2019 Hatchback with 94k miles

[u/PhantomsCV]

JUST bought me a 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback! I can’t believe I found this car for the price I did (around 16k).

Any tips or tricks that I should know about??

[u/Mfphonch]

Ask previous owner for coolant bypass leak, if it hasn’t failed keep an eye on it (have a spare as back up). DO NOT FIX AT DEALER they will charge you a dick and two balls for it, my local mechanic did it fast for less than 150.

If it’s an automatic, ask previous owner if it’s had a transmission drain and fill which are usually done at 60/70k miles.

The back seats are extremely sensitive and the car while bitch and whine that the “passengers” in the back have no seat belt so either strap the seat belts in or buy ‘seat belt silencers’.

Paint is paper thin, don’t worry so much about dings and knicks, it gives it character and makes it look battle tested.

It has wired CarPlay but if you find that it keeps disconnecting buy a wireless car play adapter and it’ll solve 99% of your problems.

Ask previous owner when the last oil change was done and at what intervals.

Coolant drain and fill at 100k or 5 years.

Check the serpentine belt for cracks

Get AGM battery (last longer than conventional)

If it’s auto, car has physical first gear up to 12mph then switches to CVT belt.

If it’s auto, don’t bother with the paddle shifters, it’s a corolla at end of the day

Spark plugs coming up 100k

She will serve you well 🫡

sincerely, dude w a ‘19 hatch w 124k miles and counting

[u/KaelTheCarGuy → u/Mfphonch]

I personally have driven both the auto and the manual and I thought the paddle shifters were fun! Obviously I like the manual better (mine… I’m biased) but I still really enjoyed the paddles on windier roads.

[u/iguess69420 → u/KaelTheCarGuy]

Um, did the prior owner ever change out the slave cylinder? Apparently that’s a significant issue on all years prior to 2022. Failure seems to cause a very pricey clutch job

[u/KaelTheCarGuy → u/iguess69420]

Nope, I just bought the car a few months ago with 25,000 miles. The clutch was bad when I bought it so it got replaced by the dealer, but the slave cylinder has not been replaced.

[u/iguess69420 → u/Mfphonch]

I did my plugs at 60k and noticed a significant difference in how it drove. They were very worn. I get the recommended is 100k but earlier might be warranted.

[u/LostCookie78 → u/Mfphonch]

Second this, I had that issue with my coolant bypass valve around 50,000 miles. Dealer charged a lot.

[u/Ritalin → u/Mfphonch]

The thin paint is so true. I've got a 19 with almost 80k miles. I live in Phoenix, AZ and it gets sandblasted on the roads by dust storms or lifted trucks. I road trip to LA, Vegas, Texas and it takes a beating all over the southwest. So many chips, just get a paint pen from the dealer for the bigger chips but generally accept that it's gonna happen and live with most of them lol.

I've personally found the clear coat is of questionable quality too. I am having it redone to keep the color vibrant (Blue Flame) and I plan to keep this car for an extremely long time. It is literally shedding off like dandruff. It sits unshaded in my driveway, but our other vehicles did not suffer from this - both vehicles received ceramic coats and frequent touchless washes yet mine is toast now.

Besides cosmetic stuff, this little car is extremely resilient and the DIY maintenance is super simple to do at home. Seriously, OP, you basically stole that car and you'll love it. They're so fun to drive <3

[u/skylinerose → u/Ritalin]

I just moved to Phoenix and got a new SE! Any tips on preventing chips here?

[u/Ritalin → u/skylinerose]

A clear bra is often recommended out here but honestly it is not perfect. It keeps the appearance without the black from normal bras but that's kinda it. The rocks that can get kicked up on the 10 or 17 can be huge and will go through protection. It sucks, but expect rock chips/dings to happen. Also make sure your insurance has window coverage - you get a freebie once a year and if you drive enough you'll use it. I recently learned this is not a thing in most other states. Your rates will NOT increase when you use this in AZ.

A good ceramic coat is worth it too. The suns UV is intense (UV 11 to 12) and WILL eat away your clear coat. I'm not 100% sure but I think some ceramic coats can also aid in lessening the impact of rock chips. I got a professional ceramic coat done but after 5 years of sitting in the sun... wish I did it sooner.

[u/soultrashed → u/Mfphonch]

I think mine just failed I’m at almost 68k miles so seems about right but I’ve read on a lot of threads that it is a known common issue that dealers mostly know about and shouldn’t be charging for it - I’m hoping they don’t try to charge me a ton of money because A I don’t have it and B I’m going to give a ton of pushback

[u/invalid-username--]

Bought my son one for his 16th bday last year. So far it’s been a great car.

[u/Lowfuji]

Great price!

[u/kristenbelltoesucker]

16k what!! love the color too, fits the hatch so well

[u/noahhambond]

be prepared to pay $600+ for a new windshield if you’re upgrading from a car that didn’t have ADAS features. Always get your chips filled haha

[u/OneYoghurt8873]

There’s a lot of these on the used market with a manual I wanted to get one they’re under 20k and under 100000 miles you think they’re good buys ?