How would you define a collector car? In the past, it was exemplary examples of classics, often with provenance, but the digital era is seriously blurring that category to include nice versions of pretty much anything and everything. Case in point: A 2006 Toyota Corolla with 7,000 miles on the clock just sold on Bring A Trailer for — and I’m not joking — $18,350. That’s just $4,795 less than a brand new Corolla including freight, and it makes you wonder what someone would even do with a concours-grade 2006 Corolla S.
Yep, this isn’t the screaming 2ZZ-GE-powered Corolla XRS, just the mildly sporty S trim with a four-speed automatic transmission. As someone with plenty of experience with this 126-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and slushbox, I can tell you it’s one of the powertrains of all time. Although it’ll get you where you need to go, the harder you push on the pedal, the less willing it feels. For the average Corolla driver, that’s perfectly cromulent, although it’s not exactly an enthusiast-oriented form of motivation.
So, what would you use a really nice 2006 Corolla for? It’s possible that it would make a decent low-mileage reliable car, but there are a few problems with that theory. Firstly, a new Corolla with a warranty, more airbags, modern amenities, and easy financing doesn’t cost that much more than this 2006 example, and this car requires some maintenance straight off the bat. For instance, the tires are old enough to vote, and that’s no good when it comes to degradation. Then there’s the fact that every rubber part on a car ages, from suspension bushings to motor mount inserts to soft hoses. Sure, this Corolla might only have 7,000 miles on the clock, but time also plays a factor.
Also, the only reason this Corolla is so expensive is because someone was willing to pay $18,350 for it because of its low mileage and outstanding visual condition. If you started daily driving it, that value proposition would tank pretty quickly. Keep in mind, there are legions of high-mileage 2006 Corollas trucking along just fine, and with a rust-free chassis and a brake and suspension refresh, there’s no reason one of those cars won’t be up to the task of reliable daily driver duty.
Alright, so let’s say that this 2006 Corolla is a collector acquisition. Due to the culture surrounding automotive events, there aren’t many car shows specifically for immaculate 18-year-old economy cars, so you’re unlikely to find this Corolla at the equivalent of Radwood. Sure, there’s always the Japanese Automotive Invitational, but it seems like an odd car to buy for the possibility of exhibiting at one singular show.
Actually, here’s a radical thought: Why not buy a car for its personal meaning, and not for everyone else? It’s possible that whoever bought this Corolla owned one when new, or sold them back in 2006, or even worked on the Corolla assembly line back in the day. The new owner can happily stash their fresh example away in a garage, cosset it, and have it remind them of a previous chapter in life. That in itself can spark happiness, and as long as you’re having fun and not endangering anyone else, you’re doing cars right.
After all, the car world has all sorts of enthusiasts in it, from trackday addicts with GT3s to overlanders to people who collect Malaise-era tin. Why not someone with a passion for the 2006 Toyota Corolla? Every car tells a story, you just have to be willing to listen. Sure, racing glory is great, but robust, economical transportation for the masses is one of the noblest things a car can do, and the E120 Toyota Corolla fits that description to a tee.
So, what do you do with the world’s nicest 2006 Toyota Corolla? You have fun. After all, fun is fun to have. You can’t fault someone for buying this because the heart wants what the heart wants, and even though it might not be my thing, $18,350 says it’s definitely someone’s thing. In another 20 years, the owner of this Corolla will get the last laugh because although these are still common cars now, attrition is inevitable, and an immaculately preserved example will eventually be able to evoke nostalgia in anyone who’s ever owned one. Love makes us do funny things, and it takes all types to make the world go ’round.
(Photo credits: Bring A Trailer)
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My wife has the exact twin to this car, just a 2007. 130k on the clock so far and dead reliable. It gets a bit buzzy on the highway by 75 and I don’t like driving it on a trip of more than an hour or so, but these are great, simple cars. Everything still works and the interior fitments on these are rugged if not luxurious.
