Engine & MPG questions for 9th gen owners...

[TheMut]

Hello all!

I'm a n00b I was goign to purchase a '06 civic, but the dealers won't go below $17500 for an LX, so I have turned to my second choice to see if i could get a better deal: which is a corolla S (or LE) with side airbags. Since it's not a new model the dealers seem to be a bit more flexible with them...

I do have a few questions for the 03+ owners:

1. What is your typical MPG with an corolla S (auto)?
2. Does the car have a timing CHAIN or BELT?
3. I've been reading the forum and notice that starter issue seems to be everywhere... does this affect the newer corollas?
4. For the people who have recently bought their corolla, what price were you able to get on it? What package/model did you purchase?

Thanks so much!!

[ToyotaMan1281]

2006 Corolla LE 2500 trade in on neon plus 2K down= 14-14500 purchase price. Payments 450 or so a month. Origional price 16-16500 or so. But some of the downpayment, etc had to pay for some taxes and stuff. I have power package, cruise control, 6 speaker 6 cd changer, keyless entery, and the usual other stuff that comes on every corolla.

Yes sometimes mine turns over a lil hard when on a warm engine but this is just the way these cars are. It isnt a big deal.

Belt, no timing chain.

Mine is 33.5 average MPG (city and highway) a/c on to max setting, take off rpms 3-3500, when on highway rev up to 4k or so rpms (never past 4500 unless have to gun it for some good reason)

did I answer all your questions? If not let me know and any other ques let me know

[TheMut]

Thanks so much for replying! Yes, nice job answering my Q's

So a timing belt... does toyota require you to change it at a certain mileage? Or has the tech improved enough to not worry about it?

33.5mpg is nice! My 98 altima is only getting ~26mpg all highway. It's sad i know

[arens]

I have an 05 CE.

1 -- Driving about 150 miles per day to/from work, mostly highway, nets me 40+ mpg. No idea about city mileage as we usually take the wife's car.

2 -- 9th gen have a timing chain.

3 -- 32k miles so far and no starting issues yet.

4 -- I am in Texas and that won't help you with the market price in your area.

[ToyotaMan1281]

Originally Posted by arens

I have an 05 CE.

1 -- Driving about 150 miles per day to/from work, mostly highway, nets me 40+ mpg. No idea about city mileage as we usually take the wife's car.

2 -- 9th gen have a timing chain.

3 -- 32k miles so far and no starting issues yet.

4 -- I am in Texas and that won't help you with the market price in your area.

timing chain for real? actually what is a timing chain? lol all i see is belts

[ToyotaMan1281]

so what model did u choose?

[silver04rollas]

With my 04 Corolla S, I used to average around 35 - 36 mpg (around 430 - 440 KM per gas tank) consistently using regular gas. Even if I floored the pedal quite often, fuel economy would not go down drastically.

Now with the 2ZZ 05 XRS, It fluctuates a lot. If I drive mostly on the low profile cam (below 6000 rpm), I get around 400 KM per gas (required premium) tank (works out to around 30 - 32 mpg) around the city. Ofcourse, if I drive aggressively and hit lift a lot and stay through gear shifts (over 6000 - 8400 rpm), it reduces to around 320 - 330 KM per tank, which is around 26 - 27 mpg.

[ToyotaMan1281]

Originally Posted by silver04rollas

With my 04 Corolla S, I used to average around 35 - 36 mpg (around 430 - 440 KM per gas tank) consistently using regular gas. Even if I floored the pedal quite often, fuel economy would not go down drastically.

Now with the 2ZZ 05 XRS, It fluctuates a lot. If I drive mostly on the low profile cam (below 6000 rpm), I get around 400 KM per gas (required premium) tank (works out to around 30 - 32 mpg) around the city. Ofcourse, if I drive aggressively and hit lift a lot and stay through gear shifts (over 6000 - 8400 rpm), it reduces to around 320 - 330 KM per tank, which is around 26 - 27 mpg.

wow! thats good for the xrs, imagine that on an srt 4

[arens]

You can't see the timing chain without removing the cover. What you are most likely looking at is the serpentine belt.

[Amber]

'04 Corolla LE, with leather, sunroof, spoiler, fog lights, alloy wheels. Around town I'm getting ~37.5 mpg with a 5 speed. I'd be in the low 40's if I did all highway. Regular unleaded, glad I'm not having to buy premium ... the XRS is not worth it. I don't mind putting premium in my '93 RX-7 though, it actually IS fast. But its a project car, and its not so easy for me to work on. I get my brother to help me work on that though. I'm not getting to drive it much.

- Amber

[egent1]

I have a 06 LE

1) Sans the aero Kit the LE is the same, I get 33.5-34.5 average with an Automatic. Best ~38MPG on the freeway.

2) according to Toyota it has a chain.

3) Every once in a while it won't start with a simple quick turn of the key. Nothing has taken over 1-2 second to start.

4) $16.5K for the LE with options (ZE?) was $19 sticker.

[scottp999]

I have 06 S with Extra Value Package and Auto trans:

1) So far I am getting 34 MPG with 1/2 city and 1/2 highway driving.


2) I will take others word for it and hope it has a chain.

3) It takes a longer key turn to start than my 4runner but that's because the 4runner automatically keeps turning the engine over for you until it starts. No big deal with the corolla.

4) I traded my 03' 4runner limited V6 and got excellent kbb value for 38k miles, which was $21,000 for a trade in. I actually walke out with a $4700 check. So everything was 21,000 - 4700 = 16,300. That includes taxes, tags, etc. and the $500 toyota kicked in through the end of May. (Younger Toyota - Hagerstown MD)

Scott

[silver04rollas]

Yeah that is true, but SRT-4 in a straight line is substantially faster than the XRS and makes that much more power, but I might as well have a mix of both worlds where I can enjoy a blast to drive high revving car with good performance and the Toyota refinement and reliability that will actually last more than a few years. The shocked looks factor is nice too.

Originally Posted by ToyotaMan1281

wow! thats good for the xrs, imagine that on an srt 4

[Corollacrazy42]

not sure if this has any relavence... but my 98 1zzfe gets around 33mpg top that ive seen I average over 30 though. But i never drive this on the highway. Basically stop go stop go all the time city driving. Nice little car. I dont dare to drive it too long on the interstate tho because it only has 3 damn gears!!!

Just thought id show the difference between the vvt-i and the early version. Seems to have been refined quite alot. Stronger and gets better gas mileage

[TheMut]

Hi all,

Thanks so much for all of the replies! Glad to see it does have a timing chain! One less thign to worry about Gas mileage looks pretty decent, though a little less than the new civics. If I am goign to buy a corolla, it will most likely be the S with side airbags/sunroof options. I found one, in red for $16500. Not too shabby when you compare it to the new civics (same options, a civic would run around $18,500). I am also checking out the new honda Fit. I didn't like the Yaris in person. On paper it looked great, but meh...

We'll see, still shopping around. Thanks again!