The perfect car doesn’t exist……or does it?  

No matter the question, the need, the audience, or the use….one car fits all parameters. 

Need a car for commuting? Looking for a safe and reliable first car? Need a family car? Want a car that just runs and runs with little to no worry? Looking for great gas mileage? Ready for a road trip? Want a car that can be handed down years later?

The easy answer to all above is the Toyota Corolla.

Pick your favorite color and pick your favorite generation.  You can’t go wrong. 

Case in point is the current next car that OnRamp is donating to a waiting family.  It is an older car - a 2008 - with 145K miles on it currently.   I’ve been driving it, as well as countless others, to make sure there are no current issues with the car.  And as usual, my verdict is that this car just makes sense in every way.

Even after 16 years, the interior has held up amazingly well.  Features are sparse, but they all work and there is less to go wrong and worry about.  Power windows, cruise control,  cold AC and a warm heater - check.  Keyless entry is as fancy as this car gets.  The radio has actual knobs and buttons that just work and don’t wear out.  The cloth seats are devoid of any rips, tears or discernable wear.   And they are comfortable, supportive and are adjustable manually (remember, no power seat motors to fail). 

The rear seats have plenty of legroom, headroom and are comfortable for two adults.  A third person can be added in a pinch, but shoulder room becomes tighter.   Behind, there is a trunk large enough to fit luggage for 4, a big grocery run or most loads one would need on a daily basis.  

The ride is supple and smooth.  Even after all of these miles, not a squeak or rattle is heard.  Very little road noise comes through making for a serene place to spend time.  The 4-cylinder motor is peppy, smooth and returns more than 30 mpg even in the city.  Automatic transmission shifts are solid and if one wants, they can even buy a slick-shifting manual transmission with one of the easiest to use clutches ever made.  

Mechanically, they are simple and easy to work on.  Need to replace your battery, ten minutes with a socket and you are done.  A friend just replaced a starter in about 20 minutes.  Parts, if and when they are needed, are cheap and accessible.  200K and up is the norm for these cars and they are reliable all the way through with literally no problem areas.

The best part, these cars and this generation can be had for under $10k all day long - sometimes even significantly less than that.  And will last longer than many new cars being sold today at 3 times or more the price.  So, next time someone asks for a car recommendation, or you are in the market, think long and hard about buying a Toyota Corolla.  Go test drive one.  Talk to a current owner.  And see all the money that can be saved over monthly payments of a much lesser car.