|
My '97 Carina 5-door CDX (top of the range, with all bells and whistles) has today sailed through its MOT yet again with no faults. 69K miles, original clutch,exhaust,cat, battery, discs and rear shoes. In the 5 years I've had it (since new) it has never given me a problem. Only money spent on it has been 4 new Michelins, one set of front pads and wiper blades. I change filter and oil (Mobil 1) 3 times a year and coolant every 18 months. Listed at £19 K, I got it from a supersite for less than £12K. Given that any local taxi firm would probably jump to give me £4K even now, I consider this cheap motoring. Ok, I know it's ugly, has no "street cred" and doesn't exactly race off from traffic lights, but it's done the job perfectly for my family of 3 (now teenage) kids. Toyota will get my business again, one day, when this one eventually crumbles .......could be a long wait !
|
Don't hold your breath Bob, a guy in my street has a 1966 Corona, original paint, used every day, bought new by his grandfather, then used by my neighbour's father and inherited by him! It's beautifully kept and shows every sign of going on for another 40 years! It has the original shovel front and is a sort of sludge green and no beauty in the looks dept.
|
|
They take a lot of beating and i think for longevity they probably beat Mercedes Benz.
|
Definetly agree with that, I thrash my '95 Corolla and it's never missed a beat. My dad had it for 6 years and loved it after a bad experience with an Escort.
He only had the water pump and battery go. It's still on original clutch, exhaust etc.
No rust or anything. Great runner. Just a shame it looks like i'm driving my grandad's car. arr well, it was free!
|
Supra 3.0i. E reg, had it from nearly new, seats going (cheap leather) but everything else A1 even after all these years. Keep thinking about changing it just for the novelty value but it is so damn good and still capable of 130mph. Plus it is now worth about 3p on the used car market.
Fule consuumption terrible but you can't have everything.
|
I own a 1995 Toyota Carina E with 48,000 miles on the clock. Mine too has recently passed it's MOT with flying colours when I was expecting major replacements. I have owned it from new and apart from an annual service at the dealer I have replaced the following:
1 camshaft belt
2 wiper blades
2 brake lights bulbs
5 new budget tyres from a Toyota dealer costing £28 each.
It's the most reliable car I have ever owned.
|
|
|
|
We can go further back than most, having had them since the very first Carina, circa 1960. Mechanically they were all most satisfactory, in complete contrast to previous local horrors, and SWMBO could change them before the dreaded tinworm became a feature; but from seeing various things at TEC meetings the latter was a menace until perhaps 15 years ago. (I am still a bit worried about Toad, he being a Jap home market car. I'd have him rustproofed, only, locally anyway, nobody does that any more; so he only goes out in the dry.)
I just wonder whether a European made Toyota is as superlatively good as a Jap one, mechanically anyway?
Tomo
|
|
|
"Ok, I know it's ugly, has no "street cred" and doesn't exactly race off from traffic lights"
Bob, the same could be said of my imported Toyota Masterace (No, of course it's not ugly)but the "street cred" and traffic light slouch is exactly the same. However, it's a 12 year old vehicle but has only done 55000 miles. I do all my own maintenance and repairs but, apart from the 3000 mile oil changes and regular attention as per the book, there is little which goes wrong. After fifty years of car tinkering, with many horror stories to relate, I am continuously impressed by Toyota engineering, the attention to detail, and the quality and well thought out design of even the simplest component. Yes, many other car manufacturers have now caught up but, Toyota (and others) really showed how vehicles should be designed and constructed.
|
Why didn't I buy a Toyota Carina in 1996 instead of the wretched Vectra? Reading this thread you have to wonder how Ford, Vauxhall and Rover stay in business.
If Toyota had had a credible alternative to the Zafira, no contest. As it was I went for the Zafira. It's just unfortunate that Toyota haven't yet got it rightin that sector. The Avensis Verso seems even less popular than the Picnic.
|
|
|
... Ido all my own maintenance and repairs but, apart from the 3000 mile oil changes and regular attention as per the book, there is little which goes wrong.
John,
I'm just about to purchase an elderly Corolla as a second car. Can you recommend a nationwide supplier of spares for Toyota's (I'm guessing the dealer chain will match all the normal stereotypes on pricing)? Something along the lines of "German, Swedish & Japanese" is what I'm searching for!
Thanks
RM
|
Blue Print is Europe,s leading brand for Japanese cars.
I am not to sure if this is still the current No. 01622 833007
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forgot to add yesterday I had the cam belt changed at 52K miles at a cost of £120 - but that and the other bits I referred to is all I've spent
|
Heard on the radio today that 50% of the inventions in the whole wide world came out of the UK (according to a Japanese study).
Literally: they were all developed overseas.
Not to worry.
That Prof Whatsisname who taught the Japs everything they know about quality control and striving for continuous improvement was a Yank!
|
|
|
|
