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Toyota Corolla 1166cc van

27th August 1976, Page 39
27th August 1976
Page 39
Page 40
Page 42
Page 39, 27th August 1976 — Toyota Corolla 1166cc van
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Stephen Gray photographs by Dirk Ross

TO FILL what it regards as a "niche" in the light van market, Toyota has introduced a van based on its Corolla estate car. This new vehicle is aimed at the operator who wants a payload capacity of up to 457kg (9cwt) while retaining saloon car comfort and performance.

CM recently took the opportunity of testing the newcomer and found that it is also economical, returning 'a remarkably good 8.5-litre/100km. (33.2mpg) at an average speed of 42.3km / h (26.2mph) over our test circuit for light vans, one of the best consumptions so far achieved by a van of this size.

Unladen the Toyota brought in 6.6-litre/100km (42.9n-ipg) over the same route but this time the average speed was 44.2km/h (27.5mph).

Handling • Although the van accepted a full 457kg (9cwt) load, I have my doubts about loading it to capacity.

Even with the majority of the weight well forward in the back, the rear was pushed well down, making the steering become very light. This situation was acceptable for round town driving but less so on motorways and "A" roads where it tended to "drift" when travelling at speed.

Undoubtedly most of the Corolla's laden handling prob

lems could be associated with the rear springs, which are the same as those fitted to the estate car, and not uprated or stiffened at all. Handling when unladen was vastly different. In this condition, the Toyota clung to corners like a sports car and was unaffected by adverse camber or rough road surfaces.

A sports car-like performance was also reflected in the van's acceleration figures which were very good for a vehicle with Only an 1166cc (71.2cuin) capacity engine, which with a 9:1 ratio runs on two star petrol.

Load space • Access to the 1.33cu m (47.5cuft) of available load space is through a single lift-up rear door, hinged at the top. When raised, the door allo people of average height to k the van without banging heads, and makes a good Si; opening through which m bulky items can be passed. '1 floor of the load area is madE pressed ridged steel panels.

Two fairly small semi-circi wheel arches are the o intrusions, but the side par and rear door have fibrebo, covering which damages eas Easily damaged too, I wo think, is the full length head log which Toyota has seen fi install. No doubt it works wel reducing drumming and g eral vehicle noise, but the f sharp edged container to co in contact with it would inev bly produce a nasty rip.

To stop the load from m ing into the passerc compartment, a wire mesh grille is fitted behind the seats.

Under the bonnet OThe Toyota's engine and running gear are laid out in a conventional north /south pattern, but the power unit is inclined :toward the nearside.

Every normal service item is easily reached, especially the distributor and oil and air filters. The engine looks particularly easy to remove as nearly all the bell housing bolts are readily accessible from under the bonnet.

A large cowl surrounds the radiator fan, but changing the alternator belt is still an easy task. Brakes OThe servo assisted brakes, with front discs, which were fitted to the Toyota were excellent.

Stopping distances on the MIRA braking straights were short and the van locked its wheels on the dry asphalt surface every time when full pressure was applied. No trace of deviation could be detected and repeated stops produced no signs of fade.

On the road, the brakes were more than adequate for all eventualities including an emergency stop to avoid a child running into the road. The handbrake produced a fairly low 0.38g retardation but held the vehicle easily on a 1 in 4 gradient. Cab comforts • In almost every respect the Corolla cab was luxuriously appointed, once again showing its car derivation. High backed, pvc trimmed seats are fitted which, although very comfortable on long runs, tended to make the driver hot and sweaty in the recent spell of good weather. These seats are adjustable for rake, but the load guard prevents them from being reclined very far.

In common with the saloon car, the van has a padded dash with the instruments mounted directly in front of the driver.

The speedometer is to the left of the steering column, while the combined fuel and temperature gauge is fitted on the right. Warning lights for low oil pressure and charging are also incorporated in this instrument.

Both the hand brake and the four speed floor change gear lever are mounted on the central transmission tunnel. The hand brake has a very neat and simple adjustment knob which allows slack in the cable to be taken up inside the cab.

A stalk on the left-hand side of the steering column operates the two-speed wipers and the washers. The right-hand side of the column is fitted with a combined indicator, head lamp. flash, dip switch and lighting switch.

Hazard warning flashers are controlled by a switch fitted to the top of the column nacelle next to the steering lock key release button.

A particularly annoying feature of the Corolla is the horn pushes. Two buttons are fitted, one on each side of the wheel centre pad, but they are too close to the wheel rim. When parking or cornering fast it's easy to accidentally depress one or other.

Pedal spacing is good and the clutch is particularly light to use.

Rubber floor covering material is used throughout the driving compartment and the continued on page 40

jack and tools are stowed out of the way on the floor in front of the driver's seat.

Getting in and out of the yap is made easy by wide opening doors which are well secured in the open position. Inertia reel automatic seat belts are supplied as standard.

Face level vents are fitted to both the offside and nearside, as well as in the centre of the dashboard.

Summary Olf Toyota is right and there is a market for a well equipped light van with saloon car comfort and performance then its asking price of £1,977.48 (inc VAT) for the Corolla is not unreasonable.

It may very well appeal to TV dealers and so on who carry light loads, but I would have thought it less suitable for, say, a plumber whose first length of copper tube loaded aboard would fracture that headlining if carelessly handled.

The Corolla also has some items of equipment which aren't really necessary on a trade vehicle, including chromed wheel nuts and bumpers and twin reversing lights.

In other respects the specification includes some useful items such as radial ply tyres and side flashers and the Toyota is a very simple van to drive and maintain.

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