I pulled the trigger! - 6-spd Manual 2020 Corolla SE Sedan

[KALISPEL II]

Well, I decided to go ahead & pull the trigger on a 2020 Toyota Corolla SE Sedan this last weekend (Super White, 6-spd manual - the only trim with the manual option). The deal was way too good to pass up. It was another case of an unwanted manual-transmission beauty sitting on a local dealer lot for a bit over 4 months, and a dealer who just wanted to move it. :biggrin: My 5-spd manual Yaris SE sat unwanted for 11 months in Colorado Springs before I bought it in 2015. :eek:

Since the purchase Saturday, my reset onboard computer has me averaging 41.1 MPG during my break-in period thus far, which is only slightly less than what my Yaris was averaging for me over the years (it was averaging 42.x MPG). :thumbsup: I filled the Corolla up to the brim with fuel, so that I can manually calculate the MPG after driving for a full week, & see how it matches up to the onboard computer calculations.

I'm still getting used to having 6 shift gears instead of 5, but it's all good (5 gears is really more my speed though, & seems more practical for a manual). Shifting is smooth, clutch feel is silky-sweet & the 2.0L 169 horsepower Dynamic Force direct+port-injection engine really is the perfect balance of fun & economy. Toyota has really upped their game since the last-gen Corolla in terms of feel, comfort, stance & even styling (which looks a lot better in person than the weird/compressed camera angle pics that you mostly see on the net). Nothing about this car feels like a compact economy car (at least in the SE+ sedan trim level), though technically it is more the size of what my 2000 Accord EX sedan was back in the day before they started making them too large. Still, I do miss some of the minimalistic, rustic & basic elements of my Yaris, and even its endearing, featherweight go-cart driving/handling qualities. This car still has too much stupid/unnecessary tech-bloat features for my taste, and it's not even an XSE. :laugh: It's interesting how the SE sedan is more like the XSE sedan, overall, than the SE Corolla hatchback is to the XSE hatchback.

I will use this thread to post some pics in the coming weeks, as well as post my likes, dislikes, & random impressions/thoughts about the car relative to my 2015 Yaris ownership experience. I have a few ideas on some minor, tasteful mods, including a creative way to break up the solid black/dark-gray grill & L/R light housings on the front maw of the sedan to give it more of a traditional look. I'm still pissed that Toyota discontinued the upcoming TNGA Yaris for the U.S./NA market - as I would have bought one of those in the SE+ trim for sure instead if it was available here. :mad:

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[KALISPEL II]

One interesting thing that I had noticed during my car research & buying experience around here is that all the newer arriving 2020 Corolla sedans (CVT & Manual) no longer have J-prefix VIN numbers & are Made-in-USA. The one that I purchased, having sat on the lot for 4 months as it had, was a Made-in-Japan J-prefix VIN number version. Old habits die hard, & I still associate Made-in-Japan with better overall build-quality, attention-to-detail & fitment. :wink:

The Made-in-USA (SE/XSE) version sedan also uses different brand 225/40/R18 A/S tires (Bridgestone I think). The Made-in-Japan version sedan (SE/XSE) has Yokohama 225/40/R18 A/S tires. :thumbsup:

[kimona]

Congrats! Made in Japan! Super white is nice. (Pearl white is fugly).

I agree... the new Corolla looks so much better in person.

Looking forward to some photos.

Did you trade or sell the Yaris?

[KALISPEL II]

Congrats! Made in Japan! Super white is nice. (Pearl white is fugly).

I agree... the new Corolla looks so much better in person.

Looking forward to some photos.

Did you trade or sell the Yaris?

I'm not a fan of the Blizzard Pearl white either. I really would have & should have gotten a Barcelona Red or Celestial Gray one, but white is just the most practical color out here in South Arizona & that was the one that I could land the great price deal with, since it was sitting around for 4 months unloved. Plus, Super White looks great with this car also.

I was lazy & traded my little Yari in, since I don't really have the time or patience to sell it myself currently. I was able to get the top KBB trade value for the car, however, in the excellent condition level. The dealership will still make several thousand dollars on it at least I'm sure, and whoever buys it will get a sweet little well-cared-for Yari with all the tasteful upgrades & mods (like TRD rear sway bar, shark fin antennae, etc.) that I did to it.

[toad]

Congrats on the new car purchase! Thank you for continuing to purchase manual transmission vehicles:clap:. I'm not sure we can change the manufacturer's minds at this point, but every one sold is a message that not everyone wants a CVT forced upon them. I just get bored driving our Camry(still a great car however), but my Echo always gives me a smile when I can downshift to pass or roll backwards when somebody gets too close at a stop:wink:

[Leegamer]

Sounds like a nice car! I like the way they look, personally. Though, I would prefer a hatch over a sedan.

[ern-diz]

Congrats!! Like I always say, new cars are fun. Like Lee, I'd prefer a hatch. Regardless, sounds really good so far. Looking forward to the coming pics.

[Hershey]

:clap: . We looked at the some COROLLAs over the weekend . The window stickers gave me chills :eek: . Prices were $20,000 + . Very nice looking outside and in . Really like the hatch . How much of a discount did you get ? Keep us up to date on fuel economy , etc.. Enjoy .

[justanotherdrunk]

getting a new car is always fun

sorry to see the yaris go

[KALISPEL II]

:clap: . We looked at the some COROLLAs over the weekend . The window stickers gave me chills :eek: . Prices were $20,000 + . Very nice looking outside and in . Really like the hatch . How much of a discount did you get ? Keep us up to date on fuel economy , etc.. Enjoy .

The SE Sedan manual retails (MSRP) for around $23,700 before dealer options, taxes & fees. I picked up mine for $19,500 including all the installed dealer options (alloy wheel locks, trunk carpeted mat, all-weather front/rear floor mats, upper rear bumper black rubber/plastic scratch protector, nano-hybrid carbon tinted side/rear windows & an added alarm system) - but not including Tax & Title/Reg/Doc-fees or trade credit. Strangely enough, I also ended up with a free set of front/rear carpeted floor mats, because whoever installed the all-weather mats just laid them over the top of the carpeted mats that were already there (I just wanted them switched out, lol). :iono: I was wondering why the drivers side one wouldn't clip into the two restraining safety clips when I got home & found the carpeted version mats under the all-weather ones. :laugh: I really didn't want the alarm system, but it was already installed in the car & at the price I got the car for, what the heck I guess. :thumbsup: I also managed to squeeze $8500 trade-in for my 2015 Yaris SE with $57K miles, which is slightly above KBB excellent/top condition trade value. Not as good as selling it myself obviously, but things just sort of happened quickly & I bought a new car before I had planned to (was going to wait until 2020 sometime). The dealership knew that I wouldn't budge on price, & was prepared to wait another year to buy a car, so they had to sell it (& give trade value) at price I was comfortable with or I would just walk. Nobody else was showing interest in that car, considering that it was sitting on the lot for over 4 months, so they opted to move it while they could.

[KALISPEL II]

Sounds like a nice car! I like the way they look, personally. Though, I would prefer a hatch over a sedan.

Congrats!! Like I always say, new cars are fun. Like Lee, I'd prefer a hatch. Regardless, sounds really good so far. Looking forward to the coming pics.

