Toyota Corolla

sandman46 · December 2002

Funny you should ask that question. I replaced my timing belt, pre-tensioner, and water pump around Thanksgiving, and the fuel gauge seems to move faster than before. I have no idea if this is related to the work that i've had done but the needle seems to move faster than before the repairs. My mechanic plans to look at this after the new year.
I have noticed what you are talking about with the markings of the fuel gauge also.
Happy Holidays!

The Sandman :-)

coolguyky7 · December 2002

I wish Toyota would produce a Corolla XLE. There has to be a niche for people who want a small, economical sedan with luxury. In Japan they sell Corollas with auto climate control, navigation and even front seats that swivel so you just turn and step out of the car instead of sliding in and out.

backy · December 2002

>>> There has to be a niche for people who want a small, economical sedan with luxury. <<<

There is. The Jetta is targeted at that niche. The G20 was aimed there too, and it did pretty well until Infiniti ruined it in its last generation. So will the upcoming Acura 4-door that is based on the Japanese Accord platform (shorter than the U.S. Accord). In Canada, Honda markets a guzzied-up version of the Civic sedan as an Acura. If enough people ask Toyota to make a luxury version of the Corolla, maybe they will. Send those cards and letters in, folks.

coolguyky7 · December 2002

Yes, I was going to mention the Jetta. Perhaps that is why Toyota made leather available, just one more way to compete.

alpha01 · December 2002

The Jettas are a bit absurd, IMO. I recently "built my own" on the VW website- and wound up with a 29K Jetta! Who would buy that? I would so much rather have a Passat, Maxima, TL.. not a pretty boy Jetta. I would hope the Corolla XLE to be more reasonable, around the 21K mark that I mentioned before.
~alpha

goldkey · December 2002

<<does anyone else think there would be a market for a Corolla XLE>>

In fact, I was looking for just such thing. I was trying to "build" Corolla with all options, but was told that Corollas with leather are very rare and either just used for show rooms or available scantily only in select regions (West coast). I think Toyota head figured other parts of country are not sophisticated enough to want leathered Corolla.
I was looking for a small, nimble, economical, safe, reliable and comfortable car. Wife wouldn't drive a boat, and she wants leather along with other niceties.
Previous Corollas were not attractive at all. 03 is just gorgeous.
Jetta is out of questions. I've heard horor stories about people stuck with Jetta on highway.
Jetta endeared itself to college student crowd, but they get raw deal and overpay.
Looked at Subaru Impreza. Ugly inside.
G20 was another option, but is phased out.
Couldn't find Corolla with leather.
Ended up with Volvo S40. It fits all characteristics I was looking for, except reliability. Didn't have any problems yet, but no one, I repeat, no one matches Corolla reliability.
S40 Volvo is beauitiful nimble car and tru CarsDirect came at 22K fuly loaded.
If it holds on reliability, I can not wish for a better choice. Sorry, Corolla.

terceltom1 · December 2002

First of all I have two Corollas and a Tercel and I love all of them. But no I don't think there would be a market for a high priced XLE Corolla. The obvious thing to do would to move up to a Solara or a Camry if you wanted to spend more money. As far as size goes the Camry is not that much bigger then the Corolla any more anyway. And it is far more luxurious.
Boilerman, I think your gas mileage is more the norm then you think. I get 25 city and 33 highway(measured accurately)with my Corolla's. I don't put too much stock in those very high MPG quotes I hear on this group. I doubt there is anything wrong with your car.

backy · December 2002

Did you consider buying a Corolla LE and having leather added by a specialty shop? It would have cost a lot less than $22K.

alpha01 · December 2002

I respect your opinion completely- but you are incredibly wrong on one count: "As far as size goes the Camry is not that much bigger then the Corolla any more anyway" The Camry measures a whopping 11.3 cubic feet larger inside, and 3.1 cubes larger in the trunk. By all means, thats a VERY significant difference. (I woul also contend that the Camry is just as "luxurious" as the Corolla, but that is purely subjective).

