Years ago, I owned a mid-90′s Avalon. Yes, this is a Toyota fan blog, though I must be honest – That Avalon was a lemon. It was not the car’s fault; I purchased it used and its previous owner did not take care of it (if you own a 90′s Toyota, do not park it on wet grass everyday for a decade).

Since then, I kept away from the big T. But Corolla brought me back. I always had friends who owned these smooth driving compacts throughout various generations. I’ve had the recent fortune to cruising around 2011 and 2012 models, thanks to rental car agencies. The idea of purchasing a per-owned certified 2011 Toyota Corolla appeals to me very much.

2011 models come in with a base MSRP of $15,900. For a barely-driven vehicle that should last you upwards of 300,000 miles, it’s a steal! Both Edmunds, as well as Car & Driver, predict a life-time ownership price of under $32,000.

The vehicle is reliable, I mean – it’s a Toyota after all! When properly maintained, Corolla will hit 250,000 easy, and at best over 300,000. It rides comfortably, the controls and extra gadgets in-dash are quality, and fuel mileage (26 MPG city, 34 hwy) is superb.

Base and S sedan trims feature a quality 1.8 liter engine, producing 132 horsepower. But if you want a Corolla, charging down the highway with massive horsepower is not your main concern. Corolla owners expect reliability and duration. You get that with Toyota vehicles like this one.

Ad copy also touts Corolla as being “built for survival” – I guess that’s true if you’re INSIDE the vehicle. Anyone in its path better run for cover.

For the first weeks of the CARS Act, also known as Cash 4/For Clunkers, the Ford Focus topped the list as most purchased new car after people traded in their beaters. Now, Toyota’s Corolla is Number 1! Corolla became the “Ichiban” (Japanese for Number-One) after sales shot past 180,000 units with Toyota Motor Corp overtaking Ford Motor Co.

As Autoblog states, “Toyota’s Corolla – the best selling car in the history of the world – has reportedly taken the crown,” outselling “the long-in-the-tooth Ford Focus” under the government’s trade-in program. “Ford’s price leader drops to number two and the Honda Civic has shifted into third place. Toyota has two other cars rounding out the top five, the Prius and the Camry.”

Here’s a complete list of Top 10 Trade-Ins and New Car Buy:

The Top Ten Cash for Clunkers Trade-Ins

1. Ford Explorer 4WD
2. Ford F150 Pickup 2WD
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee
4. Jeep Cherokee
5. Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan
6. Ford Explorer 2WD
7. Chevrolet Blazer
8. Ford F150 Pickup 4WD
9. Chevrolet C1500 Pickup
10. Ford Windstar FWD

The Top Ten Cash for Clunkers New Cars

1. Toyota Corolla
2. Ford Focus
3. Honda Civic
4. Toyota Prius
5. Toyota Camry
6. Hyundai Elantra
7. Ford Escape
8. Dodge Caliber
9. Honda Fit
10. Chevrolet Cobalt

First Generation Corolla – 1966-1970

The original Corolla was designed to compete with the other major Japanese compact of the day – the Datsun 1000. Customers could purchase both hard-top sedans or wagon version, and had the choice of a 4-speed manual (remember when standard was, well, standard?) or a 2-speed automatic. The shifter was mounted on the floor, which was a risk for Toyota. Floor shift transmissions were used predominantly in trucks, but the different configuration became popular as time and sales progressed.

Generation Three – 1974-1981

The third generation Corolla came at a rough time for the auto industry. Much like today, gas prices were exploding as people lined up for rationed fuel. Car sales were struggling, but Toyota pulled through with much of its help coming from Corolla sales. The 1974 model was a fuel efficient automobile with various (economical) motor sizes to choose from. You could get your Corolla with a 2, 3, 4 or 5 speed automatic/manual transmission.

Forth Generation – 1979-1983

Toyota drove into the 1980′s with a boxy redesign, popular at the time with many foreign and domestic vehicles. This generation set a standard for Corollas in the eyes of Toyota; vowing to make them quiet, efficient vehicles that should appeal to customers young and old. Most importantly – Corolla should “reflect the wishes of the consumer.”

The start of a new look – Corolla Generation Six – 1987-1992

Toyota entered the 1990′s with more aerodynamic curves and various “Special Edition” trims – Base, XL, GL, SE, and SE Limited. This became one of Corolla’s most recognizable looks, being compared to their Nissan competitor (and slightly boxier) Sentra.

Design Evolution – Generation Eight – 1998-2002

Bring in the era of the rounded quarter panels! The eighth generation Corolla is again extremely recognizable by auto enthusiasts – and was even copied in the form of Chevrolet’s Prizm. In fact, aside from their emblems, you can hardly tell the difference. Generation eight came at a time when Toyota was ordered to cut costs due to a recession. Still, they produced different variations including a successful hatchback model.

A fresh look for a young crowd – Ninth & Tenth Generation Corolla – 2002-2008

The latest generation of Corollas is popular with younger drivers throughout the world. This is due partially to their sleek new designs and faster 1.8L supercharge engines available in some models. These vehicles were designed for the Global market, catering to buyers worldwide. With this mindset Corolla will most likely continue to be a high-selling automobile for years to come.

photos courtesy of Wikipedia