YaWhateva

So, my car was broken into again and I am using that as an excuse to buy a new car and get rid of this piece of junk. I was thinking of a 2010 Toyota Corolla, it has decent MPG and I will be driving on the freeway a lot so that is a big plus for me. Anyone have any comments on the Corolla, good or bad? Any suggestions of other cars in the sub $22,000 category that might be appropriate for my uses as a poor graduate student?

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“If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly

"This is my United States of Whateva!"

Baraka_Guru

If I had to choose a new car today, I would pick that very same one.

Alternatively, I would choose the Honda Civic.

I see Corollas everywhere. They are an affordable and practical automobile. I can't say anything from experience, so I'm interested to read what others have to say as well. The Yaris would be an option as well, except it wouldn't be as practical for the highway.

I generally trust Toyotas because my SO had a 17-year-old Celica, which we drove across the country when we first got together, and both of my driving instructors used late 90s model Tercels. I first learned how to drive manual transmission in my friend's brand new (at the time) Echo.

And you can't really go wrong with a Civic.

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Plan9

My car is essentially a rebadged Corolla hatchback. I have nothing but good things to say about it. It gets ~36 MPG on a good day, has a ton of cargo space, and is inexpensive to maintain and repair. The Corolla, however, is butt ugly IMO... I'd rather have a Civic if I had to choose between 'em.

Have you considered purchasing a gently used vehicle? Getting last year's model with less than 40k miles on it would save you a ton of money.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

Baraka_Guru

That's interesting. I like the look of the newer Corollas over the Civics. Though there were a year or two when each had a bit of a "bad hair day." Are you referring to those? Have you seen the new Corolla? 2009 or 2010?

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

silent_jay

My old man bought a Corolla a couple of months back and he loves it, good on gas, enough power on the highway for him going back and forth to work, good price, he says an all around good car.

dippin

Mine is a 1998 corolla. I have never had an issue with it.

Stare At The Sun

Why would you buy a new car if you're a poor grad student?

My suggestion, buy an old honda accord, like a 93 - 98 model. You'll be able to get one for less than 4 grand, and if its in decent shape, it should last you for atleast 3 years.

You don't need a new car, get a used one and save some money...

However, if you really can afford to go buy a new car, you're not poor.

Martian

The worst thing I can think of to say about the Corolla is that it's a painfully unexciting car. If that's not important to you, then go for it.

I'll also add into the chorus suggesting a used vehicle. You can go certified pre-owned if you're skittish about dealers or private sales, and save a bundle of cash.

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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

MexicanOnABike

I love my corolla! Great car. I have the S model (2009) which has the rear spoiler and skirt. It makes it look a lot better!! the only thing i would like is a bigger digital dial for all the features but i can live with this.

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Plan9

My feelings exactly. The side skirts and spoiler make it worse, IMO. It's like putting bling-bling on a dorky white kid. It's so utilitarian that it hurts.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

Ratman

I just read a great review of the 2010 VW Golf. Base two door starts at $18,000, base TDI is under $22,000. I like the Japanese cars (I live in Japan), but in the states I owned, at various times, a rabbit, 2 Golfs, and a Scirocco. Loved every one, and am considering a new Golf. They got crappy reports in the early 2000's, but since 2007 have risen to the top of the JD Powers ratings. Also a top crash safety rating. Review was in the NY Times.

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Plan9

In my experience, Volkswagons are far more expensive to maintain than a Toyota or Honda.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

dlish

i drive a company car around and it so happens to be a 2009 corolla.

i do thrash the living daylights out of it sometimes, and most driving done around here is +100km/hr. in saying that i usually fill up just over 9.1 gallons, and i get around 550-600km out of the tank. if i did drive efficiently i know i could probably get it up around 650.

as for the car itself, its a nice car to drive for what your paying. i have no problems with it at all. if i was on a budget i'd get a corolla.

i'm not sure what its like in canada or USA, but getting parts for a honda can be quite expensive unless you are getting cheap imitations from china.

my suggestion for a poor grad student?

get a 2009 corolla instead of a 2010. you'll at least save yourself 10% because of the depreciation in the first year, and you've still got a car that is under warranty.

