1997 Toyota Corolla SD review from North America
"At least as reliable as an anvil!!!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Absolutely nothing has gone wrong with this car.
General comments?
If you are looking for a car that will get you from A to B, stop looking. The older Corolla's (pre-1998) are the absolute most reliable cars you will ever find.
We bought my mom's 97 Corolla a couple years ago and it has been nothing but great. The car is solid like a tank (no rattles, play in the suspension, etc.), super reliable and cheap to run.
The 1.6liter engine mated to the 3speed automatic transmission is pretty slow, but extremely reliable and shifts amazingly smooth. So far I have only done basic maintenance on this car (changed spark plugs and oil & filter and air filter). The engine does not burn or leak one drop of oil.
Personally I would recommend buying a 5 speed model though since the gas mileage is drastically better, and it has a lot more pep than the automatic. I've owned a couple Toyota's already and I will never ever buy anything else... ever.
Recommended reviews
| Wonderful small car -- super reliable |
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| Never owned a better car! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6L 4 cylinder (4A-FE) Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 140000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 160000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Toyota Corolla |
| Date of Entry | 1st April, 2008 |