For four winter-spring months, we were able to survive Iowa often taking the bus, riding our mountain bikes, and occasionally hitching with friends.  We searched and waited patiently for the right car.  A fuel-efficient compact four-door sedan preferrably manufactured by Toyota, Mitsubishi, or Honda was on our mind.  Alas, an MBA student from the University of Iowa was graduating and selling his car.  He got it as a certified vehicle from Toyota dealership in 2003 and only used it for 20,000 additional miles in two years.  This was how we got hold of Cori.

Cori's our 2000 Toyota Corolla CE.  We bought it with the engine and chassis in excellent condition.  Our only rant was that the previous owner seemed to have no time to clean the car.  I had to vacuum, wash, detail, and wax the car inside-out the next day.  Hard work paid off, and the car deserved the new look.

As with other Filipino customs, we brought the car to the Newman Catholic Student Center to be blessed by a priest friend Fr. John Stecher.  Car blessing's uncommon here in Iowa, and the event drew a couple of spectators from the center.

Cori was generally stock when we got her :

All-aluminum 1ZZ-FE 1.8L 4-cylinder In-line 16-valve DOHC Engine with VVT-i Technology
EPA-certified Low Emission Vehicle (LEV)
125 hp @ 5800 RPM
125 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM
4-speed Automatic Overdrive Transmission
Fuel Type/System: Gas/SEFI
Hercules Ultra Plus IV 175/65R14 81S Street Radial Tires
Color: Silver Stream Opalescent
ZZE110 Chassis
Air Conditioning
Radio/Cassette Player
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Manual Remote Exterior Mirrors
Driver and Passenger Side Airbags
Child Safety Door Locks
Split-folding Rear Seats
Cruise Control
Tilt Steering Wheel
Automatic Headlights
Daytime Running Lights
Splash/Mud Guards
Interval Windshield Wipers
Rear Window Defroster

Click here to see what has happened to Cori since we had her.

Reception, service advisory, and billing are well organized in Toyota Marikina. However, some advisors and mechanics are not proficient.

On January 2004, I had my 1993 Corolla checked because of clanging sounds under the chassis. They suggested replacement of a lot of parts which amounted to over Php40,000. I bought Japan parts outside (because they're cheaper) and had them mounted in Toyota Marikina. The clanging persisted, and what's worse more sounds developed in the area worked at, and I had to return the car. Not happy, I had the car serviced in an underchassis specialist in Quezon City. They quickly identified specific parts (not mentioned in Toyota) which caused the unwanted sounds and replaced it with Japan parts which cost me only a few hundred pesos. This happened in the first quarter of 2004, and I have no underchassis complaints up to now.

Just last week, I had the car serviced for its 160,000-km maintenance! Since I was having problems with the idling RPM, I also had it checked. In addition to the maintenance, they suggested that I buy a carburetor kit worth over Php3,000 plus labor. Again, I thought it over and had the car checked in a carburetor specialist in Kamuning. They cleaned the carburetor and adjusted the timing for only Php600.

RECOMMENDATION: Bring your car to the dealership only for maintenance, and let them suggest what parts to replace or procedures to do. Don't have everything done at the casa. Once they give you an estimate, ask the opinion of other auto experts. It may take some time and patience to find a reputable shop, but it's worth it.

This review applies only to the specific advisor and mechanic at that particular time at Toyota Marikina, not for the Toyota dealerships in general.