2017 Corolla first look
03-25-16, 08:45 PM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
I think you're missing the point. The regulation is obsolete and needs to be revisited. The regulation essentially requires a headlamp assembly to have two settings: High and Low. Vehicles equipped with adaptive lighting do not need two settings as it can adapt to oncoming vehicles. The law has not caught up with the technology.
03-25-16, 09:36 PM
#32
Lexus Test Driver
It was bad enough seeing the facelift for our model, but then to see how nice the asian unit looks.... this is totally depressing. Somewhere, someone in corporate has the idea Americans want gaping, monster styling for their cars. Yet in all the research I've done online and in person, not one person asks for this type of styling. *Stumped* as to how this is happening.
03-25-16, 10:44 PM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
. Not surprisingly, the most advanced headlights tend to be most prevalent in premium-level vehicles......you can't expect a vehicle that sells for $20,000 to have a couple of $800 or $900 bulbs up front. And, even in Audi's case here, according to the article, they are simply calling for a loophole that willl allow them to charge for something even more expensive........$3000 extra (as an option) for matrix-beam lights.
03-26-16, 04:43 AM
#34
Lexus Test Driver
Toyota is really trying too hard. It's one thing to be bold and edgy, but another thing entirely when it completely distracts and becomes the entire focal point.
Honda and Toyota must have went to some car design seminar years ago where they paid big $$$ to hear some schmuck tell them to be bold with grills.
It's way too exaggerated and it's like the designers are saying to the executives, "LOOK, WE CAN DESIGN CARS NOT TO BE BORING!" But unfortunately that's all they are seemingly focused on instead of having something that looks naturally appealing and symmetric.
At least the Acura executives threw away that presentation from the scmuck when they got rid of the beak.
Honda and Toyota must have went to some car design seminar years ago where they paid big $$$ to hear some schmuck tell them to be bold with grills.
It's way too exaggerated and it's like the designers are saying to the executives, "LOOK, WE CAN DESIGN CARS NOT TO BE BORING!" But unfortunately that's all they are seemingly focused on instead of having something that looks naturally appealing and symmetric.
At least the Acura executives threw away that presentation from the scmuck when they got rid of the beak.
03-26-16, 05:50 AM
#35
They are magnificent, very sleek. Shame we miss out on the adaptive LED headlamps those across the pond get. Our government has not revised these '60s-era regulations that limit the kind of headlamp technology we get here. 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...headlight-rule
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...headlight-rule
03-26-16, 05:59 AM
#36
It was bad enough seeing the facelift for our model, but then to see how nice the asian unit looks.... this is totally depressing. Somewhere, someone in corporate has the idea Americans want gaping, monster styling for their cars. Yet in all the research I've done online and in person, not one person asks for this type of styling. *Stumped* as to how this is happening.
This IMHO looks like best Corolla ever. It actually has advanced TSS+ while our European Corolla looks great but it does not have high end options like US Corolla.
Some people will complain no matter what but now we have Corolla with full speed adaptive cruise control, auto highbeam, advanced pre-crash, advanced LED headlights, leather interior with blue piping with color screens everywhere.
And then everyone will be surprised how come it sells so great and how people are sheep... thats just funny.
03-26-16, 06:04 AM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
My point, Jill, is that you're probably not going to see headlights like that in cars that cost 15-20K unless the price goes up to compensate. Those advanced lighting systems cost big bucks.
That's one reason why they are so often stolen by theft rings. Instead of ordering expensive new parts, unscrupulous repair and body shops use those stolen bulbs and lighting systems for accident-repair and to gouge unsuspecting customers and insurance companies. It's a serious problem in the accident-repair business.
That's one reason why they are so often stolen by theft rings. Instead of ordering expensive new parts, unscrupulous repair and body shops use those stolen bulbs and lighting systems for accident-repair and to gouge unsuspecting customers and insurance companies. It's a serious problem in the accident-repair business.
Last edited by mmarshall; 03-26-16 at 06:08 AM.
