2003 Toyota Corolla consumer reviews

I bought a 2003 Corolla S about a year ago used, i have had no major problems with it at all. Routine maintance is all i have had to do to it and since i do it myself it costs next to nothing. Cheapest car i have had due to the lack of problems it has had. I will own this car till the day it dies, and if i can revive it i will own it longer!

I bought this used a year ago. Other than the cheap paint that keeps peeling, its a great value. I am hard on cars and commute 25 miles each way to work. The corolla is extremely efficient. I love toyota.

I've had this car since I was 17. Before I wised up and started driving like a sane person, it survived 2 merciless years of regularly going 90-100 mph, of revving it up to redline everytime i got on the freeway and sudden clutch drops when red light racing. I never slowed down for train tracks or speed bumps. The only things I've done to it are regular scheduled maintenance, and the car still drives like brand new, with body intact(little to no noticeable flex), same great gas mileage and NO major repairs.

I have 103000 miles on my 03 LE Corolla. This LE WILL last 400,000 miles just by changing the Trans fluid every 10,000 ml, oil at 3,000 ml, spark-plugs at 10-15 months. Tires when worn. The higher wheel base keeps the car from scarping the curb. You can also repair (or find mechanics to repair this car) very cheaply! With premium or high octane gas I get 34cty/40hwy. And I drive at speeds of 70-100+mph! The speakers are fine but I hate the Lame Radio/DVD which A -is too hard to swap out! And B: the space doesn't accommodate any of the popular MP3 players! The larger Headlights are a welcomed improvement. The higher door and head room is a great improvement for my bike and computer stuff. Fun to drive? Whatever that means! ie; The car drives predictably, has very quick acceleration. Breaks are Ok, not great. Love the rear view mirror's-under lamps. Love the faux wood finish. Love the lager tires -195/60. R15, and can fit up-to a 16 inch tire. Love the dashboard's white background. The Dealer put poor quality Arizonian tires on. Get Pirelli Tires. Use better Paint! The Paint chips easily and is cheap, compared to other cars. Needs a Telescopic staring wheel. The 8-spoke Toyota hub caps are chintzy, as one of my center "Taurus-Decal" fell off. I don't like day running lights!

I bought my 2003 Corolla CE 5-spd in early 2004--low mileage, and the original owner decided she wanted a BMW instead. For a commuter car, it's great--peppy, good handling, very reliable, relatively easy to do DIY servicing. This is my second Corolla (had a 1988 5-spd that I drove for 15 years) It was running well when I sold it, but the seat fabrics were shot and embarassing to my wife. Though I am very happy with the 2003, it is a bit bouncy on the highway (don't try drinking a full cup of coffee while driving it). But that's the ONLY complaint I have. Great car!

This car was one of the first models of this particular Corolla design on the road (I was the only one with this model on Boston roads when I first bought it). It's been reliable, and I'm now at 114,000 miles, but recently I've put some money in it. I have put in new rotors and calipers and even a new front axle, but my current issue is a transmission problem. As I drive, there is a clinking in the engine, and after THREE opinions (and a wrong diagnosis that left me with a new clutch), the answer is a new transaxle ($$$). I'm hoping this is the last big expense in a while. So though I've enjoyed the car very much and love the way it drives (except for high road noise and difficulty handling on very windy days...but AWESOME handling in snow, which is far more important to me), I've felt a little discouraged at this point in the road. But I'm sticking with it.

My 2003 Corolla is very reliable and economical. It's going on 4 years old now and has not been back to the dealer for anything since I purchased it. If you are looking for reliable and economical transporation, this is the car to buy.

What surprised me about this car from the onset was how new it appeared to be. Inside and out, and even under the hood this car is spotless. I was particularly impressed with the brilliant shine of the red paint combined with the tastefully added chrome wheels. Driving the car was downright fun. I did not expect something that delivers 38 mpg on the road to handle and perform like it does. The "S" stands for Sport on this Corolla and it certainly earns the badge. Steering is crisp and accurate, the automatic shifts smoothly, and the brakes seemed "sensitive" at first until you get used to brakes that works so well. Inside the cabin, everything is where it should be... within easy reach and plain view. The Corolla "S" transforms a great commuter into a fun ride wherever you are headed. It is no wonder the Corolla line has been alive and well for so long. What sparked my initial interest was the reliability of the Corolla. My mechanic mentioned that he had serviced several of them over the years with well over 250,000 miles on them and all they needed was routine maintenance, (oil and filter changes, tires, battery, etc.) When will America ever learn to build such durability into a car? Answer: They did! They built Toyota factories here...

This car is surprisingly nimble and quick, but feels solid on the road like one much larger in size. It is safe, handles very well, and the brakes are excellent. Easy to park, it is a pleasure around town. On the road, it cruises at highway speeds logging an impressive 38 mpg! It would be hard to find a better car for the money.

2003 Corolla S 5-speed Comfort = Very comfortable even for a long hour drive. The seat not having enough support while quick turns makes it 4 stars instead of 5. Performance = The performance is best I can expect for the price of the car. Great on the gas too. In the bast 3 years, I got an average of 33 mpg city & highway combined. Definitely deserves 5 stars. Handling = Suspension is comfortably soft. But not everyone favors soft ride with lots of body roll. Stock only deserves 3 starts but can be upgraded to 5 stars with less than $1000 of after market upgrade. Exterir, Interier design, and feature = Nothing I would change even if I had the choice to. Value for the Money = Bought the car for $16k + tax + fee. Can't be better than that. Reliability = Toyota reliability. Nothing broke in 3+ years.