Corolla Longevity Or Luck

[APS]

When I bought my Corolla I was told by Toyota that I should take into account the slightly higher maintenance costs of running a diesel when deciding to go diesel or petrol. For instance, they mentioned that since diesels vibrate more I may have to replace the exhaust more often.

In the end I decided on Diesel and have not regretted it.

Now, 7 years on and closing in on 170,000 miles [270,000km] - I am still running with the original exhaust. It doesn't even look particularly rusty. In fact some parts are still looking silvery new. Furthermore, the suspension is still all original and absolutely fine. The bodywork and underside is completely rust free. I have not even replaced any of the lightbulbs in the rear - still original! And I am someone who tends to drive with the lights on quite alot.

Typically - outside of regular servicing, I fill up fuel, windscreen wash, check the oil and drive. That's it.

No doubt - I am very impressed but also curious. Does this reflect the general experience of Corolla drivers or have I been lucky?

[CorollaD4D]

Who told you may have to replace the exhaust more due to diesel vibration should be shot (with a water pistol). It is not luck at all these corolla diesels are solid cars, as you say they are the few cars on the road you can literally put fuel in and drive without any worries what so ever. A well maintained diesel will last ages, the highest mileage i've seen personally on a diesel corolla is 327,000 miles on a 2002 car 2.0D4D. That was on a replacement hire vehicle we use to use which has subsequently been sold on and is now being run as a private hire vehicle. Heaven only knows the mileage on that car now!!

Stick to service times properly, for me that's every 8/9000 miles for oil and filters with fuel filter every other service. Also keep on top of timing/cambelt changes and it'll be fine mate. Keep oil levels checked and don't let it drop since the turbo shares the engine oil so make sure there is plenty to go round, obviously dont over fill.

Only annoyance I have is my A/C needs regassing every 2 years or so but I can live with that :)

As the car ages you may need to change glow plugs but glow plugs for me were £40 supply and fit for NGK ones...

[APS]

Thanks for the response. I'm glad to hear this seems to be a common theme with Corolla diesels. I service my car at the given intervals.

It also seems the standard auxcillary (alternator and air con) belts on the engine lasts a long time - still original.

FYI - I had to fix the AC on my car as well. The high pressure aluminium line from the condenser to the evaporator had sprung a leak (fatigue from vibrations). This happened at about 160k miles. Up until then the AC worked fine without any recharding. If you have to fill every two years you may want to take it to a refrigeration specialist who can use a sniffer to trace even minute leaks.

[CorollaD4D]

yeah everything lasts for ages...for example I know with my dad's vw sharan the water pump also has to be changed (or is advised to be changed) with timing/cam belt whereas corolla water pump lasts donkeys, don't think i've ever heard of one having failed. only thing i personally miss in my corolla is a 6th gear for cruising and maybe 30bhp more from factory. i know of tuning kits available but no matter how much you tell me they do not affect reliability of engine i can't understand this. corolla with 130/140bhp from factory with a 6 speed box i would honestly never consider selling it!

[CMC1887]

Just sold a 2.0XLD Corlla 2 weeks ago. At 16 years old was ruunning like clock work.

[APS]

yeah everything lasts for ages...for example I know with my dad's vw sharan the water pump also has to be changed (or is advised to be changed) with timing/cam belt whereas corolla water pump lasts donkeys, don't think i've ever heard of one having failed. only thing i personally miss in my corolla is a 6th gear for cruising and maybe 30bhp more from factory. i know of tuning kits available but no matter how much you tell me they do not affect reliability of engine i can't understand this. corolla with 130/140bhp from factory with a 6 speed box i would honestly never consider selling it!

I definitely second the 6th gear requirement. It would be top on my list of improvements as well (followed by cruise ctrl, more power, better seat adjustments etc). Nonetheless, I am currently on a personal record tank of fuel - fuel light came on at 632 miles and I will have done 700+ when before I fill up tonight.

You are right - I am reticent to selling the Corolla - if only just to see how long it will last. However, I fear it may take some time...