Interestingly, you are the only one on this board so far who has felt an XLE Corolla would fail in the market. Which years are your Corollas, and which trannies do you have?
~alpha

sunshined121 · December 2002

I would have definitely considered buying an XLE. I got the LE with sunroof etc and I wanted leather seats (and ABS!), but it would have taken months to have it ordered. An XLE would be a nice option, a luxury model.

johnclineii · December 2002

Well, let's see. FORD tried this with the Contour. Customers walked in, saw the very well equipped high level Contours, saw that a Taurus was just a few hundred dollars more, or in some cases even less, and left with the Taurus. And today you will find the Contour is a goner. Then again, it won't be too long before the Taurus is no longer the best selling Ford. About a year or so.

That all being said, I agree that the Camry is a LOT bigger than a Corolla. The place where the Corolla is a lot smaller than a Camry (and a Contour than a Taurus) is the back seat, particularly.

And I have found it interesting over the years that automakers, including Toyota, always reserve some options for the bigger (and higher priced and more profitable) models. Think of automatic climate control, stablity control, etc. For the most part, you can't get these on small cars. The exceptions are niche model lines, like BMW.

fgf001 · December 2002

There is a somewhat qualified rumor that the '04 model S Corolla will sport all wheel drive and upwards of 200 horsepower!! I anxiously await that model year to arrive to see if this is true. After 6 years of driving a "tweaked" V6 626 5 speed, I sometimes yearn for a bit more oomph than my '03 LE 5 speed can provide.

coolguyky7 · December 2002

That seems like a stretch, especially for 2004.

fgf001 · December 2002

Could be but all the components already exist. It's just a matter of raiding the shelves and putting it all together. I do hope it's true though. Mine is paid for and I would trade in a heartbeat.

ata3001 · December 2002

I would love to be able to purchase a Corolla XLE with leather and all the other toys available on the Camry XLE and not available on the Corolla. I currently own an 01 Corolla S 5-spd. My typical gas mileage during warm weather is 37 mpg with an approximate mix of 50% city/50% hwy driving. I have had a best of 48 mpg. With only one person in the car, driving country type roads, I constantly will get 42 mpg. Winter driving mpg is less due to the additive in gasoline to prevent freezing. I'm still getting 31-38 mpg during the winter. The lowest mileage I ever got was 27 mpg. This included idling 20 minutes every morning to warm up the car before driving to work. My car now has 24k miles on it. I purchased it new. Its a Canadian built Corolla S and I love it. Not a single problem with it so far. Merry Christmas :-)

bravedave · December 2002

Perhaps they should take all the LE features, add cruise, leather, ABS, 6 disc in-dash CD changer, alloy wheels, moonroof, and cruise control.

Then, they could drop in the Celica's 1.8 GTS 180 hp motor, with choice of manual or auto tranny. (Please forget all the Corolla's S body skirts and black only interior--- YUCK!) Then tighten the suspension a wee bit, and then go hunting for 325i's....

Sounds scary, doesn't it ?! I like it!

fgf001 · December 2002

See msg #2629. THAT could be exciting.

kathysdogs · December 2002

I am at least the third owner of a 1989 Corolla sedan with a little over 85k miles. Just had car inspected and winterized; discovered rear brakes had to be replaced after was just done 8k miles ago (warranted for 12k miles so thankfully no charge); I don't drive with a lead foot. Vehicle holds up okay except cold starting and some rattling; also have had trouble with locks. Spent close to $800.00 for various repairs associated with inspection and winterization. Wish I had a few extra thousand so could look towards eventual replacement since starting to show its age (drive less than 5k per year). Anyone else have similar problems?