My late dad had one of these, and it was the first car I really learnt to drive in. I spent many of my good early miles driving a Corolla like this.
So I can definitely see a personal sentimental reason for seeking out one of these (or any other car for that matter).
It wasn’t just that someone was willing to bid $18,350.
There was at least one other person willing to pay $18,250 for it!
I mean, whatever floats your boat … but also … you really chose that boat?
Hey, people are collecting Ford Tempos. I’m barely old enough to remember when they were common, and no one got exited about them.
I thought the headline meant $20,000 spent restoring a Corolla, which was a story I couldn’t wait to read. Once again, reality disappoints.
I really want to know the story here. Similar to this Avalon that sold earlier: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-toyota-avalon/ There’s got to be a story-are there movie production companies who buy up perfect period piece cars or something? I mean I get the appeal of no screens and simplicity but these Corollas are just a heaping scoop of vanilla even for their time.
This car is almost 20 years old at this point, and there are a good many people who either had one of these in their youth or remember them fondly as a family car or something. It’s old enough for it to be a nostalgic purpose and truthfully, it’s not a lot of money to spend on something that will last another 30+ years with regular upkeep.
Like the Corolla, I bet that is someone who wants a rock solid daily and one that they or anyone else can wrench on if it actually needs it. Those Avalons were known for being a Lexus with a Toyota badge on it, they are 200k+ mile cars easy.
As a life-long dull guy, my enthusiasm for vehicles is pretty peculiar. What I love the most, is seeing older vehicles that have either been meticulously maintained and cared for, or perfectly preserved. I always feel like I’m cheating the capitalism system when I’m driving around in a 15 year old Honda that drives just as perfectly well as the day it left the production line.
I have buttons, everything works exactly the way it should, there are no leaks on the interior or exterior, the AC works just fine, there are no rattles or squeaks, there are no screens or distractions. Why the hell would I need to buy a new car? Just keep your current car going for as long as you can afford to.
I agree with keeping the same car for as long as possible, but because of that, I prefer to drive at least a slightly interesting vehicle.
You sound just like my dad. He’s a Mopar nut that keeps his cars forever. Currently has a ’08 Jeep Patriot that’s always washed and waxed and maintained. Even had an ’00 Neon till a few years ago, same thing. But the rattle thing? Well they both had/have dozens of them but his hearing is so poor he never even knew.
This would make a superb hero car for a movie set in 2006. It’s in impeccable shape, and it could easily fit a wide range of characters. Is your lead young? Perfect, all sorts of young people owned Corollas. Older? Know how many grandmas bought these things? Do they have a stable life that will be upended at some point? Bam, nothing says “stable” like Corolla. Your audience is going “oh man this guy seems like he’s kind of got it together, what’s it going to be like when he doesn’t anymore?”
“But what if you want to do a car chase or something?” I’ve got a solution, they made so many of these things you can have some that are a lot less clean to hop curbs, drive through boxes, get shot at, etc. This is the hero car! You use it for all the shots when the car is in great shape.
Another case of more money than brains. Then again, nostalgia is a helluva drug considering I’d pay 15,000 for a low milage 87 cavalier Z-24 with a 5 speed. Blue preferably. *Hint Hint *
IT’S NOT EVEN AN XRS?
thats what i was expecting as well.
There are two things about this article that make me think;
1. It’s not that one person was willing to pay $18,350 but a second person had to be willing to pay almost as much because auction.
2.the author writes “this is one of the power trains of all time” best, worst, just one of them? I need to know.
probably most reliable powertrains of all time, but possibly also best?
It’s just one that exists. There’s nothing great about it, nothing terrible about it, it just is. The automotive equivalent to a fence outside of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. It’s definitely something that exists, it does the job, but unless someone points it out you will never, ever think about it.
#2: I think that’s the joke. It’s just a power train. Not bad, not amazing, just…is. It moves the car. Nothing more. Like the old, if you look up “car” in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of a Corolla.
