[2blue92]

Hi Everyone! This is my first post on this forum, after being a lurker for well over a decade! I have had a lot of help from this forum, and I really want to contribute back for a long time now, and finally am able to share my experiences of owning a pre-worshipped Toyota.

I know I'll make mistakes during the course of writing this piece, so I welcome any and all suggestions for improvement, or editing, to make this a more enjoyable and informative read for everybody! Thanks a lot everyone for being supremely helpful and informative all this time!



A) Prologue:-

After Almost 15 years with my trustworthy and loyal Maruti Suzuki Alto K10, and Five years with the equally dependable and consistent Maruti Suzuki Ignis, the itch for a new steed had started to take root somewhere deep within me! The road tax for Our Alto was imminent and we did not want to spend any more on maintaining or running the Car which was obviously starting to show its age. I had always wanted a project car, and had seen the videos of the turbo Alto K10, and was heavily inspired by it to try and do something similar with the car. But the severe parts issues and lack of options made me kill that thought early into nascency. The Ignis would come in handy for daily city commutes, and we decided to sell the Alto, after its long and unforgettable journey with us for almost 15 years, and get a premium family Sedan in its place. I had the thought of turning this new one into a project t car after 7-10 more years, but that was on the back of my mind and didn't seem a primary goal, all things considered.

I did not want to invest in a new car due to its redundancy, We are only two people in my family, My dad, who is a retired Banker, and Me, A Civil Engineer and Building Planner by profession. I would have to buy a new Primary family car in the near future, say in five to six years from now, and needed a stopgap solution
At the current logistical situation, it would have been illogical to spend more than 6 lacs on a secondary car, which would serve as family Sedan for Events or long distance commutes. So after a lot of deliberation, we decided to go to the Pre-owned Route.

B) The Contenders:-

My father had some specific requirements apart from which he didn't care. He laid down the following points:-
1.) The Car should be really comfortable for the passengers over long distances.
2.) The Car would primarily be Chauffer Driven
3.) Minimal Maintanence costs, high reliability. Reliability and Durability were the key factors he kept on insisting on either a Maruti or a New Car.

It was clear to me early on, what I was looking at, A family car, that would have mostly been Chauffer driven, preferably a D segment Sedan, preferably petrol, and a naturally aspirated engine. (due to less complicated engineering and more durability)
Also, I always prefer Manual Cars due to my experience with ATs.
The Older Ats I've tried always had some inherent issues, the shifts were not as rapid as I had wanted, or as accurate as I wanted, the average Mileage was always less than what I wrung out of the MT versions, and CVTs were notorious for their feel-less drive experience. Even though I've had some good experience with the DSG of the virtus, but I'd still prefer a stick shift any day. Not to mention that even Toyota CVT Transmissions fail at 1-1.5 lac Kms, and I simply did'nt want that from this car. I wanted something like a 'Fill it, Shut it, and Forget about it" kind of experience.
I had selected these cars for a test drive after my criteria, and budget were set.

1.) 2015 Hyundai Verna 1.6 SX (O) Petrol - 3.85L
2.) 2012 Honda Civic 1.8V MT Sunroof - 2.75L
3.) 2014 Hyundai Elantra 1.6 SX MT - 5L
4.) 2015 Skoda Octavia 1.5 Turbo - 5.5L
5.) 2018 Volkswagen Vento - 5.5L

I had Driven the Civic, Octavia, and Vento all at some point of my life and I just loved the Octavia for its power and the sheer pull that magnificent piece of Engineering Marvel provides, but was really concerned of the maintenance regime required to maintain and operate a German Car reliably. I've seen friends sell their German cars precisely due to reliability and Maintanence issues so I wanted to Steering clear of them, as I was not looking for a project car.
The Civic was a bit old for my choice, and had a lot of body works, and pending engine works, I would have spent upwards of 2.5 lacs on the car, which I couldn't justify for a 12 year old car.

The Asking price for the Elantra was too much for the Mid model, and the Car had some body works, the Rear and Front bumper needed to be replaced, a Full body painting needed to be done, all the tyres were to be replaced, all electronics, and lights would have to be replaced, and the Engine had a noise which my mechanic wanted to check out, so I was a bit apprehensive in getting the Elantra as well, as I could have easily had spent more than 2 lacs on turning the car over.