I liked both the XSE hatch manual & SE sedan manual, but I gravitated toward the sedan more because the hatch just seemed a bit too "youthful" looking for me now (especially those with the big added rear spoiler), plus the remaining 2019 hatchbacks are in far shorter inventory supply currently, with only a few manuals left anywhere around Phoenix, AZ (just one in black & one in silver that I saw in the area). I don't think any new hatchbacks will be hitting dealer lots until the 2020 one is shipped. I already miss not having a (greater utility) hatchback, and just shake my head sadly when I look into my deep but shallow sedan trunk. :laugh: But, on the bright side, the SE/XSE sedan has a more mature, sophisticated look in-person (& better front styling IMO) & just felt like a better fit for me at my age. Compared to the previous-gen Corolla, this thing is like a mini-Lexus. :thumbsup: Toyota has really upped their game with the TNGA updates.

[KALISPEL II]

Congrats on the new car purchase! Thank you for continuing to purchase manual transmission vehicles:clap:. I'm not sure we can change the manufacturer's minds at this point, but every one sold is a message that not everyone wants a CVT forced upon them. I just get bored driving our Camry(still a great car however), but my Echo always gives me a smile when I can downshift to pass or roll backwards when somebody gets too close at a stop:wink:

I just enjoy driving manuals too much to give them up quite yet, even in my 50's. I've never own an automatic, so have been driving manuals since 1982. It's second nature to drive one, & I love the feeling of extra control that you have over the engine/car in general. :thumbup:

[KALISPEL II]

First Week MPG Results with 6-spd manual 2020 Corolla SE Sedan:

249.7 Miles Driven

On-Board Computer MPG Calculation: 42.2 MPG
Manual Calculation: 5.969 Gallons SHELL Regular/87 Octane used = 41.833 MPG

For reference purposes, My 5-spd manual 2015 Yaris SE averaged mid-high 42.X (sometimes 43.X) during my 4 years of doing the same commute/errand driving. Considering that the Corolla is at least 700-800 lbs heavier & has 63 more horsepower, it isn't doing too badly versus my Yaris in overall MPG. The benefits of the newer direct+port injection TNGA engine tech & extra 6th overdrive gear no doubt. :thumbsup: I'm hoping this 2.0L TNGA engine proves as reliable as the steadfast Yaris 1.5L 1NZ-FE engine.

For the record, I am a pretty laid-back, conservative driver (never in a hurry) most of the time, but by no means the hyper-mile type. :biggrin:

[sickpuppy1]

If that engine is anything like my yaris, it didn't get peak mileage till close to 30K miles.Mine has had the slowest break in period of anything I've ever owned.

[KALISPEL II]

Based on my short tenure of ownership thus far, I would have to say the major immediate likes & dislikes are:

Likes: :thumbsup:

(1) Love the nice automatic climate control system & just the premium/comfortable/insulated feel of the interior in general. Seats are plush, soft, sporty & super comfortable. Clutch & shifter also have a premium & silky smooth operating feel to them (not even sure why anyone would even need the iMT feature turned on). Wind noise is also minimal within the cabin. It's just a really nice place to be (with one caveat - see below)

(2) The SE/XSE TNGA 2.0L engine really is the perfect blend of economy & get-up-and-go (for me anyway), depending on how you choose to drive it at any given time. Engine feels smooth & willing, with available power at all the right bands.

(3) Love the styling on the 2020 SE/XSE sedan, overall. Looks modern, has an aggressive, wider, sporty stance, etc. Big step-up over the previous-gen Corolla sedan.

(4) All the so-called safety-sense tech-bloat nonsense for geriatric, distracted or intoxicated drivers can be turned off & ignored for those of use who are proper, alert defensive drivers. :rolleyes:

(5) I like having a nice, integrated console-storage armrest again, & it actually doesn't interfere with the manual shifting dynamics that it would in some cars.

Dislikes: :thumbdown:

(1) Whoever came up with key-less ignition & those stupid automatic proximity fobs should be shot. Plus, it makes the car easier to steal/access if you don't take the proper Faraday storage precautions with your fob. Give me a regular car key with remote manual lock/unlock remote any day. Stupid, inconvenient tech bloat posing as a convenience feature IMO. If I had to name ONE thing that I liked least about this car, THIS WOULD BE IT.

(2) Still not a fan of the protruding positioning & look of the touchscreen unit in the vehicle. It's easy to operate but an eyesore in an otherwise spectacular interior.

(3) Still wish that Toyota would have went with 17" alloy wheels of the same great look/design as the 18", with either 45 or 50 profile tires for the SE/XSE. As expected with 225/40 tires, ride quality suffers somewhat (great suspension helps though) & road/tire noise can be pronounced to varying degrees on all but the best of roads. I guess that is the price to pay for more sporty design characteristics.

(4) I already miss the utility of a hatch somewhat, but the trunk is pretty roomy at least. Something about the Corolla XSE hatch just didn't do it for me, compared to the sedan version.

(5) I really would rather have a regular old-school pull-brake emergency brake system than the e-brake switch it has, but it isn't horrible or anything. Just something to get used to.

-

I plan to give her my first wash/wax/detail treatment this weekend or next. I will get some pics to post in this thread then. Also waiting for license plate, so I can ditch the dealer temp tag on the car now. I'm reusing the nice white-matte painted license frame from my Yaris. I also kept the Toyota OEM lidded coin cup from my the Yaris, since it fits perfectly in one of the cup holders of this car also.

[bronsin]

I just purchased a 2020 Corolla LE.. The bottom line of the sticker was $21,800 and I wrote the check for 20,300 so I think I got a good deal. I bought it for the adaptive cruise control since I have Parkinson’s. I don’t need the lane hauling or vehicle spacing features yet, but the automatic braking saved an accident whend someone made a left-hand turn in front of me and Stopped in front of me. I’d beat the car to the brake pedal. But the car stopped before I could apply pressure.

It’s a beautiful car and best of all it’s made in Japan!

[ern-diz]

Hey, hey, congrats to you both! It's fun watching a couple guys that have been in Yaris' for years make the transition and hear your impressions as it's all happening.

[Dodge Aries K]

I liked my Yarii and Corolla hatchbacks. Shame I had to sell them :( Still have my 2007 and my wife has her 2012 though.

But such is life... I drive a Outlander Sport now so that's something.

[h-dogg]

Nice purchase on the 6-speed. It must be rare to see manuals around from Toyota. I might have to convince my wife to pick up the hatchback version in a few years...

[KALISPEL II]

This Friday I'm getting the 3M headlight film installed on the new girl to protect them from hazing/pitting out here in the brutal Arizona climate (like most cars around here seem to have issues with). I had the same film put on my 2015 Yaris hatch 4 years ago & it kept the headlights looking flawlessly new/clear.

I am also getting a tinted strip installed on the upper front inside windshield to complete the tinting package for the car (it came with SunTek CXP tint already installed by dealer on side/rear windows - which was one of the added items that I effectively received for free at the price that I paid for car).

Another project that I am considering having done is a small custom vinyl mod to the gaping black front SE sedan grill/housing area, where paint matching 'super-white' gloss vinyl is strategically fitted/cut to the smooth black area between grill & accent light housings, to break up the extended black horizontal interconnected grill/housing styling look & give it more of a traditional & customized look.

