Why don't I see more 2008 Toyota Corolla Seca sedans?

While the sedan sold alongside the hatchback version of the Corolla in Australia, the hatchback easily outsold the sedan. And that’s pretty much the reason you still see a lot of hatchbacks getting around, but sedans are thin on the ground. They just didn’t sell in the same numbers back in the day. Fundamentally, buyers were much more likely to go for the extra practicality of the hatchback layout. Of course, that’s in Australia. In some other markets (China, for example) the sedan version of a particular make and model is often more popular than the hatchback variant. It’s a cultural thing, in essence.

Can I use RON 95 or ethanol blend fuel in a 2022 Toyota Camry hybrid engine?

Even though your car has a hybrid driveline, the bit that runs on petrol uses the same technology as any other Toyota petrol engine. So E10 is fine according to Toyota, although it also says 10 per cent (hence E10) is the highest percentage of ethanol you should consider using. Likewise, 95 RON petrol presents no problems.

My 2013 Toyota Corolla won't go over 40km/h

If the car won’t accelerate beyond 40km/h, it could be because it has gone into limp-home mode in order to protect itself from further damage. If so, that’s possibly because there’s a major problem somewhere in the driveline. But the chainsaw noise is pretty worrying, too, and suggests that something is rubbing on something else that shouldn’t be. The best advice is to not drive the car any farther until it’s been checked by a mechanic. Continuing to drive it risks doing more damage to whatever is already wrong with it.

My 2018 Toyota Corolla has a broken camshaft despite being well serviced

The Corolla of this vintage has a fine reputation as a vehicle unlikely to fail in such a spectacular way. Assuming, as you say, the servicing has been by the book and the car has not been abused, used to tow massive loads, or operated as a rally car, then the suspicion is that the crankshaft of this particular example may have contained a casting or material fault from day one. This wouldn’t be visible to the people who assembled the engine, but could lead to such a failure after a period of time. I’d be inclined to talk to Toyota Australia’s customer service department to see if there’s any financial or mechanical help on offer to repair your vehicle. Even though your vehicle is out of warranty, you might find Toyota will be as horrified as you at such a major failure at such low kilometres and will do something about it. Assuming that a manufacturing flaw is, indeed, the cause of the failure. If you don’t get anywhere but wish to pursue it, an independent examination by an appropriate engineer might be able to pin-point the cause of the failure, at which point you might have another bargaining chip. Certainly a broken crankshaft at 62,000km is neither normal nor acceptable.

Can the spare wheel from another Corolla fit the 2019 ZR Hybrid?

The space-saver from a non-hybrid Corolla should fit your car, provided it’s from a model from the same generation of Corolla. Don’t forget, though, you’ll also need the correct jack and wheel brace to change a tyre by the side of the road. The bigger question perhaps, is where you’d store the spare tyre and tools on a Corolla Hybrid. The reason the hybrid model doesn’t have a spare tyre in the first place is that the hybrid’s batteries take up an awful lot of space under the boot floor, where the tyre would otherwise live. Meantime, having a tyre and tools rattling around loose in the hatch area is not only an inconvenience but, in a crash, could be potentially lethal.

Should I buy a Toyota Camry or a Toyota Corolla hatchback?

Both are regarded as great choices as a used car, so it will really come down to whether you need the extra interior space of the Camry over the practicality of the Corolla’s hatchback layout. With your budget, you might be able to get into a Camry Hybrid which will reduce running costs around town (which suits your suggested usage pattern) although these early Camry Hybrids can be more than a decade old now, so a close check of the condition of the batteries would be a mandatory pre-purchase requirement. The Corolla, meanwhile, was first seen here in hybrid form in 2016, and those cars are still closer to mid-$20,000, so possibly out of your range. The exception is a grey (private) import Corolla Hybrid, but these can be a bit more of a lottery than a locally delivered Toyota.

Is there anything important to know about the 2008 Toyota Corolla's fuel consumption?

The corolla is typical of more recent small cars by being very frugal and displaying very little fuel consumption difference between the two transmission choices offered; a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. In fact the manual's combined official figure of 7.3 litres per 100km is only a fraction better than the automatic's 7.4 litres per 100km over the same test. Other than the actual numbers, perhaps the most important thing to know in these days of sky-high fuel prices, is that the Corolla can run on standard 91RON unleaded petrol and doesn't require the more expensive 95 or 98RON stuff. The 2008 Corolla also scores points for being able to use fuel with anything up to 10 per cent ethanol (e10 fuel) potentially saving you even more at the pump. As with any vehicle, though, by far the biggest factor in fuel economy will be where and how you drive. Highway running will give you the best results, while urban driving uses more fuel. Similarly, drive with a heavy right foot and you will definitely use more fuel than a driver with a more delicate touch on the throttle.

