reasons why an astina is better then a corolla?

[CityEnd]

ok my friend is looking for a car and is currently interested in the current model corolla hatch.

can any of u help me persuade her into get an astina instead? :)

actually, i know this isn't the right place to ask, but i want an UNbias comparassion, which car does better in which section and stuff, pros and cons.

[pr1mo]

astina good

corolla bad

lol

its biased but uncovers some very obvious pros and cons associated with the two models

:lol:

[Cosmo Dude]

Re-sale value and the availability of recent 2nd hand models.
Most people recycle their toyotas every 2-3 years, Mazda owners hold onto them for 4-6 years.
What is the price of a '96 Astina
What is the price of a '96 Corolla

[Nate]

All of my mates who have there licences drive toyotas ... yep every single one, ranging from corolla to celica and even an MR2. In the short of it the astina out drags, out handles and out brakes every single one of them. But saying that it depends wot your friend is after, i find that the astina has a very nice gear box (unlike the 'clunky' toyota box) and the astina is a bit more out there in the styling. The mazdas seem like more of a sport car than toyota so they are a lot more fun (for me to drive). But in the end it comes down to taste, they are both very strong cars that will run forever.

Nate

PS - PICK THE ASTINA - PICK THE ASTINA - PICK THE ASTINA - :D :D :D

[driver101]

Ok... firstly... as the ONLY person in our group to have flogged EVERY car in our group (u know who I am)... I would like to start by saying that I’m the only one in the position capable of commenting on all the cars... yes... u've driven the MR2 a total of 400m... and yes... u most of the time know wot ur about... but ur nightly wet dreams with a family car with a loud exhaust, sunroof, and fancy compression... really is clouding ur view of this whole matter! I am unbiased (I don't even like Toyota’s... I drive one cause it was given to me) and I have by far the greatest knowledge of cars and their limits... having raced everything from a 1980 KE 55 Corolla to a rally prepared Subaru WRX...

OK... firstly our group owns these cars... 1994 Daihatsu Charade (u'd stop laughing now if u knew the first thing about it); 1980 KE55 Toyota Corolla (yep that's a **** box alright.. beaten silly by the equivalent Holden Gemini of its time); 1984 Toyota MR2 Mk1 (Looks like a Lego car but goes like a bat outta hell... with stock corolla underpinnings); 1986 Toyota Celica (An original looking car until Mazda stole its looks for the Astina anyway); 1990 Toyota Corolla (By far the best carbie engine of the lot... if not just purely old school); 1991 Toyota Celica (Actually I haven't driven this one... its the latest addition... but still looks and rides really well... even as a passenger).

Granted the Astina looks and sounds really phat with its mags and exhaust (neither of which were standard anyway) but can't repress the fact that the Astina is a family car with bolt on fancy mods... like power windows that don't work and a sunroof that leaks... Next... if I attached the exact same rims and rolling stock to my G200 charade it would by far out handle the Astina even more than it does now... yeah... I didn't know wot understeer was until I drove the Astina... the Charade has identical suspension to the almighty WRX... right down to the passive rear steering thanks to a trick rear sway bar... and believe me... they handle same allowing for the charade's **** rubber... remember... I’ve driven both! And as for my 44kW 1980 Corolla... I beat u off the line for the first three car lengths! But spec for spec its still nothing special... rear trailing arms... wtf... 1970 Holden Commodore technology... wake up to the world of multi link... think Daihatsu Charade, Subaru Impreza's, and every other car know for its handling! As for the engine...

Compression of 9.0 to 1... wtf... and 92kW... the DeTomaso Charade has a 1.6L and puts out same... from an engine that is far more rev happy and reliable... I once drove one without radiator fluid for 20k's and got away with it! And the compression... (Quoted from http://www.astinagt.com/techcorner.html) is the same as my 1980 Toyota Corolla! Rather dismal for a car your trying to claim is a sports car that is a lot of fun to drive... even though you've driven nothing else to compare it to!!! So then how would u know about the gearshifts then? And as for out braking turn it up... and where'd u pull 'clunky from?

