320 replies to this topic

[Steven252]

Hi all, im new round here. My names Steve and ive recently bought myself a x plate corolla sr vvti. To say 3 months ago i didn't even know these cars existed is an understatement, and a year ago i wouldn't have even considered buying a toyota! The last 5/6 years Ive been heavily into my nasp and turbo'd rovers owning both a 188bhp k series on individual throttle bodies and a 2.0 turbo converted MG ZR with 250bhp however all changed 2 years ago when i was made redundant from my job and the "toys" had to go (much to my refusal!!) I then have been driving round in every piece of crap that a couple of notes could get me (bar a 306 gti-6 that nearly financially crippled me in the process but boy did i love having something specialish again) i stumbled across a 1999 1.3 corolla sportif 3 months ago that was heavily bashed up but run like a dream and as you do, i ended up finding out about the G6R version. I then was given a full contact in work and had abit of money "saved" for a new car. i could have gone back to my roots of fast rovers but something about the lil sportif had me catched, plus the fact work is 20 miles away and i could do with something economical and not a joke to insure After searching for a while for a MINT G6R and realising that to find a good one id be paying out a fair amount i stumbled across the car ive just bought.

Its a 2000 x plate facelift sr VVTI with 146k on the clock, now normally i steer well away from high mile cars but upon reading the details i quickly saw that as "just a number". the cars only had 2 owners from new, and has a FULL service history with the same toyota dealer and has 15 stamps in the book. it also comes with every mot, and every invoice the cars ever had (a big folder full) so has quite obviously been the last owners baby, who was not shy of some money. if the car needed something it got it, even the tyres are all brand new, all matching and all 135 pounds a corner theres no wear anywhere and the paint looks all original and new

anyway enough of my ramblings heres some piccys, from the garage i bought it.









on the journey home i found a nice little location, where some people were rock climbing,





and onto the subbtle mods i have for it;

new flat wipers and tax disc holder



new sticker (ill be repainting the engine mount as it lets the whole bay down!)




and badge (i have matching centre caps coming for the wheels)



first thing that needed sorting was the manky gearnob,



so i stripped it apart



and half hour with the metal polish it came up like this




then me and the mrs went on a 460 miles trip to silverstone for the trax event




where it done this and only one tank was needed



so thats 463.6 miles to 45.24 litres of go go juice = 46.62mpg so its reading bang on

im really happy with the car and have some plans for it as i go up the ladder in work, basically im not going stupid on it like my last cars straight away as i want to be in a financial position where id be ok for a good while if i lost my job again. i am looking for a spare 190 engine ready for when this one goes pop, but in all honesty i dont believe that will be happening any time soon. ive ordered some wind deflectors and i need to delete the rear wiper as i hate them. other than that the cars going to be maintained to the standard the previous two owners kept it at.

sorry for the long winded post but ill keep updating this thread with whats going on with the car all comments welcome.

[K20VFX]

Car looks good, keep a check on the oil level, the vvti can drink loads.

[Steven252]

ye it took 0.75 of a ltr when i bought it, but i hasnt moved since (done 1k in it already ) and i was last serviced at 140k so im guessing its using that amount in 5k. not to bad tbf

[jw67]

That is a great looking car and it looks very clean indeed.

Loving the tax disc holder

I recently painted my top engine mount and also the top rad mount/fixings as they looked out of place under my bonnet compared to the rest of the engine/bay

Good luck with the mods mate and keep us updated with your progress

[reidy]

Quite a rare car you have there, look after it

Mileage really is just a number on the E11, they really are solid cars. As mentioned above though keep an eye on the oil level, its not unheard of for them to use a bit, mine certainly did

[Tibs]

Very nice!

Good to see another of these on here

Yours has optional dealer fit accessory alloys, don't see many of those, and factory upgrade of the cassette player too.

Looks really good, keep us posted on progress and updates.

My gearknob has gone about the same as yours, on my list of jobs to do! Yours turned out well, top work.

[Steven252]

thanks guys, its nice to own something special again! thank you for the very warm welcome too

yes the tax disc holder always gets people talking, there available on ebay im going to remove the engine mount and rad fixings soon as i have my week of and have them shot blasted and powder coated.

as for a rare car i found this site www.howmanyleft.co.uk and im shocked at how many are left. it tells you how many on the road and how many declared sorn.



so theres only 379 left

as for the wheels i have the original dealer book with the extras and iirc most if not all of them are ticked. i really like the wheels as there different yet a OEM fitting going to have them refurbed too as theres some slight markings on them from a incompetent tyre fitter!!

as for the gearnob i thought i was gone for good, even went to toyota who quoted 75 pounds - if they could find one. its all metal and comes apart as ive shown so alittle bit of polish and or some very fine wet and dry paper will have it looking like new again

its also booked in to a bodyshop to have the drivers rear quarter painted as theres a very small dent in it (not that youd notice unless i told you - tho i know its there and its bugging the hell out of me as i know its there) and to get the front and rear bumpers redone as there showing some age related marks.

any little touches TTE made for this car i can source? im on the look for a spoiler but anything else for the facelifts?

[Tibs]

TTE all sorts for the car, but you will be very, very lucky to find any now. Long since out of production sadly.

They did bodywork, wheels, suspension, exhaust and engine parts.

The only hope is that a dealer is sat with something on a shelf gathering dust, but annual stock takes and stock rotation will have seen parts scurried away by now ( I should know, years in the dealer network saw me scurrying bits myself and scouring the network for other bits!)

I have a Green one of these, the rarest colour I believe, less than 100 or so were sold, even less left. The facelift SR was only made in these specs for the UK market, so seeing as the Corolla is sold globally and in huge numbers through the years, they really are a rare car.

[EXS]

nice car mate looks just like mine when i got it

i svore to keep it oem... but 5-6 years later....





OT: just let me know if i should delete this post

[Steven252]

Exs - no feel free to post pics up i done the whole bodykit thing to my zr turbo so this one im going to try to keep standard....

Tibs ill try my local dealer and see if i can uncover anything. Im looking at coilovers too as its alittle high, how do you find yours on the road compared to factory?

Do you both have threads on your cars that i can view to see what can be done and to get some inspiration?