Being an ex Corolla S owner who has owned an XRS for 12 years, I can provide you with some thoughts. Based on what you wrote, a 1ZZ Corolla might fit your needs better because of the following reasons:

1 - You can get moonroof and power everything in a Corolla LE as well.

2 - Main draw of the XRS, is the engine so if you are not interested in the power/acceleration/lift etc., it will actually be more laborious to daily drive than 1ZZ Corolla.

3 - You mentioned steering, but the suspension, brakes, wheels, tires etc are also different. You will also have to live with a rather stiff/harsher ride quality

4 - 6 speed overall gearing is short so you have to shift a lot during daily drive.

5 - 2ZZ-GE takes only premium gas and gives about 27 - 28 mpg average.

That is why I think you might want to consider a fully spec'ed out Corolla S or LE. It might work better for your needs.

 

5 - 2ZZ-GE takes only premium gas and gives about 27 - 28 mpg average.

This might be a deal killer for me. Like I said I am not a sporty driver and the car is just my commuter, I get my driving thrill with the motorcycle

I've read a few of your posts, silver thanks for the input. How many KM's is this engine good for? with proper maintenance?

 

The XRS has above average reliability without any major issues that aren't caused by abuse/neglect. One of the largest complaints is idle quality. Generally it is said too high from a bad return spring on the throttle body.

However like Silver mentioned I would recommend a nice 2005-2008 LE or S model with the options you want.

 

Thanks everyone for the info. I think I am going to go with a nice LE once I find one.

No point paying premium gas if I am not going to use the power advantage of the engine, and the bike is used in the summer for fun, this is just going to be a good reliable commuter.

 

only major issues with my 05 is the starter just went, and had to do one of the 02 sensors already.

the suspension stiffness wasn't a killer deal as I was used to the stiffness on my Supra and previous cars. Same as the fuel economy, shifting ratios, etc... all things I was already used to.

if driven like an economy car, I find the sweet spot between 3-5k RPM on the XRS, I never have to go higher when driving around town, unless I want to... yet still only has given me the most 420km out of a tank.

I've actually had someone on a Corolla S try to race me, and without me using lift the cars were pretty equally matched... once I hit 3rd and lift, I was gone.

I wish I could say I get my "thrills" when on my motorcycle, but i'm still a noob so I rather be in the comfort and safety of a cabin when I get mine.

 

Is that your bike beside the XRS?

 

yes sir... 09 Suzuki GS500, not a superbike... but fast enough to get me in trouble. :yikes:

 

nice. I find the 1 liter monsters to serious to enjoy on a daily basis... good riding!

 

i'm actually throwing it up for sale and maybe picking up a bigger bike, was thinking of a Boulevard series. but there's also this one Celica that keeps telling me "buy me" everytime I see the 1UZ swap in it.

 

I average around 33 miles per gallon which I believe is around 50 km per gallon during the summer. The only time it drops below 30 miles per gallon is during the winter.

The premium gas requirement shouldn't be a deal breaker. The price difference between premium and low-grade fuels is negligible IMO. Many luxury cars require premium fuel and get worse gas mileage than an XRS. It is true you shift quite frequently with the 6 speed, but it makes driving more fun and that's what the XRS is all about. You get the performance of a 1zz corolla under normal driving, but you have the extra power on tap for when you need it.

There is nothing like it. Lift is something everyone should experience IMO.

I say go for it!!! :nerd:

 

Why not have all your transportation be fun to drive? No one said you only need one thrill ride in your life. I quite enjoy a simple commute with a little kick to it. Sure it's a simple commute but why not enjoy it:grin:.

 

I currently own a 2005 Corolla XRS and let me tell you that it is a great car. My father owns the 2005 CE and I own the XRS. Right off of the bat the XRS is a better car because if the smaller upgrades such as a slightly lower suspension, XRS trim like speedometer, seats, and rims, and most importantly the 2zz motor. If your only reason why you do not want to get the car is because of switching to premium then you should truly need to reevaluate your decision. This car is bullet proof and you can beat on it and it will be fine because the only thing major I had to replace was the brake rotors (but it was my negligence). The matter is that the 2zz motors are hot and people are buying them. I initally wanted the Celica GT-S but they get sold with in a few hours. The XRS name holds a good value for the car it's self

It's really what do you want, if you want a softer, easier on gas car then go for the S. If you want a sporty, fun car then go for XRS. They both will not fail you but you will be tempted to want to hit lift and floor it because of all the power it has. I do alot of mix driving (Freeway and city driving) and I average about 26 mpg. You got to pay to play. You will not regret getting an XRS.

