1998 Toyota Corolla | Retro Review

It's hard to believe the Corolla was already in its 8th generation with its US debut in 1998. Even though 7th gen looked better, you can't stop progress.
Show 1712 | Original Airdate 11.25.1997
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[@bryanwashington9511]

25 years later and still going strong on the road

[@hachiroku8677]

I own a 1994 LE with 180k miles and a 1993 LE with 78k miles. Both are running strong.

[@EnthusiasticHidingCat-rh9uh]

Right

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@Griffongob]

The 1998 Corolla. Not the car you want, the car you deserve.

[@KartKing4ever]

Hey, I got that reference.

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@ergosteur]

These reviews of boring old reliable cars are just so wonderfully entertaining.

[@JuanJimenez.]

They really are. More so that seeing a car like that in such gorgeous condition is just so fascinating.

[@nopomegranates1876]

The fact you still see these things running around today tells you all you need to know

[@kevinsalazar-z3x]

Amen

[@FeartheCyr611]

Let's also applaud the jazz clarinet music as well!

[@oliverdelgado6952]

We need a soundtrack of 80s and 90s Mt reviews 👍

[@TheRealHungryJoe]

I would gladly buy one in 2024. I had a manager in Pizza Hut that had over 400K miles and it didn’t make any kind of noise

[@topher8634]

The one in this video sounded like crap.

[@scrapgamingx1942]

@@topher8634 in the year 2000 They added a vvti engine

[@topher8634]

@@scrapgamingx1942 that's when the oil consumption problem started, wasn't it?

[@auntbarbara5576]

💯👍🏼

[@scrapgamingx1942]

@@topher8634 Dude pick and choose loud sporty sounding engine or just change your oil maybe every 2,500 miles instead of 5,000 big deal

[@sammyt3514]

I still drive my fully loaded 02 Corolla LE bought new more than 22 years ago; couldn't ask for a better commuter car. I get offers from people who want to buy it all the time (I've kept it in an excellent condition), sometimes offering crazy amounts for it, but I simply can't bring myself to sell it since I know they don't make cars this reliable anymore.

[@Centurio-LegioX-Equestris]

My college parking lot was filled with these 2000-2004. These cars still run good.

[@neonufo8039]

crazy how you still see these on the road everyday

[@damontroch4765]

Maybe in your country... Not in mine they rotted out by 2005

[@sammyt3514]

@@damontroch4765 In my country, Canada, I see them all the time, and I drive one as well. If they can survive in Canada (with regular rust proofing, which is a must for any car you plan to keep for a long time here), they can survive anywhere!

[@dogie8c]

⁠​⁠@@damontroch4765This Corolla was made for the US market ( built in the Fremont California plant along with the Chevrolet Prizm.) In other countries they had different Corolla types built in the UK, Japan and so on. I’m assuming that you’re from outside of the US. Here in California, you see them everywhere all beat up but they still keep on going strong. The ones I don’t see anymore are the Chevy Caliber, Dodge Neon, Ford Focus & Nissan Sentra as much as these.

[@Trussme96]

@@damontroch4765 I live in Canada and still see these regularly on the road and for sale

[@remembersummerdays]

​@@damontroch4765 Not rotted out exported to Asia and African afghanistan is full of american corollas.

[@JohnDoe12515]

I remember those as a kid whenever I visit my grandfather, his neighbor had one. Last year visiting him with my kids, they still have it in driveway!

[@rustbeltrobclassic2512]

I owned a 99.. LE manual transmission with a sunroof. I loved that little car.. was peppy, handled well, never left me stranded, and i owned it for 368k miles. Out the door was 14988

[@phlyingphalanges]

These cars are still worth their weight in gold. Spectacular automobile!

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@87sjg]

A Corolla almost identical to this was a driver's ed car at my first job. It had over 230000 miles on it. It was missing the CD audio, sunroof, and alloy wheels. Otherwise was fully-loaded, including the side air bags. Great car. No, I didn't drive students, just happened to work there.

