Hi fellow Toyota lovers! Would anyone know if there is
any evidence that Corollas, or cars in general, that are
equipped with cruise control experience on average more
mechanical problems with the transmission or engine than
cars without cruise control?

My new Corolla CE is arriving any day now, and it has
cruise as part of the convenience package, but I'm used to
a Toyota Tercel without cruise. That Tercel never gave me
any problems. I only had to change the battery after 5
years, and tires after 10. And then, bam, I got Wyman'ed.

Thank you so much.

"Built_Well" <bw (AT) bbbb (DOT) com> wrote

On average, vehicles equipped with cruise control do not experience more
mechanical problems with the transmission or engine than the same vehicles
without cruise control.

--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Ray O wrote:

Thank you Ray O. I guess I won't worry about the
cruise then. Although I would have preferred a car without
it, but the Toyota dealer here, Joe Machens, says he won't get
any CE's other than this one coming in before the end of the
year, which is when my Tercel's inspection tags expire.

So, gotta get something before then. You experts don't
recommend getting the dealer's optional "undercoating" spray
for so-called "added rust-proofing," do you all?

I'm under the impression that the undercoating stuff, and
ScothGuard cloth seat stuff, etc., is just hokey ways to boost
dealer profit.

Thank you Hachiroku. I will definitely avoid the undercoating.
I only wish the '06 Corolla came in a hatchback :-(

Oh well, at least the sedan does have 60/40 rear folding
seats. The Tercel didn't have that.

Plus the 1995 four-door Tercel sported 93 horsepower, and this Monster
I'm buying now has a full 126 horsepower. Woah, nelly ! [chuckle]

This is amazing, I think: The '95 I bought ten years ago in December '95
had 15,000 miles on it, and cost me $11 k from a dealer. Ten years
later, adjusted for inflation that 11 k amounts to about $17 k.
But I'm buying the *brand new* Corolla in 2005 for $15,500. So in constant
dollars, the brand new Corolla is a full $1,500 less than the used
one-year old Tercel.

Wow, I can only wonder if in a decade or two, absolute prices of
new cars will start to come down, like the prices of TV and computers do
today. You know, a 32-inch tv today costs less than a 20-incher did a
few years back.
And as for computers, we all know the extreme price deflation those
machines have enjoyed. The 486 CPU IBM i bought in '95 cost me a
whopping $3 grand. Just try to find a home desktop that costs that
much today!

Is the day coming when you can buy a brand new Avalon for
$12 k loaded, or a Lexus for 20?

It'd be great if cars followed the lead of TVs and computers.
In constant dollars, they are. Soon it may be absolute dollars, too.

Hell, one day cars may not even be built in Japan and
the U.S.A. anymore. They may be built in Mexico, for example.
The Nissan Sentra already is assembled in Mexico.

Hell, I wouldn't give you $12 k for a brand
new Avalon today!

Sincerely,

Art's Wife

Art's Wife wrote:

I might give you $15k for a new Corolla, but no way
$12 k for a brand new Avalon! The Fremont plant runs
smoothly but that Kentucky plant is fraught with errors!

I wouldn't trust that Kentucky plant to assemble
a mouse trap, let alone an Avalon!

Sincerely,

Art's Wife

[chuckle]

"Built_Well" <bw (AT) bbbbb (DOT) com> wrote

If you are in the U.S., I do not recommend undercoating or "rust proofing"
because it has a tendency to trap moisture, actually making the problem
worse. There are some products sold in Canada that TeGGeR recommends, but
that stuff requires periodic re-application.

As far as paint protectant, you can apply a coat of good quality was like
McGuire's and have the same results. For fabric protectant, a few cans of
Scotch-Guard will work. Wax and Scotch-Guard are a lot less money than the
stuff the dealer applies, with similar results.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

"Built_Well" <bw (AT) bbbbb (DOT) com> wrote

So are VW's, Chryslers, and Fords. If you are talking about "one day," the
cars will be assembled someplace outside of Mexico because Mexico no longer
has the lowest labor costs.

--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

Ray O wrote:


I believe GM has a plant in Mexico too.

Believe it not, some newer Honda Accords that are sold in California were
also made in Mexico. :-(