 

If it is in good shape, why not go for it. One other interesting (and maybe positive) thing about the 2ZZ, if the valves need adjusting, they can be done without removing the camshafts unlike the 1ZZ.

I don't understand why the 1ZZ was not set up the same way, but oh well.

 

Its coming in this week so I will take it for a drive, but I think the mileage is a bit high and it will be time for a clutch soon. I did the clutch on my 03 but bought it knowing that is was going to need a new one.

Maybe a drive will help me decide Though I am leaning towards a lower mileage LE... I'll let the younger guys go with the sleeper :grin:

 

Maybe driving motobikes in Asia has dulled my inner racer

I'll take it for a spin, look it over for rust and check the service history.

See what > and :jesus: thinks

 

As others have said, lift is what has made my XRS my favorite car, and I've owned a turbocharged Ford Probe that was decently quick running a 14.0 1/4th mile as well as a 2G Probe GT with the 2.5L V6.

There is something so special about the XRS, the fact that essentially it's a 4 door econo-box equipped with a rip-roaring 8200rpm redlining, Yahama inspired screamer of an engine, but on the outside it's a Corolla S. Sleeper cars are simply the most entertaining cars to drive. Not that the XRS is exactly a beast in it's stock form, but I've turned plenty of heads and have gotten plenty of thumbs up and compliments by others that didn't really realize what the XRS was until it flew by them. The drive home after purchasing my XRS was probably one of the most fun drives in my life. Going from a 5 speed Corolla S to a 6 speed XRS was such a transition, nearly made me giddy.

The Corolla, any model, is a good car. And for many, they drive a Corolla for the best fuel mileage and reliability which is notoriously top notch. So if performance isn't something you need, then the XRS wouldn't be for you. But for me, having that reliability paired with more power and better handling, made it obvious that the switch from the S to XRS was good for me. It had almost 100,000 on it when I bought it last may, has about 110,000 now. Still running like a champ and I have many plans for it, once money allows. I plan to drive it until the wheels fall off.

And by the way, XRS is definitely not a young crowd type car. Everyone I see driving an XRS (besides people here) are typically folks in there 40s-50s-60s.

 

I had a 1996 Probe GT, loved that car. With coilovers and sticky tires I could tear up at the autocross....


I am going to give the XRS a good drive next week

Just 190 000 KM/120 000 miles? will see how she pulls and if there is a service history on it.

You guys have me flip flopping and I haven't driven it yet :grin:

Any advice on what to look for on the drive and under the hood? I'll check the rockers for rust first.

Any speciific problem areas to check out first?

 

I had a 1996 Probe GT, loved that car. With coilovers and sticky tires I could tear up at the autocross....


I am going to give the XRS a good drive next week

Just 190 000 KM/120 000 miles? will see how she pulls and if there is a service history on it.

You guys have me flip flopping and I haven't driven it yet :grin:

A lightweight flywheel will wake it up since you've driven motorcycles. The Findanza is under 8lbs and performance clutch, has magnified the Jekyll and Hide personality of the car. I'll be 39 this year and would keep this car forever. But I'll be moving back to the Philippines and not looking forward to the day, when its time to let it go.

 

I am 36. Had my XRS for 12 years when I graduated from U of C. It has grown with me. Now, it is my baby mobile with a baby seat in the back. Handles like a go kart at slow speeds, yet very civilized quiet and sterile when I have my wife and daughter with me. I rarely ever shift over 2500 rpm on my daily drive even with a 8 lbs MWR flywheel. Yet, it is comforting to know it can become totally insane if I feel like it.

I will buy a second '12 Lexus IS-F later this year or early next year, but the XRS stays.

 

I'm 40 this year, :yikes: still love the thrills once a while... I do miss the track, maybe time to take the xrs... but really time to get the Supra going again.

 

If you get the XRS, get a short ram or cold air intake! NO REGRETS! It's a screamer and it sounds awesome

 

I've read on this forum somewhere that those intakes do not really do anything power wise and allow more dirty air into the engine? Of course I can't find it now that I need it :smile:

I've just found out that a tech at work rallies an Echo with this engine (full on roll cage, no interior real sleeper) and have a few (race)cars with this engine so I'll pick his brains and get him to give the car a once over when it comes in.