[@johnnyhawk329]

I bought a 2001 corolla in 2003 with 10000 mi. on it. In 2024 I still have it. Looks great and still runs perfect. The only thing I have ever done to it is brakes and replaced a couple of rusted out brake lines. Unbelievable. What a great little car it has been.

[@u2fan29]

Look around , a whole bunch of those Corollas still going and going.

[@colintang3910]

Not only are they very reliable, but they are also adorable, Look at that face, and the fact that it is as reliable as Camry, but also more personality than her for sure!

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@mooranas6179]

Still on the roads !!!

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@DavefromCA2023]

My childhood best friend's mom bought this car new in 1998, we were 15, she still has it. Nearing 300k miles. We are now 40

[@damilolaakanni]

2:59 Toyota had a 1AZ-FSE 2.0 4 cylinder engine they were using in the Avensis in Europe. That made about 147hp. My guess is that Toyota decided not to use that engine in the Corolla because it might have been more powerful than the larger Camry 4 cylinder.

[@dronepilot260rc]

This and the Geo Prism was respectable

[@PhillyDee215]

One of the few vehicles still on the road today

[@texan903]

It's crazy. I seldom see them nowadays.

[@PhillyDee215]

@@texan903 They're everywhere, I know a few people that own them and they drive perfectly fine which is expected from a Toyota

[@RobCamp-rmc_0]

@@texan903you probably see them occasionally but they don’t register to you, as they are automotive wallpaper; there’s nothing wrong with that, they do exactly what they are needed to do, and do so reliably and efficiently

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@scrapgamingx1942]

OH MY LORD I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR TO LONG THANK YOU PBS

[@bjsimon802]

I had 1994, it was so light weight and fun to drive, it was better than my FRS.

[@tanyguch_kun1330]

i had the 93 and 95 they are unexpectedly fun to drive despite the boring image of corolla

[@niveketihw1897]

I bought a used blue 2001 in 2004 just after college and a couple months into my career. Had 125 HP and a 4 speed auto. Fourth was "overdrive" which you could turn off to basically force a shift to third. It worked well for me until I bought a new 2007 Civic Si Coupe.

[@tkewrestler2662]

A solid car that one could run forever provided you have taken care of it.

[@JRB41]

This Corolla looks better than the new one!

[@cameronlovesevolve]

this is actually my dream spec corolla haha. 98 LE with a sunroof .. bonus points for the Touring package adding the white faced gauges and the rocker panel side skirts. What a friggin great package

[@chriscornelius2518]

A car line with basics and no frills would be a welcome addition to the market for me.

[@FiregemGaming]

One of the best corollas, one of my friends paid $500 for one, manual, 2000 170k on it the grandma driving it got tired of it and bought herself a new at the time 2012 corolla and had it completely serviced at the local Toyota dealership, she sold it for so low because of the rear bumper was slightly hit in the corner making it all cracked. But he still has it well over 250k now still chugging along

[@theKevronHarris]

I have seen a lot of Toyota corollas all around South Carolina, especially in the areas of Orangeburg, Bamberg and Columbia.

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Corolla will NEVER lose any notes

[@BMan100]

The most “Corolla” of all the corollas

[@damilolaakanni]

IMO, that's the 9th generation. They're everywhere, you tend to see more of those ones than these 8th generation models.

[@tanyguch_kun1330]

theres the 1993 model

[@RO49569]

It’s always been the 9th Gen for me that was the most “Corolla” lol

[@damilolaakanni]

​@@RO49569true, these 8th generation models look more like the contemporary 4th generation Camry.

[@rustbeltrobclassic2512]

I owned one, bought new in 99. Mine was identical to the tester, except mine was a stick. I have never seen another LE with all the options and a manual, to this day the one I had was the only one like it, i have ever seen. I got 398k on it, on the original clutch, and swapped it to a matrix xrs 2zzge with a new clutch at that point, owned it another 60k miles and sold it. I loved that car, and have been looking for another one like it for 10 years.. Still have never seen another one like it, even in salvage yards. RIP my one of a kind corolla.

[@KartKing4ever]

One of the most cars of all time, maybe ever.

[@phatgringo2.0]

Yes the most car 😂

[@iluvcamaros1912]

Very car, much transportation.

