1995 Toyota Corolla DX review from North America
"Perfect commuter car if bought used"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Timing belt needed to be replaced (137000 miles). I know it's a maintenance item, but it's relatively expensive for an economy car like this - I wish it came with a timing chain as in the 1998+ models.
Rear passenger door lock does not operate with the driver door switch. Manual operation works.
Windshield wiper nozzle was clogged when I bought the car.
Head and tail lights burnt out a couple of times.
Reverse does not work for a tape in the cassette player. I put the other side in and use fast-forward.
Front end squeaks now (at 155000 miles). Was told it was due to a bearing or some bent part in the bearing that was rubbing against something else. Mechanic said it was safe to drive and that it was not the struts or the suspension.
General comments?
Bought this car at 137000 miles, now has 155000 miles and feels like it would last another 100k miles.
The interior is somewhat noisy, but I hear from other people that Honda Civics are worse than this car. It's an economy get-around-town car, so personally I am not too bothered by it.
My best feature about this car is its light weight and excellent brakes. Car can stop within any distance if necessary.
Steering is light and responsive. The interior is comfortable for short journeys, but I had a back ache for the first month after buying the car. Got used to the discomfort after that.
Very good on gas, 27 MPG+ in all city driving. Small gas tank too, so very easy on the wallet.
Heat, AC and all electrical accessories are working perfectly even at this mileage unlike many American cars. This alone is worth the extra price you pay initially.
I feel very confident in being able to drive this car anywhere. Unless I trade it in, I could keep this car for another five years without major maintenance.
Recommended reviews
| Excellent |
| If you don't want any more car headaches, buy a Corolla |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1995 |
| Year of manufacture | 1995 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8L I4 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 137000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 155000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Lumina |
| Date of Entry | 13th January, 2007 |