Elderly lady from church gave me a car.

My wife made friends with an older lady from church who has visited the house a few times. A couple months ago, I mentioned in passing that I liked her Corolla wagon...Well, now she is leaving the country, to go back to her home country of Poland, and is giving me the pictured Corolla wagon.

It has 108k on is and it basically the proverbial elderly lady car. Very clean and totally rust free. But automatic, of course. I do like it and am very appreciative, but am not sure what to do with it.

I've been driving my wife's '99 Sentra, which I do not like so much and which has much higher miles. So I think I am going to sell the Sentra, then wire the lady at least half of the money (I doubt she would accept if I tried to give her money in person), and probably give the rest to charity.

I would like to find some first-gen. Mr2 wheels...

Nice...the MR2 wheels would look cool, and it looks like a great daily driver!

hold onto it or give it to someone who will. some day it will seem as unique and cool as this now does

BTW,
http://classicmotorsports.net/forum/classic-cars/sonoma-concourse-now-with-japanese-class/62625/page1/

Noice!

Flush the trans, do whatever needs doing, and drive it for another 100k. These things are anvils.

nice very nice... she must have thought a lot of your wife and you to give you such a nice gift. i wouldnt wreck it by trying to give her money. i would look for some nice gift that could be sent to her in Poland and make sure you get her address over there and send her a thank-you note, that would mean so much more than money

Hang onto it for a bit, and drive it. After a few months, you're likely to find it to be one of the most indispensible general purpose vehicles you've ever had. Eminently practical, usefull and reliable.

or, how much are you willing to sell it for? i may be interested

EvanR wrote: Flush the trans, do whatever needs doing, and drive it for another 100k. These things are anvils.

What he said. ^^

She gave it to you because she valued your friendship. That's the best way to say thanks!

JamesMcD wrote: I would like to find some first-gen. Mr2 wheels...

If it's FWD, there might be a problem.

EvanR wrote: Flush the trans, do whatever needs doing, and drive it for another 100k. These things are anvils.

+1

I've got 180K on my Toyolla wagon and it's still going strong.

I wish mine looked that nice, though!

That's excellent. I'd start gathering all of the parts to do a manual swap and any deferred maintenance, then drive it as is for years. Where are you located? I have a set of first gen MR-2 wheels that I'd sell, but zero interest in shipping them.

I would make sure I got the engine good and hot over a couple of long trips and do quick oil changes. Flush the cooling and brake systems too. Then drive and enjoy.

Corollas are as reliable as gravity. My father in law has 2 C10 pickups, a 60s 1/2 ton chebby, a brandy new 3500HD, an 05 Vette, a Road King, and a 96 Corolla.

Guess which one he drives everyday...35mpg and enough room for the fam damily, their stuff, and a weeks groceries. A full tank in his new Silverado costs more than the Corollas brake pads at all 4 corners.

Will that 'rolla ever knock your socks off? Probably not. But it will make whatever knocker-off-of-socks you buy that much more affordable.

If you're looking for the classic "triangle" MR2 wheels, there's a vendor on eBay that has them for $25 or so each. (Crap, at work and can't remember the vendor. Can post tonight if interested.)

I had an old guy give me his Topaz a while back. It wasn't much of a car, nor worth much at all. I gave it to a friend who was going through a divorce when the engine in his van blew up. I told him to pass it on after he was done with it, either to the junkyard or someone else who it would help.

Kid down the street has a sedan version of that car and about that colour. I keep looking at it wondering how it would look on a set of Miata daisies. That's what I'd do to that wagon. Maybe throw some 7x15s on it with a little more rubber.

I would be tempted to keep that thing 100% original and stock. And then take it to car shows in like 10 years.

I'd be tempted to... tempted to...

.... urrrggg.... ughhh.... oh god it's coming....

ZOMG 7AGE BLACKTOP 20V STROKER WITH A 6SPD, COILOVERS, SOME NICE 15X8S WRAPPED IN 225/45-15 RIVALS, TINT, SWAY BARS, AND A NICE EXHAUST.

Whew... that's better.

Been awhile since i've had a Toyota to play with. Want.

I had that same wagon! I miss it so much. Damn I wish I was that fortunate to find a clean corolla wagon.

In reply to Swank Force One: ROTFLMAO!!! That made my afternoon.

you should ask her what she would've done with it, if she hadn't given it to you. that might guide you towards what to do with the proceeds if you decide to sell it.

Drive it and enjoy it's anonymity...

always liked the wagon version of those... wife had a '91 geo prizm (aka rolla with chebby badge) on it when we got married... that car was great untill the trans died which is apparently the norm for the slushboxes... I couldn't find one in the junkyard as they'd all been pulled already... ended up buying a complete car from a friend that had a spark plug fall apart inside the engine and kill the engine to get a good trans.

toyota mr2 triangles are pretty good looking on it... but if you can find some of the old mr2 basket weave meshies it looks even better...

oh the other thing i'll add... my in-laws bought the prizm new... father-in-law put an autozone alternator in it and it seemed to go need one about ever 6-12 months, took 10-15 min to swap so no biggie with the lifetime warranty...

nothing else of notable crappyness