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Sedans Toyota Corolla Toyota Corolla Electric-Assist Power Steering (EPS)
98 messages, Last post on Oct 29, 2009 at 2:09 PM
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| http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/complaintresults.cfm?start=1&SearchType=- DrillDown&type=1&year=2009&make=TOYOTA&model=COROLLA&component_id=0&summary=true- &PrintVersion=YES | |
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Replying to: denvecsr (Jul 26, 2009 4:50 pm) MNF |
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Replying to: samnoe (Jul 26, 2009 2:38 pm) Toyota Corolla RECOMMENDED Road Test At 32 mpg overall, the redesigned Toyota Corolla's fuel economy is among the best we've recently measured in any car with an automatic transmission that isn't a hybrid or a diesel. The manual transmission model gets the same fuel economy as the automatic. The pleasant and refined Corolla provides a comfortable ride, an improved driving position, and a roomier rear seat, compared with the previous model. But the interior fit and finish isn't quite as good. Aided by electronic stability control, handling is responsive and secure if not sporty. THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE The Corolla is one of the best riding small cars, and it soaks up bumps well. Its cabin is quiet, except for relatively mild road and wind noise, and a smooth engine hum. Handling is sound, but not particularly agile. The steering is a bit light and rather vague on center. Body lean is not excessive, but the car isn't engaging to drive. The Corolla was secure at its handling limits thanks to its optional ESC, but it posted just a modest speed in our avoidance maneuver. Beginning with the 2010 models, ESC will be standard across the line. Its 132-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine accelerates reasonably and gets an excellent 32 mpg overall. The four-speed automatic transmission is smooth and responsive, but its gated shifter can be awkward. Acceleration is faster with the manual than in the automatic, but the driving experience is no more engaging and the shifter has little feedback and long throws. Braking performance was very good, and produced fairly short stops in wet or dry conditions. The headlight's low beams provide very good distance and intensity ahead and to the sides. MNF |
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Hi, everyone. I'm seriously considering purchasing a 2010 Corolla S (automatic), but some of the comments here and on other forums are downright scary w.r.t. the new power steering. Living in an urban area, I think it might be difficult to test drive this thing at highway speed (if it is, I'm going to have to pass it up as I'm not taking a chance on a $20K-purchase). But before I do, I wanted to know whether anyone has figured out why there's such a wide variety of opinions on this issue? Is this wandering problem in EVERY car and that some are just adapting to it faster than others? Is it randomly in some cars and not others? Maybe only in certain trims? I'd like to know. In either case, before this, I really wanted to get a new Corolla (metallic blue, please) despite the other criticisms it universally gets - it isn't "fun" to drive, it's slow, the interior is nothing to write home about, etc. I'm used to that stuff -- I've driven my family's '83, '88, '98, and '01 models and they are/were fine for me - reliable, affordable, great on gas, OK for shorter people. And driving in my area is a chore, so I actually like being detached from the experience. Constantly having to correct a wandering vehicle to stay in your lane requires way too much involvement than what a typical Corolla buyer like me should have to put up with. I'm afraid that this steering problem would be a deal-breaker, and that would be a shame. Yet, they're selling like hotcakes, so is this problem car-specific or only noticeable to sensitive enthusiasts (which I'm anything but)? What gives?
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Replying to: movinout77 (Aug 04, 2009 10:42 pm)
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Replying to: terceltom (Aug 05, 2009 8:15 am) In my reading, it seems other cars are also changing over to EPS w/o such controversy. So although you've been the most positive about it, there have been others that have called it dangerous and were willing to take a depreciation hit by trading back a new car. I know they're in the minority, but still... I'm trying to get a sense of whether there's at least some pattern to why certain cars have delivered worse experience than others...if it varies car-to-car or person-to-person. And frankly, I'm not so sure I want to get used to driving so differently. The point of having a Corolla is to NOT have to worry about these things. And, I hate to admit it, but I tend to drive with one hand or just lightly holding the wheel with both at 4:00 and 8:00 -- unless I'm passing a truck around a curve at 60+ mph. Having to switch to holding it tightly like a driver's ed student for long trips just to stay in a straight line is not something I'd enjoy -- and something I don't have to do on my fiancee's Civic which was just a little extra. Since my preference is to indeed stay w/ the Corolla, despite competition catching up to it, I may go out of my way to do a test drive, since there's not many open roads around here. But if the consensus is that this EPS varies from car to car, this out-of-the-way place must have the blue S that I'd actually take home.
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Replying to: movinout77 (Aug 05, 2009 9:45 am) I recently drove a 2009 Yaris (which also has EPS) and didn't experience the problem at all. Note that several other Toyota models also have EPS and we aren't hearing much in the way of steering complaints from the owners of those cars. My guess is that this issue is specific to the 2009 Corolla's steering geometry, and I'm still waiting to find out whether or not it has been carried over to the 2010 model year, as I'm a potential buyer. So far I've seen Post #18 by steven39 in the 2010 Toyota Corolla forum (link) which seems to imply that the issue still exists, but I don't consider a single post to provide sufficient evidence. Also see this thread on the ToyotaNation forums titled "2009 Vs. 2010 Eps": I recommend maintaining a healthy skepticism of anything that you read on the boards, as some posters undoubtedly have private agendas. Plus, you might be one of those people who quickly adapts to the "different" steering feel and thus you might not consider it to be a problem. I strongly recommend doing a test drive at highway speeds and finding out for yourself. Please post back here and let us know your results. PS: If possible make sure the tire pressures are set properly before your test drive, as this will affect the handling.
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Replying to: dantz (Aug 05, 2009 12:24 pm)  I read both those threads you pointed out and have probably spent too much time searching this issue and should just go out and test drive it already. (Although, timing the arrangement of the test drive is another question I have to figure out, but I have another post on that.) Since I've learned so much from others on here, I promise to come back and post my experience as well. Anyway, great point on the tire pressure. Embarrassingly, this is one of the few things I DO know how to do on a car. Should I be sure it's the same as what's on the door jamb, or is there a different recommendation to get the EPS to work how you want it to? I'm sure these dealers are just gonna love me -- y'know, with the healthy skepticism and all, lol.
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Replying to: movinout77 (Aug 05, 2009 1:21 pm) Don't sweat it. I'm no car-dealer, but if I were, I'd see the customer paying that much attention to detail as someone very serious about buying a car, and not a "hmm, I wonder what the new Corolla is like" person off the street with an hour to kill while their Tercel's getting serviced. And, if they give you any trouble about it, move on down the road. I'm sure a different dealer would be more than happy to appease you and make a sale. Adding relevancy to the post here...  ... checking tire pressure is a good idea for any test drive to discover handling and ride characteristics on an even playing field with competitors. Driving a Sentra with overinflated tires may give the driver a false impression that the car rides rough, while its more the "little DeVille" of 2009, with plenty of cush. At the least, it will eliminate one variable that could prevent you from making an informed decision. As a customer, more power to you! Let us know how the test drive goes. TheGrad |
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Replying to: movinout77 (Aug 05, 2009 1:21 pm)
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