Information about the Corolla

General Info:

  • Official Name: 1987 Toyota Corolla LE
  • Nickname: Toyota
  • Color: Light Tanish Gray
  • Miles: 243,000? (last we heard, originally 213,000)

Under the Hood:

  • Engine: 1.6 Liter I4, SOHC, 2 Valves/Cyl
  • Horsepower: 74 @ 5200 RPM
  • Torque: 86 ft-lbs @ 2800 RPM
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual w/overdrive

Dimensions:

  • Length: 166.3" (4.22 meters)
  • Width: 64.4" (1.64 meters)
  • Height: 53" (1.35 meters)
  • Wheelbase: 95.7" (2.43 meters)
  • Track, front/rear: ?
  • Curb Weight: 2100 lbs (950 kg)
  • Tires: Misc. 175/70R13

Performance:

  • 0-60 mph, sec: ?
  • Quarter Mile, sec/mph: ?@? mph
  • Braking, 60-0 mph, ft: ? ft

Best Observed:

  • Speed: 85-ish mph (driven by Ted, 7-9-03)
  • MPG: 36 mpg (according to Ted)
  • Utility: None, really.

Stuff we had to do to it:

  • 5-15-04: New clutch. Cost: $119 (plus $25 tranny jack rental)
  • 5-15-04: Front brakes (pads and rotors). Cost: $53

About the Corolla
(June, 2003 - June, 2003)

Toyota Corolla
We loved what it did for us...

We bought this Corolla with the intention of selling it to Beka's sister. Instead, we ended up selling it to her brother. We picked the car up on a Tuesday, and sold it the following Monday. In the course of the week we owned it, we logged nearly 500 miles, and burned around 1/4 of a quart of oil. Still we fell in love with the little Toyota. It will be missed.

9-25-05 - A little update for anyone who may care. Ted has since sold the car to Andy, who I work with. Andy needed a car to learn how to drive a manual transmission. Once the learning was complete, Andy sold it to Sarn, who we both work with. Sarn is planning on using it as a winter beater so that he doesn't have to drive his Celica. Last I knew, it had about 243,000 miles on it, if I remember correctly. Go little car, go!

5-29-04 - The clutch and brakes are now in the Corolla, and as far as I know, it is providing reliable service once again. The project went well. It took us about a month of spare time, but was far cheaper than having someone else do it. We also changed the oil and filter, and air filter while we were in there. The flexpipe and other problems will have to wait, since Ted was sick of having only one car between he and his wife. Pictures still to come, as well as the itemized costs of the repairs. Long live the Toyota!

5-10-04 - There was an incident a few weeks ago which involved the highway and the parking brake. Oddly, the clutch was the weakest link. The result: *--Project Corolla--*. The clutch seems to simply be gone, so it had to be towed to my garage, where it is currently about 45% done. This involves removing lots of things from the top side, pulling out drive axles, and droping the transmission. We're as far as pulling the drive axles. While the car is incapacitated, we also plan to replace the exhaust flexpipe, the brakes (long story), and other assorted broken things. Pictures to come.

3-5-04 - Ted has put around 12,000 pizza-delivering miles on the car since he bought it in June of 2003. He has not yet changed the oil or filter. Several things have broken on the car that need attending to. His passenger side windshield wiper has broken off. That should be an easy fix. The rear drivers-side strut has seized up, and there is very little if any suspension travel there. Also, somebody backed into his drivers side headlight/turn signal assembly. Some junkyard parts and a free Saturday should fix that. And finally, the windshield washer pump never did work since we bought it. Still, not too bad for a 1987 with 225,000 miles on it.