Similar cars to Toyota Corolla Hatchback

Whiplashy

I was thinking of replacing my Toyota Yaris with a Toyota Corolla hatchback. I've only ever had Toyotas. I find the Yaris very unstable in even moderate winds, so thought the Corolla might be a bit sturdier. I don't want to be too narrow minded though, I just don't know anything about other cars. Would there be a similar/better option than the Corolla? I just want a reliable, sturdy car, that's not too big as I'm used to driving small cars.

dgt

You've had only one toyota or more than one toyota....

Just go for the Corolla and get out of that tinbox

Whiplashy

dgt wrote: »

You've had only one toyota or more than one toyota....

Just go for the Corolla and get out of that tinbox

I've only had two cars. A Starlet and the Yaris. I never felt like I was in a tinbox in the Starlet but the Yaris is ridiculous!

miller50841

If you look up the test they did on fifth gear you probably would not like to drive again.

They tested it swerving to avoid an obstruction and body flipped and slammed back down on its roof now not only the yaris would do this but would recommend not swerving at speed.

Corolla would be a better road handling car.

barura

Whiplashy wrote: »

I've only had two cars. A Starlet and the Yaris. I never felt like I was in a tinbox in the Starlet but the Yaris is ridiculous!

Some lowering springs and new shocks may sort out the waviness in winds in your yaris. I know they are a high car, but I drive a polo myself at motorway speeds and I know what it feels like... You could spend 100eur for some lowering springs and new shocks will cost a bit more, but will probably change your ride feel completely.

Also, lots of cars will fit your criteria, even saloons. I know small cars are nice but don't be afraid of bigger cars at the same time! Small economical cars cost quite a premium at the moment, a 1.6l saloon with 3 months tax and a NCT could be economically viable to you if you check your sums before buying.

dgt

Whiplashy wrote: »

I've only had two cars. A Starlet and the Yaris. I never felt like I was in a tinbox in the Starlet but the Yaris is ridiculous!

I see.....

Well I can tell you a Corolla will feel completely different to a yaris. Much better car in every way, feels like a car not a biscuit tin on wheels. I hate the driving position of the yaris it feels like im perched on a pedestal, feels quite strange to drive.... I'll be honest and just say I hate yarisses full stop, a disease on the road in my eyes

Whats the budget?

Some proper Toyota heads should come in here shortly and advise better than me, I can become very biased very quick!

dgt

miller50841 wrote: »

If you look up the test they did on fifth gear you probably would not like to drive again.

They tested it swerving to avoid an obstruction and body flipped and slammed back down on its roof now not only the yaris would do this but would recommend not swerving at speed.

Corolla would be a better road handling car.

Sure thats not the elk test and the Merc A class?

Karl Stein

dgt wrote: »

I hate yarisses full stop, a disease on the road

Especially the diseasel ones.

Whiplashy

barura wrote: »

Some lowering springs and new shocks may sort out the waviness in winds in your yaris. I know they are a high car, but I drive a polo myself at motorway speeds and I know what it feels like... You could spend 100eur for some lowering springs and new shocks will cost a bit more, but will probably change your ride feel completely.

Also, lots of cars will fit your criteria, even saloons. I know small cars are nice but don't be afraid of bigger cars at the same time! Small economical cars cost quite a premium at the moment, a 1.6l saloon with 3 months tax and a NCT could be economically viable to you if you check your sums before buying.

I'm not afraid of big cars I learned to drive in a 2L Carina Saloon. I do prefer the smaller cars though.

Whiplashy

dgt wrote: »

I see.....

Well I can tell you a Corolla will feel completely different to a yaris. Much better car in every way, feels like a car not a biscuit tin on wheels. I hate the driving position of the yaris it feels like im perched on a pedestal, feels quite strange to drive.... I'll be honest and just say I hate yarisses full stop, a disease on the road in my eyes

Whats the budget?

Some proper Toyota heads should come in here shortly and advise better than me, I can become very biased very quick!

Hoping to spend less than €2500. Looking at 00-02

colm_mcm

It sounds like theres something wrong with your car tbh.

dgt

Whiplashy wrote: »

Hoping to spend less than €2500. Looking at 00-02

That should get you a decent minded example so. You could even source out something a little older and a little special like a 1.6SR or a G6R with that budget, knowing it was an unusual and cherished example

JohnBoy26

What age of car are you looking at. If it's around 06 or 07 a kia cee'd or a Hyundai i30 would be similar to a corolla and both also offer similar levels of reliability to a corolla.

dgt

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

What age of car are you looking at. If it's around 06 or 07 a kia cee'd or a Hyundai i30 would be similar to a corolla and both also offer smilar levels of reliability to a corolla also.

