Enter the XRS

[Exage03040]

Well you may have noticed that I rarely post about the car, hell some of you probably figure I only have the moto. It's because it's in a rather embarrassing state, particularly the exterior.

I've never actually posted about it, even on Oppo.Kinja, sort of glancing over it on the intro post. Well I suppose I should at least bring you along for this one.

I bought a 2005 Toyota Corolla XRS back in April 2009 after my parents nixed the idea of an AP1 Honda S2000 for a teenager to replace the first car, a 1992 Toyota Paseo which I got pissed off with the 2nd brand new radiator that also leaked after install.

Beater to learn stick

You see, this smart ass when down to the conglomerates used car overflow lot and found it. Now to the average person and even most enthusiasts the '05-06 C-XRS is nearly identical to the 05-08 S body kit poser model. There was something weird about the car when I first looked at it though, so I did the walk around to find the XRS badge. However there was also no sticker on it so I went bumbling around looking at various other compacts. They had a 06 Matrix XR, probably not a bad rig for a young dude like me, certainly not inspiring though.

Saleman finally exits so I asked him what the deal with the Corolla is. "Yeah we just got it in". How much? The quoted the same as the XR. Good, they don't know what it is either.

They let me take a small drive around the block (like legit I went 4 blocks and turned around). Good enough, I bought it a few days later.

Younger, better days...

You see the Corolla XRS like the Matrix XRS were the dopey run of the mill cars with all the goodies transplanted from the Celica GT-S and a couple other tweaks. Engine, Transmission and Rear Brakes and ABS system were a direct lift. Suspension lower by 1/2" and braced. 1" larger 5 spokes with michelin performance summers (although I received Nokian WRs from the previous owner). This sucker was a little stealth bomber able to wind out to 8200rpm courtesy of Toyota's version of i-VTEC; VVTL-i.

They also sold less than 1100 in Canada:

The US and PR never released their numbers to me. Most figure less than 7000 total units over the 2 year production.

My parents know I'm rather conniving. They knew there was something hopped up on it, but they let me have it. My buddies though? Oh was that a shock for them the first ride.

Through the years it went through a few mods. Sport pads, stainless lines, tires, intake, short shifter. I watched the guys in FL and PR going at it against FG2 and FA5 Civic Si, pushing the 2ZZ-GE over 200whp still NA (some +50bhp over stock). It was really only ever down to who had that one extra mod.

I began to neglect it after I got exuberant not knowing what I was doing with the buffer. Used a dirty pad which marred the clear. Then put a good scrape in the rear 3/4, then a Camry dent...

Then I moved and got the bike and really have done nothing with it for 3 years. It's sitting with less than 160,000km/100,000mi and I drove the thing on average 5000km/3000mi these past 3 years. It basically gets driven for groceries for 8mo of the year, the bike does everything else.

Anyways today I decided I should start rectifying some of the paint issues now that the country is screwed and I can't go anywhere. I need a workout anyways so hand compound and polishing it is.

Yeah, I did a number...

But it's now at least somewhat respectable...

It's really the start of all the shit I need to do. I have pads sitting now for spring, it'll need new discs and caliper hardware too now that I looked. The summer tires probably only have one more season. Clutch is pretty worn. There's a small power steering leak from the reservoir or hose. Infamous serpentine belt squeak (stripped false nut on the tensioner from last time I did it). Coolant change is way over due. The clock is dead again even with the solder job I'd done previously. The HVAC bulb on the left is out. Small exhaust leaks. Throws a CEL if I rev or drive with the air injection pump running just after starting (VSV replace didn't solve it, air pump is strong). Interior needs a clean and a new driver floor-mat. Foggy headlights and every panel could use paint correction at this point, the damage I'll eventually get around to when the world picks back up.

The good things: Well it's still pretty solid car. It still pulls hard and is more than happy to wind out every trip. Nothing is unsafe on the suspension side. Cruise works, A/C still blows cold. The fluids I do changes on are quality; Amsoil for the engine, Redline for the Trans, Castrol for the Brakes, Mobil for the Power Steering. Apart from Air Injection oddity, it's never thrown another CEL.

Anyways, I might do some small updates as I work around solving all this exterior mess in the future and maybe some other things.

