... I shopped round and was on the point on chucking it in against a (spit!) Daewoo Nubira estate which was less than 12 months old and going very cheap (I saw why soon enough!)
After much constenation and umming and ahhhing between getting the ABS done at a backstreet garage, I threw the towel ... Read review
Advantages: Economy, Reliability, Comfort and Ride Disadvantages: 'Boring' styling (not really a disadvantage - saves it getting robbed!)
...and condition of the car, Toyota UK would foot the bill as a good will gesture (something I was told was commonplace with Toyota for things that go wrong that shouldnt - I was told that the garage had fixed some repairs free of charge on cars as much as 6 years old!!!)
Since then, I have not had any problems at all. I even forget to check the screenwash level sometimes - the bonnet latch will seize before anything else through lack ... ...a Jaguar (XK8 or S-type please, Santa!), my next car is going to be a Toyota (and if I can convince my girlfriend; the Carina wont be leaving our house either!!!)
My only regret with toyotas is that I wasted the money on breakdown cover!
... more
Carina E 1.8 GS estate, 1997 P reg, bought 12 months old, 1998 I have had this car now for almost 4 years, longer than any car previously and can not recommend it enough! The fuel economy and tank size (65 litres) are big enough to get me deep into France before a refill (from Liverpool!) and the ride is very comfortable over distances.
I could go on and on about the plus points of this car; superb fuel consumption (as good as my 1.2 corsa I had before!!), comfort, room, ooomph(!), low noise levels, good radio etc etc etc, but instead, I'll tell you everything thats gone wrong!
Front tyres wear a bit quicker than on your average car, (though whether thats due to an over ambitious accelerator foot using the power to spin the wheels out of junctions rather than pull out like a milk float I dont know!
About a year ago I had a decision to make. I normally change cars every two years but had not felt the need after 3 years until I found the ABS light had come on and decided to stay on. Alarm bells rung (eeeeek! cost!). Was now the time to give up on it and get a newer one. I shopped round and was on the point on chucking it in against a (spit!) Daewoo Nubira estate which was less than 12 months old and going very cheap (I saw why soon enough!)
After much constenation and umming and ahhhing between getting the ABS done at a backstreet garage, I threw the towel in; I put it into the main dealer and said do what you gotta do, and boy am i glad i did! I had a phone call a few hours later to tell me a wheel sensor had 'gone' and needed replacing and that the part alone was £260 BUT that due to the age, mileage and condition of the car, Toyota UK would foot the bill as a good will gesture (something I was told was commonplace with Toyota for things that go wrong that shouldnt - I was told that the garage had fixed some repairs free of charge on cars as much as 6 years old!!!)
Since then, I have not had any problems at all. I even forget to check the screenwash level sometimes - the bonnet latch will seize before anything else through lack of use!!!!!
You will be glad to know I spent the money I almost wasted on the Daewoo to buy a second car; a sports car (cheap insurance if over 10 years old you know?!). So naturally, it had to be a toyota! I now drive a shiny red 1990 Celica 2.0 GTi at the weekends and despite it having done 110,000 miles, it is every bit as reliable and quiet (well, apart from that sports car growl!!!!!) as the Carina(handles like a dream). Maybe later I'll write a review of the Celica, but suffice it to say, unless I get the money for a Jaguar (XK8 or S-type please, Santa!), my next car is going to be a Toyota (and if I can convince my girlfriend; the Carina wont be leaving our house either!!!)
My only regret with toyotas is that I wasted the money on breakdown cover!
Advantages: Too many to mention Disadvantages: Heavy on petrol around town, high insurance group
...quite the same again.
Toyota Carina E 1.8 CDX 4 door Saloon (what did you think I was talking about???) will no longer have pride of place on my driveway and in my car parking space at work. My love affair with Carinas (and Toyota) started back in 1996, when totally fed up with having to role my car down the hill every morning to start it, as a peniless student I begged my father for a long term loan to buy a new car. As luck would have it, my Uncle ... ...a little more using the Toyota dealer than using the local garage, but it also ensures that they retain a service record history, and thus their re-sale value.
