand new, perhaps a 52 or 03 plate.

What things normally cause problems with these? And are they nice cars? They have a good write up. My main concern is interior build quality because the Avensis wasn't exactly brilliant. And whats the 1.6 like?

Thanks all in advance, and looking forward to being back on TOC!

[sjrainsford]

Bump!!

No E12 owners here?

[ColinM]

Well, after considerable research, I bought a 1.6 manual TSpirit in October last year. Absolutely no complaints, other than what sadly appears to be a common fault of an irritating, untraceable buzz/vibration from behind the dash.

Might be as well to read the various threads in this forum on the momentarily suspended revs as you change gear and also test drive a Corolla. Two camps of thought on this - personally I don't notice it. It is deliberately designed that way by Toyota to cut emmisions.

[TOYMOTA]

Get a T-Sport, Get a T-Sport!!!!

I drove one of the ones they have at my work the other day. Amazing bit of kit. It revs and revs even more than the old GTI did. And the lift at 6000 revs is almost like Hyperdrive on the Milenium Falcon. And they're pretty good on fuel when driving sensibly.

I want one, i will have one!!!! (at some point)

[sjrainsford]

Yeah a few modern cars hold the revs now, it also provides smoother gear changes to save you 'blipping' the throttle.

No can do with the T sport. I wanna stick to approx 40mpg. I thought the 1.6 would be a good balance of power/economy.

Thanks for the reply's anyway. Keep 'em comin!

[Scottish_SR]

Ive not got an e12 but have the same engine in my e111. The 1.6 is quite a good wee engine. Nippy enough (especially with the 6 speed) and the fuel economy can be good if driven properly. A good compromise between performance and economy.

[scionic]

Maybe this is a strange question, but if you can afford to go from an Avensis to a Lexus GS300 to Volkswagen Passat, then how could fuel mileage be so much of a concern that you must get 40 mpg? Economically speaking, I would think having all those cars, especially having a Lexus GS300 and then selling it, would cost more than any savings on fuel you're going to have with even a frugal 1.6 Avensis, which is sure to be a dog compared to the GS.

Maybe I'm missing something, it could be that I'm using American fuel prices as a gauge or maybe you care about saving fuel out of a sense of responsibility more than economics?

[sjrainsford]

Ok then, here's the story

I had a 1.8 Avensis which did 38mpg all the time, it was crackin to be honest. I then sold this and bought the Lexus GS which is something I always wanted. However my journey to work ended up too long, and what with it only managing a max of 23mpg it had to go. It was also too 'old man ish' for me cause I had wanted an IS200.

Anyway, I needed something cheap to run but fairly sizable. Hence the VW passat (it's a diesel by the way). It's great on fuel 45+mpg, but expensibe to repair and not as well built as everyone says about German cars.

So this brings me back to Toyota. I liked Toyota ownership and the community of people that surrounded it. I wouldn't like another Avensis of that shape cause I don't want the same car twice, and a new shape Avensis is too expensive currently.

So the corolla seemed a nice alternative. It should accommodate almost as much stuff, and be fairly good on fuel but not too slow, and keep me going until I can afford an Avensis or Rav 4.

So it boils down to the fact that I like Toyotas for more than obvious reasons.

[TOYMOTA]

Maybe I'm missing something, it could be that I'm using American fuel prices as a gauge or maybe you care about saving fuel out of a sense of responsibility more than economics?

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I think petrol is a hell of alot cheaper over in the States. It costs between 80p-£1 (about $1.85) a litre over this side of the pond.

Ok then, here's the story

Anyway, I needed something cheap to run but fairly sizable.  Hence the VW passat (it's a diesel by the way).  It's great on fuel 45+mpg, but expensibe to repair and not as well built as everyone says about German cars.

So this brings me back to Toyota. 

So the corolla seemed a nice alternative. 

So it boils down to the fact that I like Toyotas for more than obvious reasons.

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Have you considered the D4D Corolla???

[sjrainsford]

Actually I have considered the D4D

But I was put off mostly because parkers didn't recommend it saying they were a little un-refined. And what with the quality of Toyota petrol engines (supposedly), I had that more in mind. Naturally i'd have to have a go in both of them to draw my final conclusion. But diesels aren't necessarily worth the extra outlay and fuel prices these days.

But yes, that's definately something to consider!

Keep 'em comin!

[man-bing]

Ok, i should be about the ideal person to ask , if your looking for the T-Spirit, and as your looking for 52 plate onwards.

Got mine from new, was a dream to drive home, was about 60mile drive home.

Had only a few minor probs, but don't worry, nothing to scare you off from it.

Had a manifold prob about 18mths ago, but they sorted it very quickly, but think it's returned again, but going for a service soon, so will find out if it's returned again.

Fuel consumption, takes about a max of 50ltr of petrol , and averages something in the region of 400-500miles , i'd installed my own car audio in it, so the H/U that shows MPG s not there, but depending on how i drive it (fast most of the time) :D and if climate control is on (it does take alot of fuel to run it) :o

Quality of interior, i think is good, but can mark easily if scraped with a hard item on smooth surfaces. Seats are good, and everything else is easy to reach and well placed.

