Second car choices: 05 Toyota Corolla S or Lexus IS300?

[ladeeD]

Im 18 soon to be 19 currently in school and im getting very tired of my Toyota Tercel. I love her for being a reliable first car but im afraid shes gonna breakdown on me any day now. I take the highway to school and she starts shaking at 55 to 60 mph. And now she's making scary sounds when i press the gas and stuff. I want a 05 toyota corolla s w/ the spoiler (so sexy). and my dream car right now is a lexus is300 (even sexier) and neither are outrageously expensive. ill be done with school by age 21 or 22 so i should start getting well paid around then. if you were me what would u do?
im a pretty good driver too! if you have any experience with these cars your feedback would be greatly appreciated! thanks in advance!

 

[Huba]

I can only speak for the Corolla since I have one. Reliable is what comes to mind - not sexy.

Sounds like your Tercel has some alignment problems that may not be too hard to fix. Are the tires balanced? Hit any curbs quite hard?

What kind of sounds when you step on the gas? Fan belt noise or valve chatter? These, too, are fixable.

If you can afford the cars, I see no reason not to trade up to them. If you can't, then fixing up the Tercel will likely cost less than one or two months of car payments. Also, insurance will be a little bit more.

The job market at this time - who knows in 2 to 3 years - is not all that bright. Don't saddle yourself with debt any more than you need to.

 

[86cvcSI]

Hi, hope your doing good in school, first a Corolla has a 4 cylinder engine and Lexus is 6 cylinder, meaning Lexus will consume more gas and more oil, but Lexus have more hp and torque. Also I think that Lexus are rear wheel drive unlike corolla's which are fwd, saying that, during winter you have to have another set of wheels/tires. And lastly, Lexus have 4 disc brakes and Corolla have brake drums at the rear. But for me it will Lexus, but right now my ride is a 91 MR2.