[KALISPEL II]

Hey, hey, congrats to you both! It's fun watching a couple guys that have been in Yaris' for years make the transition and hear your impressions as it's all happening.

It's somewhat bittersweet, to be honest. Part of me really liked the simplicity & lightweight, fun go-cart feel of my Yaris (& the hatch utility in general). I would have happily purchased one of the new upcoming TNGA authentic Yaris in 2020 that is being released in Europe & other countries. By all accounts, it appears to be a really nice little hatch. But, the U.S. market is stiffed again, sadly. My 2020 Corolla is more of a mid-sized car now than a compact (or at least it feels that way, lol), & about at my size limit when it comes to vehicles preferences. Also not a fan of a lot of the unneeded tech-bloat in the car, but unfortunately all new cars today have that to one degree or another. At least I can turn off most of it & ignore it (minus the stupid key-less ignition system & proximity fob). :laugh:

[ern-diz]

It's somewhat bittersweet, to be honest. Part of me really liked the simplicity & lightweight, fun go-cart feel of my Yaris (& the hatch utility in general). I would have happily purchased one of the new upcoming TNGA authentic Yaris in 2020 that is being released in Europe & other countries. By all accounts, it appears to be a really nice little hatch. But, the U.S. market is stiffed again, sadly. My 2020 Corolla is more of a mid-sized car now than a compact (or at least it feels that way, lol), & about at my size limit when it comes to vehicles preferences. Also not a fan of a lot of the unneeded tech-bloat in the car, but unfortunately all new cars today have that to one degree or another. At least I can turn off most of it & ignore it (minus the stupid key-less ignition system & proximity fob). :laugh:

I hear you. Having recently driven my sisters newly leased C3, I can understand. I'm a video gamer and felt like I had to puzzle solve to get the thing into gear. Then they commented on how funny it was that I looked over my shoulder when backing out. My Yaris took damage from someone backing out relying only on the reverse cam. New car or not, I'll always look. I still don't have a need for a new car, so I intend to keep going full ruh-tard with mine.

Out of curiosity, have you had a chance to drive a MK2? Since we didn't get them here in the states, I've never driven a MK1 and would really like to. Also, when are we going to see pics of the new hotness?

[Hershey]

Bronsin , congrats on your new purchase :thumbup: . The sedan is good looking vehicle . Keep us updated on gas mileage , etc.. Enjoy !

[KALISPEL II]

I just purchased a 2020 Corolla LE.. The bottom line of the sticker was $21,800 and I wrote the check for 20,300 so I think I got a good deal. I bought it for the adaptive cruise control since I have Parkinson’s. I don’t need the lane hauling or vehicle spacing features yet, but the automatic braking saved an accident whend someone made a left-hand turn in front of me and Stopped in front of me. I’d beat the car to the brake pedal. But the car stopped before I could apply pressure.

It’s a beautiful car and best of all it’s made in Japan!

Hey, congrats on the new Corolla LE sedan! :thumbup: My 2020 Corolla is also a J-VIN (made in Japan). All the new ones hitting the dealer lots now are made in the USA according to their VIN numbers.

I can see how adaptive cruise control would be useful, especially if you do road trips or have special medical/age considerations. I haven't done a road trip since I moved to AZ in 2010, so I never used the regular cruise control in my 2015 Yaris SE, except to test it once when I first bought car. :laugh: I need to try the adaptive cruise control in my new Corolla just to see what's up.

[KALISPEL II]

I finally took my car in today for some protective & preventative mods, plus the one playful mod that I wanted to try. I ended up doing more than I originally planned, since I plan to keep this car for some time, & wanted to get it protected from the harsh Southern Arizona environment & such as much as possible. Only the release of an authentic Toyota TNGA Yaris hatchback in the U.S. will tempt me away from this girl. :biggrin:

(1) Tinted FULL front inside windshield with 3M Crystalline grade 70% tint. This stuff blocks the incoming windshield heat & UV to such a degree that my automatic climate control system has the fan blowing on low settings at 110+ degree temperatures outside. It is barely darker than clear & outside visibility is unchanged.

(2) Had a 3M clear bra put on headlights to protect them from ever hazing/pitting/scratching or otherwise not looking clear & new. I had this on my 2015 Yaris, & was very happy with the performance of it. It has a 10 year warranty to not discolor or otherwise degrade in any noticeable way.

(3) Had the "full frontal" Suntek Ultra Paint Protection UV/Scratch/Chip film package applied, which covers the full hood, side mirrors, & front bumper painted areas. It also has a 10 year warranty to not discolor or otherwise degrade in any noticeable way. It really is invisible unless you are actively looking for it on the car. :thumbup:

(4) Decided to try the surgical front 3M vinyl wrap experiment that I mentioned in other posts, to break up the long horizontal front dark-gray grill/housing area of the SE/XSE sedan - & the results if you get in real close in-person, actually look like a factory feature of the front grill. :thumbsup: I was going to go with white, but decided to try a sporty 'SE red' to match the rear SE badging color, just for the fun of it. I may switch to white later on down the road to give it a try. I'm sure white will give it a more conservative/traditional pulled-together front fascia look & vibe. It's also easy enough to remove if I ever want to get back to the normal factory look.

NOTE: The side & rear windows were already tinted by dealership with Suntek CXP tint, so I am sticking with that.

Anyway, here is the first quickie 'rough' pic of my new Corolla SE 6-Spd Manual Sedan below. The car hasn't been washed since I purchased it, & has also gone through a day or so of some rain. I still haven't received my new license yet, so I don't have that or the powder-white matte frame securely installed yet back there. I plan to do my first hand wash/detail/wax either next weekend or weekend after that.

This sedan really does look a lot better in-person than in cellphone pics. :iono:

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/images/funkygarage/2231/09-06-2019_B.jpg

[bronsin]

Hey, congrats on the new Corolla LE sedan! :thumbup: My 2020 Corolla is also a J-VIN (made in Japan). All the new ones hitting the dealer lots now are made in the USA according to their VIN numbers.

I can see how adaptive cruise control would be useful, especially if you do road trips or have special medical/age considerations. I haven't done a road trip since I moved to AZ in 2010, so I never used the regular cruise control in my 2015 Yaris SE, except to test it once when I first bought car. :laugh: I need to try the adaptive cruise control in my new Corolla just to see what's up.

They tried to get me to go for a three-year warranty extension for $1200. This is very reasonable special offer because they feel the sensors for the adaptive radar cruise control will go bad before the rest of the car.

Did you see anything like that?

[KALISPEL II]

They tried to get me to go for a three-year warranty extension for $1200. This is very reasonable special offer because they feel the sensors for the adaptive radar cruise control will go bad before the rest of the car.

Did you see anything like that?

Yeah, I have a feeling that all of the extra sensors & such in these newer cars are going to need some expensive repairs if they are kept longer than 5-6 years. I see a lot of problem used cars on the market in that regards down the road some.

[bronsin]

In my opinion the adaptive cruise control is unnecessary for the average driver. Safety begins and ends in your head. Idiots will find away To defeat any safety equipment.

[KALISPEL II]

Here is a pic of the modified front fascia of the car after the small vinyl grill/housing project idea was installed yesterday.

Should I stick with 'SE Red' up front, or switch it to a white that closely matches the color of the paint?