On a €2500 budget?

Whiplashy

colm_mcm wrote: »

It sounds like theres something wrong with your car tbh.

I thought so at first but there's actually a ridiculous amount of threads on forums about the Yaris being unstable. I only know a couple people with a Yaris and when I mentioned it to them they knew exactly what I was on about!

JohnBoy26

dgt wrote: »

On a €2500 budget?

oops never seen the budget:(

colm_mcm

OP, just wondering what brand tyres you have on the car?

Whiplashy

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

What age of car are you looking at. If it's around 06 or 07 a kia cee'd or a Hyundai i30 would be similar to a corolla and both also offer similar levels of reliability to a corolla.

I'm looking for a slightly older car. 00-02. I wrote off my car last winter so don't fancy putting a lot of cash into it.

Whiplashy

colm_mcm wrote: »

OP, just wondering what brand tyres you have on the car?

I think they're Roadstone.

JohnBoy26

Whiplashy wrote: »

I'm looking for a slightly older car. 00-02. I wrote off my car last winter so don't fancy putting a lot of cash into it.

yeah I never spotted your budget sorry:o

In that case something like a late 90's or 00 honda civic would be a good bet or else go for a late 90's bug eye corolla.

dgt

Whiplashy wrote: »

I think they're Roadstone.

Not a great make of tyre. But still naturally wobbly vehicle anyway.....

colm_mcm

The tyres wouldn't be a premium brand but they're not total dirt either.
Before you trade your very saleable car for an older design,please go to a dealer and drive an 03/04/05 yaris and compare with yours. I genuinely think there's something small wrong with your car as I've driven so many yariss and what you're describing doesn't sound normal.

JohnBoy26

colm_mcm wrote: »

The tyres wouldn't be a premium brand but they're not total dirt either.
Before you trade your very saleable car for an older design,please go to a dealer and drive an 03/04/05 yaris and compare with yours. I genuinely think there's something small wrong with your car as I've driven so many yariss and what you're describing doesn't sound normal.

+1 I drive a family members 00 yaris from time to time and never once has it been unstable even on the motorway.

Jesus.

barura wrote: »

a 1.6l saloon with 3 months tax and a NCT could be economically viable.

But will pull like a Donkey

Whiplashy

colm_mcm wrote: »

The tyres wouldn't be a premium brand but they're not total dirt either.
Before you trade your very saleable car for an older design,please go to a dealer and drive an 03/04/05 yaris and compare with yours. I genuinely think there's something small wrong with your car as I've driven so many yariss and what you're describing doesn't sound normal.

I'll certainly give it a try. I bought the car last Winter and thought the stability issues were all in my head as I had just been in a bad crash. The car handled perfectly fine all Summer. Then last weekend the wind picked up again and I remembered what a disaster it is! Next windy day we get I'll go test drive another one to compare.

Chris_Heilong

Honda Civic hatchback:)

bazz26

I cannot for the life of me think of a Starlet being more solid on the road than a Yaris. As good as the Starlet was they were a very light car designed for a different era. And OP the model of Corolla within your budget would have been around since 1995 so I cannot see it being a million times more solid than your Yaris. Most Japanese stuff of that vintage would have been fairly light on the road too. If you are looking for something really solid on the road then you will be looking at something German, the downside though is that they will be nowhere near as reliable as to what you are used to up to now.

JohnBoy26

bazz26 wrote: »

I cannot for the life of me think of a Starlet being more solid on the road than a Yaris. As good as the Starlet was they were a very light car designed for a different era. And OP the model of Corolla within your budget would have been around since 1995 so I cannot see it being a million times more solid than your Yaris. Most Japanese stuff of that vintage would have been fairly light on the road too. If you are looking for something really solid on the road then you will be looking at something German, the downside though is that they will be nowhere near as reliable as to what you are used to up to now.

That Corolla is more solid than a Yaris though as it's a larger car and has fully independent suspension.

B00056718

Mazda 323f would be another one to consider.

Whiplashy

bazz26 wrote: »

I cannot for the life of me think of a Starlet being more solid on the road than a Yaris. As good as the Starlet was they were a very light car designed for a different era. And OP the model of Corolla within your budget would have been around since 1995 so I cannot see it being a million times more solid than your Yaris. Most Japanese stuff of that vintage would have been fairly light on the road too. If you are looking for something really solid on the road then you will be looking at something German, the downside though is that they will be nowhere near as reliable as to what you are used to up to now.

The only time my Starlet ever felt unstable on the road was in severe crosswinds on the motorway. I wrapped it around a telegraph pole last winter and walked away. There's no way the Yaris would stand up to an impact like that.

colm_mcm

The yaris is a far stronger car than the starlet, that's just fact

miller50841

dgt wrote: »

Sure thats not the elk test and the Merc A class?

No they wanted to test as realistic as possible so kitted the car out and put a stunt driver in.

They tested on the old airfield they use and tested from 40 or 50mph upwards I think it flipped after 60mph.

It was good to see and more should know how to handle their car's and also shows the worst thing to do is swerve.

Handytech

I have owned a toyota yaris for the past 4 years, and I think they are
a very reliable, stable car.
they yaris was actually awarded 4 out of 5 stars
for rollover safety when tested by the NHTSA ( USA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
and 4/5 stars for front and rear passenger safety when tested with side airbags.

the car also has earned a 5/5 star safety rating by the Euro NCAP assessment program, and was voted European Car of the Year in 2000, and also the 2000 Semperit Irish Car of the Year.

JohnBoy26

Handytech wrote: »

I have owned a toyota yaris for the past 4 years, and I think they are
a very reliable, stable car.
they yaris was actually awarded 4 out of 5 stars
for rollover safety when tested by the NHTSA ( USA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
and 4/5 stars for front and rear passenger safety when tested with side airbags.

the car also has earned a 5/5 star safety rating by the Euro NCAP assessment program, and was voted European Car of the Year in 2000, and also the 2000 Semperit Irish Car of the Year.

did the Euro ncap not award it 4stars as opposed to 5?

ba_barabus

Handytech wrote: »

the 2000 Semperit Irish Car of the Year.

Toyota Ireland must have bought the journalists a very nice meal that year.

Handytech

I should clarify that by stating that the latest model ( 2011 ) was awarded 5 Stars for safety by Euro NCAP.

It was awarded 4/5 stars in 2005 overall and 5/5 Stars for Aduld Occupant Safety by EuroNCAP.

In fact even back to 2000 models it still scored 4/5 stars for adult occupant safety.

you can see this for yourself on the EuroNCAP website.

http://www.euroncap.com/results/toyota/yaris.aspx.

Handytech

Anyone want to Buy a slightly Used 2000 Toyota Yaris ??

Ok so maybe i have a slightly coloured opinion,

Shoot me, :eek: but facts are facts.

:)

JohnBoy26

Handytech wrote: »

Anyone want to Buy a slightly Used 2000 Toyota Yaris ??

Ok so maybe i have a slightly coloured opinion,

Shoot me, :eek: but facts are facts.

:)

Maybe so but I assume the op has a mk1 yaris. As a result the cars the euro ncap tested in 2005 and 2011 are irrelevant as they are completely different to the op's yaris.

bazz26

Handytech wrote: »

Anyone want to Buy a slightly Used 2000 Toyota Yaris ??

Ok so maybe i have a slightly coloured opinion,

Shoot me, :eek: but facts are facts.

:)

The moderators don't take too kindly to posters trying to flog cars on this forum. Try Adverts.ie instead.

Handytech

bazz26 wrote: »

The moderators don't take too kindly to posters trying to flog cars on this forum. Try Adverts.ie instead.

Thank you for the advice,

it was actually not ment to be taken seriously, which i should have clarified a little better but thank you for the advice,
and im sure the moderators can speak for themselves also.

Whiplashy

As already pointed out the fact that the newer models are testing well has got nothing to do with my oldie! A friend did point out to me today though that it's a 1.3, and they don't seem to be very common. Maybe there's a reason for that?

To get the thread slightly more on track, any opinions on the 00-04 ford focus hatchback? It's not as pretty as the corolla but seems to have decent reviews.

JohnBoy26

Whiplashy wrote: »

As already pointed out the fact that the newer models are testing well has got nothing to do with my oldie! A friend did point out to me today though that it's a 1.3, and they don't seem to be very common. Maybe there's a reason for that?

To get the thread slightly more on track, any opinions on the 00-04 ford focus hatchback? It's not as pretty as the corolla but seems to have decent reviews.

The focus is reliable enough but can suffer from niggles such as coil packs and rear wheel bearings failing etc. The 1.4 version is also underpowered.

bazz26

If you could stretch your budget a little OP, something like this is worth looking at:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car-for-sale-3k-euro/5696312

Old school Japanese reliability on them.

Whiplashy

bazz26 wrote: »

If you could stretch your budget a little OP, something like this is worth looking at:


http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/car-for-sale-3k-euro/5696312

Old school Japanese reliability on them.

I rented a Lancer automatic on holiday before. I have to say I did like it. That'll be going on the list of possibilities. I presume the handling of the manual and automatic would be pretty similar.