Toyota Corolla 1.8 T-Sport - Motorway Driving/Buying Tips
Discussion
Hi Guys,
I am in the market for a Corolla 1.8 T-Sport. I would like to know what these are like on the motorways to drive. Below are some questions:
1. Do the revs drop when in high gears to allow for comfortable cruising or do they remain high around 3500-4000 resulting woeful mpg?
2. Does the car shake at higher speeds 70-80 mph?
3. In windy conditions does it feel light and lift at the front?
Also, if there are any other buying points you could suggest that would be great.
P.S. If you have any photos of you're own cars they'd be cool to see.
Thanks, H
I am in the market for a Corolla 1.8 T-Sport. I would like to know what these are like on the motorways to drive. Below are some questions:
1. Do the revs drop when in high gears to allow for comfortable cruising or do they remain high around 3500-4000 resulting woeful mpg?
2. Does the car shake at higher speeds 70-80 mph?
3. In windy conditions does it feel light and lift at the front?
Also, if there are any other buying points you could suggest that would be great.
P.S. If you have any photos of you're own cars they'd be cool to see.
Thanks, H
The 6th is far too close to 5th for low rev cruising. Needs a bit of familiarity before you can get 1st reliably (very narrow gate).
I've had 33-38mpg on brim-to-brim driving. Not trying that hard, either. The (at least my car's) exhaust is also more resonant at 3000rpm than 4000rpm, which is a reason for NOT cruising at around 60mph.
Had no probems with cross winds that I can remember.
Interesting car - surprises most passengers when it does its party trick. Very good value compared to the CTR. Have one (and will be selling it when I can get a photo taken, as it happens).
I've had 33-38mpg on brim-to-brim driving. Not trying that hard, either. The (at least my car's) exhaust is also more resonant at 3000rpm than 4000rpm, which is a reason for NOT cruising at around 60mph.
Had no probems with cross winds that I can remember. Interesting car - surprises most passengers when it does its party trick. Very good value compared to the CTR. Have one (and will be selling it when I can get a photo taken, as it happens).
Similar to Honda's Type Rs, the short gearing and high redlines mean high revs at motorway speeds. I've never heard a T Sport with an aftermarket exhaust, and while the general opinion seems to be that they don't sound as good as the Type R line, they probably can sound pretty good, so an aftermarket exhaust may well be something you want to look at.
However, if you are looking for a motorway slogger and the high revs are putting you off, I wouldn't change the exhaust, or even get a T sport at all, as high revs, part load and constant speed make for a headache inducing drone.
I do quite like the T Sport though, they do have a sort of stealthy cool about them.
However, if you are looking for a motorway slogger and the high revs are putting you off, I wouldn't change the exhaust, or even get a T sport at all, as high revs, part load and constant speed make for a headache inducing drone.
I do quite like the T Sport though, they do have a sort of stealthy cool about them.
1. Like others have said, motorway driving is not its forte. Expect high revs due to short gearing. Mpg on a long run is reaonable 30+mpg despite the revs.
2. No, drives just like any other modern hatchback
3. No, despite being quite tall.
Look out for mileage discrepancies at least 2 I looked at were clocked.
The clutch is weak and the clutch release bearing can become noisy.
Early ones have a heater matrix problem. Ie no warm air. This is either solved with a coolant system flush or a new matrix. My way around this was to put the heater to internally circulate and got heat.
Other than that its a bullet proof toyota.
The engine uses oil, make sure its topped up with fully synth 5w30 regularly especially if you use the full rev range often.
The early ones are now very cheap, go for the facelift if possible, it has different front lights and a more pronounced body kit.
Leather was an option, I prefer it as the standard cloth seats dont wear well in the middle.
Look at purchasing new (lower)springs and or dampers as the standard ride height looks terrible.
Its not particularly sophisticated chassis wise, simply a corolla with a mad engine. If you adjust your driving style in accordance to the cars bad points its still a quick point to point tool.
it does a 140 vmax.
The best thing about it is the granny wagon looks and relatively good performance.
it will keep up with type r's, golf gti's all day long.
A bad pic
2. No, drives just like any other modern hatchback
3. No, despite being quite tall.
Look out for mileage discrepancies at least 2 I looked at were clocked.
The clutch is weak and the clutch release bearing can become noisy.
Early ones have a heater matrix problem. Ie no warm air. This is either solved with a coolant system flush or a new matrix. My way around this was to put the heater to internally circulate and got heat.
Other than that its a bullet proof toyota.
The engine uses oil, make sure its topped up with fully synth 5w30 regularly especially if you use the full rev range often.
The early ones are now very cheap, go for the facelift if possible, it has different front lights and a more pronounced body kit.
Leather was an option, I prefer it as the standard cloth seats dont wear well in the middle.
Look at purchasing new (lower)springs and or dampers as the standard ride height looks terrible.
Its not particularly sophisticated chassis wise, simply a corolla with a mad engine. If you adjust your driving style in accordance to the cars bad points its still a quick point to point tool.
it does a 140 vmax.