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/images/funkygarage/2231/09-06-2019_E.jpg

[bronsin]

One interesting thing about the new Corolla is the hood rod. It’s all contained in the hood. The socket you put the end of it in is in the fender! :eek:

[kimona]

hmmm... I'd like to see it in white.

[KALISPEL II]

One interesting thing about the new Corolla is the hood rod. It’s all contained in the hood. The socket you put the end of it in is in the fender! :eek:

I noticed that this morning when I was checking the oil levels for the first time. I was looking for the hood-prop rod for about 15-20 seconds in the engine bay before I realized it was all attached to the underside of the hood. :laugh:

[KALISPEL II]

hmmm... I'd like to see it in white.

I knew YOU would say white (we tend to have similar tastes for a lot of things I noticed). :smile: My first instinct was to go white also, since it is more low-key, conservative & gives the front end a lot less of the factory alien invaders look, & more of a traditional melded look. I decided to try the 'SE red' out of impulse to see how it would look. I like it, & it does look sporty, but it conveys an image that is a bit too 'Civic Si' flashy for my taste. I can see myself switching it to white by the end of this year. :biggrin:

[kimona]

I like it, & it does look sporty, but it conveys an image that is a bit too 'Civic Si' flashy for my taste. I can see myself switching it to white by the end of this year. :biggrin:

You nailed it, mate!

[3rdSEman]

Hehehe problem solved Kalispel got a 6-speed... you would have felt miserable driving an auto before it is imposed on you by xyz conditions: traffic, loved one, old age or whatever. I like red... white would break apart the grille creating Civic-like fake air scoops

[justanotherdrunk]

Here is a pic of the modified front fascia of the car after the small vinyl grill/housing project idea was installed yesterday.

Should I stick with 'SE Red' up front, or switch it to a white that closely matches the color of the paint?

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/images/funkygarage/2231/09-06-2019_E.jpg




keep the red!

i like the bloody/ angry fish mouth contrast

looks mean :evil:

[justanotherdrunk]

I finally took my car in today for some protective & preventative mods, plus the one playful mod that I wanted to try. I ended up doing more than I originally planned, since I plan to keep this car for some time, & wanted to get it protected from the harsh Southern Arizona environment & such as much as possible. Only the release of an authentic Toyota TNGA Yaris hatchback in the U.S. will tempt me away from this girl. :biggrin:

(1) Tinted FULL front inside windshield with 3M Crystalline grade 70% tint. This stuff blocks the incoming windshield heat & UV to such a degree that my automatic climate control system has the fan blowing on low settings at 110+ degree temperatures outside. It is barely darker than clear & outside visibility is unchanged.

(2) Had a 3M clear bra put on headlights to protect them from ever hazing/pitting/scratching or otherwise not looking clear & new. I had this on my 2015 Yaris, & was very happy with the performance of it. It has a 10 year warranty to not discolor or otherwise degrade in any noticeable way.

(3) Had the "full frontal" Suntek Ultra Paint Protection UV/Scratch/Chip film package applied, which covers the full hood, side mirrors, & front bumper painted areas. It also has a 10 year warranty to not discolor or otherwise degrade in any noticeable way. It really is invisible unless you are actively looking for it on the car. :thumbup:

(4) Decided to try the surgical front 3M vinyl wrap experiment that I mentioned in other posts, to break up the long horizontal front dark-gray grill/housing area of the SE/XSE sedan - & the results if you get in real close in-person, actually look like a factory feature of the front grill. :thumbsup: I was going to go with white, but decided to try a sporty 'SE red' to match the rear SE badging color, just for the fun of it. I may switch to white later on down the road to give it a try. I'm sure white will give it a more conservative/traditional pulled-together front fascia look & vibe. It's also easy enough to remove if I ever want to get back to the normal factory look.

NOTE: The side & rear windows were already tinted by dealership with Suntek CXP tint, so I am sticking with that.

Anyway, here is the first quickie 'rough' pic of my new Corolla SE 6-Spd Manual Sedan below. The car hasn't been washed since I purchased it, & has also gone through a day or so of some rain. I still haven't received my new license yet, so I don't have that or the powder-white matte frame securely installed yet back there. I plan to do my first hand wash/detail/wax either next weekend or weekend after that.

This sedan really does look a lot better in-person than in cellphone pics. :iono:

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/images/funkygarage/2231/09-06-2019_B.jpg


dayum she looks BIG in that picture!

[Hamster]

Alright, I got a question. I am very, very seriously considering buying a new 6-speed Corolla sometime in the next 12 months, but possibly by the end of this year. Haven't decided if I want the sedan or the hatchback, though. The thing is, I don't know how to drive stick. I plan to buy the car for no other reason than to learn to drive a manual. I have the cash, so why not. Also I want a slightly bigger car.:smile: My parents have always owned a manual car, so I grew up watching them drive stick. But I learned to drive on the automatic minivan, and never really tried to learn to drive stick. Lately, it's just been bugging me that I never learned.

So, my question is, do you feel the 2020 Corolla would be easy for a beginner? Would the iMT mode make this car easier to learn on versus a typical manual car? My mom offered to test drive the Corolla for me and teach me how to drive it. So, no worries, I won't be on entirely on my own. But I still want and need a "beginner friendly" car. Also, I'm holding onto the Yaris. That car will never be traded in or sold. The Corolla will be a second fun car. Well, if you want to call a Corolla fun.:tongue:

[KALISPEL II]

Alright, I got a question. I am very, very seriously considering buying a new 6-speed Corolla sometime in the next 12 months, but possibly by the end of this year. Haven't decided if I want the sedan or the hatchback, though. The thing is, I don't know how to drive stick. I plan to buy the car for no other reason than to learn to drive a manual. I have the cash, so why not. Also I want a slightly bigger car.:smile: My parents have always owned a manual car, so I grew up watching them drive stick. But I learned to drive on the automatic minivan, and never really tried to learn to drive stick. Lately, it's just been bugging me that I never learned.

So, my question is, do you feel the 2020 Corolla would be easy for a beginner? Would the iMT mode make this car easier to learn on versus a typical manual car? My mom offered to test drive the Corolla for me and teach me how to drive it. So, no worries, I won't be on entirely on my own. But I still want and need a "beginner friendly" car. Also, I'm holding onto the Yaris. That car will never be traded in or sold. The Corolla will be a second fun car. Well, if you want to call a Corolla fun.:tongue:

Well, comparing the 5-spd manual Yaris SE & 6-spd manual Corolla SE, I would say that the Corolla is a bit more refined, less prone to stalling from a dead stop due to user error, & a bit more forgiving in general, in terms of clutch/gas-pedal dynamics. I loved shifting/driving both cars (for different reasons), but the Yaris manual is a bit more "hardcore" & unforgiving in general from a dead stop (but becomes second nature with use). The iMT in the Corolla will help also if you want to use it, but the annoying thing about that system is that you have to turn it on every time you start your car, because for some reason Toyota decided that the vehicle's computer should not remember that it was on the previous driving session. :rolleyes:

[KALISPEL II]

dayum she looks BIG in that picture!