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@albertomorales7322]

I've Just bought one from my parents. Is a good car. Only thing is that when the AC is full the responsiveness is greatly decreased when accelerating. When is off is like I was driving a different car. These videos are a time capsule. A portal to another era. And I loved them.

[@buckfiden2988]

Loved my Toyota Prism.

[@shaROASTY]

The as tested price of $18,715 is equivalent to $36882.78 in April of 2024 !

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@doug6191]

We had a '98 LE a lot like this one. I wanted the 5-speed, but she wanted the automatic. She won. 😢 The '98 Corolla was cheapened compared to the '97, much like the '97 Camry was cheapened compared to the '96 it replaced. Still, we were happy with our '98. It was perfect for us at 24 and 22 years old at the time.

[@hachiroku8677]

Toyota cheapened their cars by the mid to late 90's due to the economic recession in Japan. It hit really hard.

[@doug6191]

@@hachiroku8677 Yep. Thankfully, Lexus wasn't as affected as the Toyota line.

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

@@hachiroku8677 Toyota Corolla is nice car, The car is long history

[@zakyum]

Still see these daily in the north on our super salted roads

[@JuanJimenez.]

I'm on my 3rd 8th gen. It was my first ever car i had bought with my own money (and the government, thanks for the stimulus checks LOL). Those things are amazing little machines, you can whip them hard on the backgrounds for spirited driving and they are FUN!! And talk about reliability! Though my first car lasted 2 years before the ECU cooked itself, ended up selling it after dumping 1k in parts, only to end up buying another one a year later XD There is something about the old Corollas that i just love/adore. I'd love to get my hands on a 7th gen though

[@marcosj3639]

im on my 3rd one aswell! a 2001 was my first car and learned manual on. i blew that engine and ended up getting another one. then early 2023 i sold my si and found a 2000 corolla with a sunroof and well i just had to have it. so rn i got two of em. i think im gonna keep both and daily one and track the other

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@sailordave1000]

Though slower, I would love to buy one today in factory condition knowing it would be good for more than 20 years. I still see these on the road today.

[@TheLadiesman0815]

Narrator: “We think $20,000 for a compact sedan is a bit rich.” 2024: Hold my beer

[@just_your_average_t33n34]

I always love the retro reviews, they always make my dad and i happy. Just still waiting for the one from the 01 escape. Keep up the great work

[@TyJamal]

My mother purchased an LE brand new in 1999, and drove it for 15 years. When she traded it in, it had 197,000+ miles. Never had an issue with it.

[@RabbiJesus]

Best car ever built.

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@RabbiJesus]

@ congrats. I hope it serves you well.

[@rasool316]

@@RabbiJesus thank you very much

[@jcb74]

Finally - John learns it's not Cam-RAY

[@f16-chamak]

I think he figured that out in 1989 when he reviewed the Lexus ES250

[@patrickmichael3384]

This was the Corolla I remember the most heavily advertised on TV when it and the first Sienna Minivan first came out in late 1997. And remember, the Corolla was still built where some Teslas are built in Fremont, California.

[@Tennesseestorm76]

Still see these all over the roads in 2024. My grandmother has a 1999 Corolla CE with 79k miles.

[@qmto]

The are one of the most reliable automobiles ever made. I think I could successfully argue that in any court and win.

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car.

[@MarkMeadows90]

One of my old friends had a 1999 Corolla when I was in high school. It had a 5 speed manual. He wanted to turbocharge the engine, but he never got around doing it.

[@RabbiJesus]

Toyota’s are intentionally underpowered. That’s what makes them reliable.

[@MarkMeadows90]

@@RabbiJesus yes that’s understandable. I’m kinda glad my old friend never got around to turbocharge the engine. He kept the car for about 3 years after he graduated high school and bought him his first new car. Another Corolla. 2011 XRS model. The local dealership only had two on the lot at the time. One black, and one silver. He bought the black one. It was the last year the XRS was available in the USA. He still has the car to this day. Done some mods to it, but haven’t heard from him in a couple of years. He loves that car.

