1999 Toyota Corolla GL 1.3

Summary:

Ugly, slow and yet pretty good!?!

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with it. That includes when my grand father had it from new.

General Comments:

I really thought I would be slating this thing as I do not like Japanese cars as a rule. I find they are very overrated and fall short of European cars in many ways.

This Corolla is in many ways just like the rest. For a start it is probably the ugliest car ever made. It is so ugly you need to crouch down when you pass people you know in the street! This one is particularly bad because it is purple.

However, I have now been driving it for two weeks and have found I quite like it. This is mostly down to it being an automatic, the first I have driven.

The car itself is pretty slow, however I can get 70-80 without too much difficulty. Unlike most slow cars I have driven it isn't frustrating. It is very relaxing and easy to drive. For such a simple car is really does offer an effortless driving experience. It would be an excellent commuting car if the fuel economy wasn't so bad (it is only a 3 speed).

My final view is that it is fine, but there are probably better cars of this type out there.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 30th August, 2008

1999 Toyota Corolla 1.3 petrol

Summary:

The WORST car I have ever driven. PERIOD!

General Comments:

I just had to put this on the Internet!

I borrowed this of my grandfather last week and was in hysterics for all of the 5 miles I drove it. I cannot believe that a car this bad was made as recently as the 1990's!

It is completely incapable of exceeding 40mph on a normal road. Obviously on a motorway it would, but that's because there are hundreds of miles of motorway for it to build up speed.

It is also unforgivably ugly. I mean the Japanese make some awful cars, but this is something else.

The only redeeming features are that it is 100% reliable and it is good on fuel. The fact is though that a Honda Civic does those things too and at least has some character.

If you ever find yourself in a position where you are going to buy one of these things, take a step back and have a hard think about what you are doing.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 13th May, 2008

9th Jul 2009, 15:00

My thoughts exactly, my Father has a 2001 Corolla 1.4 GLS (Y reg) and I have to say, it really is a hideously ugly car - very dated and endlessly facelifted, so by the time of the replacement in 2002, it looked really tired.

However, never judge a book by its cover!

It's a really good car, he has never had any bother with it and it still has the original exhaust on it (8 years on).

Its the 1,4 vvti engine and it certainly packs some punch and is good on fuel. I am 6'0" tall and I do notice a lack of headroom, but as most drivers of these cars are men in their 60's and older - reliability is their main issue for buying a pre 2002 Corolla, and looks don't matter to them. My father is 69 and loves his GLS model!

I drive a 1999 Nissan Primera and my mother drives a 1999 Toyota Yaris.

Japanese all the way for our family, but if you are younger than 60, leave the pre 2002 Corolla alone!

11th Sep 2009, 05:26

Who cares what it looks like, although I quite like it anyway.

It's a reliable, easy drive of a car.

24th Sep 2010, 08:34

Are you sure you can judge about the car after 5 miles???

7th Jan 2011, 15:05

Excellent car. I bought mine in 2003 with 54,000 miles on the clock, and now at the start of 2011 and at 190,000 miles, I have had no issues with this car. Truly reliable, it's just a pity that the newer model is not supposed to be as reliable.

GREAT CAR!!

18th Jun 2015, 02:57

Is this review a joke? You base your assessment on 5 miles of driving the car, make the absurd claim it won't exceed 40 mph, and call a fairly bland-looking car "ugly".

18th Jun 2015, 09:37

That's typically all the time you get with a test drive from a new car dealership. With the salesperson talking all the time. Then you fork over many thousands of dollars after wondering what you really got on your trade in. A price circled with this is your final price with your trade. I would rather rent a car from a place like Enterprise and then buy. And sell my old car myself.