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Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla 1.6 T Spirit

The trouble with the hatchback was that it spent many of its 12 months with us being compared with the Verso which seemed to win devotees at every turn. So the T Spirit returned to Toyota respected... but not quite loved.

By Lesley Harris

September 2002

The trouble with the hatchback was that it spent many of its 12 months with us being compared with the Verso which seemed to win devotees at every turn. So the T Spirit returned to Toyota respected... but not quite loved.
Not that it was a bad car - far from it. The interior materials were durable, and despite being subjected to a year of commuting - and ferrying equipment for countless DIY projects - the plastics and carpets always felt as good as new.
However, the same couldn't be said for the engine. At the end of the last update (issue 703), I mentioned that an odd buzzing noise had developed. Although it didn't seem to affect performance, it soon grew louder and more intrusive.
I took the car - which had 7,465 miles on the clock - to McCarthy Toyota in Croydon for an unscheduled check-up. Despite taking it for a test drive and fumbling around under the bonnet, the dealer found nothing wrong and assured me that everything was as it should be. It was even suggested that the 1.6-litre engine was a fairly noisy unit to start with! However, the exhaust was replaced under warranty as a preventative measure. At the same time, the dealer dealt with the rear-axle mounting bolts which were subject to a recall that had been announced in May.
Although the buzzing didn't get any worse, the routine 10,000-mile service, again at McCarthy, failed to diagnose the mystery noise. That noted, the rest of the service was carried out with the minimum of fuss and cost us a reasonable ΂£116.24. Maybe it was just that engine after all.
Life with the five-door Corolla was enjoyable, if a little unremarkable. It wasn't a vehicle to stand out from the crowd visually or dynamically, but it proved to be a decent long-haul machine.

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REPORT

[+]
Decent fit and finish, cheap (for a petrol car) to run, very easy to drive
[-]
Mystery engine noise, uninspired
On fleet since:December 2001
Price when new:£13,795
Running costs:40ppm
Mileage:11,863/34.1 (mpg)
Costs to date:Service: £116.24
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