The Verna Was my choice, and I took a test drive. The Car had been driven 50K kms approx, Was maintained from the Company Service centre, and had the full service history available., had no major body works, The Interior Upholstery had been redone and the road Tax was due to expire next year. The car drove relatively well, The Clutch system would need to be changed, all the tyres needed to be replaced, I needed a Good head unit as the car did not come with one, and A basic Mechanical Refurbishment and Service would cost me anywhere from 1-1.5 lacs, which fit perfectly in my budget and Requirements. Though I had some concerns over Hyundais Quality control, but I had kept them to myself for now.

C)The Wild Card Entry:-

It was time to Finalise the deal with the Owner, when I suddenly got a call from a friend who knew I was on the market for a pre-owned car.
He informed me about a Toyota Crolla 2015, being Sold By the Owner after 8 Years and 9 months* and 80,000 kms of driving. The Asking Price of the Car was 4 Lacs, which was not too high and I was asked by the friend to atleast come check it out once. So I kept the Owner waiting for another day, and went to check out the Toyota.



D) Economic Analysis:-

I was completely Blown away by the condition the Car was in. The Road tax was Due in 14 months, which amounts to 82,500/- (Approx.), with the insurance premium amounting to 15,000/- bucks yearly, along with Yearly Servicing cost of an Additional 15,000/-.

They Had Quoted 3.8 Lacs for the Car, for all of the Works, the Garage had billed approximately a 1.75 lakhs more, and the Name Transfer, The Fast Tag, a full tank of fuel, and the required paperwork and associated costs would amount to near about 25K more. The Only Issue that I could see was that the Duplicate key was missing and I had to apply for new ones, which Costed me another 20,000/- rounded off. So all in all, I was getting a 2018 Corolla Altis 1.8 G, 80K kms driven, and in an impeccable condition at 6.0 Lacs.

Add another 85,000/- for Five years of Road Tax, and 45,000/- For Three years of a comprehensive Insurance to bring the final amount to 7.3 Lacs in total, to make the procurement amount comparable to a new car purchase. If I would have spent this on a new car, I could have stayed with the Alto K-10 VXi(O) S CNG Which, Paired with the same Head unit, Seat covers, and Personalisations, for exactly the same amount. That new car would have retained approximately 50% of its value after ten years.
Whereas, The Corolla could retain as much as 30% of my procurement costs, provided that I could scrap it for at least 2 Lacs, after 10 years. (Which I could, not that I would)
For Ten years, Insurance and yearly service costs amount to Atleast 30,000/- and Road tax amounts to atleast 1,70,000/- for ten years. This brings the total Running cost including procurement, excluding fuel, at the assumption of 1.5 lac kilometers in ten years, to INR 7.167 per Kilometer. Considering the observed fuel efficiency, petrol could go to another INR 8.75 per Kilometer at current fuel rates. Even if I manage to sell the car in 2 lacs after 10 years, with still a years tax pending, the total Running costs including fuel at current rates Could amount to as much as INR 14.585 per Kilometer. Compared to INR 7.85 per Kilometer of that of the New Alto K10 CNG, at current fuel prices. (Consider Inrun the car for 1 lac kilometers in ten years and sell it off)
A car that costs triple, at double the ownership costs! Not a bad deal at all. I immediately took a test ride, and found no imminent short term issues and decided to book the car there itself!











E) Mechanical Condition, and Post Purchase Work Details :-

The Car was in Completely immaculate condition, with A single past owner, Having been in only one minor accident. The rear fender and Rear Left side door, and left side tail light assembly had been replaced and fitted from company service center. The Car was maintained from the showroom regularly, as per the instructions on the user manual, and has a complete service history.

After I turned the Car over to the Garrage, due to* the notorious reliability issues of the ignition coils of the 2ZR-FE engines, and the MAF and Oxygen sensors, I ordered them to change those immediately. The timing belt, serpentine belt and Fan Belt, along with the PCV valve, and all the Hoses and connectors were replaced, fluids changed (including transmission fluid), and chains had been thoroughly checked, the Fuel injectiors along with the fuel and water pumps had been replaced, Clutch Plate changed, replaced what needs to be replaced, All the bushes and tie rods had been replaced, Shocks/Struts, Wheel Bearings, and ball joints replaced, The Break pads & Break Rotors along with all break lines and hoses, had been replaced, an Denso stock spark plug was put in to replace the Factory one, A new clutch Assembly was put in, and a full general servicing done including replacing the filters and oils. The power steering pumps and hoses were replaced, All the filters replaced, radiator hoses replaced, all wirings and fuses thoroughly checked and replaced what was needed. All four Ignition Coils, Mass Airflow Sensor, O2 Sensor, Throttle Position Sensors, Camshaft Head Sensor, and Crankshaft sensors were replaced. The Vaccum hoses were also replaced with brand new ones. I also made them replace the CV joints and boots.*The Bushings and Hinges of all the doors were changed and Serviced. The throttle body cleaning was done thoroughly.
The Cabin air filter along with windshields and all fluids were changed and a complete wheel and steering alignment was done.

