Not wanting an endless money pit as a first car, I decided on getting a Corolla in a couple years (plan ahead, save up)
The issue is, they hold their value so much, I would need to get them higher miles.
My question is, how long can they last? By "higher miles" I mean around 150k miles going for $6-7k.
If I buy one with that many miles (assuming good mechanical shape and take care of it), would it last me another 100k miles?
The only experience I have is that a family member owned one and the head gasket blew at 160k miles and junked it, so I don't want that happening right after I buy it, granted theirs was a salvage title.
I mean listings like this for an idea:
https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/5YFBURHE8FP301129/?referrer_id=autotempest
https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/5YFBU4EE2DP151197/?referrer_id=autotempest
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/d/sacramento-2011-toyota-corolla-le-speed/7276940740.html
Is it worth buying one with that many miles? How long can it last me/ what is the useful life of these cars? I know what years/engines/models to avoid to look for etc. but don't have a clue on the miles. I see some with issues early on, and some with half a million miles.
Most feedback possible greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!
First, please do not buy a salvage title car.
Second, I've seen Corollas go 500k miles if they are well maintained. They are a bit more expensive than some alternatives, but they tend to outlast them all.
Thanks, I really like the 2014-2016 Corolla because of the improved driving dynamics looks safety and fuel economy. I heard the Toyota CVT was reliable. If I take care of it could it last a while?
Thanks so much for your responses btw!
Absolutely. If you take care of it, you'll probably be tired of driving it before it dies.
Don't worry about the mileage, Corollas can last forever. Plus buying a high mileage one is a good way to save money. If it is really high mileage then chances are that it is highway mileage anyway and highway mileage is equal to 10% city mileage. So 200,000 highway is equal to 20,000 city.
My favorite is ones from this generation; https://www.truecar.com/used-cars-for-sale/listing/5YFBURHE8FP301129/?referrer_id=autotempest
My research says that these were also very solid and the CVT was reliable. What do you think?
They also look a lot better and have better driving dynamics, and cost the same as the bland previous generation.
Yes, those are just as good.
Not all Corollas are made the same and we need to differentiate between better and worse models.
I’m guessing the car that blew its head gasket is a 2000~2007 Corolla with the ZZ engine. Those are known for not lasting like a Toyota engine should -
- Before the ZZ engine, there was the A engine - a simple cheap reliable engine.
- And after the ZZ engine, there was the ZR engine - a powerful nice engine, somewhat known for leaks and oil consumption but you can check that before you buy.
get one with a ZR series or an A series engine.
onto transmissions, Toyota made good automatics (as long as you keep the fluid clean) but their MMT (MultiMode) that have been imported in some quantity to the US are piles of junk.
also I don’t recommend the CVTs either.
In conclusion, a car with a
- good title and that hasn’t been in a wreck
- A series / ZR series engine
- Automatic / manual transmission
A Corolla like that last a while - I wouldn’t trust it to last 250k miles but I’ve seen them go that far. if it’s in good shape now, and you maintain it correctly (3-4k miles to replace engine oil and regularly check on the transmission oil) - it can go for a while
(Side note: personally on a tight budget I’d buy a manual DuraTec powered Ford (I’m currently on my second Ford Focus) with low miles ~70k and use it until 120-130k.
They’re not the most reliable, but usually they don’t develop serious issues until 150-160k)
A 2011-2013 Automatic Toyota Corolla is probably your best bet cause those are AWESOME.
The one that blew the head gasket was a 1997 with the 4A series engine.
Then it’s just either bad service or bad luck, those are good engines.
The CVTs seem good, is there any problem with them? When it comes to driving dynamics they are much better than the archaic 4 speed automatic. I watched some youtube mechanics and if you change the fluid on time it should last a long time is the general consensus.
Looking at 2014-2016, which came with either a CVT or ancient 4 speed automatic. Also a 6 speed manual but that is impossible to find. Thanks for the help.
The 4 speed auto expect for being a bit inefficient is a great gearbox - most of the Toyota’s people remember for durability had AISIN 4 speed automatics. So it’s not a bad choice.
There’s a 5 speed automatic (but they were made until 2013) that’s the one I’d get - it’s an old school well built transmission, one of the best transmissions I ever saw on modern cars.
The CVTs are not terrible, but I’ve seen them have very stupid premature failures especially on older ones.
Quality isn’t consistent and without proper maintenance I’ve seen them develop a terrible humming or slipping bellow 120,000 miles.
Also they’re prone to damage from overheating so they’re not recommended if you’ll he sitting a lot in heavy traffic.
BUT if the one you’re getting doesn’t slip, doesn’t make any noise, has clean fluid - with good service it can go for a very long time.
But still I wouldn’t gamble and get the 4/5 speed automatic. The 5 speed is the AISIN AW95-51LS - no modern transmission (even newer models from AISIN) comes close to how well built those are.
Any car will last a decent amount of time if maintained properly. A corolla will last even longer if maintained properly. It all depends on how the car was driven, if it is mostly highway mileage, etc. You can't really know or trust how the previous owner(s) drove it, but an inspection can give you an idea.
get an older corolla before they put cvt in them.. also for 7000 usd ur paying way too much for that mileage..
https://www.kijijiautos.ca/cars/toyota/corolla/#vip=18746214
in my area 70k miles for 4700$ usd
i found these in ur area:
California for you 😂
Thanks, also the 4 speed automatic was used until 2016 so I will consider a 2015/2016 with the 4 speed automatic.
id pay a little more and get a camry, drives better more power, in 2010 year they put 2.5L worth 2500$ more tbh
I like to lan ahead too! I plan to get a car in a couple of years myself, but on the corolla, a 10 year old car or less with that kind of mileage should last at least another 10k, my dad's is still going at around $250k and he hasn't had to put too much money into it and his is an 01'.
nice
Less than 150k miles is nothing in a Corolla. My friend and his girlfriend have a 2007 Corolla with 200k miles and they drive it like maniacs but they also maintain it religiously. It still has never had a problem.
thanks