Recent content by Doug B

It's been awhile since your post. What did you wind up doing? I have a 2013 S manual. I would always say if you can afford to go with the newer model - then do it.

The sounds of silence. An old Simon and Garfunkel song. It also seems to be a common tune heard on this site. Lack of interest? Maybe some think a lack of substance by those starting a thread?

I hit a genuine 142mph in my old 70 440 Roadrunner(modified) with 3.23 gears. That was over 30 years ago, and on a wide open empty freeway. I have no desire to do such things like that in my old age. I have hit 92mph in my S 5-speed before backing off.

Ya - I got less than 28 mpg on my last tank(all city driving). I could creep it back closer to 31 if I fill up with ethanol-free gas(and a fuel additive , or two) ? It is available at one Conoco station across town. That would, however, be a spendy tank.

Me again dadam - those that know more than I aren't chiming in - so I'll continue another thought : if your lock/latch mechanism is in valet mode(the trunk keyhole is horizontal) you need to get it in the vertical position. This(as you know) is the only way you'll be able to use the release...

It seemed like they were still going strong around here(Tri-Cities, WA) thru the 80's, but faded as the 90's progressed. At that time there were still plenty of manual transmissions. My previous car was a Saturn Ion. It was the only manual I ever saw in that model. I traded it in for my 2013 S...

Of course, the release lever(in addition to the valet key) won't work if it's in the valet mode. You stated that you were able to "turn open the trunk". You did do this by pulling on the glowing emergency release handle ? A thought I have is to open the trunk and lube the lock/latch mechanism...

dadam - I bought my Corolla(2013 S) from Toyota with less than six months use and 11,700 miles. From day one sometimes the trunk lid release wouldn't work. I think it's from not lifting the release lever all the way up. I guessed that maybe the trunk latch was only partially disengaged when this...

Scott( and others) - what are your thoughts on changing the gear oil(manual tranny) ? I can remember "back in the day" when there were automatic transmission rebuild shops(yes - only automatic transmissions). This was because most owners never changed the fluid/filter or checked band torque...

At what point does (a lack of any response) starvation occur ? The idle gets down to about 600rpm after it's warmed up. Does allowing it to idle that low for any length of time(be it for several minutes, or even at a stop light ?) pose any risk ?

I did have two people point out to me that if I had gone the opposite direction(from Kennewick, WA to Madras, OR - instead of from Madras to Kennewick - like I did) that my MPG would not have been quite so good. Also, one guy suggested that the MPG indicator might be reading a little high. Next...

Welcome Mike. I've been a member for over two years, but have rarely been on this site - and only had three posts in that time. Starting today I'm going to become much more involved. I also have an S model(2013), and am very satisfied with my car.

No not my age - that would be more accurately described as 50-plus.. On a 200 mile highway trip this past August I got 38.9 MPG(outstanding).. The posted speeds were 55 MPH for about half of that, 65 and 70 for the rest.. I had the cruise control set at 60, 68, and 72, respectfully.. I had...

Scott - I read some of your posts on oil change frequency. 25,000 miles/one year. I'm curious as to your thoughts on oil filter change intervals ? I've used AMSOIL for years, and am a big proponent of it(and any fully-synthetic oil - I just prefer AMSOIL). Kinda like the Ford vs Chevy...

Unlike the Beach Boys song - my vibrations might not be so good ? I've had a 2013 S model(manual transmission) since it was less than six months old. Over the past several months the idle speed has worked it's way down to 600rpm. At what point does oil starvation occur ?