94_octane · December 2002

The thing is - the LE Corolla can already be ordered with leather (in theory anyway), sunroof, CD changer, etc.. It already has a wood grain trim dash. I think the LE trim on the Corolla is a little nicer than the LE level of a Camry. I do agree with the posts above, a $20K Corolla would be a tough sell to most people when you can get a Camry for less.

terceltom1 · December 2002

I see I am no longer the only one that agrees that a higher priced Corolla would not sell !!
My older Corolla is a 79 with an automatic transmission and well over 150,000 miles on it. My newer Corolla is a 2001 Le with auto matic transmission. And my Tercel is a station wagon 5 speed with 100,000 miles on it. A good way to gauge if a higher end Corolla would sell is just to look at the fact that the biggest selling Corollas are the S version or the CE's not the loaded LE's. I personally wanted my LE loaded and for that reason the dealer had a hard time getting my car the way I wanted with just about everyting Toyota offers on it. This was because I was told that most people buying Corolla's do not want them loaded with pricy options. If they do they just move on up to a Camry. I think I was an exception to the rule. But if I would have not gotten the great price I did on my 2001 I would have gotten the Camry or Solara. If the loaded LE would have came close to the Camry price with the same options I would have not thought twice about the switch. I would have definetly moved up to a Camry or Solara.

boilerman · December 2002

I have a 2003 Corolla LE Automatic up until a week ago it would go 130 miles until it would get down to the 3/4 full mark. The last tankful it then proceeded to go down to 98 miles until the 3/4 mark. I always fill up to the first click and then round off to the nearest dime. The current tankful it looks like maybe 85 miles down to the 3/4 mark. Any suggestions what is going on here? This is bizarre. The MPG on this car has been 31 MPG at best and at worse 27 MPG. I would like to know the MPG average of 2003 Corolla owners in COLD climates also! The car has been to the dealer 3 times and they could not find any trouble "codes" set off . Thanks!

dave594 · December 2002

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a leadfoot, and have been driving a stick for 20 years. Here's the problem. I have a 2002 Corolla 5 speed with about 17k miles, and lately I have noticed a burning smell whenever I engage the clutch from a stop when the revs are a bit high, usually around 3000-3500 rpm or so. This is not the norm, only when I try to start from a hill or when I accidently push the accelerator down a bit too far when I start. I'm usually quiet gentle on the clutch, but on those occasions when I've pushed the gas down a bit too far, I've noticed the smell. This is the 4th car with a manual tranny that I've owned, but the first one that's been giving off this odor. Is this an indication that the clutch is bad? Any advice would be appreciated.

terceltom1 · December 2002

I would say engaging the clutch at the higher RPM that you are describing as a continuous pattern would definetly cause excessive clutch wear and also premature tire tread wear. But if this is done sporadically it should be of no problem. Just curious, if you have been driving stick for over 20 years, is it that you are having trouble adjusting to the clutch to accelerator coordination on your Corolla? It is a fairly easy manual trans. to drive.

saturnfan · December 2002

My 2003 Corolla now has 5K miles since being purchased in May. No special fuel here and no sulphur smell.

Wonder if the cars with the smell will fail emissions? Toyota then must fix them.

nippononly · December 2002

To make it sell, you would have to offer all the options mentioned above as well as a +1 tire/wheel package, and a higher-powered engine, for around $22K. I think it would sell with, say, a turbo 4-cyl engine making more power than the camry 4-cyl, but less than the V-6.

Then, to get that level of luxury and power in Camry, you would have to spend more like $25k, and Toyota would not be spiking sales from itself.

Problem is, would it hurt celica sales?

terceltom1 · December 2002

Good point !! My son has a 2002 Celica with many options including the action package,which includes the different bumpers,very high spoiler and low body side panels and I think he paid around 22k. I do drive his Celica occasionally and for the performance and cool appearance of his car I would most definetely take the Celica over a yet to be made Corolla XLE. This coming from a current 2 X Corolla owner and lover. Just a question someone might be able to answer for me. Why is it Toyota never,never mentions or promotes the Celica at all in any type of media advertisements ?? They certainly do not sell that good that they would not have to.

backy · December 2002

Why would it need a turbo motor? "XLE" designates a luxury package, not a sports package. The standard engine provides good power, and if it's not enough Toyota could drop in the 180 hp unit from the Matrix and Celica. But I don't think that's what most XLE buyers would look for. More important are the leather interior, stereo upgrade, alloy wheels (maybe a +1 upgrade), moonroof, ABS, maybe special color choices. Toyota should be able to price a model like that (with standard engine) around $18k. And they would need to, to stay competitive with the Elantra GT sedan, which offers similar equipment for about $16k list. I think if they go over $20k, they'll lose out to the Jetta 1.8T, Volvo S40, even larger cars like the Camry, Accord, and Mazda 6.

