Bought a 2011 Corolla, new.

[Hokiefyd]

I think the new Corolla will be a fine ride for you for many years. I rather liked the way my '07 drove. It wasn't "fun" as in race car fun, but it was small and very tossable and rather enjoyable to drive in a urban/suburban environment. I think you'll find that a set of better tires will transform that car into something much more nimble. I also found that swapping the steel wheels for alloy wheels on mine vastly improved the ride/handling. The whole car felt lighter on its feet.

Toyota's 0W-20 oil is a HIGHLY regarded 0W-20 oil on this board, and for a number of good reasons. Your Toyota dealer will use 0W-20 oil when you bring it in for service, but it may not necessarily be the Toyota brand 0W-20; each dealer will have their own oil contracts. My Toyota dealer is part of the Hendrick network, and they have a huge contract with Quaker State. My '11 Camry would get Quaker State Ultimate Durability when I brought it in for a change.

I don't think that changing the oil every 5k miles is a bad idea. Overkill? Perhaps, but every 5k is easy to remember and, hey, you only live once. That's the OCI I've used on pretty much every vehicle I've owned that I drove regularly.

Enjoy your new car.

 

[CMMeadAM]

Congratulations on your new car purchase.
Well taken care of it will serve you very well
for mnay years.

Pay no attention to the "boring" comments from
the pseudo Walter Mitty Andretti's ! Trouble free,
economical daily drivers are far from "boring"
in the rigors of driving in city/expressway
trafffic. There's enough excitment generated
by the "Walter Mitty's" of the world.

 

[Smokescreen]

Congrats.

Once thing...with 0w20 in the sump you are going to want to check the oil level once a week. PM me for further details.

 

[smc733]

So I decided to bail on the sebring after hearing about some horror stories... Leaking this, brakes doing this, etc...

So I'll go to the dealer for oil changes up to the 2 year/25k, since I can get them for free. I'll probably stick to the 5k OCI, since it really isn't that much money...

And I agree with the poster that said about the "Mario Andretti Jr.s" online, I really have no desire to drive at all for performance. I drive to arrive, and drive comfortably, and I think the corolla is a good balance between comfort and sensibility, and its easy to get around in.

 

[smc733]

Is there any way to get my hands on genuine Toyota 0W-20, my dealer uses Mobil 1, which is good, though I hear the Toyota has more Moly (whatever that does), and that's apparently a good thing.

I searched online and I can't find it anywhere. (Or the red toyota -40 washer fluid).

 

[Hokiefyd]

Your Toyota dealer should stock the Toyota 0W-20 for over-the-counter sales at the parts counter. They apparently don't use it to service their vehicles (Mobil 1 is probably available at a cheaper price), but they should still have it at their parts counter.

You could likely also request that they use the Toyota 0W-20 at the free oil change points. They don't HAVE to, but they might if you ask.

 

[smc733]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Your Toyota dealer should stock the Toyota 0W-20 for over-the-counter sales at the parts counter. They apparently don't use it to service their vehicles (Mobil 1 is probably available at a cheaper price), but they should still have it at their parts counter.

You could likely also request that they use the Toyota 0W-20 at the free oil change points. They don't HAVE to, but they might if you ask.


Interesting, if not, I'll take the ToyotaCare for free service and just buy the oil...

Or I can just scrap the ToyotaCare and use my very trusted local mechanic.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: garlicbreadman
ahhh....going from a fun sports car to the ultimate boring car O_O
good thing you didnt get the new civics as they are equally as boring to drive as corollas. my girlfriend has one....i was SO happy getting back in my integra after 90 minutes of driving that car. honda has lost what i call "raw" feeling of driving a car. hondas made in the 80s to early 2000 made cars that allowed the driver to feel connected to the car and road.






What do you consider exciting? A Cobalt? Most people who buy compacts aren't doing so for excitement, they buy them for practical, economical, and reliable transportation. That happens to be the exact description of the Corolla...

