Comments on a Corolla Rental

Hey, Folks.

I'm out of town this week for a conference, and the lowest price rental ended up being a Corolla. Not bad being cheap for what it is. It sure beats the Chevy Spark that I was expecting. It has 28k on it with radar cruise, so I imagine it has the rest of the TSS-P functions.

For all the "my $40k truck" squawks, this rental has an annoying rattle somewhere around the passenger door area. This is a first for me in any rental that I can remember. So much for that not designed in Japan stuff we hear about the Tacos.

Still being a newer car than the Taco (I don't care enough to look up when it was refreshed last), the interior design is less likeable to me. Although, it does have seat height adjustment. The last driver had that thing pumped way up.

Also, I did find the radar cruise intriguingly effective. I suppose coupled with the AT in the Taco, it goes together well? I do not trust it at this stage but could see someday getting by with a proven, full autonomous system for something like a DD EV commuter.

It is wheezingly averaging about 33mpg according to the in-car computer. It feels like it is coupled to a CVT. I haven't goofed around enough to find out for sure since I was enjoying the AZ scenery. For all the power complaints about the much bigger Taco, I think it is more about unfair comparisons to much larger V8s.

In the end, this short experience reinforces my decision to grab my non-tech / non-prem 2017 MT.

These are just my thoughts that are probably not valuable to most anyone else?

 

We just bought a new 2019 Corolla hatchback AT 178hp 2.0, it’s surprisingly faster than you think, the CVT is super smooth, put it is Sport mode.

Also, the hatch does come in MT

 

The hatchs are hot

 

I've used the radar cruise on Subaru Outbacks and found it pretty neat, but not any sort of game changer. I think it would all come down to the quality of programming......also had it in a Ford Flex rental lately, and it was terrible. Wasn't really watching the cars in front of me too well.

 

It's a rental....

Drive it like you stole it!

 

I was flicking between D, S, and B. It isn't Yugo slow by any means. It is just more of a revelation due to all the power complaints around here, with the note that the Taco is only 0.1sec slower than the first gen Raptor.

Who's complaining? As I said, it is good for what it is, but reinforced my choice to snag a basic 2017.

Regarding your quote, the same could be said about trucks. Haha!

The dude next to me got the Sentra. I had a 4cyl Camry rental a few years ago. It was leaps and bounds better than the late 90s V6s.

But then, my reservation had a pic of a Spark!

Most always, but damn. The drive from Flagstaff to Sedona . . . Wow! And, I was following others most of the way. So, I mainly goofed around and monitored the radar cruise.

 

I don’t think the regular Corolla has the 2.0 engine, I’ll have to look

 

I usually pop the hood when I get to my destination, but the trip and some issues from work during the layover had me pointing towards happy hour and then staring at the mesas.

The freaking work stuff is keeping me awake.

 

Just looked, if it’s an LE it’s a 1.8L 132hp a little doggish, like mildly better than a Prius, but I think the Prius would get you off the line with the hybrid electric!

 

My first car was a 1976 Corolla. I don’t have any good memories about that car.

 

Hahahaha! These are the days when we're disparaging 132hp in an econbox and lusting after a 40hp Type 1 that are selling for over $100k.

Really? I'm not doubting your experience, but those were pretty cool to me. But then, I rocked an 86 Celebrity or an 83 Malibu. Fuuuuck. . .

I envied a friend's SR5 hatch. No idea what year.

 

Well it was a pretty beat when I got it and almost immediately needed an engine rebuild which my dad helped with. I just had bad luck with it and it rattled so much. Got pulled over more in that car than any since. My parent had a red corolla wagon that was awesome though...

 

Ah! I get you.

That sounds like my experience with my 96 Dodge Stratus. Big mistake.

 

2001 Corolla manual is my daily driver commuter. 1.8 L
290,000 miles now, bought at 90,000 miles.
A/C still kicks out pretty good cold (for florida)

Burning oil now, about quart every 1000 miles. Haven't bothered changing the oil in the last 20,000 miles, just adding.

Since I have had it, it has never once left me on the side of the road (not even a flat), but has had a few repairs...
Igniters at 250,000 miles (had to run about 4000 rpm home that day to keep them firing at lower cylinder pressures)
New (used) tranny and clutch at 220,000 miles, output bearings were gone and drive shafts were just rattling around. (Replacement tranny syncros suck... but oh well)
Shocks once at about 180,000 miles
Front wheel bearings about 200,000 miles
Valve cover gasket at 250,000 miles
Inside drivers door handle every 50,000 miles (carry a spare).

Catalytic efficiency is down, but wont bothered with that...

Still gets ~33 mpg

(Not including plugs, air filters, belts...)

And truely the most irritating, though is the driver sun visor fell off at about 275,000 miles....

And I drove it into work today... man is it clapped out...

 

The Corolla is nothing more than cheap and reliable transportation. Personally, I don't care for it. I think I would rather have the Yaris (iA)(Mazda). However, I think the 2020 Corolla is going to kill it. It is much better. The hybrid Corolla will be rated for over 50 MPG.

 

I have a camry rental right now, not a bad car at all drives smooth and the cruise control works great. The 370z was fun but had no tech. Hemi charger was my favorite, has a mean growl and sport mode is dangerous fun. Mazda 6 with the turbo was also fun.

 

It should see more airtime than a 747

 

Just confirmed Toyota didn’t put a governor on this hatchback Corolla (Japan), it’ll reach 132 mph (closed course track)

 

So, I think my rental had a true slush box AT. Gears were as smooth as a CVT, which caused my confusion. I'm guessing it had the smallest engine, but it did pull four full-size folks up the mountain to the airport. Not much gusto, but it went along well enough. Interestingly, my passengers (I was kindly playing Uber) were not a fan of radar cruise.

It did sip fuel at about 40mpg or so.

It did fit six pieces of luggage in the trunk. Four duffels / roll-ons (mine was overstuffed) and a couple smaller computer bags. Pretty damn good.

I was stoked to climb in the Taco for the evening drive home though. Full manual, FTW!