2009 Toyota Corolla Consumer Reviews Page 10

I hate the electric steering!!

Written by: braymondg on 10/27/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I bought this as a second car for my wife because she wanted a reliable vehicle and opted for the Corolla. Now I wish I would have convinced her to buy a Civic. I just deplore the electric steering. No feel whatsoever! Highway passing is a venture in itself. I found myself adjusting in the lane because of a dead spot in the wheel. Reminded me of the old Chev truck my father drove back in the sixties. Terrible! Another thing is the ride. I hate it. All this is good for is going to the grocery store. Good thing it's only a few blocks away.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Style = 0. Ride = 0. Handling = 0. Reliable, maybe, but so is my 20 year old wheel barrow!!

4 out 10 people found this review helpful

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Best compact around

Written by: GANDORAMA on 10/25/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I drive 18 miles each way to work, and it's a pleasure to drive the Corolla. I like the instant mpg monitor. Even at 27 city 35 hwy EPA, I average 33 mpg, and hit 43.51 mpg on the highway over a 150 mile trip. I filled up, drove and filled again on return. It's very quiet for a compact, the stereo is decent, and I am beginning to like the electronic power steering a lot more. As it breaks in it is getting better mileage. I got the gray with gray window tint and its classy looking without adding anything to it. Brakes are great, haven't had it in the snow yet. Very little wind noise on the highway. Seats are comfortable, visibility good. Good rear legroom. Smokes the competitors.

Favorite Features

I like the MPG monitor and ext temp. I use the MP3 connector and the MP3 playing CD player constantly. Great trunk, can fit the bass amp in it nicely. Fold down seats, ABS, side airbags, awesome commuter. It's like a small Camry, how cool is that?

Suggested Improvements

Move the monitor system to the center of the car. Difficult to change the mode while driving. The mode system should allow constant display of time and other modes simultaneously. No individual display of tire pressures, ya have to check 'em all. Center console could be better laid out.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Excellent Econo Car!

Written by: PFS on 10/25/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

Purchased the car in September and already have over 1200 miles on it. Purchased it for the great gas millage and low price but I agree with other reviews that it is a very basic car and some of the features were poorly thought out like the center armrest and the clock. However for the money this is a great car. It takes some getting use to the electronic power steering but for a 1.8 liter engine there is lots of pep in this car. I am averaging 33.5 MPG so far and overall am pleased with the purchase. The best news was that the dealer was extremely anxious to deal on price – way better price then the TMZ price. In addition, the zero percent financing sealed the deal!

Favorite Features

Love the look, great fit & finish, auxiliary jack for iPod or satellite radio, lots of room for a small car, split folding rear seats.

Suggested Improvements

Move the clock and fix the center console! Compared to others in the price range (Civic and Elantra) I would say that Corolla lacks in features.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Old man's car

Written by: Jim Reeves on 10/24/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I was looking for an old man's car when I bought this one. From that perspective I couldn't be happier. I've got a dealership installed leather option called a Platinum package. The electric power steering is reminiscent of the old (50's) luxury cars and I love it! One finger steering at idle! I only have 1700 miles on it but am seriously impressed. The lack of styling is disappointing, reminds me of a '51 Willys sedan, but I didn't buy it to impress anyone. The interior is comfortable and quiet. I had a 2008 rental for a couple of weeks, and this is much better (I wouldn't have bought a 2008 model. I've had 2 Toyotas, a 1970 Corona MKII and a 1987 pickup. They were both rock solid reliable.

Favorite Features

Comfortable, quiet and soft ride. Outstanding gas mileage. Lights turn on automatically when it gets dark.

Suggested Improvements

Separate clock and trip odometer. Chrome outside trim. Lower head rests in front seats.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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My First Toyota is Great

Written by: M Gamble on 10/22/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

38.9 MPG. Do I need to say anything else? I travel 30,000 highway miles annually and since purchasing the 2009 in July of 2008, the LE is providing great fuel economy, reliability, technology and above average comfort. The only design flaw is the lack of proper location of arm rests for the drivers seat. This really comes in play on the highway; not as much in the city. Suggestion: If you log the high miles, purchase the bumper-to-bumper package. For the additional $700.00 it will pay itself off in the off-chance this Toyota has a major mechanical failure. Signed Satisfied Toyota Owner

Favorite Features

Great MPG. Electronic Steering. Trunk space surprising large and efficient with the 40/60 fold down back seats.