[RallyDarkstrike]

@Exage03040 Oh, awesome! I always loved these things....stealthy basic cars from the factory are always cool! I've seen a few here and there, but they are super rare! There is one around me somewhere in the same color as yours I see every so often!

[WhoIsTheLeader]

Yours is the only reason I know these existed at all. It's one of the sleepers of the century simply because no one knows that Corolla even had a factory performance variant. It's an incredibly rare and rewarding car to drive that's not really worth much at all so I don't see too much reason for you to get rid of it. Seems like a perfect most-seasons daily. Has rust been an issue?

[sony1492]

@exage03040 always though these were just a body package, didn't know its a better motor too. Good to see the paint come back

[Exage03040]

@rallydarkstrike

I see one every now and again but I also know exactly what to look for.

When I got mine, a dude had one 2 blocks down the road in silver. One day as I was coming home we met at a 4-way, when I pulled over to park he pull alongside and said "nice car". He knew and I knew and because of that it's one of the funniest exchanges I've had.

[Exage03040]

@whoistheleader said in Enter the XRS:

Yours is the only reason I know these existed at all. It's one of the sleepers of the century simply because no one knows that Corolla even had a factory performance variant. It's an incredibly rare and rewarding car to drive that's not really worth much at all so I don't see too much reason for you to get rid of it. Seems like a perfect most-seasons daily. Has rust been an issue?

It's really fun for what it is.

I should borrow COFL's GoPro with suction mount and put it on Lift. It makes the Honda VTEC engines sound weak because the switch is so high and its running the intake so it barks when it comes on.

In Vancouver so rust isn't a big issue here at the best of times.

[Exage03040]

@sony1492 said in Enter the XRS:

@exage03040 always though these were just a body package, didn't know its a better motor too. Good to see the paint come back

Thanks, me too!

Yeah, really it was only one model year with a few floating into 2006. I figure Toyota was getting very desperate to off the 2ZZ-GE engines as it wasn't going to meet emissions. Especially when the Celica got massacred by the Acura RSX in terms of sale.

It's why Lotus got a sweet deal on them for the Elise and Exige over the Honda K20.

[SmugAardvark]

Great drivetrain in those and a wonderful sleeper sport compact, no reason to be ashamed at all.

Now, if you were my employee that claimed the 'S' badge and the factory wing on his Corolla made it a "true" sports car, I would have said differently.

[Exage03040]

@smugaardvark

It's more about the state it's in rather than what it is. So neglected because I'm lazy and it really doesn't deserve it. It's been really good and I feel awful.

I shall do some things this winter to make it better.

[dogisbadob]

Yay that's awesome! Yeah the Corolla XRS is cool as fuck! The only thing better is the wagon versions

The only problem with the Corolla XRS is that the seats don't fold due to an extra brace (the Vibe/Matrix doesn't have this, as that would be stupid in a wagon thing, although the Saturn S-series wagon had a removable brace thing between the rear shock towers)

You could install a Lotus supercharger on the Corolla 2ZZ (and a few people have done this)

Did you get to 299999 yet? At least down here, it's 299999 miles

I've always liked the Vibe GT (and Matrix XRS too, but the Vibes seem to be cheaper and more prevalent) and strongly considered one during my own car search and would still consider one next time.

The Paseo is cool, too! It's just a sporty Tercel

But since you're in Canada, you could've gotten an Echo hatchback!

[Exage03040]

@dogisbadob

Oh it won't be doing anything crazy if at all. I'd be getting a more powerful moto before any power mods to the car. Right now I need to get it sorted back to a presentable state.

No, I'm about 1/2 way at 150,000km.

[dogisbadob]

@exage03040 said in Enter the XRS:

@dogisbadob

Oh it won't be doing anything crazy if at all. I'd be getting a more powerful moto before any power mods to the car. Right now I need to get it sorted back to a presentable state.

No, I'm about 1/2 way at 150,000km.

