Toyota Corolla (1997 to 2002) - 1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla

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Mon 13 Oct 2008 16:08
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Toyota Red
Hello,
Owned for only a few months, and trouble free thus far, albeit on lowish mileage. Pre-VVTi, so no oil consumption issues I'm aware of. Anyone had any common problems? They seem to be about the most reliable thing on the road. I'm interested in bodywork issues, as the mechanics seem to be rock solid in general. A few observations from mine:
Does not consume any fluids at all. I've heard oil leaks can develop but none so far.
book mpg is 35, but I'm getting a touch over 50- anyone else similar?
Would be interested to hear others' MOT emissions results to guage the condition of the engine. Mine: particulates <50ppm, CO Nat. 0.16%, fast 0.17%.
Dunno how long the catalytic converters last.
Would also be interested to know what tyres it was supplied with originally. I have 4 Good Years and a Michelin at the moment. I think some the GYs might be original, but not sure.


Bodywork:
I've noticed that the rear suspension springs have flaked paint and surfacerust. Does not seem to affect front, perhaps stones flung up can hit rear springs. sanded them a bit and sprayed clear laquer on.

The rear wheel arches have a strange lip at the bottom front end (3 dr version) which can fill with dirt. I've noticed a slight bubbling of paintwork there, but some work with an emery board and more clear laquer and it seems to be ok.

under the car, there is a rubber plug at the bottom of the spare wheel storage well. noticed slight surface rust around there, but easy to deal with.

The rubber headlight surrounds seem to have perished, and flap about a bit- seen it on others so I guess it's common. Bit of glue does the trick.


On the whole, very impressed. It's dull as ditchwater to drive, mind, but that's not important to me. Hopefully I can prevent it rusting and get many years out of it.

TR
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Sat 29 Nov 2008 16:51
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Eindhoven
Hi Toyota Red,

I've had mine, a mid 97 P reg, for over 6 years and over 85,000 miles. The car is now just short of 130,000 miles.

Your fuel consumption is good, mine does about 9 miles per litre but, this does change depending on the type of use. The bodywork is in good shape, give or take the odd stone chip and much of this is down to good quality paint from Toyota and keeping the car clean, more so during winter with salt on the roads. Remember to wash the bottom of the doors and wheel arches.

Mine is using oil now, about 1.5-2 litres over 9000 miles but, this is my fault for not keeping an eye on levels before. If anything it seems to use more after motorway use at 70 mph.

You shouldn't have to nurse the car along at all, just keep the maintenance up to date. Do note that I use the premium fuel at Shell, not the supermarket stuff. Quality fuel worked wonders on my old Sunny (before this Corolla) and it works well on this car. My cousin and her husband have a 93 model that just keeps on going. One thing to watch out for is the radiator, I had mine replaced at 120,000 odd. These seem to pick up quite a battering from stones.

As you say boring, but cost effective in the long. You can sleep easy with an old Corolla.
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Sat 29 Nov 2008 18:48
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Auristocrat
I ourchased a new Corolla 1.3 Sportif in 1996 - original equipment tyres were Michelin.
Had the car three years (we change every three years), and absolutely no problems over 25,000 miles. Agree about the lip on the rear wheelarches - they do collect dirt but a quick hose out regularly keeps them free.
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Mon 14 Jul 2014 19:35
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Toyota Red

Giving this thread a five-and-a-half-year plus bump.

Corolla has covered 55,000 miles in my ownership, 45mpg average, and has recently had a bit of an overhaul (now on 109,000 miles):

New control arms (easier to replace arms with preinstalled bushes than replace bushes in existing arms)

New antiroll bar bushes and droplinks

New front pads, discs and backing plates

New shoes and fitting kit

New track rod ends

Repacked front wheel bearings and CV joints

Rocker cover gasket set (slight oil weep) from cover gasket

Seems to have freshened it up nicely and should see it ok for the next good while. The timing belt needs done in the next year or so and I'll refresh the rustproofing in time for winter.

Just got 51mpg on a long trip, and we were not going too slow (max attained mpg has been 59).

All in all, pretty chuffed with what was an 11 year old car at time of purchase in 2008.

See you in 2020?

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Mon 14 Jul 2014 21:03
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Trilogy

I had two Corolla 1.3 GL 3 door hatches, 1988/89, both pewter metallic, in succession in the mid 1990s. Semi on the look out for another, just spotted one about 10 miles from home 'For Sale'. Fun to drive for a Corolla, with slightly twitchy tail. The GT-i was much underrated by the ignorant.

