1997 Toyota Carina SE Solair review from UK and Ireland
"Brilliantly designed/built appliance"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Radiator hose started leaking around 120k miles; replaced the standard hose clip with a jubilee clip and solved the problem.
General comments?
The car is much more solid-feeling to drive than other cars of this age; it doesn't feel worn-out, although the engine could do with a thorough service to restore some lost power.
Has been completely reliable in everyday use, with low fuel consumption.
Very well-built and easy to work on for home servicing. No flimsy bits of plastic to break, or cheap bolts/fastenings to round off.
The boot and leg-room are also excellent.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 lean burn petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 118000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 125000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 14th June, 2009 |