A lot has already been written here on MS about the ?Superior Technology? of this car. I would like to put down a here, a layman?s version. (In other words, an opinion of one, who is not competent enough to understand all the technical details, that many today seem to, quite easily, and yet wants to drive a car like Corolla)
Interiors :This is a big plus. Corolla?s interiors are simply GREAT. You could compare the interiors of Corolla any of the much higher ranged cars, say, Honda?s Accord, Hyundai?s Sonata, or even their own Camry, and it will not be that far behind. Very plush styling, extremely comfortable, lots of leg-room not only in the front but in the rear as well, efficient air-conditioning with an ?automatic? option, that senses the temperature inside the cabin compares it to the outside temperature and sets the fan-speed according to the temperature of your choice, on its own. Overall, a very pleasant feeling inside, the kind that you would not mind driving in, for long distances.
Engine :1749cc VVT-i. A lot was explained about this VVT-i stuff at the showroom. A lot has been written about it not only in various so called ?auto-magazines? ( I call them ?so-called? because in their opinion, EVERY single new model introduced in Indian market is either ?excellent? or ?very good? none of them seem to have any major problems, or is it that these so-called auto-magazines choose NOT to highlight the defects?), but here on MS as well. Hell!!! yet, I still can?t understand what all that VVT-i stuff is all about. But yes, to me 1749cc engine means a lot of power.
Power and pick-up that can make ?butterflies fluttering in your stomach? if accelerated at its full potential, which this engine certainly does. To me, paying a high price of Rs.12lakhs means, that in spite of the high power, the engine is silent AND fuel efficient, AND continues to perform ?like new? for a long long time. Whether Corolla?s VVT-i does or not, only time will tell. The world over, it has, but then, an Indian consumer, is quite another story, isn?t it?
Suspension :Again a lot of technical details ?released?. Once again I fail to understand what the newly developed ?subframe-mounted MacPherson strut based suspension along with an anti-roll bar? technology means. But to me, if I am buying a ?luxury? car, I want the car to ?glide? smoothly over most pot-holes, and speed-bumps. (speed-breakers). I say ?most? because, there are numerous pot-holes AND speed-bumps, of a size, on Mumbai roads, that I don?t think ANY car can handle smoothly. Here Corolla fails miserably. It has been only three months since I bought mine, and in spite of having been to the work-shop for rectification already, the rear suspension still ?squeaks? when someone sits in the rear seat, AND while going over a speed-bump, at normal speed, the car ?jumps? almost as much as a Maruti800 does.
Powered Steering :This has been mastered by almost all brands in India, and Corolla too handles exceedingly well. Nothing special though, Honda?s City and Accord, Hyundai?s Accent, Skoda?s Octavia, all of them perform equally well.
Automatic Transmission :For Mumbai traffic, this is BIG boon. Drive around in an ?automatic? for a few days, and you?ll get hooked to it. Corolla?s performance in this regard, I would say is below average. The first start of the day, when you shift from ?Park? to any other, ?Reverse? or ?Drive? gear-position, the car gives a little thump. Sure this happens in all automatics, but, about a year or two down the line, NOT when its just 3 months old.
Brakes : This is a major major let-down. Not only in the performance of the car, but also in the service and response given by dealer, as well as the company, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Ltd. Only the THIRD day after having taken the delivery, the car had to be sent to the work-shop. The brakes are extremely squeaky. Driving an ?automatic? model, when you apply the brake, just before car comes to a stop, it gives a ?loud squeak?. The same happens when you release the brake to set the car in motion.
In Mumbai traffic, driving an automatic, means virtually driving with brakes instead of accelerator. It is extremely irritating when you keep hearing ?squeaks? wherever you drive around. However it doesn?t stop at that. I have made several complaints, in writing, and yet till date (over THREE months now) they have not been able to rectify the defect.
More, TKM does not even recognize it as a defect. In one of their letters, they have attributed it to being ?characteristic of the vehicle?s brake system having highest brake efficiency? and yet they go on claim of trying to ?develop customised parts to eliminate the noise?. Why the hell would one tolerate, the company to do that with the customers money in their banks and the customer using defective vehicle.
From what I have learnt, this defect is not exclusive to MY car, but ever Corolla has this defect. What would have happened if such a model would have been introduced in European or American markets? I am sure TKM would have had to ?take-back? all cars and refund the money and THEN carry out their ?experiments? to develop parts that eliminate the noise. But then again an Indian consumer is quite another story, isn?t it?
So much for ?TOUCHing THE PERFECTION? !!!
Overall, I am not at all happy with Corolla, and I say this in spite of ?Corolla? (perhaps not the same model as introduced in India), being the second most best-seller in the world. For a few thousand rupees less I would certainly part with mine, any takers?