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 01:24
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Avant

Welcome back, Toyota Red - do stay with us.

I've often said on here that nothing soldiers on quite like an old Toyota - with the possible exception of an old Volvo. When buying cheap cars, obviously condition matters much more than make and model - but for those who want a steer as to what to go for, Toyota is a very good place to start.

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 07:05
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - gordonbennet

Best decade of car design and manufacture IMO, proof in this thread.

Especially good for those who largely maintain their own, few ticking time bombs such as the EPB wheeze had been dreamed up.

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 12:54
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - 72 dudes

..... few ticking time bombs such as the EPB wheeze had been dreamed up.

I do believe you are becoming obsessed with electronic parking brakes, GB!

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 13:45
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - gordonbennet

Yes probably but too cantakerous to change now, and its guaranteed i won't be having an EPB, nor a stop start button, nor an automated manual or multi clutch box, and this list could go on at some length..:-)

I've requested a Hino (read Toyota) lorry at work, built like lorries used to be built, simple tough and with a proper manual gearbox, none of this computerised junk....even our latest european lorries are coming with EPB to add to the dozens of other things that fault regularly, more rubbish to go wrong and disaster waiting to happen.

KISS.

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Tue 15 Jul 2014 15:13
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Toyota Red

Thanks for the replies, I will periodically update in order to avoid people becoming too bored...

Can't disagree with any of the posts, this age of Corolla seems to be a good combination of reliability, corrosion resistance and mechanical simplicity. Obviously the safety features and performance are well behind contemporary equivalents, but looking at economy terms alone, the 2013 Auris 1.33 petrol gets a 'real world' average mpg of 45, exactly the same as mine. The VED rate is not so different (£110 Auris vs £145 Corolla) so savings in running costs appear to be minimal.

Having the space and time to complete jobs as a DIYer is of course critical to keeping an older car on the road. The work I've done would perhaps be enough to warrant deciding to get rid of the vehicle if garage labour rates were paid.

Very pleased overall, although it is clearly well beind current levels of interior finish/comfort.

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Wed 1 Oct 2014 17:18
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Toyota Red
Bump, Corolla had its MOT this week. Passed with 1 advisory for tyre wear, I knew the tyre in question was low but legal so no surprise, it'll be replaced when the winter tyres are brought into service next month.

It has been presented for 7 MOTs in my ownership, all 7 passed with 7 advisories in total. There were 5 advisory points last year which prompted the work detailed earlier on the thread. Next couple of years' servicing should amount to no more than fluids, filters, tyres and wiperblades. Here's hoping anyway!

As you were...
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Wed 1 Oct 2014 18:18
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - gordonbennet

And to think you could have got rid of that under scrappage and had a lovely new....nah carry on..

Another year goes by with nothing to report then, standard old school Toyota news then, thanks for the update.

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Thu 2 Oct 2014 00:58
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Toyota Red

No problem, happy to update now and again. The car is used as a daily commuter and does between 500 and 1,000 miles per month at present, mostly motorway. As it happens, over the 17 years since registration the car had had its highest mileage period in the last two years.

Since a house move beckons, it's quite possible it'll be doing upwards of 15,000 miles in 2015, a new high. We'll see how it copes with that.

You'll be the first to know of problems...

TR

PS Shame the 'real MPG' area does not go as far back as this model. I guess it's too obsolete (if no less economical...)

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Wed 1 Oct 2014 19:30
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - mss1tw

Funny how looking after things mean they last longer! Well done OP

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Tue 19 Apr 2016 16:37
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - mickburkesnr

I'm in the process of buying a similar age, same engined Toyota. A 3 door as well!

As you said you were keeping this up to date, I've noticed you haven't updated it since October 2014. Have you forgotten or has something terminal happened to your lovely old Corolla?

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Wed 20 Apr 2016 10:20
1997 1332cc 4E-FE corolla - Bolt

I bought a 1.3 3dr in 2006 metalic grey VGC at the time, it was an emergency buy as my Rover 416 had been rear ended and written off a week before holiday

it was a one owner and said he knew nothing about cars and it had missed several services, I asked about cam belt and his reply was, whats that...

car had done 122k so had it serviced same day and cambelt replaced (no other cars about at the time,(without a lot of travelling or more expensive)

Cam belt was split everywhere and I reckon I was lucky getting to garage at all, 2 days after the holiday a cabbie drove into the o/s and bent the A and B pillar so wrote that off as well,otherwise I would probably still have it, good car

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