03-26-16, 06:18 AM
#38
Lexus Fanatic
.....it probably costs the factory extra money to use two different automatic transmissions on the same assembly line for the same car, and to stock, order, and and process all those parts for them. Some factories that produce both hybrids and non-hybrids, of course, use different automatic transmissions (and different engines) for the same vehicle, but the added costs are recovered from the (usually) much higher selling prices of the hybrids. (Jill...you were correct. The U.S.-spec 2016 Corolla does have LEDs standard)
Last edited by mmarshall; 03-26-16 at 06:42 AM.
03-26-16, 06:44 AM
#40
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
The cost has come down but more importantly the competition is getting better and adding these features. I also think the standard bulb has to be phased out by a certain date.
03-26-16, 06:46 AM
#41
Dysfunctional Veteran
I honestly think LED or HID/Projectors should be mandatory in cars and cars shouldn't be sold with standard halogen anymore. HID/LED is much better technology and SO MUCH SAFER because it allows the drivers to see a wider, clearer and more focused path.
03-26-16, 06:54 AM
#42
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
My only real complaint with recent Corollas is that they should have dropped the smooth but archaic 4-speed automatic some time ago, but they continue to use it on the base L model, at least through the 2016 model year. And I don't know why .....it probably costs the factory extra money to use two different automatic transmissions on the same assembly line for the same car, and to stock, order, and and process all those parts for them.
.....it probably costs the factory extra money to use two different automatic transmissions on the same assembly line for the same car, and to stock, order, and and process all those parts for them.
03-26-16, 06:55 AM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I wonder what is superior, LED or HID? My guess is HID. Eventually you will see these lights as standard.
03-26-16, 07:17 AM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
Drum brakes on the rear aren't much of a problem as long as the roads aren't excessively wet and water gets inside the drum itself and soaks the brake-linings....then you've lost most of your rear brakes until they heat up with re-use and dry out. But, under most driving conditions, most of the time, they don't take the stress that the front brakes do...that's because FWD vehicles are naturally nose-heavy to start with, and even more of that weight imbalance pitches forward under heavy braking. That's one reason why rear-engined Porsches have such short stopping distances......besides generally excellent brakes, their inherent tail-heaviness causes the weight transfer, under heavy braking, to pitch forward around the center of the car, balancing the braking forces on all four wheels. Last, drum brakes in the rear are actually better-suited, in some ways (as long as they aren't wet) as emergency brakes...it generally takes less pressure on the cable to actuate them than it does with discs and pads. The biggest drawback to drums, though, is that they fade with heat and over-use, and, like with warped discs causing brake-pedal vibration, drums can occasionally get out-of-round and cause brake-chatter in the pedal. But, since drums are only used in the rear (if at all, which is not very often) on modern vehicles, and use less of the braking pressure, fade and chatter aren't as much of a problem as they once were.
03-26-16, 07:28 AM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Drum brakes on the rear aren't much of a problem as long as the roads aren't excessively wet and water gets inside the drum itself and soaks the brake-linings....then you've lost most of your rear brakes until they heat up with re-use and dry out. But, under most driving conditions, most of the time, they don't take the stress that the front brakes do...that's because FWD vehicles are naturally nose-heavy to start with, and even more of that weight imbalance pitches forward under heavy braking. That's one reason why rear-engined Porsches have such short stopping distances......besides generally excellent brakes, their inherent tail-heaviness causes the weight transfer, under heavy braking, to pitch forward around the center of the car, balancing the braking forces on all four wheels. Last, drum brakes in the rear are actually better-suited, in some ways (as long as they aren't wet) as emergency brakes...it generally takes less pressure on the cable to actuate them than it does with discs and pads. The biggest drawback to drums, though, is that they fade with heat and over-use, and, like with warped discs causing brake-pedal vibration, drums can occasionally get out-of-round and cause brake-chatter in the pedal. But, since drums are only used in the rear (if at all, which is not very often) on modern vehicles, and use less of the braking pressure, fade and chatter aren't as much of a problem as they once were.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 03-26-16 at 01:04 PM.