Yeah, I would say that the new 2020 TNGA Corolla has gotten a bit bigger feeling/looking that the previous-gen Corolla. It is less of a compact car now & more of a mid-size car. I would say that it is about the same size as my 2000 Accord EX sedan was, though probably not as long from a hood & trunk length perspective. Totally different driving experience from my Yaris, which had a fun, lightweight go-cart feel to it (at least to me). I like both the Yaris & the Corolla for different reasons. Both are great cars IMO, just different. I would have LOVED to have purchased a new, authentic 2020 TNGA Yaris SE+ hatch - but the U.S./NA market was screwed again in that regard. :frown:

[Hamster]

Thanks Kalispel! The fact that the Corolla is less prone to stalling is really, really important to me. That would lessen the fear I have of stalling in the middle of a busy intersection. Of course, I will practice, practice, practice, practice in an empty parking lot before I go on the road with traffic. I live 1/2 block from a shopping center, so luckily I have a big parking lot nearby to practice in. The existence of the iMT is the main thing that made me want to attempt a manual. I've read that the new manual Corolla is more forgiving of beginner's errors, and I'm glad you confirmed that. That makes me feel confident I'll be making the right choice once I get around to purchasing the car.

[stykerdk]

The major difference between hatchback and sedan is that the sedan has 2,5 inch longer wheelbase.
That makes a big difference in backseat legroom, and i would any day choose the sedan by that reason.
But we dont get the sedan here in denmark, we can choose between hatchback or Touring sports.
So it must be the Touring sports if i want the longer wheelbase.
Or I can import a Sedan from germany, but i depends on how much the high danish registration tax becomes.

[Hamster]

stykerdk - I watched a bunch of YouTube review videos on both the sedan and the hatchback, and a lot of the reviews pointed out the limited legroom for back seat passengers in the hatchback. This is unlikely to be an issue for me, because I have backseat passengers, like, never. In my ten years I've had my Yaris, I've never once had anyone sit in the back. I'm kinda moving towards the Corolla hatchback, because it's got a rear wiper blade. I live in Ohio where it snows a lot in the winter, and that rear wiper blade on my Yaris does so much for safety. I can instantly clear snow off the rear window, which of course allows for better visibility. I know, kind of an oddball reason to choose the hatchback. Both the hatchback and the sedan have their pluses and minuses. I've got several more months to decide between one or the other.

[KALISPEL II]

I feel taller than normal standing next to my new Corolla. The Yaris really did stand a lot taller in comparison (with a higher seating position as well), & I had to stretch my 6ft1in self to really clean/wax the top of that car properly. Standing next to the Corolla reminds me of my old Honda Prelude from a shorter vehicle height perspective. I guess it will take a little getting used to again. :laugh:

[KALISPEL II]

https://www.bellroadtoyota.com/vehicle-details/used-2015-toyota-yaris-se-VNKKTUD35FA029712

My 2015 Yaris SE for sale at dealership. Poor girl needs a good home. :cry:

[Hamster]

Any reason you couldn't keep her? That's pretty low milage. Was it lack of garage space, or did you need the trade-in money for down payment? I can't imagine ever getting rid of my Yaris!

[KALISPEL II]

Any reason you couldn't keep her? That's pretty low milage. Was it lack of garage space, or did you need the trade-in money for down payment? I can't imagine ever getting rid of my Yaris!

To be honest, I hadn't planned to buy the new Corolla that day, because I didn't expect them to come down to the max purchase price I was willing to pay, while asking for max excellent condition KBB trade value on the Yaris at the same time. But, the new car market sucks this year for sales, & they really wanted to move the manual Corolla SE that had been sitting there ignored for a bit over 4 months (they even had to put a brand new OEM battery in it :laugh:). They tried to play some sneaky numbers games at first (like all dealerships do, surprise, surprise), but I just stuck to my guns & told them I would have to wait another year if I couldn't hit the numbers I gave them. So, I ended up with a surprise new car that day. I could pay the car off now & be done with it, but I can make a lot more profit flipping stocks for short-term capital gains with that money & pay the small 2.9% APR interest on car loan while doing it, so I'm going that route. :thumbsup:

I do kind of miss the Yaris though. She had a fun, lightweight driving quality to her that isn't captured in the same fashion by a heavier almost-mid-sized car. I really like both cars, but they are different in what they offer. I would have rather purchased a new 2020 TNGA Yaris hatch, but Toyota isn't selling it in the U.S./NA market in lieu of offering the rebadged Mazda2 hatch here instead, so I went with the next best thing (to me).

[justanotherdrunk]

only $10k i should buy it! :laugh:

carfax shows accident reported?

[KALISPEL II]

only $10k i should buy it! :laugh:

carfax shows accident reported?


A year and a half or so ago, some stupid chick talking on her cellphone rear-ended my little Yaris at low speeds because she wasn't paying attention (she slammed on her brakes too late, making it a low-speed collision at least). The only damage was a scratched bumper cover & scuffs on the reverse-light housing attached to the lower rear bumper. Of course, the dumb c*** didn't have up-to-date insurance either, so I had to go through my insurance to get the bumper-cover & reverse-light housing replaced & pay the $500 deductible. My insurance could never collect from the deadbeat loser, so they gave up & wrote it off. Thus, I was out $500 for the repair. Fun times. On the bright side, that gen Yaris is so uncommon that only OEM replacement parts were available for it - so no aftermarket bumper cover, etc. :biggrin:

[KALISPEL II]

My license plate finally arrived the other day & I installed it this morning (in my usual super-secured, vibration-free OCD way), along with the slim matte-white license frame carried over from my Super White Yaris. I opted for just a regular ARIZONA plate this time around, instead of vanity plate (my Yaris had a 'VITZ RS' vanity plate). Interestingly enough the random plate ID seems to jive with me anyway, as CRL = Corolla, 83 = year I graduated high-school (yes, I'm old), & 65 = my birthdate year. Should be an easy plate to remember. :laugh:

While I was at it, I removed the chrome 'COROLLA' badge from rear trunk to clean things up a bit. Chrome on white is impossible to read anyway, & just makes everything look more busy back there. Also the badge is so long compared to the trunk space there, that Toyota had to bend it around the curve of the trunk lid. It just didn't look good there at all (IMO). Anyway here are some pics of the rear-end (still unwashed since I purchased it. :brokenheart:)

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/images/funkygarage/2231/09-06-2019_F.jpg

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/images/funkygarage/2231/09-06-2019_D.jpg

[kimona]

I removed the chrome 'COROLLA' badge from rear trunk to clean things up a bit.

I'd have done the same. The rear end of the 2020 SE is actually quite handsome.

[ern-diz]

Funny coincidences on the plate!!

I'm curious what your OCD certified, vibration free install method is?

[KALISPEL II]

Funny coincidences on the plate!!

I'm curious what your OCD certified, vibration free install method is?

I felt padded bottom, back teeth/retainers of frame to ensure that it never makes metal-to-paint contact with car finish, and also have license installed with decently thick small rubber washers behind license (at upper screw holes) to keep plate/frame off car finish up top as well. I have narrow, outdoor-grade 3M double-sided adhesive mounting tape on inside of frame on all four sides to keep plate 100% secure/padded within the frame. Finally, I have outdoor grade adhesive velcro attached to both bottom area of plate backside and car to keep plate 100% secure and vibration free on bottom as well. Even aggressively shutting the trunk doesn't jar/move the license/frame one bit, and the license/frame metal never makes direct contact with my car finish. It was a bitch getting the frame back off my Yaris when I traded her in. :laugh: It took some work to get that sucker off.