Thats a quick view of what i think of my car, if you need anything else, let me know.

Bing

[sjrainsford]

A ha! That's the sort of thing I was after, thanks for that!

So how's the interior as far as rattles are concerned? My Avensis was terrible for rattles due to the poor interior build quialtiy and plastics.

And how's the 1.6 engine? Underpowered, adequate or more than adequate?

Thaks again!

[man-bing]

The interior quality, i think, is ok and does wear well.

All the trim feels solid, but once removed, can cause to rattle after awhile, but im not that fussy about it, unless it annoys me, which so far, has only been the centre console air-vents, but even then, still doesn't bother me.

I think the 1.6ltr is a bit underpowered, sure it did very well when i first got it, now, some 29K miles later, think it's lost it now.

Sure i revvered the crap out of it when i first got it, with 4 adults in the car, it could do something like (but don't quote me )

1st gear = 40mph

2nd gear = 70mph

3rd gear = 90mph

4th gear = 110mph

5th gear = 125mph

but that was ages ago since i done that, now it a bit slower, sure it could be down to wear and tear, blab, blab, blab....

I think, generally, this car fairs well overall, and nothing major to moan about it.

[MJG]

Hi there peeps!

It's been a long time since i've been on this site....SNIP

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Can't comment on the specific vehicle you are asking about as I am a t-sport owner (and very happy one too....)

The Corolla seems a very well put togther vehicle, every body who gets into mine says how solid it feels and how well put together it feels. I assume the t spirit is as well bolted together as mine.

Couple of things to look out for

- check out the fit of the audio and centre vents. Some seem to suffer from a poor fit (i didn't think mine did but after checking out this forum and reading about it I have noticed mine is not a 100% perfect fit. Nothing too bad and no worse than the standard of the audio fit in my last owned vehicle (52 plate LR Discovery) but if you are very finnicky it will annoy you)

- Some seem to suffer from various clutch problems, including rattles/scraping sounds and burning smell (latter seems to be confined to t-spprts), but I have no problems in this dept.

The fit and finish of the internal (above commenst noted) and external panels on mine is superb......

[Tony Hewes]

Hi all , on the question of D4D 2.0ltr

I have now had a corolla verso D4D purchased 01/04/2005 & tomorrow is the second time it is going back to the dealer with problems, first prob was lost power drove like a tractor they said fault was major injection pump fault so new pump said to be fitted & common rail, complete with all injecters & pipework.

This i have been told by a mechanic friend is a major job .

not nice to have your new cars engine stripped down after 400 miles.

now it runs ok apart from slight juddering/ vibes when cruising in 5th gear 80 ish mph But appart from the above this engine & vehicle is very nice to drive, i chose the D4D to use for going around france n germany it is said to be a very good & proven engine ( time will tell).

Actually I have considered the D4D

But I was put off mostly because parkers didn't recommend it saying they were a little un-refined.  And what with the quality of Toyota petrol engines (supposedly), I had that more in mind.  Naturally i'd have to have a go in both of them to draw my final conclusion.  But diesels aren't necessarily worth the extra outlay and fuel prices these days.

But yes, that's definately something to consider!

Keep 'em comin!

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[sjrainsford]

I'm glad there's been some input on the D4D side of things. What engine is it you had, the 2.0? And I believe there are two power outputs, so what was that?

At the moment i'm listening to all opinions, because this has got to be the right decision, so will be choosing slowly.

Do you find the D4D quiet? Or is it a rattly 'old' sounding engine? I drove an Avensis with the older none D4D engine and it was very poor. Mainly, i'm interested in what it sounds like inside more than out.

Cheers again!

[Tawse57]

To cut a long story short, these German cars don't seem as good as people say they are!

IMPO German car makers are living on past reputation - just check out JD Power survey at Whatcar.

Arey ou buying new or secondhand - Whatcar last night had an item saying that Toyota is doing special deals on Corollas due to very poor car sales generally in the UK. They reckon the deals will get even better in the Summer.

I would love to buy a Corolla - my first choice car - but at a slim 6' 2" I find myself having trouble with head room and room under the steering wheels and my legs.

[sigrid]

I'm quite tall, and every time I get in my Corolla or lift my foot off the throttle pedal I scrape my shoe on something that sticks out under the dash, I think that is bad design and has bugged me since I had the car, other than that and the revs thing I like the car a lot.

My friend has just bought an old shape Avensis D4D, I went for a drive in it and really liked it, a bit rumbly at idle but all diesels are. I was impressed with how quiet it was at speed though, much quieter than my Corolla and there were no rattles or squeaks at all, I thought it was really well put together, yet a lot of people complain of bad interior build.

Also he had the ECU remapped so instead of 110hp its now about 135bhp and it pulled like a train when I drove it plus he gets more mpg which isa bonus, averaging about 55mpg mixed which isnt bad. So I like the old shape Avensis!

[Tawse57]

IMPO the new shape Avensis just looks like you have to be 75 or older to drive it which is a shame... and those big unprotected doors look ideal for dings...

However, there are so many 12 month old TX3s for sale for about 12K that it is a good bang for buck.