I am thinking of getting a 2012/2013 Toyota Corolla but it has done close to 400,000km mileage. What are the things or replacement costs I need to consider?

That’s an awful lot of kilometres for a 2012 model car. Do you know the history of it? Was it a sales rep’s car? Those are really the first questions you need to answer as the car’s background might give you a good idea of how it’s been looked after. Put your detective’s hat on and take a close look at the car. Does the rear seat look pristine or is it about as worn as the rest of the interior? If it’s the latter, you could be looking at an ex-Uber taxi. Does the car have a permanent smell of pizza? Guess what? Basically, if the car is simply a high-miler with a good service record, then maybe it’s worth a punt. But if its history suggests a raft of different (but all underpaid) drivers and lots of stop-start city driving, then it could well be a liability in the short term. To be honest, the fact that it’s already done almost 400,000km and is still going suggests that the previous owner has, in fact, cared for it and serviced it properly. But even so, if the car is an ex-rental car or delivery vehicle it’s probably not a great car to own as it heads into its sunset years. And if it’s an ex-car-share vehicle, run in the other direction as fast as you can. The other documentation you’d really want to be able to examine would be the service history. Any skipped services over that period are bad news and will lead to problems down the track. As for what might need replacing; at that mileage the short answer is just about everything. It’s not just engines that wear out with kilometres, transmissions, suspension, brakes, bushes, bearings and everything else that can wear, will have begun that process. Again, how close it is to the car’s use-by-date being up will be down to how well it’s been maintained till now. At least parts for a Toyota Corolla will be relatively affordable compared with some of the competition.

Toyota Corolla 2004 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Toyota Corolla 2004 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Toyota Corolla 2004: Is my car worth fixing?

Answered by CarsGuide 4 Oct 2019

The damage seems extensive, and being an old car I would say it isn’t worth fixing.

Toyota Corolla 2004: Is my car a lemon?

Answered by CarsGuide 19 Apr 2019

No, it’s not normal, but it doesn’t mean it’s a lemon. It might only be a minor problem, so have a mechanic check it for you.

Engine

Used Toyota Corolla review: 2001-2007

17 Mar 2017 · by Graham Smith

Graham Smith reviews the 2001-2007 Toyota Corolla as a used buy. The 9th generation Toyota Corolla arrived late in 2001. It was an all-new model, but followed closely in the wheel tracks of its ...

ACCC issues fourteen recalls in past fortnight

14 Mar 2017 · by Daniel Gardner

A number of potentially hazardous faults have been identified in vehicles sold in Australia, prompting a wide range of recalls.

Used Toyota Corolla review: 2000-2015

1 Jan 2016 · by Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Toyota Corolla as a used buy.

Toyota Australia recalls 180,000 vehicles over airbag shrapnel fears

14 May 2015 · by Richard Blackburn

Toyota Australia has recalled more than 180,000 vehicles over fears that faulty airbags could spray shrapnel when deployed.

Toyota Corolla or Toyota Camry: Which is better for towing?

Answered by CarsGuide 19 Dec 2014

First you need to know the total weight of the trailer when it's loaded with everything you want to take with you when you go camping. It could easily sneak up to close to the Corolla's limit of 950 kg. You have to think of safety when towing, and it doesn't matter that you will only tow short distances or do it twice per year. I would tend to go for the Camry, it has a higher towing rating, it is a heavier vehicle and therefore more stable, and I think safer for your needs.

Used Toyota Corolla review: 2000-2012

21 Oct 2014 · by Ewan Kennedy

Well known as a safe buy, Toyota Corolla has been a major player in Australia since the mid 1960s. The Corolla was built in Melbourne until 1999 and fully imported from Japan since then, probably to ...

Used Toyota Corolla review: 1999-2012

28 Dec 2012 · by Ewan Kennedy

Well into its fourth decade in Australia the Toyota Corolla has consistently been a big player in our new and used-car scene.

Hyundai i30: Diesel fuel consumption

Answered by CarsGuide 11 Aug 2011

Hyundai claims an average fuel consumption of 4.7 L/100 km for the i30, with 4.1 L/100 km in extra urban driving and 5.7 L/100 km in urban driving. The fuel consumption figure used by Hyundai, and all other carmakers, is derived from the standard test conducted in a test laboratory, not real life. The purpose of publishing the test result is to provide buyers with a means of comparison between makes and models, it's not really meant to be taken as a real life measure of what you would get yourself. But it shouldn't be too far from the mark either, and I would reckon a 50 per cent variation is too much. More to the point you need to take into account your driving conditions, do you drive in flat or hilly conditions, do you have a lot of stop-start traffic on your way to work, do you mainly do short trips. The consumption you get is on the high side, and you could ask the dealer to check your car to make sure it is running well, but I believe the problem will be environmental.

Diesel

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