[ern-diz]

I felt padded bottom, back teeth/retainers of frame to ensure that it never makes metal-to-paint contact with car finish, and also have license installed with decently thick small rubber washers behind license (at upper screw holes) to keep plate/frame off car finish up top as well. I have narrow, outdoor-grade 3M double-sided adhesive mounting tape on inside of frame on all four sides to keep plate 100% secure/padded within the frame. Finally, I have outdoor grade adhesive velcro attached to both bottom area of plate backside and car to keep plate 100% secure and vibration free on bottom as well. Even aggressively shutting the trunk doesn't jar/move the license/frame one bit, and the license/frame metal never makes direct contact with my car finish. It was a bitch getting the frame back off my Yaris when I traded her in. :laugh: It took some work to get that sucker off.

Ha! After hearing the install process, I can totally understand why!

Pulled up behind one of these on the road today. Was surprised how much the rear reminded me of the newer Dodge Darts. Someone on Instagram responded to my comment about that saying it reminded them of the Kia Forte.

For me, your SE trim, with that diffuser on the rear bumper, is the only way to go, though I do still prefer the hatch.

[kimona]

Hmmm... I might do the rear bumper diffuser in black.

[Leegamer]

saying it reminded them of the Kia Forte.



First thing I thought of, too. Good looking car, though. Much better than the previous gen.

[ern-diz]

Hmmm... I might do the rear bumper diffuser in black.

+1

First thing I thought of, too. Good looking car, though. Much better than the previous gen.

Overall, I also think it's an improvement.

[justanotherdrunk]

https://www.bellroadtoyota.com/vehicle-details/used-2015-toyota-yaris-se-VNKKTUD35FA029712

My 2015 Yaris SE for sale at dealership. Poor girl needs a good home. :cry:


Looks like she was sold

[KALISPEL II]

I went ahead and ordered the Toyota OEM Front Hood Insulation Pad that attaches to the underside of the front hood of my 2020 Corolla SE sedan. Apparently, only the XSE has it as standard equipment. :thumbdown: WTF Toyota? Even my 2015 Yaris SE hatch had that as standard factory equipment (though they did skimp on having no SS exhaust tip for the Yaris). The one on the Yaris was pretty cut-rate though. Pretty lame & cheesy ninja-corner-cutting to reduce costs I guess. So, there goes about $200 more to get it. :laugh:

[KALISPEL II]

I picked up the OEM hood insulator piece & 6 clips today at a local Toyota dealership, since the package dimensions made it too expensive to ship directly to me ($35-40) - especially considering how overpriced it already is before shipping. :mad: Not surprisingly, it takes only a few minutes to install. I still can't believe that this part costs about $260 retail USD$ (Around $200 total for insulator piece & clips after "special internet discount" & taxes). Seriously, this piece of rigid ultra-lightweight molded insulation fiber couldn't have cost more than a few dollars to manufacture. :rolleyes:

I know Toyota reamed me with that sort of pricing, but I had to do it since it bugged me that much. The car just had that unfinished look & feel without it (at least to me it did). I can at least say that the engine now sounds more deep, rich & robust with the insulator piece installed & the RPMs going through their paces while shifting/driving. Before, it had more of a hollow/echo-y sound to it. This really should have been standard equipment on all trims, especially considering it costs Toyota next to nothing to manufacture. Another WTF Toyota moment. :laugh:

Below are some before & after pics that I took:

https://www.toyotanation.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=192 0,fit=scale-down/https://www.toyotanation.com/attachments/insulator-before-png.286184/

https://www.toyotanation.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=192 0,fit=scale-down/https://www.toyotanation.com/attachments/insulator-after-png.286185/

-

[kimona]

Looks proper now. Can't believe it didn't come with this standard. Yes, the price was outrageous! Nevertheless, I would have caved and got one as well.

[Hamster]

Looks great! I agree, pretty silly that the hood insulator didn't come standard.

[bentjazz]

Congrats, KALISPEL and Bronsin! Hope you guys have a lot of luck with your new Corollas. I'll help keep the Yaris spirit alive, as I'll be putzing around in my 2010 hopefully for many years to come. Speaking of tech bloat, one (or possibly more than one---who the hell knows) of the tire sensors in my Yaris (would prefer not to have them in the first place) has gone bad. The Toyota dealer I've been going to since 2010 for routine maintenance wants $235 per sensor. Whichever sensor(s) went bad, it did last almost 9 years. So, I suppose it's hard for me to complain too much. But all of these new Toyotas (and new cars in general) with sensors up the wahzoo I can imagine will become quite expensive to repair as sensors go bad. That's one of the things that'll keep me in my Yaris...it's minimalism. Good luck, guys. That's a really beautiful Corolla, KALISPEL.

[Hamster]

Hey Kalispel! Just wanted to thank you for answering all my questions. Guess what? I'm officially getting a new Corolla, too! I went to test drive the sedan recently. Had to take my mom along, because I don't know how to drive stick. My mom, who is by no means an auto enthusiast, couldn't stop talking about how much it was a blast to drive the Corolla. I also attempted to drive it around in an empty parking lot as part of the test drive. I was surprised by how easy it was for a total novice. Yes, I stalled numerous times, but for the most part, I was able to competently drive the car around in the parking lot up to second gear. I can definitely say that the Corolla is a great car for those who want to learn to drive a manual.

Ultimately, I decided to get the hatchback, in the SE trim. Because the only thing better than having one hatchback is having two hatchbacks, right? LOL! My Yaris will be getting a big brother. Anyway, because it's hard to find a manual, and the 2020 Corolla hatchback is so new, the dealership had to put in a factory special order for me. The sedan is made in Mississippi, while the hatchback is made in Japan. So, I'll have a little bit of a wait, because the car has to be shipped across the ocean. My new Corolla is scheduled to roll off the assembly line in Japan later this month, and is scheduled to arrive in Ohio in mid-February. Can't wait! I instructed the salesman to leave all the shipping plastic on the car and to not wash it, because I don't want some kid with a sponge grinding dirt into the paint and creating swirl marks. Will update with pics in a couple months once I get the car.

[Nu18F]

Toyota advertises close ratio in the lower few gears . At what upper gear can you tell it's getting into much taller or overdriven territory?

[Hamster]

Nu18F - I have the sales brochure in front of me that I got from the dealership. Here's a direct quote out of it:
"Three pedals. Six speeds. One fun drive. Corolla's available 6-speed Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) features close-ratio gears down low for spirited acceleration and taller gears up top for optimized fuel economy while cruising. It also incorporates an intelligent rev-matching feature, helping reduce transmission shock when downshifting."

Anyway, that's all it says. Note that the brochure uses "gears" in the plural form for taller gears. So, I'm just going to presume that both 5th and 6th gears are overdrive gears. Anything below that, I don't know at this time.

[KALISPEL II]

Toyota advertises close ratio in the lower few gears . At what upper gear can you tell it's getting into much taller or overdriven territory?

