Corolla "LE" versus "CE"

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TenPercent - 29 Oct 2005 05:54 GMT

Hi, I've reserved a Corolla "CE" when the dealer
receives it in about 10 days. It's an automatic with
convenience and all-weather guard packages.

I would just like to confirm that the CE's are just as
mechanically reliable and durable as the upgraded "LE"
model?

For example, won't the CE's engine and transmission (and
other mechanical parts) last just as long on average as
the LE's before major repair might be required?

By choosing a CE over an LE, I just would like to be certain
I won't be sacrificing quality-of-build or anything
else--other than the keyless entry, seat height adjustment,
fake wood trim, and electroluminescent gauges that come
standard on the LE?

Thanks a bunch for any helpful insights.

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Ray O - 29 Oct 2005 06:18 GMT

> Hi, I've reserved a Corolla "CE" when the dealer
> receives it in about 10 days. It's an automatic with
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Thanks a bunch for any helpful insights.

The CE and LE are made on the same assembly line. Reliability and quality
of the CE will be the same or better (fewer components to break).

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Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

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Brent Secombe - 29 Oct 2005 12:06 GMT

> > Hi, I've reserved a Corolla "CE" when the dealer
> > receives it in about 10 days. It's an automatic with
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> The CE and LE are made on the same assembly line. Reliability and quality
> of the CE will be the same or better (fewer components to break).

That's true. The less you own, the less you'll pay for maintaining it.

:-)

As to cars. Consumers Reports advises buying the less loaded models if
it's reliability you're after.

OTOH, on my '94 Continental the power windows always worked but the
engine had to be replaced at 50K miles and again at 111K. I traded up
to an Avalon.

Brent

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Hachiroku - 29 Oct 2005 13:40 GMT

> OTOH, on my '94 Continental the power windows always worked but the
> engine had to be replaced at 50K miles and again at 111K. I traded up
> to an Avalon.

Yeah, you get the 3.8 litre engine with the congenital head gasket problem
that Ford is only just now fixing. Bet ya blew the head gasket on the rear
bank of cylinders, right?

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Brent Secombe - 29 Oct 2005 20:40 GMT

> > OTOH, on my '94 Continental the power windows always worked but the
> > engine had to be replaced at 50K miles and again at 111K. I traded up
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> that Ford is only just now fixing. Bet ya blew the head gasket on the rear
> bank of cylinders, right?

<Hehe> You know too much. :-)

I bought the 3.8 because it was in the Taurus and Sable, and I figured
hey, they wouldn't risk the reputation of the mainstays. Ha!

Actually, at 50K they had to rebuild the engine (short block). It
literally sat on the dealer's lift for 6 weeks while Ford decided which
of its divisions would pay for the warranty work! When the symptoms
reappeard 60K later, I didn't wait around for a diagnosis.

It was the mix of aluminum heads on an iron block, wasn't it?

And when I bought the car I thought the salesman said the car had an
air suspension. I guess he said "err" suspension, because it never
passed 10K miles between repairs (seriously). They replaced the
computer (twice), and the springs/strut/airbags (all, some more than
once) before they found that the problem was a chafed wire. I remember
back to when mechanics inspected the system and used their heads before
picking up the company's now-do-this manual. When the regional whiz
finally came in on the job at my demand, he found the problem and
remarked, "That (the chafing) happens a lot on the '95 but hardly ever
on the '94. I bet the "hardly ever" cost Ford thousands. I hope so.

I love my Toyotas.

Brent

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Hachiroku - 29 Oct 2005 21:51 GMT

>> > OTOH, on my '94 Continental the power windows always worked but the
>> > engine had to be replaced at 50K miles and again at 111K. I traded up
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> It was the mix of aluminum heads on an iron block, wasn't it?

But Toyota used Iron block/Aluminum heads for YEARS!!!

It has more to do with design nad the head gasket material than the block
and head. If you find someone who KNOWS what he's doing, the repair will
last for years. This also includes planing.

> And when I bought the car I thought the salesman said the car had an
> air suspension. I guess he said "err" suspension, because it never
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> remarked, "That (the chafing) happens a lot on the '95 but hardly ever
> on the '94. I bet the "hardly ever" cost Ford thousands. I hope so.

Yeah, the infamous air suspension...WHen it worked it was great!
Guy at work had a '92 Townie, paid $250 for the bags (that was at COST!)
and then 3 attempts to get them to work!

One cold late Feb/early March morning, we were bored at work, just staring
out the window. '91-94 Continental across the street with the engine
running (course, I didn't know it at the time...)

All of a sudden, a puff comes out the tailpipe...then an other, and
another. By the time the owner came out of the store, there was a nice
stream of white smoke. He stopped a guy walking by, poited to the tailpipe
and waved his hands a little. The guy shrugged his shoulders and walked
on. He gets in the car and drives off....hopefully to the Ford dealer!

But, 50K?!?! Usually they get over 80K on them before they let go!

> I love my Toyotas.
>
> Brent

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