The Astina has a very nice gearbox... compared to wot? Your Holden Barina... geez mate... ur a hell of a motoring journo now! No... regardless of the gearshift... it’s still a very difficult car to heel and toe in... not that that's your main priority in a family car! The Celica is a touring car... and the Corolla is a cheap run around car... yet the Astina in all essence of sports is not better than either of them! Personally if ya want a car that is all of the above... a sports car... a tourer... and a great family car... buy an Impreza... that's wot I’m doing... and if any of bogans wanna start an Impreza vs. Astina discussion... I'll take you guys to the grave...

[Cosmo Dude]

Ok the Astina is crap and the Charade is king but not a shadow on the Impreza.....


What about the Toyota Corolla (as the topic sugested)?

[DunkyMonkey]

All of my mates who have there licences drive toyotas ... yep every single one, ranging from corolla to celica and even an MR2. In the short of it the astina out drags, out handles and out brakes every single one of them. But saying that it depends wot your friend is after, i find that the astina has a very nice gear box (unlike the 'clunky' toyota box) and the astina is a bit more out there in the styling. The mazdas seem like more of a sport car than toyota so they are a lot more fun (for me to drive). But in the end it comes down to taste, they are both very strong cars that will run forever.

Nate

PS - PICK THE ASTINA - PICK THE ASTINA - PICK THE ASTINA - :D :D :D

Dirver 101 has pulled this apart enough, i rate the astina, but i still choose a celica coz i like it more, the astina ****s over me in handling, but i'm not to sure about out draging me, or out breaking me, we'll have to see about that nate.

[pr1mo]

someone lock this thread Pleeeeeeease!

before it gets out of hand

[Cosmo Dude]

someone lock this thread Pleeeeeeease!

before it gets out of hand

It's not out of hand, if the participants keep their remarks civil, well reasoned and on topic this could be a valid debate.





I'm only warming up :D

[Nate]

Thanks for you coments driver 101,

I dont know where you pulled some of those comments from but it appears you forgot to mention a few things.

1. YOUR MUMS charade has a rather funny dent in the bonnet from when you UNDERSTEERED into a tree, the same dent that the insurance company wouldnt fix because they didnt beleive the story you told then (and your parents) about hitting a pole while dodging a 4wd in a shopping center. And now you arent allowed to drive the charade by youself - show off some great handling with your mum in the front seat hey??

2. The astina doesnt have a problem reving (in fact i will be hte fist to admit that if it didnt rev i wouldnt move) and you cant really compare the DT charade seeing you have never driven one. Also the whole radiator thingy wouldnt have happened if you didnt hit the above mentioned tree

3. You drive a corolla and admit its **** box (This was dunkymonkeys old car and he gave it to driver101 when he bought his celica) I say gave because you had no money to pay for it!!. Then you bought that gemini which i lent to money to buy (how was i so stupid???). The one you had to sell because lost your job

4. Since when does my sunroof leak?? it is the best sunroof out!! fair call one power window doesnt go down but im not really worried.

5. MR2 - Goes like a bat of hell my arse (HI AZA). It has no clutch and one of the pop-up headlights doesnt work so that cancels out the window on my car. Did i mention this MR2 has a pair of mazda speed seat covers????

6. Any gear box is better than the barinas!!! and this three car length thing is bull. You had half a car length on me and then said that i shouldnt be worried because any rear wheeler will get the jump on a front spinner

7. WRX rally car oh yeah the wrx experience, hellu the astina aint no rally car and i aint no rally driver.

8. The whole family car thing. The astina has four door and you you love it. You are constantly saying it is **** loads better than the celica's fall over the back seat thingy.

