i purchased this car new-ish.. it was a leftover that no one wanted because it was a stick. It was also a weirdly optioned stick, as it didn't have the spoiler, the fog lights, alloys, but had leather and a moon-roof. When i purchased this i had leased it with the intention of keeping it. I was working on Long Island and living in NJ, so my commute daily was killer. The miles poured on, and in 3 years i had done 100K miles. i owned the car for an additional 3 years in that time i put on over 300K miles. I had figured that this car would run as long as my 85 camry, however it did not.. There are some issues with this car to which you should keep in mind.. 1. The 1zzFe engine in the 98-99 corolla is not the same as the 1zzfe used in the 2000 - 2014 models. There is no variable valve timing. (VVTI) as a result the parts are different between this one and the new ones, which means they are a little more expensive. 2. The clutch in the manuals sucks.. 3. The DRL have a design flaw, so you will eat through bulbs like water 4. The power window regulators suck, and do not close right. 5. The O2 sensors are expensive, and this model had an issue with eating them. (i pulled the check engine bulb and gave up, drove another 100k miles and didn't care) Aside from that, i am certain you cannot kill these cars.. I know as once i got to 250K miles, i decided to rip it apart and make a tuner. This was a cheaper investment than a Honda, and the outcome was brutal fun.. at 250K miles. Motor was replaced with a 2zzGE(gen1) with forged internals (9200RPM redline) The transmission was replaced with a (gen1) 6speed from a celica gts The clutch was replaced as well as all the linkage.. with a stage 4 clutch and lightened flywheel. (Added LSD) The interior was gutted two racing seats installed Added coil-overs 17in Rota's and street slick summer tires. Sold the car at 304K miles after having some fun. (got 7k) ran a 13.2 on all motor and still got 30mpg..

I like that it's affordable. My initial purchase of the car was fairly cheap and it was and still is in good condition. I bought it to commute to work and school but have driven it on 850 mile trips. It runs very well and is reliable. I've been very happy with it and the gas mileage it gets.

It's OK for keeping car costs down while providing reliable transport. Had it since 1997 and put 175,000 miles on it. Still running strong. Body and interior in good shape. Highly desirable car for people looking to save gas / money.

This car actually accelerates really well and its suspension is nice and tight, so it handles very well. It was rear ended three years ago and held up so well that I was amazed at how sturdy and tough it was. It's a neat looking car, not too big, very economical. My Corolla is 14 years old as of last November, and the only major things I have ever had to do were sporadic but more labor intensive than anything. That tells you how well the car was built and regular care is a part of any car's lasting durability. The Corolla is no exception. It's mileage is great for such a small gas tank but it's very fuel efficient. I actually have a lot of fun driving this car. It's the one car I've ever owned that I just enjoy driving.

Performance - slow acceleration, handling is solid, motor is reliable Build Quality - almost never needs repairs Appearance - all the paint is on it and there are no dents, but the trim is falling off Fun factor - not much of a wow factor, but it is a manual transmission Mileage - around 217,000 km