MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Even then... "an improvement for the most part" =

Old turds are an improvement, for the most part, over new turds because they don't smell anymore.

However, turds are still turds.

spwolf

current state being the most sold car in the category?

or what state is that?

-J-P-L-

The current Corolla is only in its 3rd year (in US - it was new for 2009). So a small 4 year cycle if the new one comes as a 2013. Toyota usually runs at least 5 year cycles.

Good point. The internet loves to criticize the Corolla, but sales numbers don't lie. Hard to call the Corolla a failure when it's the best seller, or a close second to the Civic (another failure according to the internet).

spwolf

it will most certainly come as 2013 model, facelift was lat least year and they will use at least 2 years of that.

Auris on the other hand is coming next year, as it was out in early 2007, facelifted early 2010.

Blackraven

sales. it's a winner.

But in terms of design, the Corolla is the most boring looking compact car to-date. A Chevrolet Cruze or Ford Focus (new) looks more exciting. Heck, even the Elantra looks more exciting and sporty.

Just saying

IntegresS

iTrader: (2)

^^ That's exactly what the designers were trying to change-- the boring-ness

spwolf

thats also because it is oldest and most seen on the roads... and maybe the fact it is built for older more conservative population is what gets them the sales? :-).

Blackraven

Well okay it's understandable.........but as a compact car that I would actually want to own and/or buy, the Corolla was never in my top 10 list.

My0gr81

yes, but it is in the top 10 list of a lot (a lot considering the numbers) of others. Myself, if looking for point A to point B, daily driver, decent gas and reliability, good resale as top criteria, then Corolla makes the grade. If looks is added, then maybe not, but at that price, what else?

TRDFantasy

With all due respect, are you sure you're describing the new Corolla's design correctly ? The 2012 Camry looks like a Toyota through and through. It's got a more sporty and modern design, but nothing really gimmicky in terms of styling like most new Hyundai/Kia products. I would be very surprised if the new Corolla had Hyundai/Kia sort of styling gimmicks. Plus, the new Corolla needs to have at least somewhat of a family resemblance with the new Camry. Since I know what the new Camry looks like, I can't imagine the new Corolla straying too far from that family resemblance .

Toyota is not going to rush its new product. Period. Quality is the top priority, not speed to market. Two years or less is not that far away anyways.

The current Corolla is hardly an embarrassing joke. IMO it sounds like you're a bit too caught up in the internet critics/Toyota haters mentality. The current Corolla, while it may look dated and have a not-so-great interior, is still a great car in many ways. It still achieves great real-world fuel economy, is a comfortable car compared to most compacts in the class, is quiet and refined, has a well-built interior (even if the plastics are not so great), and has great cost of ownership. It's proven, reliable, cheap to own and to fix.

I'm surprised you're underestimating Toyota here. Everything I've heard points to the next-gen Corolla being a BIG improvement in almost all areas. I've heard that it pretty much surpasses the new competition on the market in many ways. Even the current Corolla surpasses some of the new competition. For example, the new Elantra's ride quality is disappointing. Reviews have pointed out that it is under-damped, and gets quickly unsettled and bouncy on any roads that aren't glass-smooth. It's engine also gets noisy and unrefined at high revs. The current "dated" Corolla has better ride quality on rough roads, and has an overall refined engine.

Especially with what you've heard about some of Toyota's next-gen products, I am surprised you're so negative here about the next-gen Corolla. I think you're going to be in for a big surprise.

Sulu

Allow me to defend the current-generation Corolla. It is NOT the "will-be-the-death-of-Toyota" car that Internet car reviewers would have you believe.

I made the conscious decision a year ago to trade DOWN from a 2007 Camry LE to a 2010 Corolla LE (note that the Canadian-trimmed Corolla LE is roughly equivalent to the American-trimmed Corolla XLE). I made the decision for 2 main reasons:

1. The Camry was starting to feel too big. With its high beltline and low seating position, it made it difficult (especially for my wife, who is much shorter) to judge the edges of the car, making it seem like a much larger car than it is; and with its heavy steering and initial throttle tip-in hesitation, it drove like a larger and much heavier car. (I really do not like the high-beltline styling of the new Hyundais and Kias. In addition to making it harder to judge the edges of the car, it makes it feel very claustrophobic in the back seat, especially for small children.)

2. With the job situation still uncertain, I wanted a car with lower operating costs.

I expected to be getting much less car -- trading DOWN -- when I got the Corolla, expecting that I would be giving up a Toyota ES for an econobox. While it is obvious that the Corolla was built to a certain price-point, it did surprise me in other ways. Whereas the Camry LE felt like it was built DOWN from a more luxurious car, the Corolla LE felt like it had been built UP from a basic car. It does only have a 4-speed automatic transmission, a torsion-beam rear suspension and rear drum brakes, but...

1. It is a very quiet car. I was surprised to see that Toyota puts a sound-insulation pad under the trunk-lid of the Corolla but Honda does NOT have one inside the Accord's trunk-lid.

2. It has an amazingly refined engine that is so smooth and quiet at idle and cruising that you would barely know it is on. It is also not slow, with more than enough power to get out of its own way. It is also (like all current Toyota engines) very efficient. Even without the latest engine technology like Valvematic and direct injection, it is still very competitive. Just think what a 6-speed automatic transmission or CVT could do!

3. It has a very good ride for an inexpensive compact car; I expected something flinty and choppy but got a nice balance of larger-car ride AND more than enough handling prowess to get out of its own way.

4. It also looks quite good, in my opinion. I believe that the current-generation Camry, Yaris and Corolla look very good, with good proportions and classic looks that will not age quickly. Like the Japanese (as a culture and a people), and Toyota (as a corporation), the styling of Toyotas is very subtle. It takes time to appreciate the detailing of current Toyotas (and Lexus models); creases are not knock-you-over-the-head obvious but are very subtle that show up only under the right lighting conditions. This shows great attention to detail on the part of the designers.

dunnojack

that's funny.

people are saying how hyundai will never catch up, will always be a follower, etc etc.

in 1998, I said the same thing, as I thought of the hyundai excel.
I had a korean friend tell me, "you just watch. Hyundai will rise."
and here we are in 2011, and hyundai has gained so much ground, I wouldn't be surprised if Hyundai caught up with toyota in 2021.

that said, I still wouldn't buy a hyundai

84Cressida

I like the exterior design of the car, but the feature content, powertrain, and ****ty interior make this Corolla one of the worst cars Toyota has ever built. I'll be so glad when this generation is dead, though hopefully the 11th is actually a TOYOTA and not a GM copycat car.

I could live with a Corolla, but it's not a car a Toyota fan should be very proud of.

TRDFantasy

Very well said. The little details, the little touches are what make a Toyota a Toyota. Touches that the competition mostly doesn't have.

As a certain Toyota exec recently said, "when Hyundai thinks they've matched Toyota, what's next?"

Even if Hyundai thinks they've matched Toyota, what next? They have only the fraction of the resources of Toyota, and they have virtually no history of innovation. in fact, none of the major Korean companies out there have a history of innovation. If and when Hyundai matches Toyota, they won't be able to copy any or imitate any more, they will have to innovate big-time to keep progressing, otherwise they will stagnate and become less competitive.

dunnojack

you can talk about features and innovation all you want.


It's just funny when a massive company with huge resources, like toyota, turns around and copies Hyundai..... if what Integress said is true.