Need some opinions, please. I'm looking for a "Drive to work" car so my "baby" doesn't have to sit in the hot sun all day, and drive in the winter goop on the roads. My daily driving consists of about 15 miles a day to and from work, to lunch, etc.

I found a 93 Corolla (4 door sedan, automatic tranny) Body is in good shape. No dents, dings or rust, and no telltale signs of a major repair.

The current negotiation is at $4250; NADA guide says $5500 average retail, and Kelly Blue Book is $7075. It has only 58000 miles on it AND, as my wife says, "It has a clock."

I've never owned a Toyota.

Any comments, ideas or suggestions appreciated.

 

Sounds like a good car. I've owned Toyota's and found them to be pretty bullit-proof. Check the VIN. If it starts with a '1' or '4' (can't remember which) it was assembled in California at the NUMMI GM/Toyota joint venture, if a 'J', it came from Japan. Either way, run a carfax report http://www.carfax.com for you peace of mind. Good Luck

 

I have a 96 toyota tercel sport. Automatic, 2 door, Red (just for gregstevens) Fancied up the rims, tinted the windows, and I love it. It only has 30 000 miles. I think I lucked out on the mileage because being 5 years old is should have way more. I think toyotas' are rated very high. You can't go wrong.

The tercel has a 1.8 or 1.6 litre engine?? should go for 200K miles..

 

Toyota's are pretty good. the ones I had were very reliable. Expect the Celica I have to meet the expectations.

 

Toyota is the ENEMY!!! No truly, Honda and Toyota at the corp levels are literally at war. One time Toyota announced to the world that it (being much larger then Honda) would produce every car to match one that Honda puts out.

I married my wife with a Tercel (95)... That car was the cheapest piece of crap car I have ever ridden in or been in. I had to get rid of it fast.

 

I have a 91 corolla 4 door, now with about 80000 miles, 30k of them put on by me in the last 2 years. Only difference is I have the 5 speed manual, which I think is much better because the car is a bit zippier, but I don't have a damn clock. Great little beater car, good mileage, reliable and fairly cheap to fix if something goes wrong. Never had trouble with it, it started a few times in 30-50 below zero weather and plowed through a foot of snow without much complaint, which I guess probably won't be an issue for you

Go for it... even if Toyota is the "enemy"

 

96 tercel was the last year before the new styling. For canadians 96 offered a special sport option, tighter suspension, alloy wheels, nicer seats, sun roof, and tach.. This is a very solid little car, and I am glad to have it as my run about car.

 

Toyota's are very good cars. The one's I have owned lasted forever. The only problem with getting a corolla is that you're going to miss the power and handling of the S2k.

 

Corollas are good cars. I think that if the car has not been in any major accidents and has been well maintained you should be fine. I grappled with this situation about a month back - was tired of driving my stook to work everyday. I was looking at a used Camry but decided to get a new Civic instead (brand loyalty )

 

pic one of my beater