Shopping for a new car. The current 2014 Corolla was my first vehicle purchase, and I just didn’t know what to avoid.
2014 Corolla
Pros
I get about 29mpg combined city and hwy
Cost to own has been low, (no unreasonable repairs)
Size makes parking easy
Cons
CVT transmission saves gas by providing lethargic acceleration 9.7 secs 0-60
wind noise and road noise are so loud I can only really listen to music or audiobooks at traffic stops
CVT transmission is a sealed unit, and when it dies it will cost about as much as the car is worth to replace. I see others have had them die at 100k miles on this year. 2014 was the first year Toyota put a CVT in the Corolla
My ideal car would have the following traits:
quiet inside - good passive soundproofing
snappy acceleration
no turbocharger
not EV or hybrid
reliable track record
best gas mileage possible given above requirement
have better features for going offroad (normal stuff not artificial beatings)
have better features for dealing with snow/slippery conditions
So far the closest thing I’ve found is the Honda Ridgeline. Downsides include unibody construction, a timing belt that must be changed at 100k, and lower gas mileage than I’m used to. Some claim they can get 25mpg though.
Sidenote: Not a solution to my problem, but the Toyota GR86 looks like it would be a million times more fun to drive. It’s loud inside, but at least the driving experience makes up for it. The Corolla exposes me to about as much noise as a performance car but without the performance.
Then don’t get a Prius. It’s a road noise drum.
Quiet tires can help but there can be a loss in some other criteria for to reduce road noise.
There’s usually a trade-off between mpg and performance, and size certainly.
Yea it’s tough, barring EVS you can’t really pursue maximum fuel efficiency and quiet operation at the same time. I’ve decided I have to accept that whatever I get is going to have worse gas mileage. I just want to make sure I actually enjoy driving the car this time around.
I never said, but EVs and Hybrids are out for two reasons. 1) I live in apartment so there is no place to keep it plugged in. 2) I think those vehicles tend to be harder to self-service.
Lots of newer vehicles seem to use inline 4 engines with turbos, I am guessing it is to meet some arbitrary emissions requirement. I want to avoid those because I am thinking the noise they make is more likely to be annoying. They also tend to run better on more expensive premium fuel. Finally, they just sound unsexy
Consumer reports measures the noise levels…along with many other things.
Take a look at them. A membership is well worth the price. Toyota Camry Hybrid is quiet, highly rated, and gets in the mid-40Mpg.
My car is from year 2001, has 310.000 kms and It is diesel. It is noisy inside. Road noise, engine noise, wind noise. (I can hear the music/radio while driving…)
Compared to yours, yours is new. Year 2014…
I have no plans to change It. If It breaks, I Will repair It and continue using because I have no way to buy a completely brand new car. Repairing the car is much less money than buying a new one. And It is better for the environment.
I dont understand why this society throws to the garage/scrap things that can be repaired, no Matter the cost. Then we Talk about climate change…
Good luck finding a good one. Today Cars dont last much and are too expensive to buy and more expensive to repair/keep working…
And dont buy another with cvt…
And today cars… Almost all have turbocharger.
I think best solution for you is to fix your actual car and continue using It for 10 years more.
Just an idea: 150 hp Mazda3 Skyactiv-G 2.0 M Hybrid? (Unfortunately it is only available as hybrid, only older models have the 2 litre engine with 165 hp without hybrid, this version is only available with manual)
I own an old Kia Rio from 2009, which is not as fast and quite loud at over 120 kph, but it is very fun to drive - and I have no plans for changing it since it is absolutely reliable and cheap (around 6.5 litres per 100 km/ 36 mpg)
But if some day my Kia is broken I would a Mazda3 with mentioned engines as used car I think
Edit: since it seems a pick-up is preferred (Honda Ridgeline) I cannot help I think. Here in EU pick-up trucks are not a thing.
Not really a car recommendation, but since you mentioned it, I’ve a GT86, cabin noise is indeed slightly louder than “average hatchback” levels of noise, however, it is absolutely great to drive. The GR86 has a larger engine and is slightly faster.
Being RWD sportscars, I would consider both terrible options for ice/snow
We have a 2016 Corolla, and even though it’s not perfect, it’s the best fit for us.
If you want something extremely reliable, I suggest getting a Toyota or a Honda.
I really like Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide for help choosing a used vehicle.
Yeah I really didn’t want to spend 70K on a new truck. Continuing computer codes and catalytic converter issues with my 07 Avalanche made me realize I was beating a dieing horse. You get to where you wonder is it gonna leave me on a long trip
If you want a normal car check out the Honda Accord they are great cars not sure what model you get overseas ? The slightly older K24 engine is great, the Accord Euro in Australia put out 148kw not bad for a NA 4 banger. You can get more power from them by a few mods you can also get the v6 model it has more power.
Nothing is technically wrong with my car except that I don’t like driving it. I lived with my decision for 6 years, and now I want to get a car I enjoy driving. As a bonus, I hope to get more value out of the Corolla by selling it before the CVT has a chance to croak.
Selling a car doesn’t necessarily send it to the junkyard. I’d say generally they are far more likely to be cleaned up, serviced, and resold. Even salvage cars get purchased by body shops who flip them after working on them.
And today cars… Almost all have turbocharger.
Almost, but not all. Plus, I will consider low mileage used vehicles.
A pickup would be nice but it isn’t required. The thing is, I’ve been working on my health and in the future I want to do more outdoorsy things. The ability to pull a trailer would also be good. And I figured having a vehicle that doesn’t get stuck on a grassy knoll could only help with that. Plus, it would be nice to be able to haul my own furniture.
The thing that originally got me looking at the trucks was 4WD or AWD but I’m coming around to the idea that the feature could be overrated. (expensive to repair, picky about tire wear)
The non-Hybrid thing is a requirement though. I expect that repairing a hybrid is harder for a DIYer and I want to do more and more maintenance on my own as time goes on. Also, my living situation is just bad for a Hybrid. It would be stored in an open parking lot with no outlet.
I’m considering manuals. I’ve never owned one, but I think I’d enjoy it.
Well, I figured the 25mpg was from a guy with a long highway commute. He did say it was 25mpg “combined” but he probably does very little actual city driving.
Not sure what you mean by saying the Ridgeline is not fast. I guess it is all relative. My car hits 60mph in 9.6 seconds. The Ridgeline is supposed to be able to do it in about 6 seconds. I’m also not looking for highest max speed, but responsiveness. My Corolla seems deliberately designed to be less responsive. At any rate, I won’t buy anything without test driving it first. And I plan to test drive a lot of things this time instead of settling early.
Corollas are pretty reliable and popular.
You should be able to sell it for a decent chunk of change (compared to less reliable cars or cars with less demand.)
Hopefully! It is a 2014 though, which was the first year of a redesign and the first time the Corolla had a CVT. Not sure if that’ll hurt resale or not. I do find some forum posts of people who had their 2014 Corolla CVT die between 90k and 115k miles. If I loved driving this thing, I’d say “screw it” and just see how long I could drive it. But since I don’t, I’m out looking.