 

I'm going to be the devil's advocate as I have been 'meh' on the XRS and maybe that'll help you either way. Having read front to back on this thread I think in general you won't go wrong with either the S or XRS, but it depends what your needs are. There have been times when I've really liked my XRS almost to the point of using the L word, but when it comes to this car my needs are really different than those of the rest of this forum I feel (and different in no way implies bad or negative, just different experiences and preferences).

Before I start, like the others I am also a grown ass man. I turn 34 in two weeks. All I do is city driving. And all of that city driving is on varying grades of hills and not the kind of Midwest, Southwest, Southeast, panhandle flat like I've seen. I drive about 10 miles of stop and go traffic a day with only a quick on and off the freeway inside the city. My typical speed is right around 35-40mph at 2-3k rpm in 5th or 6th. Before my 2005 XRS (which I purchased last June), I had an '02 LL Bean Outback with the 3.0 H6 and 120,000miles. The engine was silky smooth, the Subaru had torque and pull for days, the driving dynamics were good, f'ing loved the automatic temperature control, the dual moonroofs were amazing and made the cabin feel incredibly airy and bright (helpful in the NW with the occasional silver clouds), there was so much utility when I needed it, heated seats/mirrors/wipers were pretty handy in the winter and mountain and the seating position and feel were excellent. But the car was physically very heavy, the 4 speed transmission was really ill suited and frustrating, the expensive repair issues came once every 4-6 months, and at 16.5mpg in only city driving it just got old and expensive after three years (although 25mpg on highway trips wasn't terrible).

When I was first looking into a replacement I was also making the decision to go to school for Engineering. I decided right away to do "a city car". Something that got great gas mileage, still had a moonroof/sunroof, was a manual (a must for me, I wanted to go back badly), was lightweight and easy to flick around, yet I could feel like I could beat up on it a bit and it wouldn't fall apart like the Subaru. I wanted something that was inexpensive to maintain and I could count on it when I didn't have the extra funds to keep it from falling apart. I initially looked at a Honda fit and it was a great car but absolutely needed more power (they seem to have tacitly agreed because they've added a bit more power to the newest generation I see). I also drove a Civic and although it drove well I just couldn't get over the weird split dash and, in my own opinion, the ugly look of them (newest gens look decent again). This is where I ended up on a used Corolla.

This is also when I discovered what an XRS was when an '05 or '06 would catch my eye here or there online in the sea of used 2004-2010 S and LEs for sale that I was looking at. My thoughts were the same as I think yours are now. Which should I choose? Essentially the XRS seem like a normal Corolla except they have the option to push them into heady rpms when you feel like being spirited. The rest of it sounded awesome too. Slightly firmer/lowered suspension, well braced, more connected steering feel, 6 speed manual. I figured for 26mpg city from the standard 32mpg of the 1ZZ-FE it was still a good trade off to have that sportiness and ability.

So I know I've just been a word whore here but now you might have a better understanding where I'm coming from when I say 'meh' about the XRS. I'm approaching a year since I sold the Subaru and purchased this Toyota. So far it hasn't had much mechanical issues except for some basic aging fixes. Mine just ticked past 95,000 miles last week. I did have to replace the Idle Air Control valve because mine was gunked up and threw a CEL. I did also have some crazy idling, acceleration, and other issues caused by me when I replaced the IAC, and then later when the throttle body got reset. These have since been fixed and everything has been running smoothly. My impression is with normal maintenance and personal inspection this car will indeed run forever like the others are saying and be pretty bullet proof.

On the other hand, what everyone loves about this car, the 2ZZ-GE engine, is what I don't necessarily enjoy about it. I love the suspension, the steering, and body stiffness. I love that aspect. It is right there with you without being punishing, very taught. The 2ZZ-GE is fun on those times when you feel like WOT and it goes truly manic as it hits the lift point. The sound is f'ing intoxicating. It's like a bike but the sensation is bigger/more rough. It literally sounds like it's about to explode and that is a good thing.