The best thing about it is the granny wagon looks and relatively good performance.
it will keep up with type r's, golf gti's all day long.
A bad pic
Edited by Studio117 on Sunday 7th October 22:42
Can only what echo what everyone else has already said. Noisy on the motorway due to the short gearing but otherwise a lively motor. I've had mine for near on 18 months, and it's only needed servicing and tyres. Lift bolts should be changed as a precaution and only cost about £1 each from Toyota. Front headlights can have some misting on them due to age but otherwise it's great!
Just remembered: Paul Woods who transplants the same engines into the MR2 also fiddles with the gearbox to make 6th more practical. Something about putting in an Avensis 6th, I think?
Not much use to you but just more confirmation that this was something Mr Toyota got wrong.
Enjoy the test drive. The dealer who sold mine did not know about the lift that happens at 5800rpm and had a mini panic when I booted it and didn't change up until 8000rpm.
Not much use to you
but just more confirmation that this was something Mr Toyota got wrong.Enjoy the test drive. The dealer who sold mine did not know about the lift that happens at 5800rpm and had a mini panic when I booted it and didn't change up until 8000rpm.
Haralabos said:
Guys,
Thanks for all your comments.
I was planning on a few trips say to France/Belgium (a bit concerned now!).
I guess a test drive is necessary soon.
H
Why would you be concerned? It's not the most comfortable motorway car but it's more than capable of such a journy. People do bigger trips in far older, more fragile and less suitable cars, and the T sport will be good fun on normal roads when you aren't slogging down the motorway.Thanks for all your comments.
I was planning on a few trips say to France/Belgium (a bit concerned now!).
I guess a test drive is necessary soon.
H
Mastodon2 said:
Why would you be concerned? It's not the most comfortable motorway car but it's more than capable of such a journy. People do bigger trips in far older, more fragile and less suitable cars, and the T sport will be good fun on normal roads when you aren't slogging down the motorway.
Apart from the high revs, its a very confortable car. The seats are great(apart from not holding you in around the bends).My mum still has one. Had it for about 8 years now. Only things gone wrong with it were a seized rear calliper and a blown headlight bulb. Not appreciably used any oil between services.
To answer you questions again.
Comfortably in the 30s mpg on motorway. It does sit at mid range revs but it's not exactly deafening. I have done thousands of miles in my Mums over the years, even taken it out to the Nurburgring for some abuse.
A friend of mine had one that he had a custom exhaust made for and it was noisy as hell and he had to have it re made with extra sound deadening.
Ok it's no track monster but as a road car I would have no problems owning or recommending one, certainly surprises a lot of people.
I had a test drive in one of the supercharged ones once and have to say despite it being slower I preferred the normal one as the step between the low and top end is much more pronounced which made it feel a bit more fun.
Really fancy a drive in it now I have written that but I'm not on the insurance anymore now that I don't live at my parents house.
To answer you questions again.
Comfortably in the 30s mpg on motorway. It does sit at mid range revs but it's not exactly deafening. I have done thousands of miles in my Mums over the years, even taken it out to the Nurburgring for some abuse.
A friend of mine had one that he had a custom exhaust made for and it was noisy as hell and he had to have it re made with extra sound deadening.
Ok it's no track monster but as a road car I would have no problems owning or recommending one, certainly surprises a lot of people.
I had a test drive in one of the supercharged ones once and have to say despite it being slower I preferred the normal one as the step between the low and top end is much more pronounced which made it feel a bit more fun.
Really fancy a drive in it now I have written that but I'm not on the insurance anymore now that I don't live at my parents house.
I bought the wife an 05 facelift car and was dissapointed with it.
Its no hot hatch, MPG is not good enough for the mediocre performance, I was getting just the same MPG as my M3 driving the same speeds, so just not good enough.
Worst of all the power band is far to narrow to be usable and motorway cruising was noisy.
Faults with the car, well a common one happened to ours. The seat pins snapped, resulting with the seat stuck in position. This is a new seat base from Toyota over £400
however there is a cheap fix on the net which involves drilling and fitting a bolt.
Squeeky clutch pedal was another annoying fault, again common.
The later car is nicer inside with auto dim mirror, steering wheel controls etc and lowered slightly too, but its still crap for a hot hatch.
One of my biggest dissapointments.
The compressor may be better though, but still has the same suspension.
Its no hot hatch, MPG is not good enough for the mediocre performance, I was getting just the same MPG as my M3 driving the same speeds, so just not good enough.
Worst of all the power band is far to narrow to be usable and motorway cruising was noisy.
Faults with the car, well a common one happened to ours. The seat pins snapped, resulting with the seat stuck in position. This is a new seat base from Toyota over £400
however there is a cheap fix on the net which involves drilling and fitting a bolt.Squeeky clutch pedal was another annoying fault, again common.
The later car is nicer inside with auto dim mirror, steering wheel controls etc and lowered slightly too, but its still crap for a hot hatch.
One of my biggest dissapointments.
The compressor may be better though, but still has the same suspension.
Edited by nottyash on Wednesday 24th October 12:37
Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff