Toyota Starlet upgrade to..?

CailinGaillimh

Bought a 1997 starlet 4 years ago, and have been blessed up until this year.

Had trouble getting her through the NCT (brakes) and then in May, I noticed that when it rained under the steering wheel/dashboard driver's side would be soaked. Got windscreen replaced but there's still a leak - although not as bad. I have my NCT until March 2016 and am due to replace timing belt in the next few weeks.

I've more or less decided that I will upgrade cars next june/July (possibly March, depending on NCT!), and was thinking of maybe a 07 Auris or a 06 Corolla hatchback. I was just wondering what people would recommend. I'm looking at a 1.4 litre petrol engine, and need something reliable & economical!

bazz26

The Corolla model that the Auris replaced is a superior car in every way. I'd have one over the newer Auris every time. If you are looking at 2006 examples then the hatchback 1.4 litre Luna model is the one to go for, they were a run out model and were kitted out with extra stuff like climate control, rear electric windows, etc. The Auris that replaced it was cheaper built and not as well screwed together.

CailinGaillimh

bazz26 wrote: »

The Corolla model that the Auris replaced is a superior car in every way. I'd have one over the newer Auris every time. If you are looking at 2006 examples then the hatchback 1.4 litre Luna model is the one to go for, they were a run out model and were kitted out with extra stuff like climate control, rear electric windows, etc. The Auris that replaced it was cheaper built and not as well screwed together.

Do you think? I've been set on an Auris for years; but also love the Corolla (the 04-06 hatchbacks). Is there much of a difference between the drive of a starlet and the corolla?

bazz26

The Starlet is old hat these days. The Corolla would be a much more sturdier car on the road, more refined and more comfortable.

colm_mcm

An urban cruiser would be a good Auris alternative. It has the newer 1.33 engine and is built in Japan. It's a little smaller than an Auris, but bigger than a Yaris/starlet

bazz26

Did they sell many of those?

colm_mcm

Not too many. Like the other Japanese built stuff at the time, the yen made them too expensive over here. They pitched it as a qashqai rival despite being much smaller. The place was swamped with cheap zero mileage uk import qashqais at the time.

They are out there though. 1.33 luna is the one to get IMO.

I had a company one in that purple colour when they came out and it was actually an enjoyable little thing. It had a solidity missing from its euro built showroom companions

finalfurlong

Had an 06 corolla hatchback.Excellent car,ran like clockwork and good on petrol.Truethat it beat the auris quality wise Put up 60000 miles without a thing going wrong.That luna spec is worth it,Mine was a luna and very well equiped.But they can appear dear to buy as demand is high.The one i traded in wassold following day by garage

CailinGaillimh

Will be staying away from the urban cruiser. As serious as I am about buying a decent car, I'm still a girl and it's exterior makes me want to weep whenever I pass one!!

I'm thinking the corolla is sounding better and better as I'm hearing more about it.

What's the difference between Luna and Terra? It's probably really obvious. There are a lot of terras on carzone/done deal so I thought I'd ask!

colm_mcm

Here's a quick run through:

Terra 02-04 (3/5 dr Hatch, Estate or Saloon) : Elec wins, elec mirrors, abs, 2 airbags, cd,

Terra 04-06 (3/5 dr Hatch, Estate or Saloon) : Remote locking, Elec wins, elec mirrors, abs, 4 airbags, cd,

Strata 04-06 (3/5 dr hatch only) adds to Terra: Alloys, Fogs, rear and side skirts, leather wheel & gearknob, and audio switches

06 Luna (1.4 VVT-i 5dr Hatch only) adds to Strata: Cimate Control, rear elec wins, armrest.

06 Luna (petrol or diesel, Saloon only) adds to Terra: Air Conditioning, Heated Mirrors, Alloys, Fogs. Rear elec windows.

02-05 Luna (3/5 door hatch and Saloon) adds to Terra, Aircon, Alloys, Fogs.

VVT-i engines are standard on all petrol Corollas, D-4D diesel engines are standard on diesels.

bazz26

Terra is the poverty spec base model. No air con, plastic wheel trim over steel wheels, wind up rear windows, no stereo controls on the steering wheel.