Look dude you are a way better driver than I will ever be, you have done some stuff that i didnt think could be done in car but if you feel that way about my car dont keep praising it in person then pay it out on a public forum (remember this is an astina site ... some people here drive astinas and love them as much as i do) All i was trying to do was comment on why i like the astina and why i prefer it over a corolla. Anyway no hard feelings but just remember I chose an asinta because i liked it and i stand by my desicion. (The fact that AS YET (yes this may / will change) it out performs our cars that it has been against (not your mums), is beside the point)

Anyways im out of this one for now but before i go may i say one thing

http://pic11.picturetrail.com/VOL389/1872888/3616026/45734378.jpg

PS - Note to self - never tell your mates about forums where you talk about there cars

[DunkyMonkey]

okay the Astina Vs Corolla,

the only corolla i would recommend someone after performance is the 1990 hatch with the 4AGE engine, its only a 1.6 and its pulls 100Kw form it, I do have a mate with one and its goes hard, if you weren't looking at that corolla ~CSX~ then i would recommend the astina. That’s just my opinion and mine alone.

[lamby1986]

As for an unbiased opinion, i think i can give one since the only two cars i've owned are a now writen of 93 toyota corolla and a 93 astina.

From the two i much prefer the astina for numerous reasons, with the handling factor being the major one. the rolla rolled around like a ten tonne truck, and had the acceleration of an ant. but even performance aside, the features that come with both are stacked into the favour of the mazda. And how could anyone pass up the coolness of pop up lights.

Although i should point out the age of the cars i drive is different to the market that you are argueing so im not sure how the newer models of either are, but i'd rather have my astina rather than the rolla back

[driver101]

OK... i don't wanna turn this into a bitch forum... cause some really good points have been made about some really good cars... i've got nothing against the astina... infact i'd take it over any of the toyota's anyday... but the simple fact was the astina was not the be all and end all of performance... it mightn't be the best handler... or the quickest... but as a package... and 4 doors its by far the best... and firstly to clear the air... here's the truth to some of nate's latest points...

1. Yes... i crashed mum's charade... and yes it was from understeering... but it was on wet dirt... in the rain... and through a 90 degree corner... the truth was as it was wet it didn't flick as quick as it ussually does (scandanavian flick for those that know wot i'm on about... its a trick ya learn at rally school)... and yes... trying to correct it simply locked the front wheels and the thing went straight ahead... the fact i was doing 85k's cause i was too confindent... instead of the limit of about 80 didn't help... but for those of you who don't live on the limit... you havn't lived! Yes i still drive the charade by myself... as much as nate's would like to be my bum budy... and be with me 24/7... he'd really have know idea wot i drive and when!

2. Yes the insurance company believed our story... otherwise we would've been charged with fruad... the only knocked it back because orinally dad said he was in charge of the vehicle to save 600 bucks excess... and then we told the truth! Big mistake.

3. I never said the astina doesn't rev.. infact at schoolies i clearly remember it easily going past redline.. all i said was that the HD-E engine was revvy yet still reliable... just the an astina!

4. Yes i was only given my first car because i had no money... y.. because i spent it all on getting my pilot's licence... something u wouldn't be capable of anyway!

5. If you bag the gemini ronin will be onto you!

6. The sunroof thing... Aza told me... i've never seen it leak... though its not desinged really well cause you can't open it after its just rained... but hey... its still more than i'll ever have.

7. Um... u've kinda stuffed this one up... the MR2 goes like a bat outta hell with now clutch... so imagine wot it would do with a clutch...? And hey.. they're still some pretty fat seat covers...?

8. Rear wheeler... that's a given... points taken...?

9. Foor doors... tru... i can't argue with that... and like i said earlier... i'd take the astina anyday... i just needed to clear the air.

10. Y don't u ever wanna tell ur mates about where u pay out their cars... can't handle a little competition....?

Anyways... cheers guys... and sorry if i've spoilt the forum... I love the astina as much as the next bloke... but i'd still take a subbie anyday... take care guys... have a good one!

[JynX]

you guys need to hug or somthing?