The garrage also put in brand New Amaron 12V 36 AH battery, Had put up window sunshades, and bought new upholstery, had put in new leather seat covers and triple layer 3D floor mats, The Head Unit had also just been replaced with a brand new Pioneer DMH 5290BT along with a rear camera and parking sensor, with a carlinkit Android Auto Wireless Adapter. All five tyres had also been replaced with Continental UC6s. The Car had been fully repainted once from the showroom, with no body work visible, or apparent. A thorough inspection by my personal mechanic too revals no mechanical Work needed. The Windshield Has been coated with a Polarised Film, and all windows has been tinted upto the norms. The Engine bay, Doors and Body, and Boot Space paddings had been replaced with brand new better quality paddings. The Ac and vents were fully serviced, and all the fluids replaced, The AC Evaporator Core had been Changed due to wear and tear.

All lights, both Inside, and outside had been replaced with LEDs, Headlights with Novsight 80Watt bulbs along with a relay, and a Bobblehead and car perfumes were installed as touch ups.
The whole car was repainted from the Toyota showroom after the minor accident, and a complete Service History was provided.

The Top of the Car was wrapped with 3M Matte Black wrap.
The underbody was also coated for damage protection.
New 3D Floor Mats, And OEM Leather Seat covers were fitted in the car. There is absolutely no Moulds, Flood damage or Structural Integrity issues, and no Electrical and / or mechanical issues either.

Also, All of this Servicing, and maintenance was done by me personally, (I'm an officer of the company ), and It was only driven by me and the company chauffer, in its entire life.
The Car had been fully repainted once from the showroom, with no body work visible, or apparent. A thorough inspection by my personal mechanic too revals no mechanical Work needed. There was also no structural damage from the accident visible or noticeable whatsoever.

The underbody was also coated for damage protection. There were absolutely no Moulds, Flood damage or Structural Integrity issues, and no Electricals and / or mechanical issues either. All of these above works had been done by my friend in his Garage, and he made it clear to me that he would buy the car himself If I passed it over. And I was impressed with the condition to be honest. It had absolutely no pending works whatsoever after he was done with it, and looked, felt and drove like a brand new car.*

The Engine, Transmission, and Suspensions are still untouched and in perfect condition, and don't need any mechanical attention whatsoever, and is in mostly factory condition.


F) Five Months, and a 6500 kms Later:-

I've never had driven a sedan regularly before, so I didn't know what to expect. I test drove Virtus and Slavia a while back, Nd had driven a Honda City ZX for a hundred odd kilometers, and that was all of my experience with Sedans.
The first thing I noticed was the large turning radius which makes it a chore to navigate in cramped, clogged and restricting city roads.

The car's design, particularly with its sharper lines, wider stance, and updated front grille, are huge factors in making the Corolla feel less "compact", (not that it is by any definition of the word) and more "executive." The LED headlamps, streamlined silhouette, and alloy wheel options gives it a refined and slightly aggressive look and I love the Subtle aggressiveness.

The front fascia, with its prominent grille and angular headlights, are what gives it a more aggressive and bold look. The car’s streamlined profile looks good, this comes with smaller wheels, which look better in the 'GL' trim and above. The slightly lowered stance at the front is a looker too, but the slightly hunched up rear stance feels from some angles. But it still has a bit of sophistication and road presence that was not typical of the Corolla’s previous iterations. The alloys could have been better though. It still looks tired and basic for a vehicle that retails(d) around 19 lacs.
The Door Handles come with Chrome trimmings and looks classy overall. The Wrapped roof gives this one a unique look on top of it.
The boot of the car opened from the cabin and Remote Key Fob, and is absolutely huge at 490 litres. Packing for a family trip is a treat with this steed by your side!



There is no boot access from the cabin though. Opening up the boot reveals sub standard Insulating paddings. The Engine bay, and Cabin Insulations had been done after market and are of much higher quality than the stock paddings issued by Toyota.