I'd suggest coated rotors such as Powerstop coated rotors, and replacing the calipers with all-new calipers like the Raybestos Element3

[KITT222]

@exage03040 Very nice! And somewhat familiar, since I've worked on the Vibe cousins of the C-XRS. The power steering leak just happens, and isn't the biggest concern. Mine is doing it, too. A new hose would probably fix it, but I don't want to mess with it right now. HVAC bulbs are NEO4s, I believe, and easily found as LEDs. Do that instead of the OEM Toyota bulbs, because Toyota charges big for them. As for the belt tensioner, I wish you good luck if you replace it. In all likelihood you'll need to remove the passenger side engine mount and jack the engine up so the bolt will clear the frame rail.

The 2ZZ Toyotas (and related) are surprising hoots to drive, so you'll get plenty of fun miles out of that car! A buddy has a Vibe GT rally car with high miles, and it takes the beatings fairly well.

[Exage03040]

@kitt222 said in Enter the XRS:

Very nice! And somewhat familiar, since I've worked on the Vibe cousins of the C-XRS. The power steering leak just happens, and isn't the biggest concern. Mine is doing it, too. A new hose would probably fix it, but I don't want to mess with it right now. HVAC bulbs are NEO4s, I believe, and easily found as LEDs. Do that instead of the OEM Toyota bulbs, because Toyota charges big for them. As for the belt tensioner, I wish you good luck if you replace it. In all likelihood you'll need to remove the passenger side engine mount and jack the engine up so the bolt will clear the frame rail.

The 2ZZ Toyotas (and related) are surprising hoots to drive, so you'll get plenty of fun miles out of that car! A buddy has a Vibe GT rally car with high miles, and it takes the beatings fairly well.

Thanks

Yeah, I can't tell if it's the reservoir nipple or the hose that's leaking for the powersteering, probably the hose, it's a slow leak anyways.

I'm looking at LED but they all seem to have problems on Amazon (brightness, light pattern, and fitment). I might just stick with incandescent and replace both.

I have a NOS gator-back type belt sitting at the parents house somewhere I should retrieve. I don't think it's the tensioner so much as the oem belt. I've JB welded the false nut a little bit too much, so it's a filing patience to hex and attempt again.
I know the other way to do the tensioner if do need it is to just run a holesaw through the inner wheel well to get the socket and extension through, then paint and put in a plug for the hole after. I'd probably go that route...

Brake stuff first though for mechanical in the spring.

[dogisbadob]

@exage03040 said in Enter the XRS:

@kitt222 said in Enter the XRS:

Very nice! And somewhat familiar, since I've worked on the Vibe cousins of the C-XRS. The power steering leak just happens, and isn't the biggest concern. Mine is doing it, too. A new hose would probably fix it, but I don't want to mess with it right now. HVAC bulbs are NEO4s, I believe, and easily found as LEDs. Do that instead of the OEM Toyota bulbs, because Toyota charges big for them. As for the belt tensioner, I wish you good luck if you replace it. In all likelihood you'll need to remove the passenger side engine mount and jack the engine up so the bolt will clear the frame rail.

The 2ZZ Toyotas (and related) are surprising hoots to drive, so you'll get plenty of fun miles out of that car! A buddy has a Vibe GT rally car with high miles, and it takes the beatings fairly well.

Thanks

Yeah, I can't tell if it's the reservoir nipple or the hose that's leaking for the powersteering, probably the hose, it's a slow leak anyways.

I'm looking at LED but they all seem to have problems on Amazon (brightness, light pattern, and fitment). I might just stick with incandescent and replace both.

I have a NOS gator-back type belt sitting at the parents house somewhere I should retrieve. I don't think it's the tensioner so much as the oem belt. I've JB welded the false nut a little bit too much, so it's a filing patience to hex and attempt again.
I know the other way to do the tensioner if do need it is to just run a holesaw through the inner wheel well to get the socket and extension through, then paint and put in a plug for the hole after. I'd probably go that route...

Brake stuff first though for mechanical in the spring.

It's a good thing you have a Gatorback on hand because they stopped making them last year (Goodyear sold their belt business to Continental, who called them Continental Elite). But Conti discontinued them last year.

That said, the new Continental OE Techonology Series is good quality, but it is a regular belt.

Dayco makes these W-belts that are supposed to be good. I haven't tried them, though.

[rctothefuture]

It's funny, I always associated the XRS with the Matrix. Glad to see folks enjoy the Corolla version as well. Nice ride!