WARRANTY
All Toyota cars purchased new have a 3 year parts and labout warranty, and if the car is sold on, the warranty remains with the vehicle. our local dealer, Stadium Toyota, also provides a full years Toyota warranty on all its second-hand cars, which includes a years free RAC cover ...
sue.51 24.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Toyota Carina
...sums up how interesting the Toyota Carina is. Seriously, they should show it to people who live in the Brazilian Rain Forrest who have no concept of what a car is as it perfectly demonstrates ‘Car’, perhaps that’s why it’s named that? Car-in-a (world?). Who knows but what is for certain is there weren’t any Italian designers working at Toyota on this one as the word ‘Carina’ literally translates as pretty, nice, lovely…..and it’s none of those. If ... ...lot of people complain that Toyota parts are too expensive, and they’re right. New radiator from main dealer which needs to be ordered as they don’t carry it in stock and will be 2 weeks? £276 + Vat! One from bloke in yellow pages £71, he threw in the anti-freeze and I can pick it up that afternoon.
This rather neatly brings me onto my first point about buying a Carina. Servicing on cars this old and cheap should be done economical as possible. ...
Paid.Ark.Man 17.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Toyota Carina
Advantages: Reliable family motoring, does everything well Disadvantages: Dull and uninspiring
...a friend who managed the Toyota production line at Burnaston chose one as his company car 3 times on the trot. He advised the 1.8 because it used “lean burn” technology that wasn’t used on the other engines until the Avensis went into production.
Mine was bough at a car supermarket and it did 83,000 miles in 3 years before I traded it in (for a new model RAV4). I put a set of alloy wheels and new tyres on it the following weekend. During ownership ... ...costly if bought from approved Toyota dealer. However, by phoning round I replaced a headlamp for £58.50 +vat (Toyota wanted £158.50 +vat) and the electric window mechanism in the near side front window for £98.98 (Toyota wanted £227 +vat). Apart from standard servicing the only other thing to go was the link bars on the front suspension that cost £144 (from Toyota) and took me 4 hours to fit.
Fuel economy – Excellent, over 83,000 miles it worked ...
rav_rider 22.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Toyota Carina
...my car as well. The Toyota Carina E is a very comfortable car to drive. It had electric windows, which had a control on all four sets of windows. Each window could also be controlled by the driver. The driver could also lock the control for opening / closing the windows, such that no one else can open or shut their windows with their respective window open / close buttons. I don't know what the manufacturers were thinking when they designed this ... ...imagination. The car had on electric sunroof. Wonderful to be able to press a button and the sunroof is open. Sheer luxury compared with the winding up type. The car also had electric wing mirrors. This was a real novelty for me. It was great to be able to adjust the wing mirrors from the comfort of the drivers seat. Absolutely superb!! The boot and the petrol cap could be opened from the drivers seat also. The boot was a very light push to shut ...
sasi1240 19.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Toyota Carina
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Advantages: Bigger, stronger, quieter and better Disadvantages: None so far.
Passing over from Toyota after 7 years of driving first a Corolla and then a Carina II, to a Volvo 850 has been absolutely painless. Coming into the dealership was the start of a very good experience so far, with great service, attentive staff and mechanics, and a good selection of cars.
This being an 850, it is used, but with an acceptable amount of miles on on it, and despite the large engine (a 2.4 litre petrol engine squeezing out 144 horses) the MPG is good.
The car runs smooth and straight, and the only drawback is that the paint seems to have been a bit susceptible to wear, whether this is owing to the previous driver or the quality of the paint is hard to tell, but I suspect it comes down to a little of both.
Overall, so far the best car I have ever driven. ...
Sommerfeldt 03.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 850
Advantages: Relaible, Good level of equipment, smooth drive Disadvantages: Exterior styling
This is definitely a good car to drive and own...but I wouldn't buy it brand new.
I got to drive the Avensis for almost 6 months. While waiting for my company car (see my op to find out which one) an Avensis was given to me to drive until my car was delivered. I was actually given a Ford Mondeo first, but I returned that within a day!
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Advantages: Economical, smart, fun to drive Disadvantages: Light steering
If you are looking for a fun, smart, sensible family car then look no further.
Toyota corolla's are great cars with a renowned history of reliabilty and quality. My corolla proved this reputation. It is a great car to drive, totally reliable and easily handles high speeds on the motorways, even though it had a 1.3 litre engine! Actually it drives like a 1.6 litre engine but obviously is better on petrol so you can afford to floor the accelerator now and again. very nippy and accelerates very well. Compared to the other car I drive (ToyotaCarina 1.6) the corolla definately has a better "kick".
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