The Doors feel sturdy and solid, feel heavy, but never hard to operate. They lock with a satisfying thud, and has no creaks or stray sounds. The Hinges are, however, traditional Pin type instead of multi stage Hinges coming in as standard in all modern cars. The door locks are speed sensing, and there is also a central lock console button on the door panel on the driver's side.




The interiors are reasonably modern and understated, with a central 7 inch touchscreen Android unit, and controls for the Air conditioning system just beneath it. The two tone dash is a welcome sight, but some of the hard plastics, and chrome outlines used in the interior feels cheap to say the least.



Driving feels like slipping into a familiar, dependable space every time. It’s simple but reliable, and while it doesn’t overflow with luxury features, it has a comfortable, well-thought-out cabin that prioritizes the essentials. For me, that starts with the little details that make daily drives feel more manageable. The mirror controls are intuitive, perfectly placed by the driver’s seat, so adjusting visibility feels like second nature. The adjustable steering column, with its integrated audio and hands-free controls, lets me handle entertainment and calls without a second thought. While the lumbar support could be better, the seat’s overall structure and the armrest make long drives surprisingly comfortable, even when traffic crawls.
Though it lacks a adjustable armrest, the position and my height does not leave any room for complaining.

Safety in the this version of the Altis is decent to say the most, with airbags for the driver and front passenger. And that is it. This variant does not come with any additional airbags or any advanced ADAS features like VSC, ESP, TRC, or Adaptive Cruise Control.

Beyond that, it's the clarity of the instrument cluster and the simplicity of the gear lever that make driving enjoyable; there’s no unnecessary clutter—just straightforward design that feels reassuring. The glove compartment is functional, if unremarkable, and while there’s no extra cooling feature, it’s spacious enough to fit essentials. The window detailing is subtle, a small touch that adds some refinement without flash. Plus, The Altis does have puddle lights, and the soft glow of the front footwell light makes nighttime driving a bit cozier.
There is a Slip holder right next to the Steering rack towards the driver's side, a sunglass holder at the top, as well as driver and passenger vanity mirrors and lights.
But what this car really is, is a chauffeur driven car.

There’s plenty of leg and knee room in the back, and the nearly flat floor is a treat if you’ve got three people in the rear seat. The headroom is generous, something I always appreciate for taller passengers. The rear seat can split 60:40, adding versatility, though it’s not quite as flexible as an SUV. In the heat, the air conditioning does a solid job, even without rear vents, and while there’s no dual climate control, the cabin cools down quickly enough. One quirk is that there’s no keyless start in this trim, just a simple key turn, and the engine purrs to life, idling smoothly settling down eventually at about 900 RPM. The calm, steady hum reminds me how solidly built the engine is, designed more for reliability than flair. There is absolutely no body or panel vibrations when idling, although there are noticeable panel gaps in the body, though not at the level of other competitors, though this is an issue even with newer Corollas, even new purchases. The engine is really smooth and vibration less. The left bottom engine mount looks like it will need to be replaced at about 1,00,000 Kilometers though.
There is a central light in the cabin, and reading lights for the reason passengers as well. All internal lights are LEDs except for the reading lights and the front vanity lights, which are dim halogens, which are very handy when I need subtle but visible lighting inside the cabin.
The bonnet opener and exhaust are traditionally placed, making them easy to access if you’re ever under the hood.
Opening the trunk is easy with the spring-assisted boot mechanism, and while the padding quality in the boot, isn’t the softest, but it’s solid enough to keep things quiet inside. The Aftermarket cabin and engine bay paddings though work wonders for the NVH. The spare isn’t an alloy, but it’s sturdy and dependable, much like the rest of the car. In terms of materials, the hard plastics and beige fabric might not win style awards, but they feel durable, built to handle everyday wear. The sound system is basic but surprisingly crisp, with speakers in both the front and the rear parcel tray, delivering Standard audio for casual music lovers, nothing to write home about.

