1998 Toyota Corolla VE review from North America
"This is a great car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The only problem I've had is the AT shifter console light going out. It costs a bunch to fix, so I just purchased a map light and it does the trick.
An annoying aspect of my Corolla is that it loses a little control over rough or uneven roads. I find myself having to make steering corrections and fight to stay straight within my lane on uneven highway roads.
General comments?
The Corolla is a very well made vehicle.
It has a smooth ride.
It has good acceleration.
It is insulated for sound (see for yourself, there's sound deadening material under the hood) which makes for low interior noise.
It is low maintenance, having a timing chain and also a distributor-less ignition system.
The handling is poor with the standard tires and wheels, but I remedied this by purchasing a set of 15" rims and 195/50 15 performance tires. I suppose that you could purchase performance tires in the original size (185/65 14?) to replace the stock passenger tires and it might remedy the handling problem as well. But a set of nice rims and low profile tires does give the Corolla a nice look.
Recommended reviews
  | Doesn't rate all the hype |
| 1997 - Corolla CE 4 cylinder gasoline Boring and Reliable Is Good |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8L DOHC 4 cylinder Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 10/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 8 miles |
| Most recent distance | 40000 miles |
| Previous car | Nissan Stanza |
| Date of Entry | 10th January, 2003 |