Hi Retrokid14

Congratulations! To find a 20 year old Corolla with low mileage is a great find! Do you have any maintenance records?  Did you have a pre-purchase inspection by a good mechanic? Since it just turned 100k miles, I wouldn't be surprised if it had the original spark plugs still in it and it would probably benefit from a complete tune up. I would also change out your manual transmission fluid, your brake fluid and power steering fluid as well. Then I would have your front end suspension, brakes and shocks examined, too. Depending on the severity and number of rust spots you may be able to address those in your spare time for it would be prohibitively expensive to have a body shop do that work.

The Corolla is a great car and with the CE version you have even less to go wrong compared to an LE version. My son has a 2010 Corolla with about the same mileage and it has been a great car for him. Good luck!

Check the oil level regularly. These engines have oil burning issues.

• It is equipped with a timing chain, which Toyota considers "lifetime", versus a belt which should be changed every 100,000 miles.
• Inspect motor mounts.
• Change serpentine belt, tensioner, and all idler pulleys.
• Change water pump and hoses. New coolant and radiator cap.
• Flush heater core and radiator.
• Check engine compression...that engine is known for burning oil...worn cylinder walls.
• All steering components and suspension parts.
• Wheel bearings.
• Check color of spark plugs internally...light tan is best. All should look the same.
• Transmission fluid level. Remove drain plug to check for debris.
• Brakes for straight line stopping, not pulling to one side.
• Have it scanned for codes...any misfire will shorten life of catalytic convertor by gradually causing it to burn out or plug.