looking at sportivos...which year model is the best to buy..03/04/05?

[Armstrong]

i was told that the clutch or gears arnt as good as a stock corolla by somone on this forum and it was best to test drive one before thinking about buying one.

I was curious though as i know the 05 model just changed the front bumperbar and headlights. but what else is improved or different between the various year models?

I like the 05 and also the older models just the same. But thought sporitvo owners here would have a better insight than the average joe :D ...maybe this topic might help others as well for buying a sportivo...who knows

Edited June 9, 2009 by Armstrong

[123R-Prozak]

sticky gears is one thing to look at, but ive just been searching for 40 mins on the forums that a clutch adjustment will fix it, tho im having trouble adjusting mine, i cant get that 12mm bolt on the pushrod !!

not sure whats the difference between 03 n 05 besides the body look, perhaps the other peeps will know....

[kolourhero]

Differences between 03 and 05 that i can think of the top of my head include:

- Different front end.

- Different tail lights.

- Shows that fog lights are 'on' in the instrument cluster.

- Side mirrors slightly different.

- matte silver trim.

- different headunit (black, and plays mp3's and may have bluetooth depending)

- all electric windows including passenger have the 'auto' wind up and down function - This includes all 'auto' on the drivers controls for all windows.

Edited June 9, 2009 by kolourhero

[Armstrong]

Differences between 03 and 05 that i can think of the top of my head include:

- Different front end.

- Different tail lights.

- Shows that fog lights are 'on' in the instrument cluster.

- Side mirrors slightly different.

- matte silver trim.

- different headunit (black, and plays mp3's and may have bluetooth depending)

- all electric windows including passenger have the 'auto' wind up and down function - This includes all 'auto' on the drivers controls for all windows.

cool...thanks for the reply

So i take it for all the models the driving experience is exactly the same?

[kolourhero]

Differences between 03 and 05 that i can think of the top of my head include:

- Different front end.

- Different tail lights.

- Shows that fog lights are 'on' in the instrument cluster.

- Side mirrors slightly different.

- matte silver trim.

- different headunit (black, and plays mp3's and may have bluetooth depending)

- all electric windows including passenger have the 'auto' wind up and down function - This includes all 'auto' on the drivers controls for all windows.

cool...thanks for the reply

So i take it for all the models the driving experience is exactly the same?

That's right.

[Rolla Boy]

I think it's all about personal preference really...

IMO, the facelift looks a lot better inside and out...

[Kenneth.]

I didn't know the 05's had a foglight symbol on the cluster.. our 05 Levin doesn't.. must be a Sportivo thing.

[and1]

Yep mine has it

[jaderd]

Differences between 03 and 05 that i can think of the top of my head include:

- Different front end.

- Different tail lights.

- Shows that fog lights are 'on' in the instrument cluster.

- Side mirrors slightly different.

- matte silver trim.

- different headunit (black, and plays mp3's and may have bluetooth depending)

- all electric windows including passenger have the 'auto' wind up and down function - This includes all 'auto' on the drivers controls for all windows.

cool...thanks for the reply

So i take it for all the models the driving experience is exactly the same?

That's right.

you forgot the important .....duel zone centre console....makes it perfect height to rest elbow while gear changing

also sportivo 05 has different side skirts, different badge locations, different sportivo badges themselves, its a 6 stack mp3 player also

[kolourhero]

Yeah.. how could i forget the infamous 'dual-zone' armrest.. heck.. i was looking for one from wreckers not long ago!

Sideskirts are exactly the same..

[IMB055]

Some people say they prefer the more agressive look of the 03/04. Others will tell you that you should buy the newest you can afford, and it is true, there are some differences that make the 05 a little more pleasant. Even though I have an 03, I like the look and the little extras you get in an 05.

It comes down to how much you are happy to pay for these extras. And you will have to pay, as they are rarer and owned, for the most part, by people who know this.

But mechanically, to the best of my knowledge, there is no difference.

(Now, if the 05 had an LSD as standard, I would have paid the extra for one ;) )

[MT]

Early 03 models had larger headers / extractors

[jaderd]

Difference in headers ? as far as build up for porting ?

as i have alex's old headers i think or well they are deff off a non upgrade anyway as we all went through head 2 head and if anything my stock headers just needing more of a clean up re. porting than the non upgrade ones which i have on mine

[Voodoo]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but im also looking at sportivo's , whats the parts like, do toyota stock them (since they are South African built) or do some have to be imported?

[Kenneth.]

Your local dealer will have the parts you're after. Just like they have parts for the Japanese built 1ZZ's.

[maca_10]

go to www.redbook.com.au as they have all the info on the sportivos

i bought my sportivo a month ago n i was researching for ages what to get and whether to buy the 03, 04 or 05.

the 05 has more features but mechanically i believe they are the same

one thing is that the weight of the 03,04 and 92 sportivos weight 1224kgs while the 5Y weights 1200kg. i got a 5Y so 24 kgs saved but that could be wrong im not sure

good luck with the buy!!

[chicaboo]

If you've got the money, I think the 05 is the one to get. If you like doing aesthetic mods, perhaps the 03 is better suited for you.

Don't forget to look at the 2ZZ powered Celica before paining over which Corolla to get. It weighs some 90kg less than the Corolla too!

Gav.

[Blind Kid Seeks]

Early 03 models had larger headers / extractors

you sure about that?

i reckon i've seen every 2zz header around for the stivo...and they all look pretty similar... except for the blankign plate on the POST mar 2003 headers for the air injection system for the Northern American model 2zz's

[MT]

Early 03 models had larger headers / extractors

you sure about that?

i reckon i've seen every 2zz header around for the stivo...and they all look pretty similar... except for the blankign plate on the POST mar 2003 headers for the air injection system for the Northern American model 2zz's

100% sure.

I doubt it makes a squat of difference, but they asked for differences