terceltom1 · December 2002

That (L)uxury (E)dition Corolla you are referring to has been available for years. It can be had exactly as you stated complete with all the options you stated for $17,223.00 list. SO WHY THE XLE ???

alpha01 · December 2002

I argued that the XLE could satisfy buyers by making standard some of the optional equipment on the LE (ABS, alloys, cruise, cd changer, Side SRS), plus features such as dual power seats, auto climate control, and security system. Navigation, VSC, heated seats, moonroof, leather and the like could be optional, just as they are in the Camry.

Can we live without such a version? Clearly. I just dont understand why this would be a bad idea? A little over lap between the Camry and Corolla isnt that bad, is it?- Toyota would probably make more money on a decked to the 9s Corolla at 20K than a no options 5sp man. Camry at the same price.

Do it Toyota! (and while your at it, for this version, tweak the engine and free up the exhaust to produce the same ~140 hp of the Celica GT!)

~alpha

backy · December 2002

I don't think the Corolla LE has been available "for years" as I described it; leather interior was only available with the 2003 model. And from what I've seen on this board, it seems to be nigh impossible to actually get an LE with leather. Having an XLE version that comes standard with leather and all the other goodies, for a little less than the price of ordering all the stuff separate on the LE, would be quite an attractive package I think. Don't forget the special paint colors also, to make the XLE more distinctive from the other models. Toyota could probably price it at $16,995 with the 5-speed and still make out OK, and it would be a real Civic EX and Jetta killer in that form, and a great alternative to the Elantra GT although it would still cost a bit more, but with the Toyota reputation for quality and resale value.

coolguyky7 · December 2002

I've seen my share of Corolla LEs with leather. There is always one at my church on Saturday night.

corolla03 · December 2002

Our three-week old 03 Corolla LE also is giving off a bad sulphur smell. It was built in Japan. Could it be that all the Japanese-built models give off the sulphur smell, because the catalytic converter installed there was for Japanese low-sulphur fuel?

terceltom1 · December 2002

Your making my point for me. Like I said before, it is very hard to get an LE version of a Corolla loaded with almost all the options supposedly available for it. The simple reason for this is, they are not making many of them loaded because there is no market for them. Like you stated, try getting one with Leather. Or try getting one with side airbags. Even moonroofs can be hard to get if you want a particular color of car.

backy · December 2002

It puzzles me why there's "no market" for Corollas with side air bags, moonroofs, and leather when Honda sells tons of Civics with the optional side air bags and tons of EXes with standard moonroofs, and Hyundai's Elantra GT with the standard leather interior is pretty popular, and you see leather interiors in lots of Camrys. Is it the market, or supply chain issues?

daffy4u · December 2002

I belive the LE is configured based on the market it is being sold in. I live in Los Angeles and just bought my LE last Thursday. The standard configuration for LE's with moonroofs in Southern California included side airbags and alloy wheels. I was told that I would either have to purchase from Northern California or factory order to get ABS brakes. I would also have to factory order to get leather or use dealer installed leather.

BTW, I contacted 25 different dealerships looking for an LE with my specific options.

pimy · December 2002

Hello,

Looking to purchase the Corolla LE. I have a few questions regarding some of the options.

Are the aluminum wheels truly worth the price ($390)? Secondly, I'm interested in side air bags, and abs, however the dealer said they don't receive any cars with those options in this region (Gulf Coast - Texas); is that true? Can't they order the car I want without it taking 6 months?

P

toyotaken · December 2002

First, for the most part, other than a nominal reduction of weight, alloy wheels are more of a cosmetic choice than anything else, so you'll have to decide if they're worth the extra money.

