Hi there, so I’ve been browsing for some time for a good used car since I first got into Scotty and I’m pretty much closed on a deal with this private seller on Facebook marketplace for a 2008 Toyota Corolla CE Manual with 125,000 miles for $3675. The car has a fresh paint job and the only issue is the serpentine belt will need replacing soon. This will be my first stick shift after driving my 99 Camry for a few years (which I’m still going to keep.) Is this a good car and price point? All recalls have been repaired too. Thanks in advance!
Keep in mind that generation of Toyota Corolla and Matrix were known for their transmission failures specifically with the manual transmissions. If it was an automatic, I would have snatched it up.
Keep in mind the weak manual transmission, if its in good shape now after a pre-purchase inspection, it could be a good car.
You can see complaint after complaint of this generation's manual transmissions:
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Corolla/2003/transmission/transmission_failure.shtml
https://www.carproblemzoo.com/toyota/corolla/manual-transmission-problems.php
https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/03-corolla-manual-transmission-going-bad.288459/
Its a risk... 2008 was a little better, but still part of the same generation with the same 5 speed manual. The rest of the car is excellent but the transmission is holding me back from recommending it.
Looked up similar issues and the 2008 only has 2 or so complaints compared to the countless ones for the 2003. I will get it checked by a mechanic before though
Word of advice: Never buy a car that has current issues unless you are planning on more unknown headaches.
Every seller will tell you it is an easy fix. If it was so easy, why didn't they fix it? Tells me they are either too cheap or too lazy to maintain the car, which is bad, or they are a liar trying to hide a bigger issue, which is worse.
I'd pass on that alone.
Yes, it seems like an ok deal for the market right now but make sure that you have a mechanic check it out before you buy it to make sure it doesn't have any underlying issues. Otherwise, those are great cars.
Sounds like a good deal. The manual transmissions were weak on those but if you baby it it could last.
What are the symptoms that makes you think it needs only a new fan belt?
I got one (type s) a few years ago with 152k miles for 3k. I did end up having to replace the clutch soon after. Maybe about a year later had a minor repair done. A few days ago my transmission went and my mechanic told me I need to replace it. I love the car but having the transmission fail sucks. If I do end up replacing it, which I most likely will, I'll be happy if it lasts for another year.
What’s your mileage, at present? When you say the transmission ‘went’, what actually happened? Symptoms?