1997 Toyota Carina CDX review from UK and Ireland

2 new batteries. (cheap batteries are not good value)

Toyota Carina CDX 2 litre hatch back. R registered. Owned this car for 5 years and it has been fantastic. Still has original exhaust and brakes. Solid, reliable and only ever been let down twice. Both times were due to battery failures. Car has now done 60,000 miles (had only done 13,000 when bought) and has not even needed a bulb changing. Used everyday with lots of short run trips (the worst scenario for a car) and so far the Carina has taken all sorts of punishment from the children in the back seats without any breakages, rips or tears. The interior seems very robust, but quite dull in design compared to more modern cars. All the electrical gizmo's still work fine. All in all this is the best car I have owned without a shadow of doubt. Fuel consumption is between 32 and 40 miles to the gallon depending on journey length. The car is not the fastest, nor the best handling on the road by any standards. If you are after a sporty, fast cornering car then look elsewhere. But if you require one that is definitely more than adequate in the speed and handling categories and add on reliability, value for money and a great family workhorse. Then this is the car to go for. I have no intention of looking for another car for at least another 150,000 miles.