It's average but that's what I expected (Toyota Carina E)

Member Name: ecskrowa

Product:	Toyota Carina E
Date:	20/04/01 (370 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: toys, speed, room, economy

Disadvantages: poor image, refinement and handling

A run-of-the-mill car that can be bought for a bargain price but also offering plenty of toys and loads of room.
That was my criteria when looking for a used car having just become a father for the first time. It had to be large, powerful, luxurious, quick yet economical and the Carina E (E for Europe)satisfies all of these. Its main let down are refinement and handling which are both rather poor.

I bought a top-of-the-range 2.0 Executive model which also has ABS so its safe as well.
Being japanese (well, it's actually built in Derbeyshire) there are no reliability issues to contend with and parts are readily available from dealers or the multitude of Japanese only scrapyards.

In a straight line it's great, 0-60 in 8.5 secs with 132 flat out, but don't try this on twisty roads, it just doesn't like bends, becoming skittish and lacking grip.

Being a hatchback version the boot is cavernous and must rival many estate cars for load space with the back seats folded.

Another bonus with Far Eastern cars (which many British testers dislike) is the positioning of the indicator stalk, this is on the right meaning you do not have to leave the gear stick to indicate (I think many testers are too lazy to adapt).

Having fitted a CD player the factory fitted 6 speakers makes it sound great, and having just become a father means it is the only place I can enjoy music!

So for an average car for little money there are not many rivals, perhaps the Nissan Primera or Mazda 626.

I wouldn't buy another Carina, not because it is a bad car but I'd simply like to move up a notch to something classier, with a better image I suppose!

Summary: