USED Toyota Corolla Hatchback (01 - 07)

My car

Problems started after nine months from new - the traction control and vehicle stability control failed, the steering rack collapsed whilst driving, the engine management system failure, and there was 3rd gear failure, too.

The local dealers had seven unsucessful repair attempts - that's appaling, despite taking over 150 days in the dealership with a Toyota Field Engineer. They also caused damage to the vehicle whilst in for repair.

Toyota's policy was to ignore all correspondance relating to the faults and poor service and suggested I was making faults up - they also admited they don't produce reports into major component failure.

I would never consider a Toyota again. The overall experience was appaling!

My car

I have had this car from new in 2004. It has been very reliable and a doddle to drive, if not a bit bland and boring. Equipment level on this model is very good, especially the climate control. The car handles quite well and is reasonably quiet unless revved hard. However, there have been more niggles than I would have expected from a Toyota.

The engine revving when cold is very annoying. Apparently it's to meet some emission standards, but surely this uses more fuel? Not surprisingly, the fuel consumption gets nowhere near what Toyota claims. If you do lots of short journeys from cold, do not buy one!

Cabin quality is not brilliant - there are rattles in at least three places, the fabrics wear down quickly, the glovebox lid doesn't fit, and the gearlever leather perished - all these are fairly minor, but surely not up to Toyota's standards?

On the positive side, the main dealers seem better than most, and the car has never let me down.

It's a shame about the niggles - it could have been a very good car but only comes out as average.

My car

Great fun to drive. if you dont like the engine noise what WERE you doing on the test drive most of the hot hatches I have driven are noisy at high speed around town i can pretty mych drive in 2nd or 6th unless at a standstill and gear changes are minimal on the country roads the car is super. more roll than the Type-R or new Golf GTI but not as expensive. I have owned my T-Sport for 2 years and done 20k miles and it has not put a foot wrong i get 27 mpg driving how i want if youre stuck behind something its 6th gear and economical if the way ahead is clear its 2nd or 3rd and a real buzz. Yes i would buy one again given the options

My car

I bought the T3 1.4 D4-D six months old after 5 years of an Avensis 2 litre petrol. I feared a loss of performance but for most of the range the smaller engine is remarkably perky. It is the only car I have ever owned which gets MORE than the maker's claim. I get 60/61 most of the time on a daily commute of 60 miles. Like the Avensis before it is totally reliable and I find it has a quality finish throughout. It also has the best dealer service I have ever come across either in Britain or in France (Borders Toyota). Will not budge from Toyota from now on.