[driver101]

Well said mate!

[Nate]

you guys need to hug or somthing?


Thanks but no thanks :P

[DunkyMonkey]

hey to the guy that owned the 93 corolla, was it a CSX, CS, or SE, coz the only one i would take is the CSX.

[Critter]

Hmmm......

In the first place whether "my car outdrags your car" or any thing along those lines is surely missing the point about why people become car enthusiasts.

If this is important, buy an old Holden V8 and trash it.

If however you wish to enjoy your driving, "smiles per mile" as it were then Astinas are up there.

I am not a Toyota fan in any way shape or form. I think they make excellent appliances, but then so does Kelvinator.

For style, some character, all-round performance and reliabilty, the Astinas are great things. Pride of ownership it's called.

For a "nice practical little reliable car" for your Mum, buy her a Corolla after she is happy with her fridge.....

[MrShadow]

Well, I was in the same position. A corrola or an astina?

It's pretty obvious which we chose, and here's the reasons:

* Better features (has more options as standard than a corrolla)
* Better looks (esp. the 96 Hardtop, mmm)
* Mazda's seem to hold their value rather well,e specially the BA series
* Looks better than any corrolla out their, more style (did I say that already?)
* It comes in more than one colour out of the factory ..|..
* The NRMA, our mechanic and my freinds all said "go the Mazda"
* I believe it handles better than the corrolla

Only real complaint (apart from not having enough money to mod it, and a few mechanical problems which all cars have) is the road noise.

That's why I now have one of the best looking cars on the road.

[ezin]

Yeah toyota makes a great engine! they r very smooth! I do like them! driven a fair few different ones! But the looks r bad bad bad! They took the word sports and jumped on it as hard as they could! As for the 141kw corrolla well i "choped" one LOL! by two car lenths at 160kmh!! The look on they guys face was ace! Then gave it another go at the next set of lights, same again hehehehe! They just dont have any torque down low! So i drove one to be sure! Poor old box changing at 8300! well thats gunna be screwed in no time + the shifting was notchy and vague! Handling was ok! could do with lowering! I would get a mazda just so u didnt look like another company car driver! + u will always have more money to buy ur next car in the future, The question is,do u want to loose money! Or find it?


The answer

Win Money-MAZDA
Loose money-Toyota

Be a winner! :mrgreen:

[DunkyMonkey]

stop paying out toyota i still own one ~i really should expect that when i'm on an astina sight, but still~ at least mine isn't a corolla or has one of those VVTI engines i don't rate them, take the astina over a new corolla.

[John Doe]

I think very few have actually tried to answer the question which has been asked, which is, how does a CURRENT model corolla compare to an Astina (I'm assuming the last shape Astina and not the Mazda3?).

Well, I hired a Corolla Ascent for a couple weeks not long and it goes like a bat out of hell. I understand it has 100kW and a kerb weight of just over a ton, which makes for very sprightly acceleration. It's handling wasn't the best though and the gearbox was slightly notchy but the damn thing definitely went. As the owner of a corolla before (now have a BA), I have to say that the reliability of the corolla is unquestioned. It went for 5 years with no problems of any sort and I'm assuming this kind of reliability is translated into the current model. I haven't owned the BA long enough to comment on reliability but it will have to be good to beat the Toyota.

[KittyKatSmack]

My first car was a jap spec 1969 Corolla Sprinter... and if you don't think I gave that car a hard time..... wowsers!

Every car of every make and brand will have it's good points and it's bad points.

I bought my BA because I loved the sexy styling, it has every feature I want in a car, and it is reliable.

Toyota has a good name for dependability and reliability, but so does Mazda.

Unfortunately Toyota Australia doesn't want to bring the good models here, and the best ones, as everyone knows, are the imports.

I have had my 1969 Corolla, with a twin throated carby and extractors on it as standard... that little car hauled ass!
I have also had a jap spec 1979 Celica, and the only bad things about that car were the alarms (isn't that familiar with the Mazda alarms!) and the softness of the guards. But that car absolutely HOONED!!! I loved it!!!