From what I have observed, 5th gear in the 6-MT Corolla is pretty much the same RPM level as 5th gear was in my 5-MT Yaris while traveling at my usual highway speeds. 6th gear drops it down from the 2800-3000 RPM's of 5th at those speeds to 2200-2300. That is probably one of the reasons why the 800+ pound heavier Corolla can still average close to what my Yaris was doing in MPG (40-41 average thus far versus the 42-43 I was averaging with the Yaris). I would agree that both 5th & 6th on the Corolla have the feel of overdrive gears to them. Gears 1 & 2 are very short & quick to shift out of.

Minus all the stupid tech bloat, the Corolla is a nice car - but I actually liked my 2015 Yaris SE hatch better, overall. It was just more my speed & preference in a lot of ways. I would have jumped at the chance to buy the new 2020 TNGA Yaris hatch over the Corolla if it was offered in the U.S. I don't see myself keeping this Corolla longer than 3-4 years.

[Hamster]

Kalispel - I plan to keep the Corolla forever, just like my Yaris. I come from a family that keeps their cars 20+ years, so I don't know any different. Anyway, because I plan to keep the car forever, I ordered the SE trim. I really liked the leather, heated seats of the XSE trim. However, the XSE had an electronic instrument cluster, rather than the physical, analogue gauges of the SE trim. I don't trust a TV screen to last a couple of decades. I'm not pleased with the tech bloat, either. However, I wanted a compact car that didn't have a plain, direct-injection engine, and the Corolla was basically the only option.

[KALISPEL II]

I'm not pleased with the tech bloat, either. However, I wanted a compact car that didn't have a plain, direct-injection engine, and the Corolla was basically the only option.

I agree. The TNGA innovative combo direct+port 2.0L engine design in the SE/XSE sedan is the only reason I even considered my new 6-MT Corolla, otherwise I might have rolled the dice on a new Mazda3 sedan with regular 6-speed automatic & their SkyActiv direct-inject engine (which is supposed to be the best in terms of straight GDI designs & minimal carbon sludge buildup). I was actually surprised that Toyota carried over the (very reliable) legacy port-injected engine from the previous Corolla gen to the new 2020 Corolla's in non-SE/XSE trims - though shame that they likely ruined the overall reliability of the vehicle with yet another push-belt CVT automatic. Toyota had the most reliable regular automatics on the planet, & it is a shame that they didn't stick with them like Mazda has with their's.

[bentjazz]

Tech bloat, or lack thereof. Thanks to KALISPEL II, I use that term all the time now in describing why I love my Yaris and plan to keep it for the long haul.

[Nu18F]

I am missing the days of Radio Delete :laugh:

[KALISPEL II]

Here is a pic of the modified front fascia of the car after the small vinyl grill/housing project idea was installed yesterday.

Should I stick with 'SE Red' up front, or switch it to a white that closely matches the color of the paint?

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/images/funkygarage/2231/09-06-2019_E.jpg

When I get some free time in early-mid February, I plan to switch up the front "Dragon Red" vinyl mod to my Corolla, in favor of something a bit more low-key, conservative & blending. Going to go with a light/med gray or color-matching white this time around. I will post some pics when the job is completed.

I'm still sad that the all-new 2020 TNGA Yaris hatchback never made it to the U.S./NA market. :cry: Looks to be a nice little subcompact. My 2020 TNGA Corolla feels like the runner-up consolation prize. :laugh:

-

[NYC-SE]

I don't think the red looks that bad. In fact I kind of like it.

[KALISPEL II]

Not the best setting or lighting, but here is a phone-pic I took at work the other day with the changed-out vinyl color. I like it better, since it is more low-key & conservative, & just generally more my speed. I liked the deep red version also, but it just popped a bit too much for my personal tastes. Just a little something to add a touch of tasteful, factory-looking, customization & individualism to my Corolla - considering that these cars will literally be all over the place soon enough. Plus, I think it looks better when all that solid black/dark-gray up-front from one end to the other is broken up a bit.

https://www.toyotanation.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=192 0,fit=scale-down/https://www.toyotanation.com/attachments/c-se-02-png.292595/

[ern-diz]

Nice one. The reflection on the windshield makes this pic extra cool.

[kimona]

I really like it now!

[KALISPEL II]

Nice one. The reflection on the windshield makes this pic extra cool.

Thanks. I park under some solar panels at work & that is where that grid reflection is coming from. It does look pretty cool reflected off the windshield like that. :biggrin: The Matrix!

[Hamster]

Okay, quick update - I finally got my 2020 Corolla SE hatchback in Classic Silver Metallic! Woohoo! If you want to do a factory order at your dealership, be prepared to wait about three months. The dealership ordered my car in December, and it arrived this month. But that's okay, since I was buying this car for fun, not because I needed it. Right now I'm just learning how to drive it. Stalled it about a zillion times, but I'm slowly getting better and better at consistently finding the bite point. I'm also working on figuring out when to change gears. I'm glad I had the wild idea to buy a brand new car with a manual, even though I didn't know how to drive a manual. Although I suck at driving it right now, I'm still having a blast learning how to drive stick!

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Okay, quick update - I finally got my 2020 Corolla SE hatchback in Classic Silver Metallic! Woohoo! If you want to do a factory order at your dealership, be prepared to wait about three months. The dealership ordered my car in December, and it arrived this month. But that's okay, since I was buying this car for fun, not because I needed it. Right now I'm just learning how to drive it. Stalled it about a zillion times, but I'm slowly getting better and better at consistently finding the bite point. I'm also working on figuring out when to change gears. I'm glad I had the wild idea to buy a brand new car with a manual, even though I didn't know how to drive a manual. Although I suck at driving it right now, I'm still having a blast learning how to drive stick!

Quick way to find the grab/bite point of the clutch is to go on a flat, empty parking lot, and then slowly, and I mean extremely slowly start letting go of the clutch with the trans being in 1st. Don't bother with the gas pedal. Once you start feeling the car lunge forward, fully step on the clutch again and shift back into neutral. Do this 2 or 3 times, and you'll know exactly where the grab point is. Don't do it too many times tho, since I'm sure it's putting some stress on the throw out bearing.

Since you're new to M/T, please do not fully rest your hand's weight on the shifter. Also do not keep the clutch pedal depressed when stopped. Shift into reverse and fully let go of the clutch pedal. Also do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal. Doing all this will prevent unnecessary wear and damage on your car.

[Leegamer]

Also do not keep the clutch pedal depressed when stopped. Shift into reverse and fully let go of the clutch pedal.

I think you mean neutral, not reverse. lol.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I think you mean neutral, not reverse. lol.

ROTFLMAO!

Good catch. Not sure why I said reverse. Yes, NEUTRAL! hahaha

[Leegamer]

ROTFLMAO!

Good catch. Not sure why I said reverse. Yes, NEUTRAL! hahaha

I just imagine this poor guy pulling up to a red light, throwing it in reverse and dumping the clutch. Made me lol

[Hamster]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been practicing on the residential streets around my house. The speed limit is 25 mph, so I can go at slow speeds and take my time. There are no hills, and there's rarely anyone behind me. Lots of stop signs, where I can practicing stops and starts. Just to be safe, I taped a hand-made sign on my back window with a warning that I'm learning to drive stick and I might stall (I was afraid that otherwise someone might think I'm on a cell phone and start road raging at me). The bite point seems to be 3/4 of the way up the pedal travel. You can definitely feel it, since the car feels more "solid." Once the bite point is reached, the car will not move forward on its own if you don't give it gas. Apparently some cars will move forward on its own, but not this one. The Corolla will move a couple inches then shut off. Anyway, as a beginner, it's challenging to properly balance the amount of gas, plus the speed to fully release the clutch pedal. But the more time I spend behind the wheel, the fewer times I stall. I'm also getting better at shifting through the gears smoothly. There are a bunch of really helpful YouTube videos about how to drive stick, so I've been watching those over and over. And, of course, I still have my automatic Yaris, so I'm not stressing out about how long it will take me to master a manual.