[@8bitDNA]

Great story with no conclusion

[@MarkMeadows90]

@@8bitDNA he still has the 2012 Corolla as far as I know. Like I said, I haven't heard from him or talked to him in about 2 years. He doesn't have any social media accounts unfortunately.

[@marcosj3639]

i was thinking of going turbo aswell but i might just swap in a 2zz. i cant see myself getting rid of my 01, or 00 anytime soon. but the xrs was probably better for him since these ones lacked on room. i even had to change my steering wheel so my knees had extra space

[@interstate366]

My grandma bought one of these new. Blue VE with manual locks and the ancient 3-speed auto. Eventually she gave it to my cousin when she got a newer one. That Corolla was dull inside and smelled like dried vomit, but it was utterly bulletproof. My cousin probably still has it to this day.

[@weatherwatchmore381]

I can recall not seeing too many American economy sedans in the same class as the 01 Corolla on the road now in days. Recently I watched an auto parts salvage yard show the records of all economy sedans All were Chevrolet in origin’s and only 5 were Honda or Toyota. Later down the line the cobalt, neon, and almost all American economy cars ended up having serious engine and transmission problems.

[@waterloo123100]

The neon is Japanese though

[@stendecstretcher5678]

I own a 98 Corolla still going strong.

[@THEREALTJP]

I use to love this & the civic when i was a kid

[@evanfinch4987]

You could say they struck Accord with people everywhere.

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

Nothing like 90's Japanese cars.

[@churchofmarcus]

Maybe this is nostalgia since it was my first car, but I still think this is a good-looking car, and I had mine for the last 15 years of its 20-year life.

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car. And it is my first car :)

[@herrgolf]

Toyota never tried to give us good-handling front drive cars but the Corolla before 2003 was just so doughy it was actually kinda dangerous in emergency conditions.

[@stefanalexis8492]

i had a 2001 one , facelift , my first car ever ! the best

[@redneon06]

I still see these in pretty rough shape stilll tilling along! Very fun to drive!

[@dustinknuckles4090]

The secret to all Toyotas reliability is they continue to perfect they don't just throw an engine away and start new. Models have issues along the way but in the next model year they perfect it. I do think Toyota made a serious misstep with the tundra discontinuing the V8 and going v6 twin turbo.

[@chaseman94]

What ever happened to this test track they've used for years?

[@gilgonzalez5902]

Great cars but this generation Corolla burns TONS of oil just like the 2007-2011 Camry 4 cyl. These cars are one of the most reliable cars ever built but if you have to CONSTANTLY open the hood to check the oil level it defeats the purpose. I own a 2009 BMW with the inline 6 engine it has 200k miles, it obviously isnt as reliable or cheap to maintain as a Toyota but it was cheaper to buy AND doesnt even burn a drop of oil. Go figure.

[@sjhudon386]

Doesn't matter. They run fine with no oil in them 😂

[@f16-chamak]

2006+ pistons and rings will fix the issue

[@f16-chamak]

@Jonathan-mp32x the 2.5 would eventually burn if you didn't change the oil by 5000 mi/8000 km at the very latest. Fixing an oil burning 2.5 is worse because you need a short block, whereas an oil burning 2.4 or 1ZZ can be fixed with new pistons, rings, and piston jets.

[@matthewbuck6969]

Pardon me, can I get a link to the background music?

[@2dfx]

The official car of overly cautious, new drivers everywhere

[@tuanh_duong]

This is so beautiful

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

😂😂😂😂

[@angelmontijo9303]

The best car ever made

[@waterloo123100]

The Honda civic disagrees

[@hsinwulau]

These cars are undead

[@fahhad17]

my daily driver , 500km inside city, -40C canada winter it will start wit remote start, insane car

[@davidaubin3902]

2:44 John: AND WONDERED WHY TOYOTA INSISTED ON PUTTING THE SEAT-BACK RELEASE IN THE TRUNK! LOL

[@silverxstar01]

And you still see them on the road all the time!

[@VcArena]

That was/is a really good looking car

[@movieguy1985]

I daily drive a 96 Corolla, my 1st Toyota. Super basic, boring and slow but reliable. Smallest and slowest car I've ever owned but I've grown attached to it since I got it about 3 months ago. Coming up on 107,000 KM, should last awhile.