On the road, this trim of the Altis lacks the high-tech driving aids you might find in more modern cars - no Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, or Adaptive Cruise Control - but that’s part of its charm. Though it still would have been great to have options. A guy could only hope!
The experience is honest and straightforward. It almost imparts a strange confidence in you,that distance is not an issue with this car. You can easily clock 10,000 kilometers in one go without mechanical attention, Or servicing, if you wanted to. The engine is peppy, never feels underpowered, and the engine doesn't stall at even lower RPMs in city traffic, the manual transmission is a cha to drive and the engine can really start to scream if pushed in higher RPMs. The Clutch plate is new, though it has a relatively early bite in the first gear, and as corroborated by other drivers, it is a thing with this car.
This car is not dazzling me with luxury, but it’s got everything I needed for a smooth, comfortable drive, without the frills, just genuine, lasting dependability!





G) The Good, Bad, (and not so ugly):-

The Bad:-

1.) Electronically Adjustable Seats Would have been nice, but it comes standard only in the GL and VL trims

2.) Only Two Airbags in this version of the Car, which is much lower than the industry standard.

2.) Though the AC is really good and more than adequate in most use cases, The Missing rear vents, and two zone climate control do irk me sometimes, specially when I have my dog along with two people in the rear.

3.) Braking is, umm, adequate to say the most. The Level of Braking the after market Brembo calipers and my Metzeller Tyres on my MT-15, And my Brothers Duke 390 gave me a sense of security while braking, which I completely miss in the car. Sure, the brakes work, they do shed inertia as expected, but it does not inspire that level of increased bite and resolute stopping power when you really press on it hard. The Continentals, while a really great set of tyres, does not help much in this either.

4.) It is a passengers car. Period. Sure the engine can be fun when you need it to, but only when you push it with that intention. It is an underwhelming, albeit an utterly comfortable experience driving this car. Just don't expect tight corners, or bursts of sudden acceleration at lower RPMs like the turbo sedans common place nowadays.

5.) The Fuel Economy During Heavy Rush Hour Traffic And busy cities can Range from 4 to 6 Kms Per litre, which I hate. In Normal City Driving Conditions 12 Kms Per litre is the average I got for the 6,000 kilometers I drove, which is way below what they claim, and in Highways anywhere from 18-22 kms Per Litre, which is awesome. Assuming you have a balanced driving and drive on a leaner foot.*

6.) The Fake Carbon Fibre Detailing feels cheap compared to the rest of the interior Quality. Pure Leather seats are very welcomed, the Floor Mats, and the Interior Fabric Quality are all of very high standards compared to the cheap looking chrome finishings and the faux carbon fibre piece(s)

7.) No Traction Control, Cruise Control, Hill Hold Control or Other ADAS features. Also No Automatic Headlamps, Rain Sensing Wipers, or TPMS which, in my opinion should have been standard in a D1 Segment car.

8.) The Cornering Does not inspire confidence. The car does not stick to the ground as per expectations and the road stability is a bit affected when facing undulations in cruising speeds, or during turns. In very tight and fast cornerings, there is a fair bit of body roll. This has been repeatedly pointed out in numerous reviews before, but I did not expect it at this degree from a car of this segment. VW polos, and Fiat Puntos, are much much better at this. Even vernas and Elantras are a lot better at this, even the Civic and Cruze fair better in this aspect.

9.) The turning radius makes taking a turn a chore in Dense city traffic.

10.) Torsion Beam Rear Suspension. The Octavia L&K had an Independent rear Suspension.

11.) The 'G' Trim Comes with basic 195/65 alloys, the alloys on the 'GL' sibling should have been standard in all variants and is an obvious cost cutting measure.

12.) The Clutch Bites a bit hard compared to its travel in the first gear and takes a little time in adjusting.*

13.) The Interiors are plusher in almost all of it's competitors, and leaves a lot more to be desired.

14.) No ventilated seats were offered at that price point.

15.) OeM parts are costly.

16.) The Stock Speakers are nothing to write home about. Lossless audio performance is dissapointing, the mid-ranges are harsh and sloppy when listening to more complex music, the legibility of the sound output, in separating different instruments and sounds in more complex songs is subpar. The weirdest and most dissapointing thing is that If I turn up the bass, there is audible distortions and more nuanced musical elements suffer as a result. The Pioneer head unit does address these issues quite a bit, but still, audiophikes should get new hardware. It's quite enough for all remaining usecases, and can be quite enjoyable.

17.) The Drivers arm rest is fixed, the adjustable one in Elantra is a huge upgrade in Drive comfort than people originally assume, especially for someone with a larger frame like me.

18.) There Are noticeable Inequalities and body panel gaps, which is an issue with even newer Toyota cars. This is just not expected from a car at this price point. Also, I would have loved the three stage braking door hinges that comes standard in all modern cars now.


