27th Oct 2006, 20:05

I have a loaded 2006 LE that I got in April for $13,995. It has 5,000mi on it now and I love it. My only gripe is the keyless entry fob doesn't have a trunk release. If I take it easy on the pedal I get 33MPG during 100% city driving.

I kept my old car, a 2001 Prizm (Corolla). It's got 80,000mi on it and no problems other than a blower relay I fixed myself for $22. It does need brakes soon, but I'm not complaining because I've always been hard on brakes.

The 2006 is much larger than the 2001. The 2001 you are sitting very low to the ground. The 2006 you sit as tall as any other normal car, even a full size gas guzzler.

9th Nov 2006, 08:13

To the character who thinks corollas are for old people. Even though that's far from the truth, it would be more honorable to drive an "old person car" than an car that screams "I'm young and can't drive worth my life, and I'm in the age group that is the most responsible for accidents, but I'm going to drive like I have a sports car despite having a dinky 4 cylinder". My advice: do America the favor of growing up, and take off the ridiculous loud muffler, it's not impressive.

Btw I'm 18.

12th Nov 2006, 11:18

Why any person under 50 would want a little dumpy 4-door car with a puny 4-cylinder engine is hard to understand, but if that is what you like go for it. I guess it's the computer berd era.

16th Dec 2006, 23:23

A car that deliver. And A to B destination performer. But how boring it is. Legendary fit and finish is of 1981 Jetta, not to mention the technlogy. Reliability is a matter of independant mechanics survey, since owners fears dealers...

8th Jan 2007, 08:59

My 2006 Corolla LE has a whistling/squeaking sound once the speedometer hits past 65MPH or when it is really windy. The sound is coming from the base of the windshield above the middle of the dashboard. I tried everything, including different positions of the vent, turned the radio off, etc. The dealer has not been able to correct the problem. I am interested to find out if anyone else is experiencing this problem. I live in Northwestern NJ.

8th Jan 2007, 14:34

Sounds like an ill-fitted windshield or a replacement windshield (cars do get damaged in shipping sometimes) that is bad.

I would demand a new windshield if that is, indeed, the cause.

27th Feb 2007, 17:02

I test drove several comparable cars. The Mazda 3i is a real pocket rocket stolen from BMW 3-series specs. But ONLY the Corolla 5-speed can cruise at 65 doing just 2,500 RPM. All the others (Kia 1.8, Mazda 2.0, Sentra 2.0) are screaming at 3,000 or more (read 3,500+ at 70 all day on I-95, just shoot me now!). Low RPMs equals superior mileage (5 MPG+), less noise and less wear. I'll be turning over 150,000 miles before my CE has the engine wear of the others at 100-120,000. Only my '86 BMW 325E 5-speed had gearing this high. But Corolla's state-of-the-art 1.8L 16-overhead valve, overhead cam, fuel injected, electronically controlled Variable Valve Timing (VVT) standard engine is straight from Toyota's Formula 1 (winning) experience. Only Honda's produces more HP/L.

27th Feb 2007, 21:17

Low rpm does not always equal longer engine life. I know of 5 people (at least) who have had engine failure in new Corollas before the warranty expired. The low rpms DO contribute to great gas mileage though.

26th Mar 2007, 17:22

Toyota is the best rated, thanks to a legendary short warranty. Surveys are conducted while most owners of the brand performed maintenance with independant mechanics. On the used car market, the key is to track maintenance records.

26th Mar 2007, 19:34

"The latest JD Power initial quality study..."

Who gives a crap? Why don't you come clean and tell everybody how J.D. Power "rates" cars? They use customer surveys to acquire subjective comments from owners who don't really know much about cars.

For instance my 2002 Explorer Sport is rated only at 2 1/2 stars, although the mechanical quality and reliability are rated at 4 stars. Why so low? Because people complain about the truck-like ride, or not having enough cup holders, or they don't like the seats. Well, I happen to disagree. Thus, I would have missed out on a great vehicle that I really love if I had slavishly followed the J.D. Powers "rating." Humbug. Put away your ratings and drive the car!

26th Mar 2007, 19:58

None of my friends ever GOT 150,000 miles out of a Corolla engine, so I guess the RPM's don't make all that much difference.