 

[addyguy]

Congrats on the new car. You can't go wrong buying a Corolla...I really believe you can't.

 

[hypervish]

Congratulations, you made a good choice! LOL

 

[hardcore302]

I found two nice trunk organizers at PepBoys a while back. One is the width of the trunk, yet slim, and the other is the size of two milk crates together. Both are nice. And cheap.

Congrats!

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: 91344George
No reason to change the oil at less than 7500 miles or so.

+1. My civic OLM is telling me around 8-9K on the oil seems about right.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Good choice.

I love my 2005 Corolla. Spend a LOT of time in it and for a point A-B vehicle with comfort (and I'm over 6 foot 5 inches and 300lbs) getting well over 40mpg average over the last 224,000 miles I can't think of a better vehicle.

Other than a odometer display that one of the segments went out its required nothing but normal maintenance.

Still on the original brakes, serpentine belt, battery (though I think that may be getting close to replacement on these single digit AM starts at times) and that's it.

Paint sucks but I-15 is a rock covered road around here.

Enjoy the new ride.

Bill

 

[rjundi]

Congrats on new car.

I know you wanted automatic anyway but its a much better choice IMHO. I had the opportunity to drive the manual transmission 2010 Corolla and I can say it adds absolutely nothing to the vehicle even a fun to drive factor.

Automatic is great choice on this one.

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
over the last 224,000 miles

Still on the original brakes

 

[Whimsey]

Originally Posted By: dwcopple
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
over the last 224,000 miles

Still on the original brakes

So you put over 37,000 miles per year on this Corolla. That's a lot of miles, I'm guessing mostly highway. But still that is impressive brake life. Your timing belt at 224,000 miles might be a bit dicey to say the least. There is usally a mileage/time limit on the timing belt. The Corolla's appear to be great appliance vehicles, nothing special but good for the long haul.

Whimsey

 

[Bill in Utah]

1ZZFE motor has a chain.

Yes most of my miles are highway. I doubt I'll ever have to replace the front pads. The rear shoes maybe around 300,000 miles.

The beauty of a light car with a manual.

 

[hate2work]

In contrast to Bill, I just put front pads on the wife's 06 Corolla that had about 55k on it. They were 90% worn, but she drives a lot of city and county roads, some highway.

Bill, I have no idea how you fit in that car, I'm 6' tall and 200 lbs and I have to turn sideways and slide in if I'm driving the wife's car. Barely enough room for my knees.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: hate2work

In contrast to Bill, I just put front pads on the wife's 06 Corolla that had about 55k on it. They were 90% worn, but she drives a lot of city and county roads, some highway.

Bill, I have no idea how you fit in that car, I'm 6' tall and 200 lbs and I have to turn sideways and slide in if I'm driving the wife's car. Barely enough room for my knees.


I don't get in and out of it quickly that is for sure (of course at my age I don't do anything quickly anymore unless I HAVE to

) and the seat is starting to rock on the right rear (if I pump up the cushion height a little it goes away) but I do fit comfortably.

My wife drove it the first 2 years when we only had it and the truck. I'm surprised she did not wear the brakes out. But she did drive the Subaru 95% of the time and when we sold it with approx 55k on it the pads on all four corners were still good.

But without question the reason why my pads last so long is how I drive. I hardly use the brakes. Only to stop if I have to.

Take care, Bill

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
1ZZFE motor has a chain.

Yes most of my miles are highway. I doubt I'll ever have to replace the front pads. The rear shoes maybe around 300,000 miles.

The beauty of a light car with a manual.


The beauty really of driving pure highway miles with little stop and go. I did get 100k out of front pads on a 95 Civic driven 30k/year driven mainly 45miles in 45 mins no lights or traffic.

My wife with a Subaru Legacy turbo drives between 5MPH and 80MPH in heavy Boston area traffic that goes to a dead stop with no warning. Pads only last about 35k with her.