For the new cars, I can't really comment on drivability as I haven't been behind the wheel of either, except for a friends ascent (?) and it was pretty awful compared to my BA. Of course, my BA isn't "STOCK" anymore (despite the ribbing) and with the same things done to a Corolla, who knows.

It's more about personal choice I believe. A Corolla is going to suit a lot of people who want an appliance type of car. Then again, those same people buy Mazda's too. What John Doe posted was interesting though, a good comparison.

A Toyota seems to me, personal opinion only, very "hose out" and appear very basic unless you pay top dollar for the options. A Mazda, you pay top dollar for, and get the options anyway. But is also a very nice package... except the SP23 interior, TOO MUCH!.... again, just my opinion.

There are a lot of people out there that have had cars no one else would drive too! Driver101 came out of the closet firing, and kudos for having a go.
I had a Mitsubishi Cordia that everyone turns their nose up at (Mitsubishi are **** blah blah blah) but that car was another awesome beast!

I have loved all my cars, from the Cordia to the Corolla to the Cortina to the Commondore (VL ~ does the nissan motor count as a Holden?) Hell I have even had a Datsun 180B SSS manual, and that's a rare find! Then I have had the loungeroom on wheels XC Falcon, the itty bitty Escort and the custom painted Gemini.....

I have owned a lot of cars, and every single one had good and bad points!

You are allowed to love your Daihatsu and your Hyundai....
Good debate is an excellent way to gauge other people's passions too!

One point that has to be made clear is that if a friend wants a Corolla and you want to talk them into an Astina, terrific, but let actions speak louder than words.

Get them into an Astina and let them figure it out for themselves.



BTW, the one thing I DONT like about my Astina???? No Cup Holders!!!!!!!

:lol:

[Astro Boy]

No cup holders? Wot da? Not cool... Hey Kitty, u've nearly got a reply as big as driver101... wots doing? Must be contagious or something? Personally I'd take the Astina, for all the above reasons... though don't knock the 141kw toyota engine... its **** off the line cause of its peaky performance and distinct lack of bottom end tourque... however on a race track where it'd never go below 5000 revs... it might be a little closer... only a track day would tell! Though yes the corolla sportivo isn't lowered enough and certainly can't cope with the significant body weight.... You only need to check out the new lotus that has the toyota engine to see that engines have their own application... and the Corolla Sportivo shouldn't been one!

[Bogan Bob]

Ok, as the official NSW Bogan who has driven current-model Corollas, I feel the need to utter my own opinion. If you like Corollas, stop reading here...

I wouldn't buy one in a pink fit. That's why i chose the SP20. It's criminal that they can claim the underdone, bat-****-boring Sportivo is a performance car. It's got 1/56 the charisma, styling and driver involvement the sporting Mazdas do.

Oh, and Driver, if you really were such a guru of high-speed punting, you'd know that there's a little car called the Evolution Lancer that will decimate the WRX and give the STi a real good ass-whupping on a twisty road or gravel track, and it won't shatter its gearbox. Oh and yes, I've driven both Subes and Mitsus, including an Evo VII. :roll:

[platypus]

! As for the 141kw corrolla well i "choped" one LOL! by two car lenths at 160kmh!!
i hope that was on a race track, coz 160 on public roads is insane

Bogan Bob, when are you gonna get a good car again?

all, you'd have to drive one... at the time i was looking for this car i was looking at 3 cars, which were, the mazda protege, the ford laser, and the corolla...

at the time all were fairly equally priced, the corrolla slightly higher, and the laser higher again.... but all within 1k of each other...

the mazda came up first, at the right price in immaculate condition... i really wanted the 1.8 but didn't care, i needed a new car...

i drove both cars, and the all round package was with the mazda/laser but even the laser didn't seem to have the handling!! (despite being the same car)
the corolla i felt had a better low end response, but lacked in handling, and aesthetics.... i couldn't care what a car looks like from the outside, as long as the stuff i look at (ie interior) is well formed...

