I have to make a decision regarding a new car purchase. Have narrowed my
choices to the 2006 Corolla S and LE.
The LE has more of an upscale interior and seems to ride more like a
luxury car. It also has side airbags that are a plus. The only negative
is the exterior has a bland look.
The S with automatic is more sporty and has a harder suspension but
handles like a sports sedan. No side air bags but the exterior looks
superb with the body skirts and spoiler.
My question is, should I sacrifice side safety for a more sporty car? In
addition, is the 38/30 mpg listed feasible or is it overstated?
High Tech Misfit - 22 Nov 2005 22:47 GMT
> I have to make a decision regarding a new car purchase. Have narrowed my
> choices to the 2006 Corolla S and LE.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> My question is, should I sacrifice side safety for a more sporty car? In
> addition, is the 38/30 mpg listed feasible or is it overstated?
Personally, I would choose the S for the sportier handling and appearance.
But if you have a few extra thousand bucks to spend, you could get the
even sportier XRS with its high-powered engine (same as in the Matrix XRS)
and 6-speed manual tranny. I would assume that it has those extra safety
features found in the LE.
The gas mileage figures are realistic. My folks recently got 40mpg on a
trip they took with their '04 Corolla CE (automatic). The figures should
be similar for the S and LE as well, although the XRS will probably get
somewhat worse mileage.
Hachiroku - 23 Nov 2005 00:46 GMT
>> I have to make a decision regarding a new car purchase. Have narrowed my
>> choices to the 2006 Corolla S and LE.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> and 6-speed manual tranny. I would assume that it has those extra safety
> features found in the LE.
That's what I was going to suggest. But they are few and far between and I
don't think they're making them after 2005, and the ones that were around
went fast. It's going to be hard finding one.
> The gas mileage figures are realistic. My folks recently got 40mpg on a
> trip they took with their '04 Corolla CE (automatic). The figures should
> be similar for the S and LE as well, although the XRS will probably get
> somewhat worse mileage.

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Jeff Strickland - 23 Nov 2005 03:55 GMT
>> I have to make a decision regarding a new car purchase. Have narrowed my
>> choices to the 2006 Corolla S and LE.
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> be similar for the S and LE as well, although the XRS will probably get
> somewhat worse mileage.
I suspect that "somewhat" is a bit of an overstatement. How much of an
overstatment is pegged pretty closely to the statement one makes with the
pedals ... (understanding that having pedals that can make the statement
are often speaking up, but they don't have to)
Pat - 23 Nov 2005 00:10 GMT
Jeff Strickland - 23 Nov 2005 03:52 GMT
I'd take the S, but I like the rear deck spoiler and the tire package more
than I like life itself. I try to put my car in places where it won't get
hit -- I've been pretty successful at it for well over 30 years. I'd
probably get the 5-spd too, but I actually like to shift while most folks my
age don't like shifting. Personally, my opinion, as humble as it is, is that
a 4 banger motor and an automatic trans are not usually very good
compliments of each other. If you insist on the automatic, I think you'd be
happier with the 6 cyl motor.
Yes, the mileage figures are pretty reasonable. If you drive like Mario
Andretti, you might not be happy, but I'm confident that if I was driving
the car, my overall mileage for the kind of commuting that I do would dial
in at the high end of 35 mpg.
>I have to make a decision regarding a new car purchase. Have narrowed my
> choices to the 2006 Corolla S and LE.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> My question is, should I sacrifice side safety for a more sporty car? In
> addition, is the 38/30 mpg listed feasible or is it overstated?
Wolfgang - 25 Nov 2005 00:19 GMT
Jeff - What country are you in that you can get a Corolla with a 6 cyl
engine? Ain't an option and would take big $ to retrofit. You must hav the
Corolla confused with the Camry - a bigger heavier car that even with the 4
cyl and automatic still performs well. No problems at all with the Corolla
and the automatic.
> I'd take the S, but I like the rear deck spoiler and the tire package more
> than I like life itself. I try to put my car in places where it won't get
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>> My question is, should I sacrifice side safety for a more sporty car? In
>> addition, is the 38/30 mpg listed feasible or is it overstated?
ma_twain - 26 Nov 2005 18:27 GMT
Now that would be sweet - a Corolla with a 6 cylinder :-) You would have
to upgrade the suspension to handle the added power and weight.
> Jeff - What country are you in that you can get a Corolla with a 6 cyl
> engine? Ain't an option and would take big $ to retrofit. You must hav the
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>>>My question is, should I sacrifice side safety for a more sporty car? In
>>>addition, is the 38/30 mpg listed feasible or is it overstated?
Jeff Strickland - 26 Nov 2005 21:46 GMT
Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that the Corolla could be had with a 6 cyl
motor.
I'm not confusing anything with anything. I'm suggesting that I would not
buy a 4 cyl automatic, I'd get a different car that came in a 6 cyl
configuration if I was dead set on getting the automatic trans. I've driven
many 4 cyl with automatic transmission cars, and none of them were very much
fun. Having said that, I freely admit that the Camry was the most pleasant
when set up this way.
> Jeff - What country are you in that you can get a Corolla with a 6 cyl
> engine? Ain't an option and would take big $ to retrofit. You must hav
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>>> My question is, should I sacrifice side safety for a more sporty car? In
>>> addition, is the 38/30 mpg listed feasible or is it overstated?
ma_twain - 27 Nov 2005 16:24 GMT
If you think a V6 Camry with an automatic is nice, you should have
driven one with a manual :-) I had one.
> Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that the Corolla could be had with a 6
> cyl motor.
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>>>> car? In
>>>> addition, is the 38/30 mpg listed feasible or is it overstated?
ma_twain - 26 Nov 2005 18:33 GMT
> I have to make a decision regarding a new car purchase. Have narrowed my
> choices to the 2006 Corolla S and LE.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> My question is, should I sacrifice side safety for a more sporty car? In
> addition, is the 38/30 mpg listed feasible or is it overstated?
It is your money, so the final decision is up to you. However, keep in mind
airbags alone do not make a car safe. The better handling of the S
might help you avoid an accident, so you would not need the side air
bags. This is assuming you are better than the average driver. It also
sounds like the appearance of the car is very important - so go for
the S. Just remember, the alloy wheels, skirts, and spoilers do improve
handling, but at speeds that would soon cost you your drivers license.
At reasonable, safe speeds they are for appearance only. The S
suspension will be the most useful part of the package.