Corolla T sport
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Discussion

nottyash

Original Poster:

4,671 posts

217 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
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I am close to getting one of these for the Mrs as a runabout now we have sold her MR2 Roadster.
I am after a facelift model.
Now I know its not as good as a type R Civic, but its newer, and lower miles than the equivelent Type r for a lot less cash, as they are not as desirable. Insurance is pretty cheap too.
Also the Type R's for around £3500 are mostly modified dogs, and thats not what we want.
Does anyone own one? any problems? (Apart from the high power band.)

She really likes the Compressor model, but its almost twice the price of a facelift N/A model, and cant justift that for just 30bhp as we dont know how long we are keeping it for.
Cheersears

R60EST

2,364 posts

204 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
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I've just sold my wife's T Sport. It was well put together and had all the options you could wish for but the thing that let it down was the gearbox. 6 speed close ratio , great for acceleration and enjoying the VVTLi engine but when you got into 6th gear it was doing 20mph for every 1000 rpm so 80 on the motorway was 4000 rpm and it sounded too 'buzzy' and could really annoy on longer journeys.

IMO they should have made gears 1-5 close and then had 6th as an overdrive / cruising gear

mazdajason

1,113 posts

194 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
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As above, the gearbox is high revving especially on motorways and you really have to floor it all teh way to 6200 to get into 'lift'.
I've got an 05 facelift in red and I really like it. Parts are relative too and not too many people know what they are so you can stil surprise them at the lights!
Makes a good sound IMO as well. Not as many aftermarket parts as the MR2, supra etc but a very nice drive.

nottyash

Original Poster:

4,671 posts

217 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
quotequote all
Cheers guys, I heard the 6th gear was a bit pointless in it, but so long as they are reliable and drive well we will be ok.
Its not for motorway, she goes to work on twisty B roads for 21 miles each way so it should be ok for her. We want a usable hatch with a bit of fun.

TaffRichie

208 posts

174 months

Tuesday 17th January 2012
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The compressor is not worth the money, the VVTL-i is a good engine that loves being thrashed its good fun, but when you drive under 6200 is good on fuel, best of both worlds...

5705

1,165 posts

174 months

Wednesday 18th January 2012
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I've only just bought one. Looked at them because its handling was almost universally slated (therefore it's not uncomfortable like its rivals). Niggle: the 6-speed has quite a narrow gate and I'm taking a bit of time getting slick with shifts.

nottyash

Original Poster:

4,671 posts

217 months

Monday 23rd January 2012
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Well we now have a black 2005 T sport with 46000 mile on the clock.
So far so good, just driven 250 miles home in it and the wife loves it, which is who its for.

The powerband is laughable, its almost unusable its that high up and narrow, but that said it drives nice, and is fitted out with a lot of kit such as climate control, auto wipers and auto dim mirror.
Handling its OK, but certainly not with the best handling hot hatches, a little too much body roll, and the wheels and tyres could do with being a tad bigger.
For the price though these are quite a bargain.smile

Turbo Harry

5,193 posts

259 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
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Think of it as a hot hatch and you'll come away disappointed. Consider it a Corolla with one hell of a party trick and you'll enjoy owning it.