New Car

[ishmael]

Well, I finally made the leap. A 2002 plain Jane Toyota Corolla. What a relief! The ol' Mazda, as if in protest, just barely limped home today. Coughing, the brake caliper freezing up, the wheel hopping like a jumping bean, inspection overdue, registration overdue. But they didn't catch me! LOL.

Pick it up Friday. It's got a bit of wear and tear, but I think it's going to be good. It's always a crap shoot with a used car, but I think it's pretty difficult to go wrong with a Corolla. Boring, but practical. And, it will tow the boat, if not ideally.

It will be a great relief to reliably mobile agin. Winter's upon us here.

[JimD]

Good news. Hopefully it doesn't come with a trailer hitch. I drove my old madza b2200 as long as I could stand it, too, and still sold it for $1500. Its only a matter of time before one of the girls ask so what colour is it?:D

[LeeG]

Jesus Jack, you're gonna give us a heart attack jumping up like that. Sounds like you didn't want to get another car in ten years. I'm looking at Corollas too but probably a lot more miles. Congrats, no wonder you weren't posting, you were out in the world.

[WillW]

Funny enough, I did go wrong on a Corolla once, even though I bought it from a family member. The engine was shot - I think there was a problem for a run of years where oil had to be changed exactly on time.

[ishmael]

No, no trailer hitch on it at this point. I wouldn't have bought it if it had one.

It's obviously not an ideal tow vehicle, but it is rated at 1500 lbs. Enough for a short hop to the ramp. A lot of compacts won't tow anything, but Corollas, as long as I've known the more modern ones, have had a 1500 lb. rating.

We'll see how it works out, that fwd.

Dear old Mazda. She's been a good buggy. I'll be lucky if I see anything out of her at this point, but I have no complaints. A good twelve years of faithful service(with the exception of the exhaust system which seemed always to be rotten somewhere). That buggy never left me stranded. Built in 1988. Time to pass her on to some kid who wants to do the work. Or, to that great highway in the sky.

I've taken her on the road for the last time. Kinda sad. Lotsa memories.

[Keith Wilson]

Good job; you bought the pet rock! You won't regret it. It'll tow the Drascombe just fine. And now you won't post about maybe buying a 1954 Packard or a Simca and have to put up with all that abuse. ;)

[Meerkat]

I was betting on a Yugo. ;)

[Katherine]

Its only a matter of time before one of the girls ask so what colour is it?:DBite Me. :rolleyes:

[Rich VanValkenburg]

Sorry, but I can't help it. A lot of us here in Michigan that rely on the automotive industry are without jobs now, and yet so many folks are sending their dollars over to Japan. The excuse that the quality isn't as good aren't valid anymore.

Rich

[LeeG]

Rich, I can't help it either. When I first started looking at cars in the early 70's it was obvious Japan made better cars, same in the 80's, and 90's. Cars in the last six years ARE good but if a person is looking for long term affordable reliability can an American car do better than a Toyota Corolla for similar sized vehicle?

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/used-cars-best-and-worst-406/index.htm

[neoconocephalus]

I have a 2000 Chevy Prizm, which is identical to a Corolla. I pull my Bay Hen (about 1500 lbs trailerweight) without any problems over short and long distances. Also not problems on the boat ramp. My prozm is a standard; on the highway with the boat it does not drive well at 55 mph, however at 65-70 everything is fine.
I especially like the gasmileage of the prism. In Europe (where I used to live) it is common to use such 'midsize' cars to pull boats ...

Johannes

[The Bigfella]

My prozm is a standard; on the highway with the boat it does not drive well at 55 mph, however at 65-70 everything is fine.

You, sir, are dicing with death

[Stiletto]

Good on you Ish, It might pay to get the cambelt replaced if it hasnt already been done.

Toyota Corolla, reliability with a capital T! :D

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

That's great Jack... it will be a good car and cheap on gas. No timing belt on the 2002, and no biggie issues I can remember. Wheel bearings on the back I think, but just keep it greased and all. Good luck with it... should last a long time.

[ishmael]

"It might pay to get the cambelt replaced if it hasnt already been done."

Near as I can figure there is no cam belt. The valve train is run by an outside belt that runs all the gizmos, including the valve train, AC compressor, alternator, etc.

Kinda a nice innovation, if'n ya ask me. Presumably it's a non-interference motor.

P.S. Lee. This car has a lot of miles on it for the year. I figure someone either changed the oil regularly or they didn't. The crap shoot. If they changed it regularly it's just broken in.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Yes it is a non interference motor, and the timing mechanism is a chain.

[eleseus]

Ish,
I used to roll in a Corolla--until I got a truck because of its necessity for my work. I loved that car--no frills, awesome mileage, easy to maintain.
I miss the 'rolla!

[ishmael]

My ex, Rebecca, had an '89. It was kinda weird driving this car today. It's a Toyota Corolla! The same clutch hop in first gear, the same feel of the whole schmere.

I hope the new motor is as good as the one in the '89.

Anyone know where these motors are made? The motor in Rebecca's was deathless. When you hear of a Corolla going 400,000 miles, it's that motor.

We'll see. This one was strong, and I'm looking forward to being free again of car troubles.

[Mrleft8]

.....Next week on "As the Heinlein goes" Ishmael will determine that his new car has feelings for him..... Feelings that he's not sure he wants to reciprocate. He IS, after all in love with his cat..... STAY TUNED! ;)

[ishmael]

There's a great story of Jung, talking quite sincerely with his pots and pans.