The Good:-

1.) Brilliant Seating and Driving Comfort. feel like they were designed with both comfort and long drives in mind, especially for a family sedan. The seats offer excellent support for the back and thighs, which really comes through on those extended trips. The front seats, in particular, have a good balance of firmness and cushioning that keeps you comfortable without feeling too soft or unsupportive. The Lumbar support could have been better though. In the back, the spacious legroom and the rear seats' reclining angle seems just right, it has a 60:40 split, making it easy to relax or even catch a quick nap. The upholstery is Leather and feels well-padded and of high quality.

2.) The AC Does not let you feel the lack of rear vents, and really chills down the cabin.

3.) The Engine and the car overall is super reliable. The Annual Servicing Costs Range from 12,000/- to 15,000/- Rupees on an average as per the Service history, and my experience.*

4.) The Sound Insulation is commendable on this Sedan. The cabin has no squeaks, creaks, or rattles, the Cabin is properly sound proof to the point that you may run the risk of cranking the car when it's idling! Happened with me quite a few times at the start, and there is no protection against this. The Butyl Rubber on Alluminium foil paddings (Similar to Dynamat Extreme, but a generic Indian Brand) in the doors, and a dampening liner under the floor mats, along with the underbody coating brings down the NVH at very low levels than a stock Corolla. The Continental UC6s are Quiet on Good roads and highways, though on higher RPMs and highway speeds, there is quiet a bit of noise coming inside the cabin, for which I blame the thin wheel wells. Some deadning in there would drastically reduce the NVH levels even lower.

5.) The ergonomic handrest and Gear position makes shifting a breeze and driving a lot less tiresome.

6.) The New Continental UC6s are super quiet, Noise and comfort is great in the UCs and the Wet and dry grip is commendable if not the best in class. The wear is good, but Road feedback and handlings could have been better. Breaking is good but again the lack of road feedback does not help in inspiring confidence.

7.) The Pioneer Head Unit on the car is very modern with Android Auto and Apple car play, and leaves little to be desired except for a larger capacitive touch screen. The Head unit and the Wireless auto extender from Carblinkit Works and feels like a charm, though I wouldn't have shunned a capacitive display on this little piece. I have no qualms about the display Size, as I wanted a stock feeling and looking Unit, but one that offers the full range of modern functionalities. There are currently Gaps on both sides of the head unit which is driving me crazy! I'm going to have to find a solution soon.


8.) The Magnetic Window Curtains, and Upgraded Leather Seats were a nice little touch.

9.) The Upgraded Leds are very powerfull and Road visibility has improved quite a bit. The Throw and spread are awesome, and the overall performance is More than expectations.

10.) The Car was equipped with front and side parking sensors too, which I just love and find very very helpfull while parallel parking, even while I like to brag to some of my childhood motorhead friends that I turn off the parking sensors while parking.

11.) Ingress/Egress, While compared to Muvs, and SUvs is still a fair bit harder, it's much better than other sedans of this segment, due to its high Ground clearance.


12.) 2JZ Engines are super reliable, albeit having some issues with ignition coils, and Maf and oxygen sensors, The Manual transmission is super smooth and reliable, and is super smooth, responsive, and durable, paired with a very balanced, smooth and responsive clutch. And did I say? It's super durable.
(I'm keeping the one I replaced at 60,500 kilometers as a spare to use in emergencies as It was practically new)

13.) The build is super solid and sturdy, the car feels like it is built to last, and is very durable, and built with quality materials. The paint quality, while not anything to amaze, is decent and above average.

14.) Regular Service Costs amounts to almost around INR 3000/-. Service Costs During filter changes could go up to around INR 7,000/-. Replacing the tyres at 40-50,000 kilometers could set back around INR 30,000/-. Suspensions Can go around INR 25,000/-, which might need to be replaced after an approximately estimated 80,000 Kms more. Averaging Service costs for 10 years and 1,50,000/- kilometers amounts to around INR 12,000/- annually which is quite reasonable for a Car of this Segment.



H) Future Plans:-

I'm not really looking towards a lot of modifications as I want a stock Toyota experience for atleast the first of my 1,00,000 kilometers.
But, for my Christmas present, I definitely want a 360 Degree Camera system along with cabin and dash cams, and were checking out some products of Blaupunkt. I'd definitely welcome suggestions on this as well.
I do plan on getting aftermarket ventilated Seat covers from Riggear as I've heard some pretty good things a out them!
I eventually want to upgrade to better tyres, preferably Dunlops, and would love any inputs on what could be a worthy upgrade.
Also, I eventually do plan on getting the bigger sportier looking alloys of the GL trim in my car as well as this really bugs me a lot.


