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2009 Toyota Corolla

3103 messages,  Last post on Dec 14, 2011 at 6:31 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Corolla, Sedan

Messages Page 200 of 311

#1984 of 3103 Re:Warm WX pkg; drivetrain by flpcguy

Jan 06, 2008 (2:08 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jan 05, 2008 5:31 pm)
Good idea, but I believe the warm weather pkg. is too close to the std. package. Tint dots and reflective properties are included in the standard windows. A good tint shop can take care of the rest with high quality reflective material that will last up to 10 years. I live in FL and have never needed to turn my 2006 CE A/C above low in the past 2 years, though I don't often park in full sunlight for long. The hottest weather I've seen was a July drive on I-75 to Tampa where the road temp reached 106 but my engine temp remained in the middle and the A/C did an adequate job on medium settings (with my dark custom tinted windows). I'm pleased with the standard features on my 06 and wouldn't want to add anything that raises the price. The only worthwhile option is the upgrade pkg with pwr doors and windows for about $500.
 
BTW, reports on the so-called 2009 indicate the sedan will share the same power plant and rear end as the Matrix, abandoning the 1FE engine and higher gear ratio trans. of the 2003-06 (especially manual trans).Corolla sedans. This is a giant step backwards for consumers but will reduce production costs significantly and allow Toyota to hold the line on pricing. This is a US specific change. Detuning was required to reduce MPG loss resulting in poorer performance except off the line. Now the drivetrain is just like all the clones and will loosen your fillings and stress you out on a long trip at high speed (3500-4000 RPMs). I can do 70-75 at a quiet 3000 RPMs on I-95. My advice, get a new '08 CE 5-speed sedan while you still can, especially with the $1500 factory to dealer incentive (see Edmunds).

#1985 of 3103 Re: Remote keyless entry [alpha01] by mackabee

Jan 06, 2008 (10:24 pm)

Replying to: alpha01 (Jan 06, 2008 1:49 pm)
The Yaris key does not have a trunk release. All weather guard package doesn't get noticed if at all. Should be standard. I guess the estimated price is based on the previous XRS Corolla that was available in 07. That pup with moonroof and side airbags, alloys, etc, stickered around $20.5k if I recall. So a loaded with leather and nav sport pkg at $1500.00 MSRP is not far fetched. We'll see pricing soon.
 Makc

#1986 of 3103 Major Yawn (disappointment) by mcmanus

Jan 07, 2008 (4:09 am)

We've waited how many years for this?
 
- 200 lbs of safety features
- worse steering
- new (unknown to the U.S.) engine with mild performance upgrade
- better fitting for driver, but wider car
- higher street prices
- looks like it was designed more to fit into the Toyota lineup than to compete
 
Three year old Civic looks better and better.
 
BTW,
 
- I've hated the cheap feal of the current HVAC controls
- I'm 5'-7" and reach to the current steering wheel is excessive
- I like the current tall/narrow profile for city driving, egress, long range comfort
- I hate metal dash accents (glare in sunlight, dangerous in crashes)
- Auto climate control is just something else to go wrong (and pay for)
- The 2.4L option turns it into a ponycar wantabe (silly!)

#1987 of 3103 Re: Major Yawn (disappointment) [mcmanus] by lostwrench

Jan 07, 2008 (6:51 am)

Replying to: mcmanus (Jan 07, 2008 4:09 am)
I welcome the wider stance and lower height of the new Corolla. It is better for driving in the very windy mountains.

#1988 of 3103 Re: Major Yawn (disappointment) [mcmanus] by mackabee

Jan 07, 2008 (7:53 am)

Replying to: mcmanus (Jan 07, 2008 4:09 am)
Engine is the same as in the Scion xD so it's not new to the US.
Electric power steering is not worse, just different. It takes a few days to get used to it then you forget you got it.
Still outsell your Civic.

#1989 of 3103 Re: Major Yawn (disappointment) [mcmanus] by kdhspyder

Jan 07, 2008 (8:24 am)

Replying to: mcmanus (Jan 07, 2008 4:09 am)
We've waited how many years for this? ...ONE
  
- 200 lbs of safety features .. these will be mandatory in every vehicle on the road in 3 yrs.
 
- worse steering .. personal perceptions, we will all have to judge for ourselves
 
- new (unknown to the U.S.) engine with mild performance upgrade .. Incorrect. This is the same 1.8L that currently is in the xD. If you haven't driven one then it's an entirely different experience. The current Corolla is loud and harsh. The xD is a lot smoother/quieter.
 