And don't worry, I'm not resting my hand on the shifter, and I'm not using the clutch as a footrest :). I know that doing both those things are super bad. Also, good thing you mentioned not to keep the clutch depressed when stopped. That's what my mom taught me to do (I had a couple hours of in-car instruction with her in my dad's car, but now I'm on my own with my new Corolla). But turns out she's wrong. What I've been doing now is shifting to neutral and coasting a few feet shortly before I reach the stop sign. Less strain on my legs, too.

[bradbowl]

Because the only thing better than having one hatchback is having two hatchbacks, right?

This. :w00t:

[bradbowl]

Nice vinyl mod! Breaking up the black trim pieces looks much better. Smart!

[Hamster]

I realized I haven't posted an update on my new Corolla. All I can say is....Wow, if you ever wanted to learn to drive stick shift, this is the car for you! It was super easy to learn to drive this thing. I taught myself just by watching YouTube videos. Yeah, at first, it really sucked when I stalled a lot. But after I learned to find where the clutch bites, everything came super easy after that. Earlier this year, I couldn't drive a manual at all, now I find it as easy as driving an automatic. Well, except in traffic, of course. :) If I have to go somewhere during rush hour, I'll drive my automatic Yaris.

What I really like about this car is two "cheat" features for inclines and hills. The new Corolla has a brake hold feature, which uses the ABS system so you don't need to hold down the brake pedal while at a stop. This same feature works great if you are on a slight incline. No rolling backwards, just clutch down, shift into first, give it some gas, and the brakes will automatically release, you don't need to do anything extra. For steeper inclines or hills, you can use the electronic parking brake. Clutch down, shift into first, give it some gas, and the parking brake will automatically release once you get moving. No danger of rolling back even an inch, so no need to freak out if someone is right on your bumper. And the rev match feature works perfectly, too! Makes downshifting so smooth. Overall, I am very pleased with this car! I'm glad Toyota designed this car to be so easy for beginners.

[ern-diz]

Nice! Those cheat features sound rather handy.

[Hamster]

Yes indeed! Very handy, since both brake features allow you to just relax and drive, instead of worrying about rolling backwards into someone. It's cool to be able to sit on an incline, with both feet on the floor, and not roll backwards. Also saves wear-and-tear on the clutch for sure, since you don't need to give much, if any, extra gas in order to overcome gravity. So, I never bothered to learn how to do hill starts "properly," I instead rely entirely on the tech. I don't think it matters, though. It's unlikely that I'll ever be in a situation where I'll have to drive a manual car other than my own. Likewise, I don't see any benefit in learning how to blip the throttle on downshifts. The Corolla's computer could do a better job than I feel I ever could.

[Leegamer]

Glad you were able to learn and you're still loving the car! Those features do sound useful, though personally I don't understand wanting to drive a manual if the car is going to take away all the fun and do it for you.

[ern-diz]

Glad you were able to learn and you're still loving the car! Those features do sound useful, though personally I don't understand wanting to drive a manual if the car is going to take away all the fun and do it for you.

I thought the same, but I think if you know how to do it in case you ever need to, the incline feature isn't terrible for day-to-day convenience. I've owned nothing but manual cars but having driven the hills of San Francisco, the incline feature wouldn't be half bad lol.

Aside from that, manuals are going away, so if these types of helpy helperton features bring a few people back, I'm not going to complain about it :biggrin:

[Leegamer]

Aside from that, manuals are going away, so if these types of helpy helperton features bring a few people back, I'm not going to complain about it :biggrin:

That's a good point! As long as you can turn it off.

[KALISPEL II]

A new update for this old thread.

I recently traded in my (Japan-built) 2020 TNGA Corolla SE Sedan 6-MT because I wasn't happy with some things (both personal preference issues & vehicle related issues), & Toyota dragging their feet addressing the issues that related to warranty and/or saying certain issues were "normal" (like 3 new batteries replaced under warranty in first 2 years - WTH). I feel that modern-day Toyota, like Honda, is now coasting on a reputation that has become outdated. So, without a TNGA Yaris hatch in the U.S. market to entice me, I'm not interested in owning a Toyota or dealing with Toyota any longer.

So, I purchased a 2022 Mazda CX-30 Carbon Edition about a month ago at MSRP (yay, no crazy dealership market markups) & finally joined the dreaded SUV/Crossover legions here in the USA. Luckily I was able to get a trade value equal to what the Corolla was priced at brand new in late 2019 - talk about a crazy, upside down used car market! I have to say that I'm impressed by my new Mazda CX-30 AWD Carbon thus far. Not a single defect or issue to be found & it is more comfortable/premium than my Corolla SE Sedan was in pretty much every respect. The only drawback is that I'm now driving a 6-AT instead of a manual for the first time in my life (which might not be a bad thing really these days). Manuals are definitely more FUN & engaging, though an automatic is very convenient in heavy, stop & go traffic. Also, still not a fan of the thickly-uniform black cladding on the CX-30, but the black wheels & blacked out chrome trim (& added matte black lower hatch accent) pull it all together better IMO. I was originally shopping for a CX-5 Carbon Edition or Premium trim, but the smaller/compact CX-30 was more my size preference & does look a lot better up-close & in-person than in pics/videos. Most cars/vehicles seem to be like that I have found.

Great to have a hatchback again! So, until a TNGA Yaris hatch in a premium trim level hits this market, I'm good.

https://www.cx30talk.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=192 0,fit=scale-down/https://www.cx30talk.com/attachments/cx-30-ce-18-png.4042/

https://www.cx30talk.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=192 0,fit=scale-down/https://www.cx30talk.com/attachments/cx-30-ce-17-png.4041/

https://www.cx30talk.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=192 0,fit=scale-down/https://www.cx30talk.com/attachments/1648250745237-png.4219/

[justanotherdrunk]

The front end has kind of a Sinister Rattlesnake appearance and I like the chrome exhaust tips and black wheels against the Carbon color!

... and very nice looking home!

[KALISPEL II]

The front end has kind of a Sinister Rattlesnake appearance and I like the chrome exhaust tips and black wheels against the Carbon color!

... and very nice looking home!

Thanks. Yeah, I like how well Mazda designs & integrates their exhaust system into their vehicles, & how they use the classic right/left side dual exhaust setup with the nice, simple & sexy circular stainless-steel tips. No stupid, tacky, oversized, weird-shaped pseudo-premium exhaust housings like a lot of vehicles try to use these days, or fake outlets. Toyota vehicle exhaust systems always seem to look like a budget afterthought bolt-on, with an ugly, discolored muffler/pipes, etc. sticking out for all the world to see.

[kimona]

Congratulations!

While shopping for a new car, I test drove the CX-30 and the CX-5 recently. I was very impressed with both vehicles... which actually seemed upscale compared to Toyota, especially the richly appointed interiors.