The new model is horrible. No rear visibility – I had to use the mirrors and felt really unsafe. The side windows are also really narrow and high from the ground. I really dislike convex side mirrors – I want to see things in proper perspective thank you. No amount of adjusting the seat could get it in the right position in relation to the pedals and I ended up with a really sore back.

The 6 gears are an awful concept and make it difficult to drive as the gears have short ratios and you have to keep changing. I also don’t like the pull up ring for reverse and the position of the reverse. The clutch was pretty poxy as well.

It doesn’t sit well on the road. I have never liked the fact that my 1991 corolla tends to wander all over the road unless you keep steering it – The current model is not a lot better. Also the styling on both hatch and sedan is not that great. The hatch also has a ‘bridge’ where the allegedly ergonomically placed gear stick is. How long will it be before it is grotty and disgusting in the space underneath this bridge?

I test drove the mazda 3 and that was a nice car. Again a couple of issues with rear visibility but I need to check that out again on another test drive. But what easy car to drive that was and it also looked good inside and out. The mazda 6 looked even better but out of my price range.

My 1991 corolla is a comfy luxurious car with fantastic visibility and drives along nice and smoothly (apart from the wandering on the road problem). It also has a really nice shape at the back. I want a new one of those not the cheap rubbish the current one is. I am a bit strapped for cash at present and may well just go ahead and get my current car fixed up so it will go for another couple of years until I have some money to buy a new mazda.

regards John K

When I was in the BMW club QLD one of the members made most of us jealous. He had an E36 M3 SMG, a brand new E39 M5 with custom exhaust (sounded amazing pulling 7000rpm+ down the front straight of Lakeside) and at the time had placed an order for the E46 M3 just before release in Aus. What was even more amazing was that he still planned to keep the other 2!!!! I would love that garage.

:-) :-)

Back to the Corolla, found a review on-line with most of the small/medium cars in Aus. Cars were Elantra, Focus, Golf, Corolla, Astra, Mazda3 and of course the Corolla (sorry John, no Fiat yet, but it will come). No, the Corolla didn’t win. The Mazda3 pipped it at the post, not bad for a 3 year old car. Although you can’t take everything you read as gospel, hey John!

;-)

you both disgust me…

Anyhow, back to the topic on hand. One of our neighbors has purchased the new Corolla Sedan. Doesn’t actually look that bad in the flesh. Although the tail lights bulge out a bit just like the Camry. Had to do a double take though because at a quick glance it looked a little like a Hyundai Elantra sedan.