by "wkiernan" (wkiernan)
Published 01/27/2017 at 15:05
by "wkiernan" (wkiernan)
Published 01/27/2017 at 15:05
No Tags
STARS: 2
This morning a thought popped into my head: suppose I had a choice between daily driving a Miata and a Corolla, which would I choose? “What kinda dumb question is that?!” Of course there’s a catch: a Corolla with a manual transmission versus a Miata with an automatic transmission.
“A Corolla with a stick? no such thing!” you may say. But you’re wrong, I bought two of them, brand-new, both with manuals (an ‘81 and a ‘90). It took some looking but they do make them that way. And you can get a new Corolla today with a manual, even in the U.S. And those were superb cars. A little light on the sporty-driving thrills, but the monomaniacal Toyota reliability was awesome.
As far as Miatas with slushies go, I once drove a co-worker’s NB with a slushy and it was quite nice, although I kept reaching for the shifter when I didn’t need to. But to own and drive daily for years on end? I’d always be thinking “I should have got this car with the good transmission instead.”
This question sort of reminds me of Torchinsky’s “choose your poison” puzzles, although it doesn’t involve weird supernatural things, sticky bodily fluids, and all those other kinks he is so fond of. Still, I really don’t know which I’d pick. What do you think?
"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
01/27/2017 at 15:10, STARS: 5
they STILL sell corollas with sticks...
and you know what, I could have taken the corolla anyways. its a DD, not a fun car. something reliable, cheap, I dont care about dings or dents, can carry 4 ppl if need be, and has a big trunk.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
01/27/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 5
Corolla manual of course.
I think an automatic Miata completely misses the point of the car. It’s sort of like having your cake but instead of eating it, you’re getting caked in the face. Yeah, it’s the same cake, but there’s a difference in how much control you have over enjoying that cake.
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
01/27/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 3
Or finding a dog turd in the cake. Or having a cake made of dog turds. Or getting caked with a dog turd cake.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
01/27/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 2
My mom has an NC Miata with a flappy auto*, and I’d take that over a manual Carolla, no contest.
*She can’t use a stick because of an injury, and has, amongst other things, owned a Series 1 E-Type, a ‘63 Corvette, and an MR2. So she gets a pass here.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
01/27/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 3
Well, since you just said “Corolla”, I’m going to take advantage of that loophole and make it an old RWD Corolla. I’ll row my own gears, thank you very much.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
01/27/2017 at 15:14, STARS: 1
Corolla > Miata
Grounded to the ground son!
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
01/27/2017 at 15:15, STARS: 1
Or like people who let their dogs lick their ice cream cone...then proceed to lick it themselves.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/27/2017 at 15:15, STARS: 5
I’d take the Corolla even if the Miata had a stick.
Hell, I’lll even take one that snap-oversteered on the production line and came out backwards.
"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
01/27/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 1
I’d drive an auto Corolla any day over a manual MX-5. I’d drive most things over an MX-5.
"facw" (facw)
01/27/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 1
Miata for me please.
"Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer" (cyclonefan94)
01/27/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 1
Manuel
Carolla
It’s butt cold today, gimme something with more than a hankie to keep the heats in.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
01/27/2017 at 15:18, STARS: 2
Manual>auto always.
The new Corolla isn’t so bad for a DD with a stick. It’s even a 6-speed. Put some slightly better springs and shocks on it with some decent wheels-tires and enjoy the hell out of your daily slog to and from work.
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
01/27/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 1
2003 Toyota Carolla - $2500 (Alamo Ranch)
2006 Toyota Carolla S manual trans - $3700 (NW Houston)
prices are nearly reasonable......
"LongbowMkII" (longbowmkii)
01/27/2017 at 15:21, STARS: 1
You mistakenly posted an AW11 instead of a 1zzW30
"wkiernan" (wkiernan)
01/27/2017 at 15:22, STARS: 0
Now now, that’s cheating, like if you had to choose between a ‘60s VW Beetle and a ‘60s Ford Falcon and you tried to argue that a Porsche 911 is really just a Beetle wearing a Speedo.
"Aaron M - MasoFiST" (amarks563)
01/27/2017 at 15:23, STARS: 1
The complicating matter is how many good Corollas there are. Even if I was restricted to same year Miata v. Corolla, I’d still have the options of the AE92 GT-S and the ZZE120 XRS.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/27/2017 at 15:23, STARS: 1
E80 Corolla > E110 Corolla
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
01/27/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 2
Corolla with a stick.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/27/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 1
Maybe on the AW11, but the AE86 was sold here as a Corolla. Either way, there’s still this.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
01/27/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 2
Had an ‘88 Camry 5m, great little car. In a sea of Camrys it was the only stick.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
01/27/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 1
Gib me FX-16 GTS.
"ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
01/27/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 3
I think an automatic Miata completely misses the point of the car.
Very much yes.
Me, when someone tries to remind me that Miatas were built with autos:
"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
01/27/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 1
XRS?
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/toyota-corolla-xrs-short-take-road-test
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
01/27/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 0
Thinking of it now, I would honestly prefer this over the AW11. It’s like 300 lbs lighter, with hatchback practicality. Probably would be more of a hoot to drive this thing and go full throttle on the 4A-GE out of turns with the safety net of FWD.
"punkgoose17" (punkgoose17)
01/27/2017 at 15:59, STARS: 1
I’ll take a manual Corolla. I do not like having a dd with an autmatic.
"wkiernan" (wkiernan)
01/27/2017 at 16:00, STARS: 0
170 HP in a Corolla? Oh heck yeah! But I’d get the spoiler and the “aero” crap and the badges taken off, for better “sleeper” status.
"wkiernan" (wkiernan)
01/27/2017 at 16:00, STARS: 2
I understand that different people have different tastes and all. But gee, why?
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
01/27/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 1
I had a ‘93 Prizm with a 5-speed and the 1.8. It was not bad, actually. I think I’d take that over an automatic ‘93 Miata.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/27/2017 at 16:16, STARS: 1
I like that my car tries to kill me.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
01/27/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 2
I can’t speak for the other generations, but an automatic NA to this day is the saddest car I’ve ever driven. It tears out the heart and soul of the car. Imagine taking your brand new Mustang GT and Swapping in the motor from your shop vac. Ugh
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/27/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 0
And you can go full throttle out of a turn in the AW11 without worrying about dying. You just can’t lift. Ever.
"DrDDay" (drdday)
01/27/2017 at 16:21, STARS: 2
I would take the Corolla all day every day without question.
Beyond even the transmission factor, knowing that you can beat the living crap out of a little car like that and it WILL NOT DIE, is part of the fun.
A friend in HS had a POS Hyundai Excel. It was slow. It didn’t look good. It wasn’t very nice. What it did really well though was take a beating like no other car I think I’ve ever had first hand experience with and just kept on chugging along. I will always look back on that turd with fond memories.
"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
01/27/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 1
Because the Miata is just a convertible RWD 323.
RWD is okay, the 323 is alright, but I really do not like convertibles. A Miata coupe or one of the RFs would be alright I guess. But I really just don’t like convertibles. Never really have.
"wkiernan" (wkiernan)
01/27/2017 at 16:43, STARS: 0
Particularly because for some reason they detuned the engine on some of those old NAs when they put in an automatic. With the stick the 1.6L Miatas (‘90 - ‘93) had a screaming 116 HP (gee I don’t know how I survived! like driving a TVR Speed 12) but if I remember right the automatic ones had less than 100 HP.
"wkiernan" (wkiernan)
01/27/2017 at 16:50, STARS: 0
OK, that makes sense.
If you think you don’t like ‘verts now, try having one with a top that leaks like a sieve while living in Florida, the Monsoon State. Driving is ever so much better now that I finally got that piece of crap replaced. And there’s one repair bill you hardtop drivers never have to pay (unless you’ve got a car with a leaky sunroof or T-top).
"wkiernan" (wkiernan)
01/27/2017 at 18:16, STARS: 0
That’s the 16-valve one, right? Those came out after my first Corolla and before my second, and I remember thinking “where oh where were you, darling, when I was looking for love?”
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/27/2017 at 19:11, STARS: 0
The FX16 is the one everyone wants with the 4AGE, but they did sell it with the 8 valve as well. Most of the ones you see ate 16s I think.
"NJAnon" (NJAnon)
01/27/2017 at 19:53, STARS: 0
Thats a trick question. I choose neither.
"QCGoose" (chrismcfate)
01/27/2017 at 22:32, STARS: 0
It would have to be the Corolla, simply because of the transmission.
An automatic Miata is an oxymoron.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
02/13/2017 at 16:01, STARS: 0
Corolla, to not risk tainting your mental image of the miata?
"Svart Smart, traded in his Smart" (svartsmart)
03/23/2017 at 00:56, STARS: 0
What model years are we working with? If we’re talking new, I’ll take the automatic MX-5 Miata.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
05/13/2017 at 09:24, STARS: 0
I own a ‘91 Corolla with a stick and it’s a great car. 240,000 miles, or so. I also own an ‘89 Camry with a slushy, and it’s just fine.
I drove a Corolla two years ago with a manual and four adults in the car and the thing could barely move. And the shifter placement and movement were, IMHO, awkward.