If they don't produce the model with the equipment built on it in the region that you're in, the dealer has one of two options. They can go outside of the region for a dealer-trade for one. The problem with this is that you can't "A swap" or swap vehicles that have yet to be built with a dealer outside of your own region. So the only way to get a vehicle outside of the region is to drive there and drive back. Most dealers are not willing to take a vehicle that has 300-600 miles on it in return for one of their vehicles. So your dealer could/may flatbed a car there and one back. The problem with all of these options is that it costs alot of time/money and someone has to cover those costs. If you're willing to pay for the flatbed and the driver, maybe they can get something right away from another dealer outside of the region.

The other option would be for the dealer to order the car for you. If it is something that has many non-standard built parts from the factory compared to vehicles in your region, it can take up-to and sometimes longer than 6 months. I can verify this from personal experience when ordering a Tacoma for my father.

The last option you can take would be to find a dealer outside of your region, set up a deal over the phone, drive/fly there and pick it up to drive home yourself.

Sorry there aren't any other easier options, but I hope this helps.

Ken

nippononly · January 2003

yes, Toyota has NEVER properly supported the celica...they will run some advertising for it in the first six months of each new generation, then it will disappear COMPLETELY. It will not appear in the Sunday paper print ads, it will never have national print or TV advertising, and the sales will be in freefall after the second year.

At least this time they came out with that appearance package your son has and they advertised it a little at the time. Dealers keep celica a big secret too - they hardly ever even have one in stock unless they are a big dealer.

backy: the proposed XLE would need a higher power motor to distinguish it, I feel. The GTS/XRS 180 hp motor is so peaky it is not right for a luxury model, and the other larger 4-cyl engines Toyota already has would make it nose heavy.

What everyone is saying about Toyota's haphazard options packaging is so true (especially ABS is hard to find and has to be grouped with all sorts of ridiculous options) - that is why it would be nice to have one top-of-the-line model that has everything but nav standard (navigation could be a stand-alone option though), and it should have a faster engine to help justify a price that is slightly higher than a base camry.

vuefor2 · January 2003

Sounds like the egg smell problem. Hopefully it will go away.

Or second test car had it too.

piadilla · January 2003

I have a 2001 Corrolla CE and at 35,000 I'm supposed to change the differential fluid. I have been told that when I change the transmission fluid this in fact changes the differential fluid. I have not been able to locate any where the differntial fluid is? If I change the transmission fluid and filter must I still look for a differential fluid reservior. Thanks for any advice.

jrct9454 · January 2003

...in this, or most other, front drive cars.

jander111 · January 2003

Not true for Camry. So better check to make sure if the corolla is the same.

jrct9454 · January 2003

...check your owner's manual on the question of differential fluid/changes. Do whatever it says.

fgf001 · January 2003

If your car is an automatic then the transmission and transaxle are two separate items.

melindah · January 2003

Planning to buy an 03 Corolla this coming weekend. Trying to decide between white and lunar mist. Any opinions on durability of color or any other aspects that may effect color choice? Planning to keep the car at least 5 years - which will look more "like new" 5 years from now. Thanks for the help.

nippononly · January 2003

you stay away from red and black, you should have no problem longevity-wise. I am partial to lunar mist - that is the color of mine!

fgf001 · January 2003

Just a thought...If you live in an area where the summers are very hot a light color will help the air conditioning do its job.

canc · January 2003

White will never go out of style as it has traditionally been a classic color, so if that's your main concern you should go with white. Lunar Mist is a great color though! Best of luck with your purchase, and let us know how it all went.

vuefor2 · January 2003

Just wanted to thank you all for your advice and help.

We decided to go with a 2003 Saturn Ion instead of the Corolla. We were a little concerned with the egg smell problem and we really like both cars a lot. The 0.0% financing on the Ion helped make the choice for us also. While there is always concern with new models, our Saturn dealer service is top notch to put it mildly and we also have a 30 day money back guaranty if we change our minds.

Good luck with your Corollas. It's a great little car also.

bravedave · January 2003

Just out of curiosity, what is wrong with white as a colour selection with Toyota? Does it peal or something? Is it subject to premature wear?

I tend to like white, as it is difficult to fade out. But I know firsthand it is a pain in the buttocks to keep clean.

Toyota Corolla

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