Suggested Improvements

Driver armrest location. Continental tires are noisy. Oddity: When only the rear windows are open, the back window area makes a disturbing pounding noise.:(

6 out 8 people found this review helpful

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Almost completely satisfied

Written by: eliza on 10/22/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

Good car. Car is comfortable and rides very nice. good interior and trunk space. tire pressure warning light has come on twice in three months. Brought car back to dealer to have tire checked. They couldn't find any problems and said this is a normal warning. Not completely satisfied with answer.

Favorite Features

Nice looking. interior and trunk space.

Suggested Improvements

Clock should be displayed full time.

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Best car I've bought in a long time

Written by: Tacoma Jim on 10/21/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla S 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I've owned just about every car made over the years. I needed a car that got great fuel economy and didn't look like an egg going down the road. The Corolla S looks great, runs great, and I average over 40 mpg on the freeway with my 70+ mile commute every day. The new 2009 interior is comfortable on the long drives, much better than the 2008. I like just about everything about the car and the price was more than fair for something that I know will last me over 200k miles with no problems.

Favorite Features

Great looks, great fuel economy, roomy trunk, 1st class fit and finish, and the stereo actually sounds great with my iPod.

Suggested Improvements

Clock on the radio.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Great So Far

Written by: ameri_star on 10/15/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

Driving this car is actually a lot more fun than people give it credit for. Yes it is an economy car but it can get up to speed quickly enough to pass other cars. It has a very sporty look (even at the LE grade) and generally doesn't look like every other car on the road. The electronic power steering takes some getting used to but overall I haven't had a bad experience with this car. Gets great gas mileage on the highway in my opinion. I drive mostly mixed hwy/city driving and so far the best I've gotten is 35MPG.

Favorite Features

Auxiliary jack for iPod, automatic day/nighttime lighting in the interior, double compartment glove box

Suggested Improvements

They could have worked to make the interior look a little bit more polished. They seemed to have a metal theme but the center console ends up looking rather plain in my opinion. Should have moved the clock to the radio.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Not So Good

Written by: Joel Hall on 10/05/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

I purchased our new 2009 Corolla to do some extensive traveling. We find the car excellent in the city, but on the highway it is terrible. The car is uncomfortable - seats, armrests, lumbar support, left foot positioning, blind spots. The worst problem is a vibration at highway speeds that the dealership says is normal. We are so disappointed in our new Corolla and are considering dealing it at only 3000 kilometers.

Favorite Features

We love the fit aand finish and the styling.

Suggested Improvements

The harsh ride (vibration at highway speed ). The comfort of the drivers station.

11 out 19 people found this review helpful

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Good Car so far at only1050 miles total.

Written by: Frank M. on 10/02/2008

Vehicle

2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)

Review

Since our 99 'Civic was totaled while stopped at a red light, I decided to look around at other brands of cars: After examining everything on the market, I bought a new 09' Corolla LE. Why? Toyota's reputation for reliability is seldom matched, and competing brands weren't outstanding. It's a solid feeling car that performs as well or better than almost any other economy vehicle. The mileage is superb: with about a half-and-half mix of heavy town traffic and mountain driving, it has averaged 35.8 MPG! Much better than advertised. I don't shove my foot through the gas pedal, but it keeps up with traffic just fine. The "Hot Car" magazines may pan it, but average drivers will be happy.

Favorite Features

This car was a demo, and has everything: sunroof, cruise control, VSC and all the other goodies. Everything works as advertised. The car has a timing chain rather than a belt, which saves big bucks in maintenance costs. It has Variable Valve (VV2) timing on BOTH camshafts.

Suggested Improvements

The steering could use some feedback but allegedly uses much less power than hydraulic units. This model could use a permanent clock display, rather than the one cycled with the average mpg, temp, etc., and the arm rests are inadequate. But yeah, I'd buy it again!

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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