Strata adds stereo controls on the steering wheel, alloy wheels, front fog lights, subtle body kit, rear roof spoiler, sportier seats.

Luna adds rear electric windows, air conditioning with digital climate control, nicer front arm rest.

CailinGaillimh

Perfect! Thank you.. now to get on to the saving...

JohnBoy26

colm_mcm wrote: »

An urban cruiser would be a good Auris alternative. It has the newer 1.33 engine and is built in Japan. It's a little smaller than an Auris, but bigger than a Yaris/starlet

Early Auris and Corolla circa 07/08 models are built in Japan too.

ourheritage

I'd go for the Corolla as you will get 10 years or more out of well cared for one even if its an 04

CailinGaillimh

Was speaking with the mechanic yesterday (Murphy's law we'd a light go on!) & mentioned to him about changing.. apparently the 06 (model JUST before the auris) is wicked on oil? Has anyone else heard this?

Have to say I'm a bit upset over it.. as I do love the newer corolla.

JohnBoy26

CailinGaillimh wrote: »

Was speaking with the mechanic yesterday (Murphy's law we'd a light go on!) & mentioned to him about changing.. apparently the 06 (model JUST before the auris) is wicked on oil? Has anyone else heard this?

Have to say I'm a bit upset over it.. as I do love the newer corolla.

That model corolla is not know for burning oil. Some example of the previous 00-02 model corolla do burn oil but I wouldn't describe the problem as "wicked".

The model you are interested in does not suffer from this issue. The only time I've see one of these burn oil myself was on a neglected car that was gone way past the service interval.

CailinGaillimh

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

That model corolla is not know for burning oil. Some example of the previous 00-02 model corolla do burn oil but I wouldn't describe the problem as "wicked".

The model you are interested in does not suffer from this issue. The only time I've see one of these burn oil myself was on a neglected car that was gone way past the service interval.

Thanks a million John. I was thinking that myself, but when a mechanic had said it I questioned myself!

finalfurlong

No i yhink your mechanic is wrong there.As i said i did 60 k miles in mine and oil steady from service to service. Rest assured if that was a problem they wouldnt be in such demand 2nd hand.

colm_mcm

Oil burning doesn't usually affect the model you're looking at.

CailinGaillimh

Thank you! What would ye consider decent mileage for a 07 1.4? The ones I've seen seem to be quite high.

starlit

The Yaris has replaced the Starlet. Auris has replaced the Corolla hatchback. Not much knowledge on the oil burning though. 1l more efficient than a 1.3l based on the current design and cylinders in the current and most recently built yaris's. A 1.4 Diesel is good too or an older petrol but depends how much mileage you do will determine whether to go for a Petrol or a Diesel. Tax and insurance how it run and maintain can be factors to take into account. The starlet was a great car! Have you considered the Hybrid for the Auris? They are to introduce a 1.2 turbo engine this year I think. Either an Auris or a Corolla be good buys!

CailinGaillimh

doovdela wrote: »

The Yaris has replaced the Starlet. Auris has replaced the Corolla hatchback. Not much knowledge on the oil burning though. 1l more efficient than a 1.3l based on the current design and cylinders in the current and most recently built yaris's. A 1.4 Diesel is good too or an older petrol but depends how much mileage you do will determine whether to go for a Petrol or a Diesel. Tax and insurance how it run and maintain can be factors to take into account. The starlet was a great car! Have you considered the Hybrid for the Auris? They are to introduce a 1.2 turbo engine this year I think. Either an Auris or a Corolla be good buys!

I want to stay away from the yaris if I can avoid it, I've been driving a family member's on and off and it's too dainty in my opinion.

Will probably go petrol, doing decent mileage at the moment. But hopefully come next year I won't be doing AS much so I don't think it'll warrant the diesel engine. Hybrid? That's a fairly new model though isn't it? From what I've seen any of the Auris models are priced a good grand over a corolla of the same year. It will depend on funds when the time comes but at the moment, the corolla is looking like the more affordable of the two.

JohnBoy26

CailinGaillimh wrote: »

Thanks a million John. I was thinking that myself, but when a mechanic had said it I questioned myself!

No problem maybe your mechanic confused the the corolla with a mk2 yaris. These are known to burn a drop.