USED Toyota Corolla Hatchback (97 - 04)

My car

the corolla is a fine machine amazing on fuel and even better performance when you want it keeps up with bigger engined cars only the gray interior lets it down abit bit i have had this car for a year and a half and i have never broken down

japanese cars are the ultimate

My car

I bought this car secondhand from a main dealer in 2002, when it was a year old.

The car has been reliable up to now but the engine does use quite a lot of oil. Front and rear brake discs, as well as pads, were changed under warranty before it was two years old, due to wear. Alloy wheels were changed twice under warranty before it was three years old due to corrosion, and they are very corroded again. Toyota seems to have a problem making alloy wheels.

I get about 35 miles to the gallon running around the doors or about 47 to the gallon on longer runs.

My car

This car is actually my mum's car. She is a real fan and now drives her fifth one, a Millenium edition with special paint, seats and trim. It's nice and sporty looking, but by occasion I had to take her car on a longer trip and the same hell came to me as my own Corolla DX gave back in the 80s, the one my mum adored.

Small, unsupportive seats and on that a unsupported chassis rolling like a fishing boat in for the smallest wind gust and the noise, I heard every notch and stone from Stockholm to Gotenburgh. The engine revs like hell but where the horses went bugs me, but it's very fuel efficent and as usual it will probably last for ever.

Is it a good car? No.

My car

I have owned this 1997 Corolla G6 for four-and-a-half years, and it has been faultless. Apart from general wear and tear and regular dealer servicing, I have not had to spend any extra money on it.

I'm currently looking to buy a newer car, as my car is almost 10 years old now, but I'm finding it hard to find a suitable car comparable to the Corolla which also has the reliabilty of this car for a budget of around £4000!

Toyotas aren't the cheapest cars, but I think you get what you pay for , and with Toyota you get a quality car with peace of mind.

My car is only a 1.3, but it's a 16-valve injection engine, so I've got the best of both worlds - cheaper road tax and good fuel economy, but the car drives like a 1.6.

It's group 9 insurance, though, but I only pay £233 a year fully comprehensive with protected no claims, so it's not bad at all.

The six-speed gear box is good. It's a very comfortable car to drive, has a fully adjustable driver's seat and twin airbags, and huge boot space.

I will be selling it reluctantly because it has been a top-class car to own.