[nrgizerbunny]

My view might be slightly contraversial but nonetheless here goes.

I generally don't buy diesel cars because of the service costs, it is inherently dearer to run a diesel car (for me - low miles) and especially a modern one because of the particulate filters, cambelts etc etc. Its also much easier to maintain a petrol car because the only things that need changing are really the plugs, oil, filters. On a diesel you've got plugs, oil, filters but much more tricky to change.

Not to mention the vibration, whilst it shouldn't cause exhausts to crack. If you stuck a sensor onto a diesel and then onto a petrol there is inherently more vibration in a diesel, that energy has to go somewhere so it will go into loosening things and cracking things. Having said all that in the grand scheme of things, I would only expect a failure of major bits at 100k.

Before I get shot, I am not a mechanic so this is just personal opinion.

NRG

[nrgizerbunny]

My view might be slightly contraversial but nonetheless here goes.

I generally don't buy diesel cars because of the service costs, it is inherently dearer to run a diesel car (for me - low miles) and especially a modern one because of the particulate filters, cambelts etc etc. Its also much easier to maintain a petrol car because the only things that need changing are really the plugs, oil, filters. On a diesel you've got plugs, oil, filters but much more tricky to change.

Not to mention the vibration, whilst it shouldn't cause exhausts to crack. If you stuck a sensor onto a diesel and then onto a petrol there is inherently more vibration in a diesel, that energy has to go somewhere so it will go into loosening things and cracking things. Having said all that in the grand scheme of things, I would only expect a failure of major bits at 100k.

Before I get shot, I am not a mechanic so this is just personal opinion.

NRG

[APS]

My view might be slightly contraversial but nonetheless here goes.

I generally don't buy diesel cars because of the service costs, it is inherently dearer to run a diesel car (for me - low miles) and especially a modern one because of the particulate filters, cambelts etc etc. Its also much easier to maintain a petrol car because the only things that need changing are really the plugs, oil, filters. On a diesel you've got plugs, oil, filters but much more tricky to change.

NRG - I would have agreed with you a few years ago and I guess this is why I am so surprised at what I've found. And yes diesels do vibrate more. However - In my situation I don't see any evidence of my Diesel being more expensive to service than a petrol.

A normal service is: Air filter, Oil filter, Oil (every 10k)

I change fuel filter every 20.000 miles

So after 170k I have changed the following (outside of regular servicing):

- Cam belt - twice

- Front brake pads + discs - twice

- Headlight dip bulbs + side lights

- Wipers

- Coolant

- HP AC line

- break/clutch fluid - twice

- Tyres

In my view, this is next to nothing considering the mileage. I have previously only owned petrol cars (my other cars are petrol) and I don't find the diesel any more difficult than a petrol engine (for standard servicing). Oil filters unscrew as any other. On a petrol I would also have changed spark plugs every 20k or so.

So when I count my maintenance outlay and combine that with a 20% lower fuel consumption (averaged 56mpg over 170k) then I feel that going Diesel was the right way for me. However, for those driving short journeys and less miles/year a petrol may work out more beneficial (IMO a diesel is most suitable for longer journeys).

Thanks for the input.

[CorollaD4D]

Nice to see a lively debate on here hehe. I am hovering between my view and NRG's because for my business purposes or for my personal driving the amount of miles I cover warrants me having a diesel car. On the other hand I would say to people who are clocking low mileages (for example my mum) a petrol car is definately the more sensible option.

Another thing I like about my corolla is it is such a lazy drive and i'm a very lazy person! Honestly you just stick it in 4th gear and it'll happily potter along at 30 and when you come to a national speed limit road you can do 60 in 4th no problem. They should have sold the corolla with only one gear - 4th! :D

i'll just throw in something my dad always says to me - if you buy a diesel toyota and look after it properly you'll probably die before the car does lol

[APS]

All I know is - I ain't complaining :)

One the subject of longevity, what are people's experience with wheel bearings - how long do they last?

From my own experiences with previous cars this can be a bit random but I would be curious to hear if anyone's had to replace theirs.