Okay, so the suspension is ideal (to me anyway), the car is reliable, but why don't you enjoy the 2ZZ-GE? Well, it's neither fast by today's standards nor gets decent gas mileage. Fast is a modern 6 cylinder or turbo 4 with loads of torque and typical ~240+ hp. This is just more loud and fun than anything (which isn't bad in its own right). Has my car been fuel efficient? No. I've been driving my Corolla more casually for the last week or so and I filled up two days ago and calculated 20.4mpg. That's pretty bad considering the supposed payoff. For that figure I could have a sedan with more torque/hp per pound of vehicle and more utility. It would also have much more amenities (like the automatic temperature control I miss) and be easier/smoother to drive with the ample torque. I know a lot of guys with do get around 23-26mpg in the city with their XRS' but has never been my experience. My low mpg in the city has to do with hitting lift twice a day and living in non flat terrain I believe. I'm kind of neither getting the good gas mileage worthy of a straight forward no amenities compact car, nor the worthwhile power and comfort of a typical faster car that has a bigger engine and loaded with options. I'm just sort of hitting lift out of boredom when driving and it's not really worth the payout. A Focus ST or Mazdaspeed3 would be the better move if I wanted true speed for poorer gas mileage. The 6spd in the XRS is nice but it does require a fair amount of shifting, although I don't mind that so much. What I wish was that the C60 had the same ratios as the 5spd but just added a low cruising gear for the highways, this isn't the case. I'm often in 5th in the city doing basic driving, and sometimes 6th, all between longer lights.

What do I wish then? What I wish I could have then is the XRS suspension, steering setup, and body bracing, with the regular 5spd and 1ZZ-FE engine. Or maybe keep the 6spd with the 1ZZ. Not fast, not trying to be. Just fuel efficient with a sporty suspension that doesn't have much body roll or squish to it. Having said that, I am thinking pretty hard about selling my XRS and doing something else like a Grand Touring Mazda3 with the bigger torquier 2.3 engine, similar gas mileage to what I get with my XRS, and tons of loaded options like automatic temp control and factory HID.

I'm glad to have had my time with my XRS but it isn't for me. If I were doing this over again I would definitely purchase a regular 1ZZ-FE and reap all the benefits of a basic car that is no frills and all savings. I'd then save up and put some decent suspension and bracing into it to make it a commuter killer. In fact if I don't end up with the 07-09 GT Mazda3 this is probably what I'll be doing. Lift is tons of fun but mostly a toy to me. 32mpg in the city is where it is at.

Thanks for reading this novel :thumbsup:

 

Great post thank you.

 

Solid liters do not bend due to lack of oil

"I had just under 200,000 KM on my 2ZZ-GE when I had to get the engine replaced, but that was because the car was running without OIL for the last 2 - 3 months most likely due to a dealership screw up and/or my trusting nature making me get in the habit of not checking the dip stick. The engine was running perfectly and was extremely strong before the valve lifters bent."

I read your entire post but did not read any confirmation there was no oil in your engine or that it was run without for months. You said your oil light was working before and after the engine started making noise. An engine would not run for months with no oil in it!

A mechanic may have told you there was no oil on the dipstick which could mean there were a few litres still present or told there was no oil in the engine. You may have just been told that to up sell on service/parts. I personally know of an engine, not your type, that was delivered about 20 km from the dealership with no oil after a change. Not sure how long it was run [warmed up] or how hard the delivery boy ran it but it was making noise by the time it was parked.

Your engine was making noise at higher RPMs but you did run it after oil was added, you said you did not know how much was added, you can not be sure oil was not let out before you showed up. You have no idea how much oil was in the engine when you took it to CT, you never pulled the dipstick.

Your lifters were not bent due to the lack of oil [if there was a lack of oil] they are solid lifters. More likely a timing chain, gear, or valve stem/head would break before a solid lifter bent.

Very sorry for what you have been through with your car, just trying to correct some internet misinformation. Good luck with the car in the future.

 

It's funny you should mention the gas mileage IE, we must have similar terrain and driving, I'm usually around 20mpg. I haven't hit 25-26mpg city, be fuel efficient in the city would be a chore. I also try to run in 5th gear for extended 30-40mph periods.

Regarding the Mazda 3 2.3L. I dove an 05 Sedan with the 5-speed (less mileage than my XRS) and it is a more livable car. It's like the Grand Tourer of the compact sedans. With that regard it felt heavier and vauge. Only control I liked better than the XRS was the clutch take up, the worst were the brakes which were the equivalent of the 2005 Yukon XL I used to drive for work.

The FoST and MS3 are more expensive and newer.

It's [XRS] not an easy vehicle to live. But it's inexpensive compared to well branded sport compacts. The only thing the "broke" on mine was the common blanking clock. Apart from a cross threaded factory brake line I've had no working issues. No CEL. Went to the dealer for alignment in 2009 hasn't seen a shop since. I do all the maintenance and upgrades by myself.

I guess I'm the young one at 25...