- better fitting for driver, but wider car ... better stability
 
- higher street prices ... see below
 
- looks like it was designed more to fit into the Toyota lineup than to compete ... as has been said many times here before it competes in a different segment of the economy car market. It in fact owns the generic-economy-appliance-commuter subsegment.
 
Three year old Civic looks better and better. .. personal preference. I think the Civic is a knockoff of my Prius..
 
What we have here in this new vehicle is the quintessential low-priced, low-cost generic commuter vehicle for the high-volume mass market. It can be mildly upgraded in performance and it can add some upscale features not normally seen in vehicles of this class. It has no other aspirations other than to meet this demand and make tons and tons of money in the process. If it does so it will be a smash hit. It's timing couldn't be better either. $4 gas in the Spring? $4 - $5 next year? $6 - $7 in 5 yrs?
 
Taking a step back and looking at the specs in a different frame of reference. Consider the Camry. For the better part of the past 15 yrs the Camry has owned the No 1 ranking among autos. The Gen4 Camry ( 97-01 ) was the No 1 vehicle every year it was out. This new Gen10 Corolla is a Gen4 Camry - just shorter.
 
It's the same width
It's the same height
It's more powerful ( both new engines vs the 2.2L in the old Camry )
it's more fuel efficient ( both engines )
it has more safety features than that Camry ever had
it has more upscale features than that Camry ever had
and most importantly....
it costs less than that Camry did - even after 5-10 years of inflation
 
So the buyers coming to the Toyota lots now have essentially two Camry's to choose from both versions have been the most popular vehicle in the US for multiple years.
 
Here's the hook. A buyer coming in to trade his/her 99 or 2000 Camry looks at the new Camry and say's
'It's soo big and the price is waaay more than I spent in '99. I don't need all that room or all that power.'
Reply...
'Would you like to buy your same 99 Camry with more features and better fuel economy ( fuel today is $3.75 per gal afterall ) but at a lower price than you spent in '99?'
 
DING!!!!!

#1990 of 3103 Re: Major Yawn (disappointment) [kdhspyder] by alpha01

Jan 07, 2008 (10:59 am)

Replying to: kdhspyder (Jan 07, 2008 8:24 am)
I agree with almost all of your points except when you say that the 2008 Camry is much more expensive than the 2000. Actually, the current Camry is more price competitive than its ever been. In 2000, you had to add RKE, ABS, Pwr Drivers seat, etc, whereas this is standard on the current LE. At the time, the 2000 Camry cost about $21K with those options. Equipped the same, the 2008 costs about $22K, far less than 8 year's inflation.

#1991 of 3103 Re: Major Yawn (disappointment) [alpha01] by kdhspyder

Jan 07, 2008 (11:56 am)

Replying to: alpha01 (Jan 07, 2008 10:59 am)
Agreed.
 
I'm thinking more of the sticker shock perception of the buyers now that a lot of Camrys have far more available features than the Gen4's did. The LE was by far the most common purchase and just about all you could add were the features you noted and a Moonroof, sometimes aftermarket leather. $22,000 less discounts was a common transaction number
 
Now with the wider variety of trims and all the various options the stickers often run $25000 or even $29000. Yes an LE is still just around $22000, with more features, but IMO there are relatively few LEs for sale and more trims with higher prices giving the perception of 'WOW'.
 
Toyota has done a heck of a job making it's two key vehicles larger, more powerful, safer, more efficient and all at the same cost or less than 10 yrs ago.

#1992 of 3103 re: the new corolla by toyoman3

Jan 07, 2008 (1:41 pm)

I don't believe this is an all new from the ground redesign like most people expected, it is basically the same car with some important upgrades, but looking at corolla history the car is only all new every 10 years, you can tell by the fact that the wheelbase stays the same, the current trend is to increase wheelbase and either keeping the same total length or shortening it a bit, it is still an impressive package and way better than the 1998/2002 generation I own, ps. it is still my compact of choice.Let's just hope the quality doesn't suffer like it has with Camry , Avalon and Tundra

#1993 of 3103 re: the new corolla [toyoman3] by mackabee

Jan 07, 2008 (3:47 pm)

Replying to: toyoman3 (Jan 07, 2008 1:41 pm)
Considering this car has been out for two years in other markets I don't think we have to worry about quality issues. Smart move by Toyota to bring this car here after two years of overseas "testing". I bet this becomes the most reliable Corolla ever.
 
 Mack

Messages Page 200 of 311

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