User name does not check out lol
2. is sarcasm
I would havegone ” of all the power trains ever. This is one.”
I think Mr Pedantic would have been a more appropriate name
most cromulent?
My buddies and I just procured a very similar vintage Corolla to ruin at the Gambler.
Actually it’ll probably work just fine after we launch it off some stuff, it is a Corolla after all.
The only thing I didn’t like about this gen corolla was that there was zero fun factor, might be due to the switch to a beam rear axle, not sure. But they are very good at being transportation that should last beyond the max 300k limit on their odometers.
Do not forget that some items wear regardless of mileage. A 20 year old car will have 20 year old rubber belts and boots around ball joints, bushings etc. I obtained a mint 1993 Pointiac Grand Prix with 53,000 miles that was owned by an old lady about a year ago. Within 3 months of frequent driving I had to replace every single ball joint all 4 shocks, some other suspension parts and intake gasket. Old rubber dries out and lets humidity in and the grease within those joints is usually toast. As most suspension joints now are non-greaseable it becomes an issue.
But not 20 years of farts, or old person stink.
It’s not like the buyer came out of the woodwork and slammed an $18k bid on top of a couple bids for $2k and $3k. More than five individual accounts placed bids of $10,000 or more. Wow.
I could totally see my Mrs buying this car over a new Corolla. I mean, she wouldn’t, because she hates spending money on cars, But if she suddenly had the need to drive a lot locally, and decided that her current ride, a Jeep TJ, was not the right tool (which it clearly would not be), she would buy this over a new Corolla. Here’s why; no high tech driver aides, no touch screens, a three dial climate system.
She flys for business quite a bit, and absolutely hates rental cars that have some combination of those three things. In Tampa, Hertz assigned her a Subaru with the lane keep feature and I seriously thought she was going to set it on fire after a day or so.
And she is not a luddite at all, she just does not want all of that distraction that comes with all of the tech cars are being loaded up with now.
This is honestly hard to understand. Nostalgia? For laughs? For a museum (for laughs)? Drunk purchase? Who the hell knows.
Someone has to be buying this to drive. They probably think it is the epitome of reliability (and may be right), so they bought this instead of something new with a CVT and other nonsense that might break.
I had a friend in HS who’s parents bought the same model Nissan over and over (always new), and then got very upset when Nissan updated the model and it was larger – they debated hunting an old one either leftover, used in top shape rather than get the new model.
I could see someone like that just saying “I want the same as last time, and I’ll put my money where my mouth is”
A few Corollas and Matrix have run through my family over the years. They are very much appliance cars in the best possible way. Keep the oil changed and topped up and they do their job.
Would I buy one? Sure, if the price was right and I was in need of a vehicle. Wouldn’t be my first choice but would be a sensible choice. Would I pay top dollar for an almost 20 year old one? Never.
It’s been so long since I’ve seen one of these without cloudy headlight lenses I’d forgotten what the headlights actually looked like.
Totally! I was looking at them thinking they were some aftermarket ones or something.
My wife does not like spicy food. Her favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla. Scary movies? Not her thing. Bungee jumping? No chance.
A pristine 2006 Corolla would be the perfect car for her.
Probably (hopefully?) purchased by one of the many commenters on this very website who go on and on about how cars peaked in the 90s-early 00s.
How dare you insinuate that cars, games, fashion, and sports didn’t peak in exactly the same time period as my formative teen years were occurring.
Lol I’m guilty of this myself in a lot of ways, but not with cars.
What a boring use of $18,000.
