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I agree with tundradude, that perhaps it needs new plugs and clean injectors, but I wonder if there is something else. A good shop can point you in the most logical things to check first for your cars miles, wear and driving style.
#2. Are you SURE you are getting 16MPG in the Corolla? How are you calculating fuel economy? Biggest thing- are your tires properly inflated to the recommended PSI on the doorjamb sticker and in the owners manual?
Coolguy, be sure to check your tire pressure as well. Unfortunately, and I dont know if your situation is at all similar, but I felt I should tell you that I noticed a sharp drop in MPG with my 94 Civic two weeks before it stranded me on the highway, near overheating, which was caused by a failed head gasket (97,000 on the odo).
~alpha
By the way, it probably wouldn't hurt to go through a touchless car wash that has an under carriage spray and see if that helps.
Civic DOES have better resale, but a shorter warranty on the flip side.
Corolla S has some funky looking side skirts and spoiler and stuff. I think the Civic now has standard alloys for '04 - certainly the coupe does.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Have you test driven either car? If you haven't, then you should to find out which suits you in terms of a comfortable seating position and "fun to drive" factor.
In terms of performance, the Corolla only has 3 more horsepower, but it has 11 lb ft of torque more than the Civic EX. This translates into more off the line (stop light) acceleration in a Corolla.
The Corolla has a timing chain, which has a longer life than the Civic's timing belt. Changing the Civic's timing belt can be a substantial cost considering the value of the car when this maintenance is required ( @ 90,000 miles?) - something to keep in mind if you are intending to keep your car for the long run.
I'll trade my 2000 Sable and I know that I'll absorb a lot of depreciation. But I have to return to the Toyota fall after having been away from it for some 6 years. Incidentally, I saw that Corolla's dimensions are pretty close to the 91 Camry that I used to own. In any case, Toyota was the only quality car I've had.
stevenq99: What model Corolla do you have? It seems to be tall but somewhat narrow. Otherwise, it looks very attractive. What price should I expect to pay for it?
A way to get a more sporty corolla and still go Toyota, BTW, is to go with Matrix as I did. The corolla has heavy understeer (at least, on the OEM tires) which the Matrix does not have. Matrix does have a firmer ride though. The base, XR, and AWD Matrix have the corolla's engine.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
170hp motor from celida/metrix
Both lack in that they dont offer side curtains, IMO, a big disappointment, and you can only get ABS on the Civic EX, which puts that safety feature out of the reach of many. The Corollas major issue, IMO, is the odd seating position for taller drivers, and the Toyota-hallmark marginal front seat comfort, due to short lenght bottom cushions. I'm not a fan of the Civics restyling for this year, but on the other hand, I'm not a fan of white faced guages, as in the Corolla.
Either will be a great choice, it comes down to a matter of preferences.
~alpha
The base DX and LX come with a timing belt.
Please someone correct me if I am wrong.
Happy New Year to everybody.
http://catalog.speedycarparts.com/?year=2003&make=HO&imag- eField.x=84&imageField.y=24
... you can buy timing belts for all 2003 Civics EXCEPT for the SI and the hybrid.
If the current Civic's engine is like prior generations, replacing the timing belt can be quite costly. You'll probably question whether it would be worth it to spend about $600 (U.S.) for the timing belt replacement and an additional $200 for replacing other parts including the water pump when your Civic has 100,000 miles (or whatever the scheduled mileage).
Steven
Happy new year and enjoy your new Toyota Corolla!
Daniel
However, having now researched it a little, it appears it is true that only the SI has gone to a chain, while all the other Civics still use a belt. Shame on you, Honda.
Another good reason to go corolla - it has used a chain since '98. Why waste several hundred dollars every 90K replacing the belt and the water pump?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Toyota mailed a "CreditCard key blank" to me after I purchased my Corolla. I had it cut at a Toyota dealership, so I assume that you could purchase one there. I think you can also get them at a AAA auto club office. You just keep it in your wallet and you won't be screwed if you lock yourself out of your car. Check out the link below for a picture.
http://www.hillmangroup.com/ekey.htm
I just bought my Corolla but did not know anything about the CreditCard key blank. Did you order it or Toyota just sent it to you?
I didn't have to order the CreditCard key blank, Toyota just mailed it to me. So, if you've purchased your Corolla as a new car, I would think that you'd receive a CreditCard key blank in the mail without having to order it.
Glen
However, perhaps my assumption is off:
The 2005 Pontiac Vibe, produced at NUMMI in Cali, will be available in early April, with myriad enhancements. One of them, which I hope will also be offered on the 2005 Corolla (whenever it may come out...) is side thoracic and curtain airbags available as an option. Additionally, VSC is also going to be available, though I see the Corolla getting the curtain availability prior to VSC.
Should be interesting.
Toyota, if you're listening, please give us an XLE model as well, improve the seating position of the Corolla, and make a LARGER (not higher revving a la XRS) engine option available.
~alpha
The Corolla XRS will be built exclusively at the Cambridge, Ontario plant. The Corolla is not to receive anymore engine changes until the next model change in 2007 as a 2008 model.
All I was able to find on Toyotas PR site was "The Corolla XRS will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Canada (TMMC) in Cambridge, Ontario alongside the Matrix. It will reach dealerships on May 1st of next year. Annual sales of the XRS are projected at approximately 5,000 units." (11/05/03)
Curious- do you have any inside information (as in- how do you already know about the Matrix, the certainty about Corolla engine upgrades...). If so, when you learn anything about the 2005 Camry revisions, keep us posted. Literally.
~alpha
The Corolla XRS has an estimated build of 5,000 units but will be adjusted accordingly based on the demand for it, meaning more will probably be built as Toyota tends to underestimate.
The only other vehicle in this segment that seems to offer stability control is the Focus ZX5, I believe, so this is a good step. Going forward, enhanced side impact protection is a must, so its good that Toyota is strenthening the structure even further, and providing the side curtain option (should have debuted with the MY 2003 redesign, IMO, but from what I understand, supplier issues and cost constraints prevented this). I'm certain that the IIHS's new dynamic side impact testing is forcing the more proactive automakers to offer better protection in side crashes.
Incidentally, I have heard that the IIHS has completed its round of dyanmic side impact tests on midsize models- a short segment was shown on PBS's Motor Week tv program. I am not sure why it is taking so long for the results to be fully released- perhaps automakers are being given time for a retest, given the gravity of this market segment.
Regarding VSC: Hopefully, availability on the 2005 Corolla means that the "freshened" 2005 Camry will offer VSC on its 4 cylinder models as well.
2003seV6- would you mind shooting me an email so I could discuss with you a bit more about some perhaps off-topic (but still auto-related) issues/questions/comments?
Regards
~alpha
As I recall, the previous model had a more indepentdent setup
http://www.autoworld.com.my/emzine/review/viewpfarticle.asp?awRev- - - iewId=1597
A Toyota salesman was trying to sell me on the virtue of the Camry, and he was really knocking the current Toyota torsion bar suspension.
I'm 6-3, and I drove the Corolla, and the seat position seemed okay, but I saw in consumer reports that the seat position was not very good for tall drivers, so I wanted to find out what people knew about it.
Thanks again.