I.) Conclusion:-

After 5 months and 6,500 kilometers later, It still amazes me how hassle free the experience of owning a Toyota is. The Ground clearance makes it a charm in most road and terrain conditions, and it is an extremely reliable companion, wether for Work or play, for Near and far, or in good days or bad, it will get you where you need to be, period.

[Omkar]

Hello 2blue92,

A warm welcome to the forum. What a post to begin your Team-BHP journey! This is like a sixer on the first ball of the innings. Loved reading through your journey about the Corolla.

A lovely car I must say. I drove this generation of Corolla very briefly, but I remember that it made a lot of sense for what it offered. As you’ve said, the car won’t dazzle with luxury, but it has everything one needs. Smooth, comfortable drive along with long-lasting dependability.

Wishing you many happy miles with the car and also looking forward to regular updates from you.

[2blue92]

Originally Posted by Omkar

Hello 2blue92,

A warm welcome to the forum. What a post to begin your Team-BHP journey! This is like a sixer on the first ball of the innings. Loved reading through your journey about the Corolla.

A lovely car I must say. I drove this generation of Corolla very briefly, but I remember that it made a lot of sense for what it offered. As you’ve said, the car won’t dazzle with luxury, but it has everything one needs. Smooth, comfortable drive along with long-lasting dependability.

Wishing you many happy miles with the car and also looking forward to regular updates from you.

Thank you so much for your kind words. I love to drive, I love to write, and I love to Collect and Journal data so I look forward to Writing More Articles about a lot more interesting automobile experiences I've come across! I can only hope that my editing and proofreading improves!

I'm loving every moment with the car and look forward to write more pieces about the future modifications and experiences with this beauty. I would really like to see wether it can live up to the extreme mileages reported from other corollas around the world. Five Lac Kilometers won't be bad for a start!

Team Bhp and all of your invaluable contributions have been such a help and inspiration for me, it's a privilege to be a part! I'll look forward to the experience!

[07CR]

Originally Posted by 2blue92

I was completely Blown away by the condition the Car was in. The Road tax was Due in 14 months, which amounts to 82,500/- (Approx.), with the insurance premium amounting to 15,000/- bucks yearly, along with Yearly Servicing cost of an Additional 15,000/-.

Congratulations in getting one of the most comfortable cars!

About the road tax, does it need to get renewed after 10 years in WB? Also that is a huge amount for road tax renewal.

If I am not wrong, in MH the road tax renewal happens after 15 years, and costs a measly 2-5K. BHPians please correct me if I am wrong.

[Utopian]

Welcome to the forum 2blue92 and congrats for the Altis. Given your preferences and requirements, the car perfectly fits the bill. The first picture takes me back to my earlier Kolkata visits esp. the Swift Dzire taxis with black bumpers. More than the exteriors, I am a big fan of the car interiors with everything falls to hand easily and the layout is clean and uncluttered. The FE which you are getting is slightly lower than what I have seen on my friend’s Corolla (he had the 1st gen Altis) and he managed to get 8+ in city. Maybe, a lighter foot or higher average speeds in Delhi.

[IamNikhil]

Welcome to TBhp, 2Blue92! What a wonderful way to begin your journey here, with a detailed and heartfelt post about your lovely steed. As an owner of the previous gen Altis, this brought back such wonderful memories for me. Wishing you many happy miles ahead with this wonderful car. It's a travesty that Toyota discontinued the Altis model.

[SamitMukherjee]

Welcome to the forum 2Blue92. Going by the pictures it seems we stay close-by.
Picking up pre-owned cars is always tricky, but you have picked up a tried and tested model. To me, this iteration of Altis is one of the better looking Corolla.

Wishing you many hundred miles with your Altis.
Safe driving

[2blue92]

Originally Posted by 07CR

Congratulations in getting one of the most comfortable cars!

About the road tax, does it need to get renewed after 10 years in WB? Also that is a huge amount for road tax renewal.

If I am not wrong, in MH the road tax renewal happens after 15 years, and costs a measly 2-5K. BHPians please correct me if I am wrong.

