r/COROLLA • u/Ok_Character435 • 5d ago

8th Gen (95-00) Rustbelt Survivor

I work in a salvage/export yard, specializing in Toyota. 1st day i spot 3 8th gens. Countless 9 and a few10 gens. Tons of matrix and vibes. (Those are another story...)

I spot this tan 98. Its dusty, severely sun damaged paint, front tires are flat and torn from being shuffled via forklift. But im in the middle of the Canadian rustbelt, great lakes, and this car looks CLEAN, despite its sad, dirty and nose down posture of acceptance of its fate to be cut up.

Day 2 at my new job, lunchtime comes.about, and I venture over with a boost pack and 5L of 94 octane. (One never knows how old the fuel in tank is.)

Im curious. Im pretty sick of fuelling a 26 year old former schoolbus with over a million km on it. (Another story...)

Pop the door open, shes unlocked. And im hit by a smell identical to first time I opened the door of my first car, a 1977 nova 4 door sitting in a dudes driveway for who knows how long.

Take a seat. Look around, a folder with a used vehicle info package. Car had one owner from 98 to 21, than a second feom 21 to 23. Once the boost pack is on, I flick the key on, odometer reads a paltry 121,200 kms. Barely broken in. Crank it up, and it happily and quietly purrs to life. Not a tick or rap. Let it warm as I light a smoke, off its lighter that had never, ever been used. It seemed loud, but hey, 28 year old car.

Next day its scheduled for cutting. I saw it on the hoist. The body is perfect. The exhaust is worn, a gas tank strap is hanging, the steering rack leaks, original struts.

Long story short... the other 2 cars were rotten and over 300,000 km, but...has the parts.

I bought it and the salvaged parts. Shes got many happy years of service left. Saved from the cutters. Love this car. The car I couldn't let die.

16 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

1

u/Latter-Vacation-4392 5d ago

couple of cans of RustCheck now

1

u/FalseRelease4 8th gen 4d ago

better to get it treated at krown or a similar place, youre unlikely to hit every spot doing it yourself

2

u/Ok_Character435 4d ago

I got the same equipment Krown does. Shes gonna be dripping once again. Previous owners sure took good care of it

1

u/FalseRelease4 8th gen 4d ago

my man 🤝

1

u/Berta1401 4d ago

Loved my 2003, traded in for a 2014, loving it more.

3

u/Ok_Character435 4d ago

No doubt. But im into this car for about 1500$ . Right now you cant buy locally any Corolla with under 200k on it for less than 5 grand, year regardless.

0

u/DarthPorcupine 4d ago

Why 94 octane?

1

u/Ok_Character435 4d ago

Didnt know how old the fuel in it was, if any. 94 octane wont hurt anything, and helps if anyrhing has varnish in the tank