---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------

i concur. i had a 2004 VW Golf Sport. i loved it, but it was quite expensive to maintain. i dreaded scheduled maintenance for this reason alone

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Ratman

That would have been in the low-rated time frame. My VW's were all very low-maintenance, but the last one was a '96. The 2010 is the 6th generation, all new. That being said, I drive a Nissan Sunny in Japan, and it's a good, basic car, but not very exciting. The Golfs always had solid interiors and a bit o' balls on the twistys. Dlish's suggestion of a 2009 Corolla is a good one for good basic transport. The Golf is only an alternative in your price range for new. I wouldn't buy a 2000-2007 Golf for sure, cuz they were high maintenance. Being a grad student myself, I know we have to balance between initial purchase price and ongoing costs. I'm looking at the TDI, because in Japan diesel is a lot cheaper than gas, I would get a tax credit for "green" tech, and the bi-annual certification is a lot cheaper. The TDI is rated at 42mpg on the highway. Just my 2 yen.

__________________
The difference between theory and reality is that in theory there is no difference.

"God made man, but he used the monkey to do it." DEVO

Plan9

Obviously there are plenty of options on the market.

Ford Focus
Honda Civic (any year was a good one)
Chevy Cobalt / Aveo / Cavalier
Toyota Corolla / Yaris / Echo
Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe
Hyundai Accent

etc.

...

Hop on Cars.com and see what's in your area for your price range. Start low and work your way up if need be.

__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

silent_jay

I remembered the one downfall to the Corolla, no block heater standard, which living in Canada sucks balls, but as you seem to be in New Mexico it probably wouldn't be all that important. I'll never understand why sell a car in Canada without a block heater, do they not know it's cold here or something.

telekinetic

If I had to buy a car right now, I'd buy a used Honda Fit. I've got 60,000 miles on mine with nothing but oil changes.

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twisted no more

highthief

I've got a Corolla - it's our second. The first was a great car, this one - you can tell they cheaped out a bit.

I'd get a Hyundai Elantra for the same (or less) money and more car.

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Plan9

Just realized: Buying a new is going to fix your "car gets broken into" problem how?

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

YaWhateva

No, I'm just using that as an excuse to get a new car now rather than wait a few months. My car was broken into out of town for the second time. I'd rather not have to fix the window on a car I was going to give up in a few months anyways and I just figured I'd get the new car now.

Thanks for all the replies, I am going to look around a bit for possibly a used car and look at the other cars you guys have suggested. Thanks a bunch!

__________________
“If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly

"This is my United States of Whateva!"

Marlon's Mom

Worst, crappiest, most hassle-laden POS vehicle I've ever owned was a Corolla. Yeah, I know it's an anomaly as far as Toyotas go, but I will NEVER own another.

dlish

you cant just say shit like that without backing it up.

why was it a piece of shit? what was your experience? why do you not recommend it?

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An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
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Marlon's Mom

Well, let's see... If memory serves, it was a 1979 manual that I purchased for $1800 in 1986 from the original owner, who had every piece of repair/service paperwork from the day he bought it, and none of it was massive-failure related - it was all oil changes and general upkeep stuff. It had less than 100,000 miles on it (as I recall it was about 72,000). Before buying it, I had it checked out by a master mechanic friend of the family, who took it to his shop and tested it, drove it, and pronounced it good to go.

Now, mind you, I'm VERY conscientious about vehicle maintenance and upkeep.

Six months into ownership, the engine blew. Lovely. Six months later, the radio ceased to work (sometimes, if you whacked the console, it would kick in). Meanwhile, the paint began to blister and rust found its inevitable way into the metal (areas on the hood and around the rear window). A few months later, the radiator died. About a year after that, the heater stopped working. After it finally passed away on the 10 freeway in LA, I sold it to a mechanic for $300, who figured he could work on it on the weekends and give it to one of his kids.

Does that work for ya?

Again, I know my experience is an anomaly, but after all that, I wouldn't accept a FREE Toyota. I'm sticking with Fords and Chevys from now on - haven't ever had a lick of trouble with either.

YaWhateva

Toyotas are super dependable cars. From my experience, Fords and Chevys are the more likely one to fall apart.

__________________
“If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly

"This is my United States of Whateva!"

Baraka_Guru

If you think the Toyota of the seventies is the same company as the Toyota of today, you haven't read much about them (well, aside from their recent recall).

There's a reason why companies such as Ford Motor Company are interested in the Toyota Way.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Martian

I'm honestly surprised that we managed to go almost a full page without the domestic vs import argument/pissing contest popping up.

A 1979 Corolla bears absolutely no relation to the cars being manufactured today.

And according to statistics, current big 3 vehicles are no less reliable than their foreign-made competitors.

Everyone has their bias.

Corollas are great little vehicles, if you understand their intended function.

