Spending far too many hours on the internet searching for a Focus for 'er indoors. I got sick of looking at them today and decided to search any make between certain price levels. Cane across a Corolla 1.4 vvt-i T3 (55 reg) for under five grand at a Toyota dealer.
Simple question. How does it compare to the equivalent Focus.
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If handling is important then the Focus will be better but not massively so.
SWMBO has a T3 1.4 53 plate and it is a very competent car.
It is comfortable, is proving to be very economical and build quality is superb.
I say this now but did not think so when we got it new and compared it to my brother's Golf.
Now the Corolla still looks like it just rolled of the production line (except for the scuffs she has decorated the alloys with). While the Golf is practically falling apart, not a week goes by without something going wrong or a previous problem re-appearing. The Corolla interior is very hard wearing. It is used to transport the wife and 2 kids and they have about as much respect for cars as someone that does not have much respect for cars. Yet it takes the punishment without missing a beat. (Just to put it in perspective, my wife thinks the clutch and brakes are on / off switches and speed humps are treated like she is driving over a painted line). It is now 5 years old and has never let her down. It had a new inlet manifold under warranty (recall I think) but other than that nothing ever goes wrong (touch wood). The reason I like it so much is that it is very dependable and I have no concerns for them in terms of breakdowns etc whether they are doing the school run or 100+ mile motorway runs. The car is very strong and reliable. It has had 2 MOT's and passed both times no problem. If er indoors likes a car with brilliant handling go with the Focus (my wife would not know what handling was) but if you are looking for a strong, durable and reliable car that is comfortable then I would say go for the Corolla.
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Thanks for that. Don't need to worry about handling or performance. Just a dependable and reasonably cheap car to run.
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I clean a Corolla, T-Spirit model with half leather/suede interior. Its one of those cars that passes you by, but actually, spend some time around one and you start to appreciate them.
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Thanks for that. Don't need to worry about handling or performance. Just a dependable and reasonably cheap car to run.
I have a 1.6 T3 on a 55 plate, just done 30K miles, does 32mpg + around town and 45 -47 cruising at 65-ish, front pads still only half worn. All its needed so far apart from regular services are wiper blades and a pair of tyres (touch wood!)
This is my 3rd Corolla, a good mate of mine runs an independent garage and after a string of Fords, Peugeots and Rovers which all seemed to contribute to his repair turnover, it was his recommendation to get something Japanese designed (even if built near Derby) that pointed me to Toyota.
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recommendation to get something Japanese
see www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/item.htm?id=5247
Toyota Corolla Most Reliable Used Car
Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:19
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