[@JuanJimenez.]

Oh yeah, that puppy should last you a GOOD while before needing something replaced

[@AndresSalazarAutos]

3 speed in 1998, damn that must've been dreadful

[@RobCamp-rmc_0]

That’s how Toyota do, keep ancient but reliable tech for years after others offer newer, state of the art tech, then when it’s all been tested they upgrade and do it better. Boring as hell, but bulletproof most of the time.

[@AndresSalazarAutos]

@@RobCamp-rmc_0 C'mon, the 4 speed tranny had been available for a couple of decades by 1998, even the 80s Camry, Mazda 626, Honda Accord, and other had them.

[@jbar_85]

I remember when it came out new. It was quite the cute reliable car back in 98!

[@rasool316]

I just bought one two days ago in Afghanistan for 2550 US dollars. Very nice car. And it is my first ever car that I bought :)

[@retiredsnowbunnyhunterx5106]

Not a fan of Toyota but definitely would have bought this an still will if I could find one. I knew a guy who had on 😂 different body part colors all on spare tire rims. That thing would not die.

[@tinhinnh]

I like the headers. This engine made it in the Celica GTS 😊

[@SataniaMcDowel]

Puerto Rico sure love these. Went there to visit and they are expensive Ranging from $5000 to $9000

[@Ward413]

The car of choice for Peter from Office Space.

[@ronhoover5516]

Peter's now 55 and still has this.

[@2Kriss2Kross]

Reliable AF but my least favorite gen. God did Toyota cut cost on that interior and styling compared to previous generations and the most boring. Rather have the contemporary Civic, still see both frequently.

[@kidnamedfinger6323]

Expensive for the time, but it will have no problem getting to 200,000 miles. I wish you could still get a simple, well built car now adays.

[@gryphon123456]

Nothing makes a car seem exciting like an Oboe in the background music. 😂

[@eltoroluckypatientzero1355]

SHE ALIVE SHE MY QUEEN 🚘

[@Lil-Tee1988]

My mom had this car. The plastic on the doors melted from the Florida sun. The door handles always broke as well.

[@AdmiralFroggy]

I have the 99 prizm (Corolla) and the car is a trooper. It's my daily driver and gets 30+ mpgs.

[@tec-to]

All I can think about is that Craigslist ad

[@punemax]

I bet someone is still driving the test car.

[@inmyopinion9305]

I had a "1999 beautiful teal color with gold trimming.

[@xnopyt13]

Don’t think I have ever seen this wheel before, interesting

[@johnnyappleseed9568]

Love the tubular manifold

[@runoflife87]

Such a strange thing to see this car with such a conservative front end.

[@ronhoover5516]

Gotta ask, did they ever make a bad one of these?

[@bradleymeyer9775]

Even though I hate beige this is the only car i wouldn’t mind having in beige, I feel like all of these are beige 😂

[@kevinmontoya7318]

The peak corolla, nothing after could compare

[@OldFordTaurus]

This is way better than the junk Toyota makes today

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

Really should have kept making Corolla wagons. They could have been a great pizza delivery vehicle. They are very hard to find in Minnesota.

[@JuanJimenez.]

Dude corolla wagons are an endangered species

[@McBeamer94]

2:44 Where else should it be?

[@indenturedLemon]

I assume most car have it on the top of the parcel shelf.

[@john6274]

Interesting nostalgia here. I had a 1998 Corolla through college. It was a terrible vehicle. It leaned floated all over the place. It handled like a pig. While it was rock solid Toyota reliable, it did it in the most offensive way possible. Every plastic indoor handle was broken. Purchase price was high. I was glad to be rid of it. What did we replace it with? A 2016 Corolla. My family are either gluttons for punishment are we just can't turn away from rock solid Toyota reliability.

[@Dynamic_Entry]

I have one in teal. Assembled in november 1998. Its cool became because im just 1 month older then the car.

[@scott8238]

Oil sludge plagued these motors to premature failure unfortunately.