1988 Toyota Corona CD

Summary:

A solid family car for a person on a budget

Faults:

We have done purely maintenance to the car. Replacement of the timing belt and is the only thing outside of normal maintenance (engine oil, tires and batteries) that we have done to the car.

General Comments:

I have owned this car for 11 years now and the reliability is brilliant, the only time it hasn't started was because of a dead battery.

The manual transmission is a joy - the car is surprisingly powerful on the expressway and smooth when making turns.

Good fuel efficiency, a Toyota trademark. I tanked the car once in 3 weeks.

The cabin space is spacious compared to other 1.6L cars. The driver's seat is very comfortable and provides a nice view of the road. The boot is huge and the legroom for the rear passengers is very good.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st March, 2004

6th Feb 2005, 21:16

YES! Totally agree with you.

I also drive a April 1989 1.6L Corona CD Auto. Great car for the family as it's spacious & comfortable.

Maintenance costs are low with just the normal servicing & replacements done. Can get about 13km/lit on average with 97 RON petrol.

My mileage is already just past 350,000km, but the car still runs great.

I'm now just about to change my suspension & steering bushings together with the shock absorbers at one go. Then to do a computerized 4 wheel alignment.

Parts will be getting a little hard to get as this model ages, so got to be careful of that.

I heard this is one of the best mid range Toyota's ever made. Trying to keep it as long as possible.

2000 Toyota Corona SOHC , 16v

Summary:

Great engine performance and reliability you can trust from a Japanese thoroughbred

Faults:

The finishing on the dashboard are boring Grey, interior materials and angles, coming from a Japanese thoroughbred and are not that great, but are however spacious, nothing aesthetic or fanciful like a good old continental makes.. even compared to my Rover 416.

Neither are the dails on the speedometer inspirational to drive..; functional, but the power kicks in that revs to 2000rmp accelerates with confidence.. perhaps because of the Cyclone II I installed in the air-intake did help.

Automatic transmission engages with a reliably with a thud on the gearshift, which becomes smoother with practice.

General Comments:

Exterior of the car is broad with smooth straight angles, resonates with reliable executive looking exterior. No complaints about ergonomics or image here :)

Great boot-space in the rear.. which extraordinary from a Japanese make.

Passenger compartment is practically silent from engine.. which revs with strength effortlessly. hallmark of Japanese engine reliability,... have serviced it at the local distributor faithfully, no complaints so far except for the charges.. which is still less compared to what I had to pay for Rover Singapore...

Seats are suprisingly much thicker comfortable without being rigid, head and legroom great, seats 5 with ample room, great reliable and functional even as a family saloon.

Steering light to the point not losing sensitivity. Accelrator depression is light and smooth to the user's pedal movement, Simply a joy to drive and own.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd October, 2002

28th Mar 2004, 21:08

How did you get a 2000 Corona? I thought they stopped making them at some point in the 80's?

12th Mar 2005, 07:08

Well corona is manufaactured all the the way until 2001 and this car has hidden power. fuel rich, but little air,give it extreme more air its can be damm powerful and I mean it.

7th Jun 2005, 21:03

The Corona Premio is marketed in Singapore. We in Trinidad can import used cars from Singapore. A friend of mine has one. It looks great and performs well.

In reply to 28th Mar 2004, 21:08

6th Feb 2016, 03:58

Toyota kept the Corona until after 2002. However, it was Japan/Asian market only. They stopped exporting the car to the West in the early-1990s, which led to many people believing that the Corona was dropped back then.