To be honest, I'm really confused about the road tax. On Enquiring on the Vahan Website and Putting the First owners registration date and purchase date, and other details, and not opting for re registration, It is showing 96,250/- as a lumpsum payable amount for five years. Whereas, calculating as per The Guidelines and rate charts in the RTO act in west bengal brings the amount to something around 32,500/- . On enquiring with a friend who had the Top model of the 2018 Facelift Altis (He has not yet renewed the road tax), he said it should be around 80K, precisely the amount I stated. It's a disproportionately huge sum, and I'm sure I'm making a mistake somewhere.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Welcome to the forum 2blue92 and congrats for the Altis. Given your preferences and requirements, the car perfectly fits the bill. The first picture takes me back to my earlier Kolkata visits esp. the Swift Dzire taxis with black bumpers. More than the exteriors, I am a big fan of the car interiors with everything falls to hand easily and the layout is clean and uncluttered. The FE which you are getting is slightly lower than what I have seen on my friend’s Corolla (he had the 1st gen Altis) and he managed to get 8+ in city. Maybe, a lighter foot or higher average speeds in Delhi.

It's the good roads and flowing traffic (comparably) in Delhi NCR. Kolkata Roads are a mess, and even though there is seldom traffic, poor signal and pedestrian management, along with a pathetic excuse for access control on city highways make heel-toeing practically impossible. It's either push or release, so most of the time it's either burning fuel to the teeth, or cruising without my foot on the gas. Also, I have a habit to make perfect shifts and don't hesitate to shift down a hundred times and shift back up two to three gears in a very short time, keeping up with the traffic. This (unnecessary?) acceleration & deceleration in stop and go traffic is the culprit in my opinion. In times that I am not in a hurry, I generally tend to shift to higher gears and try to avoid gear changes, and could get a fair bit more from it, but honestly, I hate to have to accelerate without most of the torque support backing me up, so I tend to drop gears like pebbles!

Originally Posted by IamNikhil

Welcome to TBhp, 2Blue92! What a wonderful way to begin your journey here, with a detailed and heartfelt post about your lovely steed. As an owner of the previous gen Altis, this brought back such wonderful memories for me. Wishing you many happy miles ahead with this wonderful car. It's a travesty that Toyota discontinued the Altis model.

The Market Giveth, and the market taketh away!
I think I agree with Teambhpian Pqr had a very lucid analysis on the end of D segment sedans in India. Do you think the Altis could have had held its market share or would have become a niche like the CBU Camrys and Superbs that retail now?

[2blue92]

Originally Posted by SamitMukherjee

Welcome to the forum 2Blue92. Going by the pictures it seems we stay close-by.
Picking up pre-owned cars is always tricky, but you have picked up a tried and tested model. To me, this iteration of Altis is one of the better looking Corolla.

Wishing you many hundred miles with your Altis.
Safe driving

Thank you so much for your kind words. I completely agree. I like the features of the facelift more, but this one looks much better than the facelift in my opinion!

P.S:- I have a branch of my office near maddox square, but I stay in Durgapur. Which area do you live in?

[SR5471]

Congratulations! It is a very reliable and comfortable car. My cousin has a 2018 VX. It can be driven smooth and if the need arises can be fast also (for our roads and speed limit). Wishing you lots of safe rides.

[2blue92]

Originally Posted by 2blue92

Hi Everyone! This is my first post on this forum, after being a lurker for well over a decade! I have had a lot of help from this forum, and I really want to contribute back for a long time now, and finally am able to share my experiences of owning a pre-worshipped Toyota.

I can't yet reply to PMs due to membership levels, so I'll add it here. I've been asked by members of I had the issue of heavy steering. I did and I resolved it by asking my garrage to change the serpentine belt. Toyota Corolla Altis has Electric power steering driven by the serpentine belt. If for some reason, the car is not getting/generating enough electrical power, one of the first thing it sacrifices is the power steering. It's better or not an issue when you are going fast, but when stopped or rolling in traffic, it's a horrible experience.

My guess with people who are having this issue, is that your serpentine belts are not turning the electric power steering, due to issues with the belt itself or the alternator. I hope this helps!


Mod Note: Please avoid quoting the entire post while responding

[SamitMukherjee]

Originally Posted by 2blue92

P.S:- I have a branch of my office near maddox square, but I stay in Durgapur. Which area do you live in?

Presently in Durgapur. Let me know when you are in town next time, we can connect.