is the 1998 model not have that issue?

It does. The 1998-2002 model years have that issue.

weird, scotty didnt mension that when i asked him about it, does it burn like a quart of oil?

Way worse than that. You should have added oil between oil changes.

@yaser
Are you sure it was from 1998-2002?
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Corolla/
Look here and you will see the 1998 and 1999 are good but the 2000-2002 had engine issues. Do you just think everyone reported the issue for 2000 but no one did for 1999? I think you are mistaken about the years?

I see that it is mentioned but more common unusally with the 2000-2002 model years.

I'm sure from experience that I have had. Although if you rely on internet only, check this one out:
http://www.corollaforum.com/threads/1998-2002-corolla-excessive-oil-consumption-issues.2471/

"I was considering purchasing one of these cars and in doing a search on a 2001 Corolla at http://www.CarComplaints.com, I discovered that this generation of Corolla apparently is notorious for very high oil consumption."
He used carcomplaints as well for the 2001 model year jashfiadsigashf very relevant... Anyways if you have first hand experience then go with what yaser said but certainly in my defense the 2000-2002 had a lot more issues than the 1998-1999.

Anyways this is the beauty of this forum we can compare learn and predict;)

would the 1998 Toyota Camry be better?

Yes, as far as I know.

Yes the Camry would be a more solid bet. My father had a 97 Corolla not the best car ever would stall prematurely and would not start had only 170k miles and fell apart. We just got rid of it.

AWSOME I love the Camry's Even Better Anyway sense there's more legroom in the back seat

In some countries the Camry is seen as a luxury car especially that generation I went to Turkey and on youtube guess what I saw? "Camry vs Audi" "The real luxury car: Camry" ... It is a very nice car hope you can find one in good shape.

Thanks Hope so too