9th Apr 2007, 21:22

I laughed out loud at the commenter that thinks 2500rpm at 65 mph is "great". Our 275hp GMC turns 2250 rpms at 75mph. By that commenter's reasoning I guess it should far outlast the puny (and HIGH-revving) Corolla!!

10th Apr 2007, 11:22

Let's be clear here. Now you are saying that the people who buy their own cars should not rate them because they do not know what they are doing, but you obviously do.

Funny you conveniently ignore the fact the Ford Explorer is the most unsafe vehicle on the road today, and has such severe design flaws that it has killed and injured MORE people due exclusively to design flaws than ANY other vehicle, and that's before you start talking about the Firestone fiasco.

11th Apr 2007, 17:29

Again these comments about Explorers being "unsafe" keeps popping up. If people are not skilled enough to drive an SUV, they should not drive AT ALL.

In the hands of a good driver, the Explorer is as safe, predictable and controllable as any vehicle and has been since it was introduced in 1991.

I'm also sure we'll start hearing about how the roofs are so flimsy they "cave in" in roll overs. Sorry, but that's the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander. I saw an inept driver roll an older Explorer 8 times at 70mph on the freeway and there was not a HINT of the roof caving in even after EIGHT rolls. The properly belted driver did not get a scratch.

12th Apr 2007, 09:19

This is 100% UNTRUE and a huge misconception.

No matter what type of driver you are you CANNOT control a vehicle that is 100% unpredictable in any type of accident/avoidance situation.

I mean, the engineer who DESIGNED the Explorer sent a memo to Ford management saying the truck was UNSAFE and should NOT be released without a redesign. They ignored him, and thousands of people have died needlessly as a result.

13th Apr 2007, 09:55

Virtually ZERO drivers who were properly belted have ever died or been seriously hurt in an Explorer.

And NO, there is no such thing as "unpredictable behavior" in a mechanical device. They do not have free will and cannot act on their own.

Any vehicle that rolls over was caused to do so by an inept driver who can't handle a vehicle. My high-riding truck has a bright yellow sticker that clearly states "ROLL OVER HAZARD. AVOID SHARP TURNS". Being able to read, I know to follow those instructions.

People who blame their own stupidity for accidents aren't living in the real world. If you can't drive a vehicle, ride a bike (but be forewarned, they also roll over).

14th Apr 2007, 10:51

Sorry, but when your Explorer rolls over because physics takes over, and then the roof caves in because it is substandard, you can have five-point racing belts and you still are going to die.

Even a cursory search of the Internet PROVES that the Ford Explorer is THE most unsafe vehicle on the road.

And you CLEARLY do not understand the concept of physics. Look at why the Corvair was lambasted - because of its UNPREDICTABLE behavior during maneuvers. Same with the Explorer.

14th Apr 2007, 16:40

Is a Corolla a SUV? Lets talk about some exotic cars. Since there is no relevelance at least its more interesting to read.

13th May 2007, 10:53

My son, who is thirty, just purchased a brand new Corolla CE equipped with the "C" package and automatic. He was impressed with the feel of the car and it's level of refinement. He likes the look of the car and so do I.

He traded his 2002 Hyundai Elantra with 318,000k on it for the Corolla. Even though the Elantra served him well, it began to self destruct and fall to pieces within the last month. The level of refinement between a new Elantra and the Corolla is quite evident and was the primary reason for him choosing the Corolla.

Time will tell if he made the right choice. Hopefully the Corolla is as good as it's reputation and stands the test of time and distance.

9th Dec 2007, 09:33

Five years ago my wife bought a white Toyota Corolla CE. The 2003 model began a new body style with a bigger trunk and somewhat higher quality interior.

Now I just purchased a 2008 model white Toyota Corolla CE. My previous cars were a 1983 Supra and a 1987 FX16. I am expecting reliable, comfortable transportation for fifteen years at least. The 2008 marks the last year of the Corolla body model begun in 2003. So my wife and I have a pair of twins now.

Of course when our sons finish university, we will be able to give them matching hand-me-down cars, and I expect our next cars to be Toyotas as well.