Toyota Corolla Hatchback (2002 - 2006) 1.4 VVT-i T2 5d (04) (2004/04) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

The local garage I take it to love my car; and actually thought it was owned by my male partner rather than been a "girl's car" so I think it says I've got the sense to find something that is a good car that's reliable instead of picking something for vacuous and stereotypically feminine reasons!

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My mum would swap her newer Mitsubishi Lancer for it in a heartbeat. My partner enjoys driving the car and all my friends agree it has been an excellent buy.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Definitely. I'm gutted that Toyota no longer make the Corolla but when I've run this one into the ground (as I won't be getting rid of it for a long time) I will definitely buy another Toyota. This one has been so good to me and I would recommend to anyone looking for a good used car to definitely consider the Corolla. There's not a lot about and there is a good reason for that - once someone owns one they don't like to get rid!

What are you likely to buy next?

I won't get anything other than another Toyota. This car has been so reliable for me and I love driving it, so I'd definitely go back to Toyota and get another hatchback from them.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£4,999

When did you buy the car?

December 2009

Did you get a good deal and why?

The car was priced at £4,999 in December 2009. This was about spot-on for average mileage, yet it was well below average mileage - 31,500 to be exact. I had a W-reg Renault Clio which the dealer gave me £1,000 for, making the Corolla £3,999. Then they also gave me a 12-month warranty on the car - they weren't even a Toyota dealer, but a Ford/Kia one in Leeds which had got the Corolla in on part-ex.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I knew Toyotas were reliable and I liked the car to drive. Only from owning it have I realised just how fantastically reliable this car is.

What was the dealer like?

I bought the car from Ringways in Leeds and couldn't fault the chap who sold me the car. Very easy to deal with, excellent customer service and no pushy sales technique.

What's it like to drive?

The Corolla is great to drive whatever the road and copes well both on long motorway journeys or navigating your way around town.

What's it like to park?

It's manoeuvrability is excellent, making it easy to park even in tight spaces. It has a pretty tight turning circle of 10m. Visibility out the back window is excellent too - one thing I found when I was car shopping was so many cars had such a small rear window - I always feel in my Corolla that I can really get a good all-round view.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Nothing has gone wrong with this car. It's not cost me a penny except for basic wear and tear (brake pads), MOTs and regular servicing. The car was 9 years old this March, and is still yet to fail an MOT. It performs well in all weather conditions and is really easy to drive.

What's most practical about your car?

It's just so easy and comfortable to drive. Its fuel consumption isn't bad either - you can easily get over 600 miles out of one tank of fuel. I also really like the fact this car has a chain rather than a cam belt - so that's one issue you just don't have to deal with which has been a problem on cars in the past for me.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The lumbar support is brilliant - you really get very good support for your back and even though this is the base model, doing a long journey doesn't leave you aching afterwards. Inside there are some subtle chrome trim effects - I always feel this car is classy rather than showy and I prefer that.