Best used corolla for money?? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

T100Kevin · 08-21-2007, 08:45 PM

Currently own a 95 T100 and a 01 Sienna - looking for a good used commuter car with high mileage, so.....

Looking to buy a used Corolla and want to know what year to focus on - I want to stay with later generations, 8th or current 9th.

Are first model years more trouble prone - 1998 for 8th gen and 03 for the 9th gen?

Im leaning towards at least 2000 year when VVT-i was added, any other significant change going to 01 or 02 in the 8th gen?

Is the 9th gen a huge improvemnt over the 8th?

I'm willing to spend up to 9-10K on a really good 04 LE or up to 5-6K on a really good low mileage 01/02 LE.

Corolla group - What are your thoughts on this?

tracerich · 08-21-2007, 09:33 PM

I think for the money, you might better go with a vvt corolla like you indicated. We have an 01, and its great. The 98, 99 vintage had some oil burning problems. I'm reasonably sure that problem went away when they put the different engine in the later ones.

Mayur · 08-21-2007, 10:59 PM

If you want it solely as a commuter get the 8th gen. If your going to modify it get then 9th gen. The 9th gen has the same vvt-i engine but is tuned differently. It has 5 more hp than an 8th gen.

2000 - vvt-i introduced
2001 - facelift
2002 - exact as 2001.

originalfake · 08-21-2007, 11:23 PM

^^

OCDetails · 08-22-2007, 07:09 AM

If you are willing to spend a little more then you might want to go up a couple years. I just bought an '05 XRS for $14K and change. Unless you plan on doing some serious modifciations to the LE when you get it, then the XRS is worth the extra bucks.

T100Kevin · 08-26-2007, 08:37 PM

Thanks for info - I'm leaning towards the 8th gen, 01 or 02. Seems like a good 01 is my best bet.

I having a hard time finding good low mileage 01/02's - like in the 50-60K range. However, seem to be quite a few 03/04's in my area.

Does the 8th gen get as good highway mileage as the 9th gen - in the 35+ range?

Again, is the 9th gen a huge improvemnt over the 8th? Worth the extra money if buying used?

emiliorescigno · 08-26-2007, 09:27 PM

If you get a 9th Gen, don't settle for anything other than an XRS, which will command quite a price premium. If you don't want to spend the money, get an 00-02 8th gen, the early (98-99) 8th gens had oil burning issues and sloppy handling compared to the revised ones.

KellenH · 08-26-2007, 10:16 PM

I have an '01 S...it gets good highway mileage, the only time I've gone through a tank on exclusively highway mileage I got around 37-38, if I remember correctly.

w203 · 08-27-2007, 01:56 AM

Are you planning to keep the car for long? Is warranty something you want (not that its required or anything). If you wait till the 10th generation comes out the 9th generation would be cheaper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emiliorescigno

If you get a 9th Gen, don't settle for anything other than an XRS, which will command quite a price premium. If you don't want to spend the money, get an 00-02 8th gen, the early (98-99) 8th gens had oil burning issues and sloppy handling compared to the revised ones.

Why? Most people have done well with a 9th generation CE/LE/S... It doesn't seem like performance is a priority since gas mileage was mentioned many times. So why the XRS?

emiliorescigno · 08-27-2007, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w203

Why? Most people have done well with a 9th generation CE/LE/S... It doesn't seem like performance is a priority since gas mileage was mentioned many times. So why the XRS?

You're absoluely right, I guess it just never clicks in my mind getting a car that doesn't have some sort of emphasis on performance...

But what do you expect? I own a two-seater car that gets 20mpg

Rookie_One · 08-27-2007, 10:16 PM

the best used corolla in my advice is an old E90, high gas mileage (5L/100KM for the sedan) and damn tough (i got mine since last november, and that damn engine just wont die!

)

***REN69*** · 08-27-2007, 10:25 PM

01-02 or the 03-04 are my choices, I'd probably end up buying an 03-04 Corolla S eventually if I find I can't afford an XRS.

vibebreaker · 08-27-2007, 10:28 PM

get the 01-02. i dont like the ninth gens for some reason.

w203 · 08-27-2007, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emiliorescigno

You're absoluely right, I guess it just never clicks in my mind getting a car that doesn't have some sort of emphasis on performance...

But what do you expect? I own a two-seater car that gets 20mpg

If you don't mind sending your car this way I don't mind. I have an Echo I can send your way as a replacement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by REN69

01-02 or the 03-04 are my choices, I'd probably end up buying an 03-04 Corolla S eventually if I find I can't afford an XRS.

Not a fan of the DBW?

Get the Type-S they look nice with the kit.