Its amazing that millions of a model can be made and then how rapidly they still disappear. Its hard for me to believe how rare an EF civic of any kind is these days. And that rarity has driven the prices up on them significantly. Even an HF CRX (the uber base model) is going for many thousands if its in decent shape.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same with PT cruisers. They used to be everywhere, and now I might see them 3 times a week, at most. This might also be due to the fact that I live in the salt belt, though
Yeah, I always wonder what becomes of these low mileage examples of perfectly ordinary cars, especially the ones not old/rare/desirable enough to be considered collectible. I’ve driven a Corolla or two like this one, and they’re fine. Some small, inexpensive cars are fun to drive, but these Corollas are not among those. But I’ve got two friends with Corollas of this generation and they both love their cars. They almost never have issues with them, either.
The XRS trim level is a low-key holy grail and was truly fun to drive. It has the same 170hp engine and 6 speed manual as the Lotus Elise of the era and a slightly lower and stiffer suspension. It was totally innocuous in the looks department.
(@Mercedes you should absolutely write about this one!)
I always forget about that one! Admittedly I know very little about it, but I’m glad it exists. A very anonymous looking sleeper, something I can always get behind. I’m sure I’ve seen one, but probably never noticed what it actually was. And yes, I second the motion to have Mercedes write about it!
Matt Farah did an XRS OneTake years ago and it was clear that he was genuinely impressed.
The 2ZZ XRS continued the flaw of the transmission would kick you out of the high lift cam every time you shifted (even at redline). As i understand it the Elise had addressed this ratio issue but the Celica, Matrix, and Corolla all had this issue.
just pop a lotus cam in there, how hard can it be?
Reread my comment…it’s not the cam, it’s the transmission gearing.
Is there a high lift cam in the transmission, or are we talking about VVT?
I have no clue what you mean by cam in the transmission…
What I am talking about is the transmission gearing ratios. Let me break it down for you.
VVTL (the L is for lift, VVT is just variable valve timing) in the 2ZZ engages the High lift cam lobe around ~6200rpm which the engine holds until you drop below that RPM set point. If you drop below 6200 the VVTL reverts back to the low lift cam.
The issue is the gearing in the transmissions doesn’t keep you on the high lift cam profile regardless if you shift at redline (~8200rpm, or fuel cutoff at ~8500). Basically you run 1st gear to 8500rpm and shift to 2nd, it’ll drop you to ~5800rpm and back to the low lift cam. Rinse and repeat for 2nd to 3rd and it’s basically kneecapping the experience as you have to wait for it to kick in the high lift cam every time you shift. Think of it as getting turbo lag every time you changed gears, even when you are flogging it.
Conversely, Honda for example designed their gearing and VTEC high cam lift to keep you on the Hot cam if you are hitting redline shifts. This is done 2 ways: first by spacing the gears properly to keep in the high cam profile if you shift at redline (perfect shifts). Secondly, the engagement point to revert back to the low cam profile is a few hundred rpm lower than the high cam engagement point.
I guess you could say it’s both engine design (bad disengagement points when going from high to low cam making too tight of powerband) and transmission ratio selection (2nd gear in particular).
And the cam changeover and redline of ~8500 are both absolutely absurd in something like a Matrix or corolla from this era, and an absolute joy to exploit at that!
It really takes forever to get to 6k rpm in first gear, at which point you’re hit with a satisfying 50hp bump. After that, things stay fun as long as you wring it out to the 8.4k fuel cut.
What was really difficult was staying on that high cam in an autoslalom, while not looking at the tach. Very hard to do with only a 2k wide powerband. I didn’t enjoy that.
When I test drove my Matrix at Toyota, I revved it into the high cam, and the salesman lost his fucking mind, like he thought I just ruined the engine.
He also couldn’t fathom that a Matrix could need premium fuel, as specified on the fuel door.
That’s like buying a lifetime supply of Saltine crackers. They will always be filling and get the job done, but are rather boring and you don’t really want to tell your friends about your purchase.
You can crumble the crackers up for duck food, and ducks are delicious.
Ducks eat free at Subway
Let me have the steak fajita sub, but don’t bother ringing it up it’s for a duck! There are 6 ducks outside and they all want Sun Chips!