“Modified 9th Generation Toyota Corolla” – Owner Review
Today we’re back with the owner’s review of a 2005 Toyota Corolla Altis. In this review, the owner shares his experience with his car and the modifications he has made to it. This is the 9th generation corolla which debuted in 2003 in several variants.
This is the top-of-the-line Altis variant which comes with a 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engine producing close to 130hp and 170 nm of torque, and this engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission while an automatic was also offered. This generation of Corolla had a very rough and tough image. However, the owner has enhanced the looks of the car to a great extent.
Modification Process
The owner was inspired by modified Corollas in Thailand and Malaysia and wanted to modify his car similarly to those. Firstly, he changed the engine as it was driven over 230,000 kilometers when he got the car from his father, and it was in a very bad state.
Then he moved on to the aesthetics, where he got the car repainted, added front bumpers with a front splitter, smoked headlights, and installed 17-inch deep dish alloy rims along with low profile tyres. He then lowered the car on coil overs to give it a low stance. The owner focused purely on looks rather than performance. As per the owner, the total modification cost was about 6 lakh rupees.
Interior
Opposing the flashy exterior, the interior of this car is close to its original condition and very clean. The owner prefers the stock interior and only has done some subtle changes to it, including leather upholstery, aftermarket gear knob, and an android infotainment system. The interior is well maintained, considering the age of the car.
Drawbacks
Modifying the car has also affected the car adversely, but that is a compromise that needs to be made for better looks. As the car is lowered, ground clearance is a major setback, especially on Karachi roads, as the car hits the ground on speed breakers and potholes. Adding wider rims and tyres has also affected the comfort as the car is way stiffer than before.
The fuel average is also compromised as the car is downpiped, and wider rims and tyres have also caused the fuel average to fall. These modifications have also hindered this car’s ability to be driven daily as the owner only drives it on weekends.
Maintenance
As the owner has made little to no changes in the car’s engine, maintenance is the same as a stock corolla. The owner changes the oil and filters at a set interval, and being a Toyota, maintenance cost is very nominal. Spare parts are also readily available locally in different varieties, and prices are pocket-friendly.
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