__________________
I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said

- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

Baraka_Guru

I should also mention the Mazda3 is a decent car within that price range.

My SO bought a....2008, I think it is. It's a Mazda3 Sport (hatchback) manual transmission, and it's been running fabulously. She's a pretty hardcore commuter, so it already has a bunch of miles on it. It's also pretty roomy. It's great for loading a dog into the back.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

YaWhateva

I was torn between the mazda3 and the corolla. But I do a lot of highway driving and the Corolla gets better gas mileage than the 3. I really do like the mazda3 though

__________________
“If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly

"This is my United States of Whateva!"

Plan9

Yeah, Mazda3 has a lot more sex appeal (for a car), but you'd be better served by the Corolla as far as practicality.

Go used, bro. Do the research on the car you find and you'll save yourself a ton of money and get a just-as-good ride.

__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

YaWhateva

Thanks, I was looking at autotrader.com and I found a few 2009 Corolla's for pretty decent prices but I found a 2009 Camry for $17,000 with 17,000 miles on it. Any opinions on the Camry? I know it's a larger car but in terms of quality?

2009 Toyota Camry $16,995 - Beaver Toyota - Santa Fe, NM 87505-7613 Dealer

__________________
“If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly

"This is my United States of Whateva!"

Baraka_Guru

The Camry is simply a roomier, more stylish, more powerful Corolla.

It's like Corolla's hot older sister.

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Plan9

Stop it. You're turning me on here.

__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

Baraka_Guru

And she's got a lotta junk in that trunk....






Oh, and you should see her hot friends.....

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Marlon's Mom

Then you've had the exact opposite experience from me - Toyota was the absolute worst vehicle I've ever owned; both the Ford I used to have the the Chevy I currently drive have been perfect.

Is your experience any less valid than mine?

---------- Post added at 01:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 AM ----------

I don't care what Toyota is today. My crummy experience has tainted the Toyota name for me forever. And really, why does anyone care?

Why would I bother? The worst vehicle I've ever had the displeasure to own - bar none - was that Corolla. I have no interest whatsoever in owning another Toyota. You know what they say: Once burned, twice shy.

I got rid of the Toyota and bought a new Ford Escort station wagon - awesome little city car, no issues ever. When I moved to the woods, my 10-yr old Escort couldn't handle all the rutted gravel roads and heavy hauling I did, so I traded it in for an indestructible 1999 Silverado 1500. Gently used, loaded, absolutely trouble free, and exactly perfect for my needs.

Sorry, Toyota. You lose!

Baraka_Guru

Well, with a current industry-leading market capitalization of $131 billion, I don't think they're losing too badly...

The company that it is today didn't exist in the 70s. The "Toyota Way" didn't exist. The comparison is like night and day. We don't judge the new Ford Mustang against the Model T, now do we?

I understand you had a bad experience, but that was with a car manufactured 30 years ago and was 7 years old when you bought it.

(But now I'm beginning to wonder if that mechanic who bought it for $300 got another 10 years out of it....)

__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

IdeoFunk

I have to agree with this. I have a 2000 Corolla which has been nothing but dependable; I've already put close to 250,000 kms on it. And on the upside at least it's standard so driving it is bearable.

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Marlon's Mom

True, true.

Well, sure, I agree. But even at the time, Toyotas had a pretty good track record. Anyway, the thing is, if and when my awesome Silverado dies (which I will do everything in my power to prevent), I surely won't go looking for a Toyota to replace it!

It wouldn't surprise me. Evidently, I just got the lemon of all Toyotas, but a decent mechanic could probably get it running just fine. At the time I was a happy, fun, single young thang in LA with zero car knowledge and even less interest in the hassles a sickly old car presented, so I was quite happy to hand it off and get something far more functional and reliable (on sale and 0% financing!).

Vinrej

Corolla must have been the most reliable car int he world. It is widely used everywhere and parts are easy to find and cheap too.

neddy65

We looked at the Toyotas and the Honda civic (absolutely hated it from ot's 70's style steering wheel to it's front bumper speedometer) but we bought Mazda3 (2010) and truly love this car and we get on average 45mpg soooooo....
You really can't go wrong with any of these cars. it's just preference.

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YaWhateva

I know this is old but I just wanted to say that I finally bought a car. It's a 2009 Corolla S with 10,000 miles and I got it for $13,500. Seems like a pretty sweet deal to me! Thanks all of you guys for telling me to look at a used car

Now all I need to do is learn how to drive a standard better

__________________
“If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly

"This is my United States of Whateva!"