When the mind slows down, becomes more aware, all objects become objects of love and admiration. It's much easier with the beautiful, but it's there, in the most mundane, and the ugly. Subject and object become meaningless distinctions.

I never named this Mazda, but she felt my affection. She was scorned today, and told me by being the worst she's ever been. She knows I'm leaving her.

I think this Toyota needs a name. Let's have a contest.

[The Bigfella]

[QUOTE]I think this Toyota needs a name. Let's have a contest./QUOTE]

Jungota

[Mrleft8]

Kar-l :D

[Popeye]

carawumpus

[Keith Wilson]

Ought to be a Japanese name, right? How about Ando Shoeki? (Look him up.) ;)

[PatCox]

Rocinante

[Popeye]

mr. fuji

[uncas]

Just take some of the letters off the stern so it reads " TOY"....

[geeman]

Tojo,,,,,,,,

[Mrleft8]

Carzilla

[Memphis Mike]

If I were you Jack, I'd call her Rosie.........Rosie Palm.

[Bob Adams]

I think today (Dec 7th) should be America's buy a Japaneese car day. In honor of all the Mitsubishis flying over Pearl Harbor in 1941.

[Bruce Hooke]

In that case, you'll have to look pretty carefully. My understanding is that a lot of so called "Japanese cars" are built in the United States. Meanwhile, there's a good chance my Ford Escort was built in Canada.

[ishmael]

I suspect this car was manufactured in Fremont, CA. I guess those pesky Japs invaded the west coast after all.

[martin schulz]

Sorry, but I can't help it. A lot of us here in Michigan that rely on the automotive industry are without jobs now, and yet so many folks are sending their dollars over to Japan. The excuse that the quality isn't as good aren't valid anymore.

Rich

By the way - what kind of PC are you sitting in front off?

[Popeye]

show me how domestic car quality has improved and i'll gladly go back to the showroom , but last i checked , compared to imports , even the korean stuff , it still sucked

[Keith Wilson]

I suspect this car was manufactured in Fremont, CA.It was, at NUMMI. They make the Matrix/Vibe there now, as well as Corollas and Tacoma pickup trucks. I think the engines still come from Japan.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

The NUMMI plant makes GM cars on the other side of the plant. Proof positive it ain't the worker.

[Keith Wilson]

The NUMMI plant makes GM cars on the other side of the plant. Thay make them on the same same lines, actually. I was in there a few years ago, and there would be a Geo Prizm following two Corollas.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

I guess engineering does count for something...:)

[Gonzalo]

What's NUMMI?

[ishmael]

I agree with Peter that it's not the worker. But what is it? Why, with the same workforce, do Toyotas or Hyundais come off the line with fewer complaints from consumers than "American" brands? Is it manangement? Industrial efficiency in the design of the plant? Why don't Ford and GM just copy the model that works? I know they've got structural problems, funded pensions and such, that are an added burden, but if you don't make a product that can compete...

Brother just bought a new Tacoma. He looked at Chevy, but not at Ford. He came away, after a more than cursory look, saying I don't want a Colorado, I want a Tacoma. Both built here. It seems the American tags continue in quirky. I mean, a five cylinder motor, when the I 4 of the Toyota has been so good? Maybe, but it doesn't seem to be working. I don't mean our engineers ought to slavishly follow, but when the engineering is better, use that as a place to start, and change it carefully.


From what I understand there has been an uptick in quality in American badges. Some of the new Mercury models et al are just as good as anything coming off the Asian lines if Consumer Reports is to be believed. If I were buying new I'd have a peek.

[Popeye]

as i understand it the major differences/problems lie in the management , top heavy beaurocracy to make the civil service blush

seems new talent can't get their ideas across or they simply wallow and then sink in the quagmire and get slowly digested and finally pooped out and down the drain they go

oops rambling

[PatCox]

There has been a great uptick in US brands quality. Drive a cadillac. I attended a seminar for GM dealers yesterday, they have amazing quality control systems. I was very impressed.

I frequently work with auto manufacturers, and for strange reasons, public utilities, in my job. For bloated, non-functional, lets have a meeting in three weeks to schedule a meeting to discuss the decision-making process to be used at our meeting, the utilities people take the crown, hands down. Telephone and power people, I am talking, all ex jock boneheads.

The manufacturer people I have worked with have been generally very impressive, probably because a lot of them have been engineers.

[Keith Wilson]

What's NUMMI?New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated - joint venture GM and Toyota Plant in Fremont, CA (south of Oakland). The problem with GM is not engineering talent; they've got plenty of that. It's management IMHO.

And I'd agree that thre has been a great improvement in the reliability of at least some US cars. Still not at Japanese levels, but a lot better than they used to be.

[ishmael]

Went and picked it up. I'm pleased. Mobility without fretting again.

One thing I'm a little unhappy about. The previous owner had run the edge of the bumper onto something and broken the fender liner. Part of the deal was a new fender liner, which they did. But the bumper, some composite material, has a kink in it where it meets the fender liner, leaving one small gap. I was hoping they were going to fix that when they put the new liner in, but no.

Is there a way to straighten that out and close the gap? Maybe a heat gun? It's down low enough that the salt and crud won't be getting at metal, but it still bugs me.

[LeeG]

, but it still bugs me.


talk to it

[Rick Clark]

Wax it real good it will love you.