Buying 03-05 Corolla Sportivo...Q's

[smitch]

Hi,

Im going to have a look at a few Corolla Sportivo's around $10-12k. This should get me a 2003-2005 model.

How are these cars going now in terms of reliability and servicing? There is clean example for $10k but with 165,000 kms on it. Being a Toyota I though this might still be ok if it has been looked after. What is your opinion?

What do I need to look out for and check on these models?

Thanks for any input.

[LFT-OOF]

hey for around 10-12k you should find a real good example of a sportivo.... i picked my 03 sportivo for 10k with 100k on the clock only did not have the original grill in it just getting aftermarket one from america but you should really be able to find a nice example for that price good luck with car hunting i will let you know if i come across any good examples

[Charlie Trout]

Hi,

Im going to have a look at a few Corolla Sportivo's around $10-12k. This should get me a 2003-2005 model.

How are these cars going now in terms of reliability and servicing? There is clean example for $10k but with 165,000 kms on it. Being a Toyota I though this might still be ok if it has been looked after. What is your opinion?

What do I need to look out for and check on these models?

Thanks for any input.

Hey mate,

From experience I can tell you right now that if your from Sydney watch out (and if your not from Sydney this advice is still useful). About 90-95% of the sportivos listed on car sales are privately/listed repaired write offs. Alot of the cars may not be listed on REVS, but that doesnt mean jack. Most of the cars have been hit and repaired privately, hence the reason for not being listed on REVS. Nearly all of them (damaged/repaired write off cars) cant provide log books and the full set of keys that are meant to come with them. How do I know this? Ive looked at all of them (literally) with a very experienced panel beater. For some reason corolla sportivo drivers (not all of them) cant drive for $hit. Take a panel beater with you to inspect any sportivo you look at as it will save you a massive head ache down the line. Also, if your completely set on buying the car, dont be a cheap a$$, get a NRMA inspection (or the equivalent if your from a different state) done. They can determine heaps of things that arent visible to the naked eye (either issues with the engine or body work).

Just my 2 cents, beware.

[smitch]

Cheers guys.

How reliable are the sportivo motors? ie should I rule out a car with 150k plus on the odo?

When are the major services due?

Thanks again

[whitestivo]

Charlie t, you should have moved faster, my sportivo was mint

To the OP, you will find a good sportivo when the gearbox feels terrific

I think many of them end up repaired as you have to wring it's neck to extract performance from it, and living in LIFT is dangerous.

Addictive, but dangerous

whitestivo

[LFT-OOF]

Charlie t, you should have moved faster, my sportivo was mint

To the OP, you will find a good sportivo when the gearbox feels terrific

I think many of them end up repaired as you have to wring it's neck to extract performance from it, and living in LIFT is dangerous.

Addictive, but dangerous

whitestivo

love lift but i do agree 'living in LIFT is dangerous. Addictive, but dangerous'

lol love it....

[Charlie Trout]

Cheers guys.

How reliable are the sportivo motors? ie should I rule out a car with 150k plus on the odo?

When are the major services due?

Thanks again

I dont think its just a case of how many km's its got on the clock, it also depends on how the cars been driven for the 150,000kms. Assuming that the car was owned by someone young, they are most likley to not let the car warm up properly before red lining in every gear. Or maybe the cars done highway kms by a mature driver who has taken care of it. If you dont mind me asking, is the sportivo your looking at the 03 navy blue model in Syd from a dealer? If it is I can tell you right now that car has issues like you would not believe. Check if the cars got log books and call up the people who serviced it to make sure that the servicing hasnt been forged. They say that toyota motors are renowned for being "bullet proof" but thrash anything hard enough and you'll disprove that theory. In terms of major servicing, one of the other guys would have to answer that, i havent owned one long enough to know the major servicing milestones. A good gear box will only tell you how good the gear box is, so dont buy a car just based off the gear box, cause it doesnt mean anything other than its a good gear box. It wont tell you if the fuel pump is leaking or if the radiator is bent etc.

[whitestivo]

It's a generalisation, but I find a very pertintent one when looking at any manual performance car.

The lady that drove my sportivo could not believe the shift quality compared to the 2 other dealer sportivo's she'd driver.

I put that all too regular servicing, good oil, and the best $30 mod i ever spent on that gearbox from BKS

The box in my old sportivo had a better shift quality than my new WRX, it was fantastic

whitestivo

[Charlie Trout]

It's a generalisation, but I find a very pertintent one when looking at any manual performance car.

The lady that drove my sportivo could not believe the shift quality compared to the 2 other dealer sportivo's she'd driver.

I put that all too regular servicing, good oil, and the best $30 mod i ever spent on that gearbox from BKS

The box in my old sportivo had a better shift quality than my new WRX, it was fantastic

whitestivo

Well, at least now everyone knows who to PM when needing any advice on maintaining/improving their gear box. Just a suggestion but i think when you have time, you should write up a thread and get one of the mods to pin it to keep everyone in the know how when it comes to gear boxes.

[smitch]

@Charlie - yeh that navy one was one of the ones on my list. I'm from Newcastle so I havnt actually inspected anything yet. Still thinking.

I'll just have to play the waiting game.

Thanks everyone. Any further input or suggestions appreciated.

[whitestivo]

do a search for a DIY by BKS, he had a clean as white sportivo as well, and he came up with the mod for my gearbox

Was excellent work

whitestivo

[Charlie Trout]

do a search for a DIY by BKS, he had a clean as white sportivo as well, and he came up with the mod for my gearbox

Was excellent work

whitestivo

Cheers.

[RedSportivo]

Okay reading the topic did a search on that gearbox mod, Whitestivo if you know the threat could you link me or just pm me what it was because, ever since ive installed my TRD quickshift my gears are really stiff i dont got any more of the soft motion kind of miss it :P

[maca_10]

Hey mate,

There is a thread on here that actually compares the difference between the sportivo's released. I was lucky as i got mine 2 years ago with 50,000km on it driven to the shops and thats it.

2003 v 2005 sportivo - different interior trimmings, 2005 gets MP3, all auto down & up windows (maybe 2003 has but im not sure), and 2 compartments in the centre console.

Redbook also has the 2005 at 1200kgs while the rest are a bit heavier (but can you believe redbook?).

The best advice I can give is test drive them. Try low speed manuovers, quicker speed cornering and breaking and accelerating (probably best to not do any full ball starts) and off course see if lift actually kicks in. I remember reading back a while that someone bought one and when he tried lift it really didn't work - just make sure engine is warm.

Can't think of anything more, but just test drive them and see how they feel.

Good luck with the hunt

[whitestivo]

I know where the thread is...

It's relatively easy to perform (about 30 minutes), cost me next to nothing, and it improved my shift quality out of site.

I'll let you new tocau members hang for a while and see if anyone can find it (because i know it's still there i just checked). The thread has got to be at least 2 years old.

All sportivo's are the same weight.

[RedSportivo]

Ended up finding it

http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16460&st=0