2002 Toyota Corolla TSport VVTiL review from UK and Ireland

Unknown thumping noise, diagnosed as ABS pump kicking in.

Clutch totally fried itself causing total power loss, clutch pedal became stuck to the floor in 3 lane traffic.

Because of many problems related to the above, after 2 months of arguing (of which I only actually had the car 2 weeks myself to drive) I got a full refund from the dealer and brought myself a Honda Civic S-Type.

The build quality of this car is a definite A+. Heavy, solid doors and bodywork give a great sense of safety.

Handling is also fantastic and sticks to the road like clue with very little roll. Suspension is not bone jarring.

Performance is brilliant. The "L" in VVTiL stands for Lift and when you hit 6000 revs you really feel it kick you in the back. Knocks the spots off of the new Peugeot 206 GTi 180 but not quite a Honda Civic Type-R.

Cabin is very roomy with decent rear and boot space.

Paintwork is another matter being easily scratched.

Equipment is not fantastic. Standard AC could better be climate control, but interior is smart and tidy.

Exterior looks are fine from the front, but, as with many new cars, the back has been forgotten.