[KEEVRS]

i think u need to hug.

[Cosmo Dude]

Like others When I was shopping for my last car I drove the New Corolla, Lancer, 206, BJ I Protege and Pulsar before setteling on the 2nd hand 'stina. The market at the time was going through an economy kick and all had drum shudder rear brakes and other cost cutting features. I did find the Toyota lacking in the torque department and didn't want to ring it's neck as it was only a couple of hundred km's old, the Pulsar I couldn't hear anything over the road noise (probably just tyres) but it would've been a $24k gamble and the attitude I got from the Mitsi and Pug dealers, I couldn't see my self sending my cash their way.

I stand by my choice.

The only Corolla I will be looking out for this year will be this one
http://rally.toyota.com.au/TWP/Upload/GalleryImage/2199_e.jpg
Although it probably won't reach its full potential untill 2005

Rally of Melbourne August 1st to 3rd

[platypus]

i browsed the pulsar, but decided it was too ugly interior wise for my likings... that and i don't want the same car as my mates!! (hence a 1.6???)

pulsar seems to drive ok, i'm back to getting chauffered, so i see the pulsar again... hopefully!!

[rjktan]

i guess its more an issue of personal choice realli like what is ur friend looking for in a car...

corolla's are damn reliable cars i must say have a friend with a 1988 one and its still going along beautifully and as far as i know not many people wif corolla's have problems in terms of things going wrong mechanically or engine wise unless they cause it themselves..

if u are going to compare the last model astina the BJ II to the current model (2003) corolla's I guess to be fair u will have to say to get the same features (electrics etc..) u would be paying for a higher model corolla as a ascent and conquest are pretty basic one has like power windows in front but not at the back lol??

I was looking at a 2003 model astina 1.8L a few months ago and also at the corolla levin, and a few other cars liike a civic.
However after all that i decided to save some money well a LOT of money ok lol and get a 98 model astina hardtop, my own personal choice so yer... i mean previously i drove a 94 protege 1.6L and i loved that car learnt to drive in it and it served my family and then me well for 10 years as we bought it new.

I would have to say though astina seems better value for money, and i feel its a nicer car to drive, the corolla is somewhat more "boring" like not slow i mean 100kW is more than 92kW but its just it looks and feels like a bit old...

best thing is sit in the car for ur friend drive it etc... put em side by side in her mind and just pick the one she likes better.. :)

[Ronin]

Ok in 2001 i helped my parents go hunting for a new car. they were after a car in the small car class. We looked at the current model laser, astina, corolla, pulsar and astra. i know the corolla has changed models now, but it still has the same brief, great small car but typical new toyota is uninspiring and boring as bat sh!t.

the laser just couldnt keep up with the others, it was behind on build quality and features, the pulsar was a great little car, but a lack of features pushed it back a notch.

the Astina was more spirited than its ford compatriot, and was a good steerer and had sprightly acceleration, but the undoubted king of its class is the astra! sure the base model astra doesnt have the features of its competitors, but that engine! oh that car is a dream to drive, its got good performance from the engine, great handling due to lotus tuned suspension and is a really fun car to drive, it puts a smile on my face whenever i get behind the wheel, and with a gun blaupunkt stereo it will easily outblast the competition. So my pick if, u want features from the base model, go the astina, if u want the best car to drive and a great range of features from the top model ( this is the Cd im talking bout by the way not the bigger engined SRi or Sri turbo) go for the astra, but if u want even more perfromance get the SRi!!!!

[Nate]

pitty its the autoshmatic ... but yeah i will second that .... its got the boom boom to match the zoom zoom

[Ronin]

Yeah well now i am trying to get my mum into a BA astina 1.8, that will make nate blow his load, but sorry nate it will be auto